Sunday, December 31, 2006

Is He For Real?

EITb published this note about the aparent compromise by the lehendakari to push forward with the Peace Process.

Here it is:

New Year's Eve Message

"I won't consider peace process or dialogue broken" - Basque PM

Basque premier Juan José Ibarretxe said Sunday the armed Basque group "ETA has spoiled us the New Year's Eve but it has not taken away our hope".

In his traditional New Year's Eve message, talking about the situation in the Basque Country after a bomb wrecked a car park at Madrid's international airport and broke a nine-month truce, Ibarretxe said neither the Basque Government nor the Basque President "will consider the peace process or the political dialogue broken." "We can not let our hope crumble," he added.

Ibarretxe expressed sympathy for the two people still missing and those hurt in the blast after the car bomb blast in Madrid's airport.

"Our aim and our responsibility is to work in order to achieve peace, as well as to reach political agreements to decide our future, among everybody, here, in the Basque Country", Ibarretxe said.

Ibarretxe added that "(we) will not move forward as we keep mistaking ETA's violence with the solution of a political conflict. It is necessary not to mistake or to make the end of ETA's violence conditional on our right to decide our own future or, on the contrary, to make our democratic right to decide conditional on the end of ETA's violence".

On this matter, the Basque president remarked "the right of the Basques to decide their future is not neither in the hands of ETA, nor of the Spanish Govt., but in the hands of the Basques themselves".


Is he going to find the courage to strenghten the ties between all Basque political parties including Batasuna?

Or will he give up to the preassure applied by the PSOE and the PP.

Lets see what kind of a lehendakari 2007 gives us.

~ ~ ~

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Otegi: It's Not Over

Yes, all the right wingers and neocons will repeat ad nauseum that the appeasement is finally over, that you can not negotiate with violent people and such.

Yet, there are voices that urge everyone to stay calm.

Arnaldo Otegi is one of such voices, here you have the note that appeared at EITB:

The head of the outlawed Basque nationalist party said on Saturday that Spain's peace process continued despite a bomb attack at Madrid airport that ended ETA's 9-month-old ceasefire.

"The peace process...is not only not over, but now it is more necessary than ever," Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi told a news conference in the Basque city of Donostia-San Sebastian.

"What happened in Madrid, if it's confirmed ETA is behind it, doesn't take us back to the scenario that existed before March 24 (in reference to the day ETA declared its "permanent" cease-fire)" he said.

He blamed Zapatero's government for a breakdown in peace talks between separatists and Madrid. "There hasn't been a gesture, not a single one, from the Spanish government," said Otegi.


~ ~ ~

Friday, December 29, 2006

To Travel in Euskal Herria

The Seattle Times has published this article with some tips about what to do if you visit Euskal Herria, the Basque Country:

As Europe unites, ethnic regions suddenly seen by established nations as less of a threat are freer to wave their flags, speak their languages and celebrate their uniqueness. You feel that in Basque country — where France, Spain, and the Atlantic come together.

Insulated from mainstream Europe for centuries, this plucky region has maintained its spirit while split between Spain and France. Proud of their language and culture, many locals can switch effortlessly from Euskara (the Basque language) to Spanish or French. Euskara is unrelated to other west European languages. Play Scrabble here and you're into some big scores — the language is filled with k's, tx's, and z's. Restrooms in Basque are "gizonak" for men and "emakumeak" for women.

The highlights of a quick visit to Basque country are France's enticing town of St. Jean-de-Luz, and Spain's resort of San Sebastian, historic Guernica and the Guggenheim modern art museum in Bilbao.

San Sebastian, with easy 60-minute bus connections to each and the best tapas (fun appetizers) scene anywhere, is the ideal springboard. Shimmering above the breathtaking bay of La Concha, elegant and prosperous San Sebastian has a favored location with golden beaches, capped by twin peaks at either end. Its delightful beachfront promenade runs the length of the bay, with an intriguing Old Town at one end and a smart shopping district in the center. It has 180,000 residents and almost that many tourists in summer. With a romantic setting, a soaring statue of Christ gazing over the city, and a late-night lively Old Town, San Sebastian has a Rio de Janeiro aura.

Continues...


If you wish to learn more, read the entire article, is highly recomended.

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Friday, December 22, 2006

"Fashionable" Basque

A woman arranges clothes at a store in Guethary on 13 December 2006. The Basque country comprising northern Spain and southwest France is often associated, especially on the Spanish side, with its struggle for territorial independence. Now, people on the French side of the border are wearing their identity on their sleeve. Or, at least through other fashion details of their clothes, thanks to a half dozen 'Made in Basque' labels.(AFP/File/Daniel Velez)

Go figure, a fashion note gets it right.

~ ~ ~

Basque Flicker : Sin Título


, originally uploaded by bolg.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Basque Flicker : Larrabetzu. Josu-ren Urtebetetzea

Four Decades?

Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba gives a press conference in Madrid. The Spanish government refused to confirm press reports of a first meeting with the Basque separatist group ETA, some nine months after a ceasefire revived hopes of ending four decades of violence.(AFP/Philippe Desmazes)

More like five centuries of violent oppresion, genocide and the clear attempt to wipe out Europe's oldest culture.

~ ~ ~

Stanford and the Basques

Kudos to Gloria Totoricagüena and her efforts to provide Basque culture and identity with new spaces.

