Widespread protests against King of Spain’s visit
1,500 people attended yesterday’s demonstration at midday and 800 the rally in the afternoon
Estitxu Ugarte – ARRASATE (Mondragon)
About fifteen hundred people met in front of the town hall in Arrasate (Mondragon) in Gipuzkoa at midday yesterday to take part in the demonstration to oppose the visit of the King and Queen of Spain. The protesters, most of whom were carrying ikurrinas (red, white and green Basque flags), took up their places behind a banner bearing the slogan Errege espainiarra kanpora! (Spanish King out!). Eight hundred people supported the afternoon demonstration.
Organisers of the midday demo said the inhabitants of Arrasate were “furious” that the MCC (Mondragon Co-operative Corporation) had invited the King of Spain to officially open some new installations. They pointed out that there was no justification whatsoever for bringing “the main representative of Spanish oppressors” to Arrasate when there was talk of peace and resolution [of the Basque conflict].
Although the King and Queen of Spain did not arrive until midday, there was a strong Ertzaintza presence starting early in the morning, particularly in the Uribe neighbourhood, the location of the first installation the Spanish King was due to open. Supporting the Ertzaintza was a helicopter flying to and fro throughout the day. According to the testimonies of some of the inhabitants, the Spanish Army had been deployed in the surrounding mountains.
It was clear from the town’s appearance that it was going to be a special day. Ikurrinas had been hung from many balconies in response to a request made by the organisers of the protest. The walls of the town were plastered with posters announcing the events to protest against the visit. All over the place was graffiti like Kolonoei kaña!, Hau ez da Espainia ezta Frantzia ere (Clobber the colonisers! This isn’t Spain or France, either).
By 12.30 the main square in Arrasate was overflowing with people. Before the demo began, the organisers of the march denounced the “police harassment” that had taken place during the day. They said: “The residents in the Uribe neighbourhood have borne the brunt of the Ertzaintza assault; for example, officers have been continually making them provide proof of identification and some young people have been pursued all the way to their front doors.” Moreover, the Ertzaintza changed the protesters’ original route “for security reasons” and did not allow them to march through the Uribe neighbourhood. As a result, the march had to set out from the main streets without getting close to the neighbourhood where the King of Spain was.
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