A Farewell to Karmele

Add this one to the 1,600 killed in Gernika, add this one to the thousands tortured and killed during the reign of terror of Francisco Franco, add this one to the hundreds tortured and killed by the "democratic" governments of Spain.

But hey, no one is keeping count of our dead.

Karmele

Thousands of people publicly denounce Solaguren’s death

A mass demo was held in Barañain and gatherings called by Etxerat, the support group for Basque prisoners’ relatives, took place in many towns

Irene Arrizurieta – BARAÑAIN (Navarre)

Over fifteen hundred people gathered in Barañain, near Iruñea (Pamplona), yesterday to denounce Karmele Solaguren’s death. The protesters said the dispersion of Basque prisoners was responsible for “killing” people. Last night thousands of people protested and voiced their condemnation in many towns in the Basque Country, as they did in the hometown of Karmele Solaguren, who died while she was on her way to visit her son, Ekain Gerra, in prison.

The march in Barañain set off carrying a single ikurriña (the red, white and green Basque flag) and a photo of Karmele Solaguren. That was followed by friends of the deceased carrying a banner bearing the slogan Karmele sakabanaketak eraila. Konpromisoak orain (Dispersion responsible for Karmele’s murder. Commitments now). Then came the rest of the demonstrators. Some carried ikurriñas and others held photos of local Basque prisoners currently behind bars. The slogans heard were mainly “The people won’t forgive!” “Dispersion kills!” and “Get out of here, leave us alone!”

Before the demo began even, three Spanish Civil Guard patrols had already been stationed at the entrance to the town, even though there was less police presence than in the morning. At the entrance to the Town Hall square, where the march was scheduled to set out there were two patrol vehicles and a large van. The demo nevertheless took place peacefully and there was no trouble.

The marchers went to the house where Karmele Solaguren used to live and stood clapping outside for a minute. They returned to the Town Hall square on the way back. A Basque dancer performed an aurresku (Basque dance of honour) before a photograph of Solaguren and a young person praised the work the woman had done for the town of Barañain. “She was well-known and loved in the town for her work in favour of Basque prisoners, the Basque language and young people.” The rally ended with a message sent by Jose Luis Gerra, the father of the Basque prisoner Ekain Gerra, and widower of Karmele Solaguren. He was discharged from Soria hospital yesterday and was on his way from Madrid to Barañain while the demonstration was going on. The organisers said he had expressed his gratitude for the support they had received but had asked to be left alone during the next few days.

Batasuna representatives also joined yesterday’s rally. Arnaldo Otegi referred to International Human Rights Day; he called for the political dispersion to be ended “once and for all” and for a solution to be found to the Basque conflict. “We call on all social players and governments to build a Basque Country based on respect for all human rights, and to work for peace through a democratic process that will resolve the conflict,” he said.

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