This note appeared at EITb:

Totoricagüena, currently director of the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno will be the primary instructor of this course that takes a multi-perspective approach to understanding Basque history, culture, and society. The course will be interactive and will include a section on Basque dance and a class trip to the Piperade Restaurant in San Francisco as part of the lesson on Basque cuisine.

The President of the Basque Country, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, has also been invited to lecture at Stanford as part of this class. Casey Nevitt, a senior at Stanford initiated this course last spring by securing guest instructors and faculty sponsorship with the support of Provost Etchemendy.

"I’ve always wished there were a course at Stanford on the Basques, who have a fascinating and remarkable history," said Etchemendy, who plans to attend and encourages other interested faculty and staff to participate as well. "Introduction to Basque Studies will provide an opportunity for those who are interested in Basque history, language and culture to learn more about them from experts in the field."

Nevitt stated that the purpose of the class is to spread awareness of historical and contemporary perspectives on Basque culture, politics, economics and society. She encourages all those interested to attend the class, whether taking it for academic credit or not.


Believe me when I tell you that the US citizens sorely need more understanding about the Basques, their history and political struggle. The way things are with the US media and the meddling of the self-righteous conservatives in every aspect of the US society, it is sad to see all the hatred and the degree of contempt you find against the Basques in the "land of the free".

By the way, where was this Provost Etchemendy during the campaign against Fascist José María Aznar's lectures at an US college?

~ ~ ~

Paris Steps Up Repression

Not wanting to leave their partners in crime in Madrid all by themselves, the colonialist oriented Parisians find novel ways to attack the basic rights of the Basques.

Here you have the note that appeared at EITb:

A Paris court ruled Wednesday that two Basque lawyers were guilty of having helped deliver documents to detained members of the armed Basque group ETA in 2003.

The court found the Donostia-San Sebastian-based lawyers used their access to members of the armed group detained in France, whom they were representing, to pass them internal ETA documents.

The Paris court sentenced Unai Errea-Berges to four years in prison, while Itziar Larraz was given three years. Both were banned from practicing law in France and from visiting the country for ten years.

Lawyers for the defendants denounced the verdict as "unreasonably repressive," and said they would appeal.

The court also sentenced the four recipients of the documents to five additional years in prison. Three of them were definitively banned from French territory upon their release from French prison.


Poor Frenchies, they know that if things start looking up for the Basques, soon they will have to deal with the Bretons, the Corsicans and the Catalonyans. If they could shed their "old glory's complex" they would be able to understand that quashing the dream for self determination of the trapped nations within the French state goes against their principles of liberty, fraternity and equality.

~ ~ ~

Monday, December 18, 2006

The Basque Race

He, I would love to see the face of those who lured by the title of the post came here thinking that I was going to splurge in some sort of glorification of what being Basque is. I'll leave that to the rabid nationalisms that fueled by an inferiority complex insist on stealing the land of others while unleashing genocide and repression (read Israel, Spain, France, England).

This is about another kind of race, the kind in which a group of people depart from one place in order to see who gets to the destination spot first.

Here you have the note, it appeared at EITb:

The popular race Korrika, organised by Basque language school net for adults AEK once every two years, will celebrate its 15th edition in 2007. Its main aim is to boost the language, but this edition will pay tribute to female speakers for their job protecting and passing on language and culture. Under the slogan "Heldu," the race will kick off on March 22 at the Carranza Valley, northwestern Basque Country, and finish in Pamplona/Iruña on April 1.

The 2007 edition was presented Monday by the manager of the event Edurne Brouard, AEK general coordinator Mertxe Mujika and Asier Amondo, member of AEK's National Commission.

The slogan of the current edition will be "Heldu," "mainly because it defines AEK's job very well, teaching adult learners, 'heldu' means that in Basque," as Brouard explained. "Heldu is a Basque word with several meanings, all of them positive. It means arrive, grasp, hold, maintain, grow up and mature."

Thus, Edurne Brouard defended Basque language "as an identity document" since "we make up the Basque Country when we speak in Basque." That is why "we can't waste what characterises us."

Likewise, Brouard believes that "everybody's compromise to claim that we are the country of the Basque language" is necessary. Korrika 15 bets for the work and collaboration of "all agents in the Basque Country," political parties, associations, unions and institutions that "overcome laws and measures that deny or limit the survival of the Basque language."


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Saturday, December 16, 2006

A Voice of Reason

Once again Sinnika Tarvainen delivers a note that is worth reading.

It was published at The Raw Story:

2007 will make or break Spain's Basque peace process By Sinikka Tarvainen

dpa German Press Agency

By Sinikka Tarvainen, Madrid- For Spain, the year 2007 could mark a turning point - many expect events in the coming 12 months to either make or break what was expected to become a historic peace process with the armed Basque separatist group ETA. Should Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's plans succeed, he would go down in history for ending a conflict which has cast its shadow over Spain for nearly four decades, claiming more than 800 lives.

Yet there are increasing signs that the peace process could flounder before it has even begun proper, and become another failed attempt to achieve peace with the group seeking a Basque country carved out of northern Spain and southern France.

When Zapatero announced peace talks with ETA in late June, many analysts believed Spain to have an unprecedented chance to finally end a long spiral of shootings, bombings, kidnappings, extortion and street violence.

Three months earlier, ETA had declared its first "permanent" ceasefire after refraining from fatal attacks for nearly three years.

There was evidence that western Europe's last armed nationalist group was weaker than ever before, with hundreds of its activists captured in recent years and the vast majority of Basques opposing its violent tactics.

ETA's political wing Batasuna showed willingness to distance itself from violence in an attempt to lift a 2003 legal ban on its activities and to participate in local elections scheduled for May 2007.

Government experts made plans for a two-track peace process. The government and ETA would discuss only practical questions, such as disarmament and the fate of some 600 jailed ETA activists, while Basque political parties including Batasuna would talk about the region's future.

The separatists, on their side, took advice from experts on the Northern Ireland peace process, such as Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and the priest Alec Reid, and studied the South African reconciliation process.

And then - nothing happened.

Angered by the government's refusal to stop arresting and trying its or ETA's members on charges ranging from participating in past attacks to staging illegal demonstrations, Batasuna declined to condemn ETA's violence - the condition for the party's relegalization.

The Socialist government meanwhile appeared to have a limited margin of manoeuvre under constant pressure from the opposition conservatives, who kept accusing Zapatero of surrendering to terrorists.

The conservative People's Party (PP) backed a string of protest rallies organized by some associations representing ETA's victims, the most recent of which brought 120,000 people to the streets of Madrid in November.

As both sides became increasingly entrenched in their positions, the separatists stepped up pressure, relaunching acts of street vandalism in the Basque region and robbing some 350 handguns in France in October.

Batasuna has also hardened its initially conciliatory tone, stressing that the eventual party talks would have to deal with topics unacceptable to Spain, such as the option of a Basque referendum on the region's independence.

Half a year after Zapatero "launched" the peace process, not a single official meeting has taken place, and the government does not intend to stage any as long as ETA does not unequivocally give up all forms of violence.

Moderate Basque nationalists and the Basque branch of Zapatero's Socialist Party have reportedly suspended preliminary meetings with Batasuna which had been laying the ground for party talks.

Neither the government nor the separatists have spoken openly of failure, but pessimism is growing on both sides.

"The process is in an increasingly serious situation every day," Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi warned recently, while Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba admitted that it was not "taking off."

Initially, many analysts were convinced that ETA could not defy public opinion by beginning to kill again after Spain had become used to peace - but now, they are no longer so sure.

Police chiefs have advised their men to start preparing for the possibility that ETA will break the ceasefire, the daily El Mundo reported.

Many are wondering whether Zapatero will follow in the footsteps of Socialist premier Felipe Gonzalez and his conservative successor Jose Maria Aznar, who failed in attempts to negotiate with ETA in 1989 and 1998-99 respectively.

Observers expect the answer to become clear by March, when Batasuna has to decide whether to contest the upcoming local elections.


She does not mention the fatalities among the Basques though, seems like nobody cares about those who have died victim to Spain's state sponsored terrorism. Just to mention an example, dozens have been killed or wounded when trying to visit their jailed relatives in prisons far away from the Basque Country, a result of a deadly policy known as "disperssion".

Now, neither González nor Aznar ever attempted to negotiate with ETA, all what they attempted was to create a diversion in order to continue to deny Euskal Herria its right to self determination.

~ ~ ~

Friday, December 15, 2006

As The Peace Process Stalls

Ok, go ahead and read the footnote for this picture:

A couple walk past a wall painted with a mural supporting the Basque separatist group ETA, reading in Basque: 'Continue the struggle!' in the Spanish town of Alsasua, Spain, Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the outlawed Batasuna party, considered ETA's political wing, spoke in Bilbao at a protest outside the Socialist Party offices saying that the fledgling peace process in the Basque region is now 'unviable', the starkest warning yet that hopes for ending the decades-conflict in northern Spain might be in jeopardy. ETA has been blamed for more than 800 deaths since the late 1960s and is Europe's last armed political militancy. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos).

First of all, 'Bietan Jarrai' does not mean "Continue the struggle!", it would actually translate into "The Two Ways", the snake stands for knowledge as the ones you find in the symbol used by doctors, while the axe stands for struggle.

And well, seems like Augusto Barrientos forgot to mention the amount of Basques murdered by Spain and France throughout the last 500 years.

~ ~ ~

A Warning From Otegi

The International Herald Tribune published a note in which Arnaldo Otegi from Batasuna warns of the perils faced by the Peace Process.

Here you have the note:

Basque militant leader says peace process is "unviable"

The Associated Press
Friday, December 15, 2006

MADRID, Spain

A leading pro-independence militant said Friday that the fledgling peace process in the Basque region is now "unviable," the starkest warning yet that the effort to end the decades-long conflict in northern Spain might be in jeopardy.

The armed Basque separatist group ETA declared what it called a permanent cease-fire in March, saying it wanted a negotiated solution. But promised peace talks with the government have yet to materialize, pro-ETA street violence has returned to Basque cities and ETA accuses the government of harassing pro-independence politicians through police raids and court rulings.

"At this moment, the peace process is not possible. It is unviable," said Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the outlawed Batasuna party, considered ETA's political wing.

He accused the ruling Socialist Party of "having broken the conditions on which the peace process sustained." Otegi spoke in Bilbao at a protest outside the Socialist Party offices.

ETA has been blamed for more than 800 deaths since the late 1960s.

In early November, ETA warned the Spanish government in a statement in an internal bulletin that the peace process initiated in March was in crisis.

In Brussels, where he was attending a summit of European Union leaders, Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he still believed that peace could be achieved and he appealed for calm.

"I have confidence in the expectations surrounding the peace process," Zapatero said. "We have to work with calm and diligence."

Who is Rodríguez trying to fool?

He has done nothing to this date to improve the conditions for neither dialogue nor peace process.

For me, seems like he is trying to emulate his mentor Felipe González.

Shall we expect a new GAL to start acting any time now?

~ ~ ~

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Remember Egunkaria?

Remember how they shut down the Basque news paper Egunkaria?

How the Spanish occupation forces arrested, tortured and incarcerated Martxelo Otamendi, its director?

How many members of the staff were jailed and had to pay large amounts as ransom in order to obtain their freedom?

Well, check this out, it was published at EITb:

Judge Juan del Olmo's ordered to shut down the Basque-language daily Euskaldunon Egunkaria. On February 20, 2003 Spanish Civil Guard entered the premises of the newspaper and closed off the building. Furthermore, ten people were arrested within the same operation charged with illegal association with the armed band ETA: Xabier Alegria, Txema Auzmendi, Xabier Oleaga, Martxelo Otamendi, Joan Mari Torrealdai, Iñaki Uria, Pello Zubiria, Inma Gomila, Luis Goia and Fermin Lazkano.

After eight days held incommunicado, Gomila, Lazkano, Otamendi and Goia were released and the judge ordered the imprisonment of the other six. The others have been released later paying their respective bails off and have been awaiting trial.

Many associations and institutions have requested to close the file on the proceedings judge Del Olmo started. Those charged also brought an appeal to the Spanish High Court, but it has not been solved yet.

Interview with editor on third anniversary of shutdown

The former editor of the daily, Martxelo Otamendi, was interviewed in the radio station Euskadi Irratia on the third anniversary of Egunkaria's shutdown, on February 20, 2006. He voiced his opinion, that the judicial process was continuing and apparently wouldn't close the file on. "The attitude of the public prosecutor is crucial in these cases, and this time he has said he will go on," he highlighted. Nevertheless, the attitude seems to have changed.

According to Otamendi, there were clear parallelisms between the macro-trial against 56 Basque leftwing nationalist activists (18/98) and the trial against Euskaldunon Egunkaria, because both of them "are initiatives of conservative PP" and "want to smash projects that arise in the Basque Country."

Asked about the "new willingness" of the president of the Spanish Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Otamendi answered that he hadn't noticed any changes.


Yes, and then there is the baboons who claim that Spain is a democracy and that the Basques are a violent lot.

~ ~ ~

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

De Juana's Health at Risk

An update on Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana.

It was published by EITb:

Basque prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos' partner, Irati Aranzabal, affirmed for the public radio station Radio Euskadi that doctors told her the inmate runs the risk to die a sudden death.

At the time being, De Juana has his hands and feet tied and has been fitted a catheter to feed him against his will.

Likewise, Aranzabal said doctors assured "the risk" of Iñaki de Juan Chaos' death "is there."

That is why she demanded "to start to do something now, because no one can stand this situation." After noting that she doesn't want "a coffin at home," she reminded that the situation of the prisoner "is very serious" and demanded his release, "because it's time for him."

Iñaki de Juana Chaos is on the 37th day of his second hunger strike in a few months to protest the 12-year sentence he was passed for writing two opinion articles in the Basque daily Gara.


~ ~ ~

Iñaki's Saga

We received this information thanks to our friends at Behatokia:

Iñaki de Juana, a continuum of rights violations

In the previous report, we referred to the various manoeuvres carried out in order to prevent Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana’s release. His situation led him to go on a hunger strike for 63 days. On October 26, the trial against him took place in the /Audiencia Nacional/, a special Court in Madrid. The Basque prisoner was facing a Prosecution request of 96 years in jail for a crime of “threats” and another of “membership of an armed organisation” because of two articles he sent to the Basque daily, Gara. During the trial, the State Prosecutor considered he had already served his sentence for “membership” so he dropped this charge and reduced his request to four years in jail for “glorifying terrorism” or, alternatively, a crime of “threats” for which the tribunal could sentence him to 13 years.

The defence counsel requested De Juana be acquitted because “the charges have not been proven at this trial”, adding that what is being used against the Donostia-born prisoner is a “criminal law for the enemy”, whereby “what is put on trial are not events, but the person”. During the trial, Iñaki de Juana explained that the content of the articles was “purely political critique” and their aim was “to denounce and inform the public about the injustice” suffered by Basque political prisoners. After stating that he could not see where anyone could find any threats in the contents of his articles, he appealed to his right to exercise freedom of speech.

Days later, the court decision was published; it sentenced Iñaki de Juana to 12 years and 7 months in prison (as well as some other additional penalties) for a crime of “issuing terrorist threats”. This crime requires, amongst other things, a serious, real, specific threat, based on the will of the issuer, etc. aimed at subverting the constitutional order or seriously breaching the peace. None of these aspects can be found in the texts. Therefore, it can be seen how in Spain, as in Guantanamo, there are situations which take us back to the time of the inquisition and which show what the criminal law for the enemy is, tailor-made, and based on hatred and revenge.

In this situation of absolute injustice, on November 7 Iñaki de Juana began another hunger strike, which is adding to the 63 day strike he had ended only a few weeks earlier, after having lost 24 kilos (3st, 5lb).

At the beginning of his protest, De Juana asked the management of Aranjuez Prison to “be held in isolation and receive no visits”. The same source stated that this request was aimed at “preventing speculation about his breaching his fast” as certain Spanish media had done during his previous strike.

Shortly later, the Spanish Penitentiary Institutions asked the /Audiencia Nacional /for permission to control the state of the Basque prisoner. An /Audiencia Nacional/ decision allows medical tests to be carried out on Iñaki de Juana, including his admission to hospital, against his will, as well as “any internal control measures believed necessary”. In their decision, magistrates Manuela Fernández, Paloma Pastor y Ricardo Rodríguez acknowledge that with these measures they are limiting De Juana’s fundamental rights. On Friday, November 24, Iñaki de Juana was admitted to the Doce de Octubre hospital, after several tests carried out, again, against his will.

When De Juana began this hunger strike, he weighed 70 kilos (11 stone) and during these first 20 days he has lost between eight and nine kilos (17-20lb).

This is the last resort left to the Basque prisoner in order to protest against the evident persecution orchestrated against him, to denounce the frantic fabrication of charges to prevent his release by all means and, at the end of the day, to demand his right to be released. At this time, Iñaki needs solidarity. We must veil for his physical integrity and demand his immediate release.


.... ... .

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Bizkaia's Clergy Supports Peace Process

First the teachers, now the priests, seems like everyone longs for peace in Euskal Herria, too bad Madrid can care less and eight months have passed with Zapatero trying everything and anything to derail the peace process. This article was published at EITb:

Bizkaia's Church will launch campaign for pacification

"Your step, support for peace" will be developed in churches and education centres in the province of Bizkaia to favour the current process arising from the cease-fire declared by ETA.

The Church of Bizkaia has launched a campaign that will conclude on February 3 under the slogan "Your step, support for peace." Several churches geographically distributed were chosen to put up a banner with that slogan and read out a message in favour of peace and reconciliation.

As the Diocese of Bilbao informed, the initiative will be carried out at parishes and education centres in Bizkaia to boost the current socio-political momentum, eight months after ETA declared a permanent cease-fire.

Two weeks before February 3, the campaign will try to raise public awareness of the importance of the political momentum. As sources noted, the Church wants to respond to "the hopeful momentum our society is living, which should lead to take an individual and community compromise."

Reconciliation

The gesture the Diocese suggests wants to be "a sign of hope for society and the Diocesan Church, awaiting peace for a long time." "We wanted to live up to the peace expectations since ETA declared an indefinite cease-fire. The Christian community wants to be conscious of the present momentum and contribute to peace and the creation of reconciliation ways," he noted.

Likewise, it wants to highlight the fact that "we are not mere audience, but main characters" of the process open in the Basque Country, and the conflict is not something external to Christian community, it has also affected the Church in its different fields."

By the way, peace now, and reconciliation only when Euskal Herria is free.

.... ... .

Teachers Support Peace Process

This note comes to us thanks to EITb:

400 teachers sign statement in defence of Basque peace process

The statement brings together, according to Elkarbide, the conditions required for the Basque peace process to progress.

Elkarbide, an association that gathers 400 Basque university teachers, issued a statement Tuesday in defence of the Basque peace process and political normalisation in the Basque Country. The statement brings together four conditions required for the peace process to succeed.

In a press conference in the Basque city of Bilbao, some of the teachers pointed out that there is an excellent historic chance to solve the Basque conflict after ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in March.

The spokesman for Elkarbide, who said to have no news about the negotiation, said to be "worried" about the current situation as well as the holdup of the process, which could make it fail.

According to the 400 Basque university teachers, there are four conditions required for the Basque peace process to progress: the abolition of the Law of Political Parties, ETA's commitment to give up violence once and for all as well as the disappearance of street violence, the humanization of the conflict and an agreement among all the political parties to defend their ideas in democracy.

The signatories of the proposal remark these requirements depend on the people who state to be committed to the Basque peace process and not on the judiciary power or "the destructive strategy" of the conservative party PP, or the "malice of some media that only seek fight and never discussion.

Finally, they expressed their concern for the "police actions that violate human rights" and, especially, "that part of the judiciary power that targets to dynamite the process with the excuse that they are observing the law." They cited as examples the prosecution against the Basque premier Juan José Ibarretxe and the socialist politician Patxi López, the searches on the offices of the outlawed party Batasuna and the trial against the Basque left-wing youth associations.

Elkarbide was born aiming to promote dialogue and communication and to give a voice to different points of vie within the politics, social and cultural fields.


.... ... .

Monday, December 11, 2006

Christmas in Euskadi

Basque Country tree : People attend the official lighting of the biggest Christmas tree in the Basque Country, in Barakaldo. (AFP/Rafa Rivas)

My guess is that this is a way to scape for a moment from a reality where the Spanish government continues to oblitarate the rights of the Basque people.

~ ~ ~

Euskera : An Ancient Language

Today at EITb they have published an article about Euskara, here you have it:

Euskara : The Basque Language

Although the exact date of its origin is unknown, most specialists agree that it is probably the oldest language on the European continent.

Basque, or Euskara, is a language of unknown origin, with no known relationship to Indo-European, Uralic or European families of languages. It has been influenced by other languages, like Celtic, Latin, Romance, Gascon and Castilian, to which it has in turn made interesting contributions.

The history of the Basque language, until well into the 20th century, is the history of a language which is gradually losing part of its territory from the south to the north as a result of a number of different historic factors (mainly political and economic). Today it is spoken in the provinces of Gipuzkoa, Biscay, Alava and Navarra, as well as in the French Basque provinces of Labourd, Basse-Navarre and Soule.

The first written literary work dates from 1545, although the first written words in Basque appear for the first time in the 10th century Emilianense annotations, written in Castilian Romance. This is mainly due to the fact that literature and popular tradition have been orally transmitted.

The recovery of Basque initially started in the 20th century with the creation of the first Basque school, or ikastola (1914), the foundation of the Basque Academy, Euskaltzaindia (1918), and the subsequent ikastola movement. It was in this same century that the bases of unified Basque were established (1968).

The revival of the 60s was consolidated in the 80s and 90s, when Basque was added to Castilian as one of the two official languages of the Basque Autonomous Community, and the Basque public institutions began adopting policies aimed at standardising and promoting the language. This means that, over the last twenty years, Basque has experienced the gradual increase in the number of new speakers, and an extension in the social and cultural areas in which it is used: education, university, administration, the media, etc., thus giving shape to an increasingly growing offer.


.... ... .

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Museums

Time for culture and travel, this article comes to us via EITb:

Museums in the Basque Country

If you want to dive into the world of the culture and museums of the Basque Country, there is much more to visit than the arch-famous Guggenheim and Artium museums.

Symbolic sculptures

Standing in the Park of the Peoples of Europe, next to the Casa de Juntas in Gernika-Lumo are Eduardo Chillida’s monument to peace, “La Casa de Nuestro Padre”; and Henry Moore’s “Large Figure in Shelter”. Located in a town embodying the freedom and history of the Basque Country, this complex is highly symbolic.

Alava Museum of Heraldry

The Alava Museum of Heraldry, located in the beautiful medieval Mendoza towerhouse, contains the heraldic shields of Alava’s ancestral homes. It likewise includes a general graphic exhibition the subject of heraldry, lineages, surnames and their interpretation.

Gastronomic museums: Llodio and Tolosa

Eating and drinking, inseparable parts of the Basque culture, are reflected in the Llodio Gastronomic Museum and in the Museum of Confectionery and Sweets in Tolosa. The former of the two covers cuisines from different periods, styles and functions, together with a restaurant outstanding for its references to famous chefs and menus from establishments throughout the world. The latter shows how confectioners have been working ever since the 16th century.

Homage to Cristobal Balenciaga

A centre, promoted by the foundation bearing his name, dedicated to the work of brilliant fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga will soon be opened in his native village of Getaria. The project is currently underway with one permanent and several temporary exhibitions intended to culminate in a museum which will serve as a witness to the contribution of this man from Gipuzkoa to the world of fashion.

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Friday, December 08, 2006

Aid Gure Irratia

A call for support and solidarity in behalf of Gure Irratia has been issued (I posted about it a couple of days ago), here you have the information directly from EITb:

Burnt down radio station Gure Irratia asks for help

The workers of the radio station that broadcasts in Basque for the Basque provinces within the French State want to be back on air as soon as possible, but they need tables, chairs and equipment.

A fire devastated the premises of the Basque station Gure Irratia on Tuesday night in Uztaritze (Ustaritz), destroying the headquarters used for the first time a few months ago, as well as material and work gathered in more than 25 years.

Computers, telephones, books, and much more was burnt down and, although the flames didn't scorch studies, they are covered with dust and most probably high temperatures severely damaged electronic equipment.

Workers want to start to broadcast again as soon as possible at premises of the Uztaritze Town Council, but they need as much help as possible to face the events.

To begin with, they need to buy the indispensable material to broadcast, and that is why they decided to launch a campaign to raise funds addressing all those people who want to help the radio station.

How to help

Money can be sent by regular mail to the address: Gure Irratia, post office box 6, 64480, Uztaritze

Furthermore, they opened a bank account at Caja Laboral-Euskadiko Kutxa: 30350059870590052623

For more information and to send solidarity messages: gureirratiaelkartasuna@euskalirratiak.info

Furthermore, a moneybox has been placed at the Basque book and Music Fair of Durango to collect money.


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Fast For Solidarity

Authoritarian regimes and their chorus of enablers in the international community will never understand solidarity. This note comes to us via EITb:

Basque musicians fast in support of ETA prisoners' rights

Several Basque artists denounced in Durango on Friday situation of the members of ETA imprisoned is getting worse since ETA declared a permanent cease-fire about eight months ago.

About a dozen Basque musicians, including members of the rock bands Ken Zazpi, Su Ta Gar, Betagarri and Exum started Thursday a 24-hour fast in support of the rights of the imprisoned members of the armed Basque band ETA.

According to the association in defence of the prisoners' rights Askatasuna, Basque songwriter Igor Arzuaga and bertsolari (Basque spontaneous poet) Unai Orma as well as several players of the Basque traditional txalaparta also take part in the fast, which takes place at Durango's Book and Music Fair.

Some other forty Basque musicians and writers, including songwriter Mikel Urdangarin and writer Kirmen Uribe, took part in another event in Durango's Kafe Antzokia in solidarity with the ETA members imprisoned.


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Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Gure Irratia Destroyed by Fire

Some sad news from Iparralde. You can read about it at EITb:

Fire destroys radio station Gure Irratia

The damages caused by the fire are "horrific," according to the director of the station, who admitted workers are really upset. Gure Irratia had moved to the new Uztaritze headquarters in April.

A fire caused spectacular damages at the radio station Gure Irratia, the most important Basque broadcasting station in the Basque provinces within the French State.

Apparently, a short circuit in one of the computers sparked the fire at about 9:15pm on Tuesday, as the director of the radio station, Agus Hernan, affirmed.

Interviewed in the programme 'Ganbara' of Radio Euskadi, Hernan explained that the damages were "horrific" and workers are "really upset."

Gure Irratia moved from Bayonne to Uztaritze in April, and inaugurated the premises in July after a digitalisation process. Nowadays there are 12 workers at the station.

Hernan affirmed that "Basque language deserves that this radio starts to broadcast again as soon as possible" and added that "the aim is to spread over radio waves with our language."

Gure Irratia's programme has been suspended but other Basque-speaking radio stations of the region will use its frequency for a while.


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Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Basque Art in Indiana

This note comes to us via EITb:

Indiana presents biggest Basque artists' exhibit ever in US

"From Rust to Restoration: Basque Art and the Bilbao Effect" will display works by 20 artists at both the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster and the IU Northwest Gallery for Contemporary Art in Gary.

After months of hard work, last week the Vice Deans of the Fine Arts Faculty of the University of the Basque Country, Jose Mari Herrera and Ismael Manterola, travelled to Indiana alongside administrator Gotzone Sagardui to witness the staging of the exhibit "From Rust to Restoration: Basque Art and the Bilbao Effect." They were shocked by the careful work organizers were carrying out to prepare the show of 20 Basque artists.

Among the painters and sculptors to showcase their works are Jesus Mari Lazkano, Jesus Lizaso, Angel Garraza, Jose Angel Lasa, Alfonso Gortazar, Daniel Tamayo, Javier Villarreal, Jose Ramon Anda, Sonia Rueda, Luis Candaudap, Iñaki de Lafuente and Dora Salazar.

Jose Mari Herrera has been arranging the exhibit for months. From Chicago, Herrera told Radio Euskadi that he received "around 50 dossiers of Basque artists" from the University of the Basque Country "and we chose around 20 of them and 40 of their works."

Presented concurrently at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana, and the IU Northwest Gallery for Contemporary Art in Gary, "From Rust to Restoration: Basque Art and the Bilbao Effect" will be open from December 4, 2006 to February 18, 2007.

Of course there was never something like this going on throughout the time I lived three hours away from Gary, Indiana.

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Harassment

This was published today at EITb:

Otegi says Spanish government firmly committed to "harassment"

According to the Nationalist leader, "only recognising the rights of all the parties and respecting all the commitments" will be possible "to coordinate a process with democratic foundations in the Basque Country".

Spokesman of Batasuna Arnaldo Otegi assured on Tuesday that Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his government should "change their attitude and conditions in order to build a process with democratic solutions, making use of the political negotiation".

Otegi, who attended a press conference in Donostia-San Sebastian with fellow party member Joseba Permach, read aloud a statement. The leader of the banned party declared that "the constant aggressions by Spanish police and courts" is a result of the firm commitment to "harassment" of Zapatero's government, which makes it impossible to carry out "a process of multilateral dialogue in the Basque Country".

"Only recognising the rights of all the parties, respecting all the commitments and having a true will to solve the conflict will be possible to coordinate a serious process with democratic foundations in the Basque Country", Otegia added.

"This is the will and the commitment of Batasuna, the Spanish government should decide his", he concluded.


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Sunday, December 03, 2006

Euskaldunberris

This note comes to us thanks to EITb:

Tribute to new Basque speakers in Donostia

The Basque government has organised a bilingual show with actors, singers, dancers and "bertsolaris" that kicked off at 12:00 pm at the Kursaal Auditorium and Congress Centre.

The Basque government celebrates on Sunday the International Basque Language Day with a show at the Kursaal Auditorium and Congress Centre in Donostia-San Sebastian. During the event, Basque Premier Juan Jose Ibarretxe will present the Ukan Awards to recognise the effort of the 'euskaldunberris' (those who have learned Basque as adults).

The programme of activities was introduced in Gipuzkoa's capital on November 29th by the Deputy councillor for Language Planning, Patxi Baztarrika; the consultant of the department, Lorea Bilbao; and the director for promoting the Basque language, Igone Etxebarria. The promotion campaign is entitled "Ukan, el virus de la convivencia" (Ukan, the Virus for Coexistence).

The deputy councillor underlined that the message they are trying to put across is based on two pillars: "coexistence and linguistic plurality".

Baztarrika stated that "coexistence is the most important objective in any society, and equality is the way". Likewise, he explained that "the disappearance or the weakening of a language is similar to the disappearance of a species".

The deputy councillor also stressed that "languages are the tools for the integration and preservation of the mutual respect" and therefore, "it would be ridiculous to brand the promoting of the Basque language as being detrimental to Spanish or French".

Sunday's show at the Kursaal Auditorium and Congress Centre in Donostia-San Sebastian will be bilingual and full of activities with actors, singers, dancers and "bertsolaris" (poets who improvise in the Basque language).


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Saturday, December 02, 2006

Voices

A woman signs a peace petition at the end of an Ahotsak congress in Bilbao December 2, 2006. Ahotsak, or 'Voices' in Basque, is an all-female, cross party association formed to promote the Basque peace process, following the declaration of a ceasefire by armed separatists ETA. REUTERS/Vincent West (SPAIN)

Separatists?

The Basque Country (or Navarre, whatever way you want to call it) has never accepted Spanish nor French rule, you can not part from an entity you never joined by your own will. There is only one way it can be called, independentism, wether the word exists in English or not. Come on Vincent, give yourself a break.

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Spain Must Give Up Torture

This is quite interesting, the Basque Parliament passed a bill to demand from Spain to stop torturing Basque citizens. Here you have an article about from EITb:

Basque Parliament urges Spain to admit existence of tortures

The text approved on Friday requested the Spanish government to abolish the Anti-Terrorist Law, as well as that the detainees would not be held incommunicado.

The Basque parliament passed on Friday an initiative that requested the disappearance of the Spanish High Court and urged the Spanish government "to admit the existence of tortures and its systematic application in certain cases". The document was passed with the votes of Basque Nationalist PNV and EA, Leftist Aralar and the Communist Party of the Basque Lands (EHAK).

The groups that form the governing coalition did not agree on their vote: PNV and EA backed the initiative, while the Communist EB abstained. Basque Socialist PSE-EE and Conservative PP voted against.

The text urges the Spanish government "to abolish the Anti-Terrorist Law, as well as that the detainees would not be held incommunicado". Likewise, it requests "the disappearance of the Spanish High Court as a special court, since a fair trial is not possible when statements made under torture are accepted".

The document also asked the Spanish High Court "to stop and shelve all court proceedings where torture and solitary confinement have been applied". Finally, it showed solidarity with torture victims.

Now the PNV must do something about its own top torturer, Javier Balza.

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Learn About Korrika

This note was published today at EITb:

What is Korrika?

Organised by the Coordinator of Literacy and Basque promotion (AEK), the Korrika is a race throughout the Basque Country to support the Basque language.

Imagine a non-stop relay race throughout all the Basque Country to support the Basque language, hundreds of thousands of runners and several cultural events and celebrations in the whole Basque country as the race takes place. That is the korrika.

The objective of this race is to raise awareness of the Basque language and collect funds to carry out this work on a daily basis in the study centre of the coordinator.

The first race took place in 1980 from Oñati (Gipuzkoa) to Bilbao (Bizkaia). Since then, there have been 13 korrikas held over 24 years. This year the race will last 10 days and will cover 2150 km throughout Euskal Herria in which 600,000 people will participate, as in previous editions. During the race the runners carry a baton containing a message which will not be made public until the last day of the race.

Who organises the Korrika?

AEK, Coordinator of Literacy and Basque promotion is in charge of organising this event, with the objective of promoting the Basque language and recovering the language. To do this, the coordinator works in the field of adult literacy in the Basque language: research, creation of didactic materials, courses for teaching staff, organisation of cultural events and creation of awareness campaigns in favour of the Basque language.


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Friday, November 24, 2006

Dating From Iruña-Veleia Confirmed

Some important news from the Iruña-Veleia archaeological site have been published at EITb:

Analysis confirms dating of Iruña-Veleia Basque inscriptions

Analysis carried out by the research team confirms the unearthed inscriptions in the Basque language date from the third century AD.

Research carried out in several specialised labs confirmed Friday the authenticity of the inscriptions in Basque language unearthed at a Roman site near the Basque town of Vitoria-Gasteiz some months ago. According to this research work, the inscriptions in the Basque language date from the third century.

Basque linguists hailed the discovery at the time as extraordinarily important. Basque, or euskera to its speakers, is considered to be one of the oldest languages in Europe and scholars have long wondered whether it is derived from African, Caucasian or Etruscan tongues, or if it developed in isolation.

Until now, a text written by a monk in both Castillian Spanish and Basque had been the oldest written example of the language, dating from the year 1040. The new inscriptions, found at the Roman site of Iruña-Veleia, included the names of colours, verbs and references to God, Christianity and the Holy Family etched into bricks, bones and pieces of glass.

Among the words inscribed were the colours "urdin" (blue), "zuri" (white) and "gorri" (red), verbs "edan" (drink) "ian" (eat) and "lo" (sleep), the excavation team said.

Another piece read "Iesus, Ioshse ata ta Miriam ama" (Jesus, the father Joseph and the mother Mary) while another had the greeting "Geure ata zutan" (May the Father be with you). Archaeologists also found pictures depicting the life of Jesus, including what could be a Last Supper.


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Thursday, November 23, 2006

Durangos' Book Fair Dedicated to Travels

Time to talk about cultural topics, this note comes to us thanks to EITb:

Travels, central theme in Basque Book and Record Fair of Durango

The organisers of the 41st edition of the fair said that there will be 221 participants in 317 stands, presenting 360 new works. It will be held from December 6 to 10.

The Basque Book and Record Fair of Durango, presented on Wednesday in Bilbao, will be held from December 6 to 10. This edition will pay special attention to travelling, and there will be many activities linked to the issue, among them round tables, interviews, film releases and picture shows.

As organisers explained, there will be 221 participants in 317 stands, presenting 360 new works. Writer Kirmen Uribe will deliver the inauguration speech.

Furthermore, Radio Euskadi's travelling programme head Roge Blasco will be interviewed and the film El vasco de la carretilla will be released on the inauguration day.

There will also be music in this fair. Karidadeko Benta and Pata Negra will offer an inter-cultural concert, and there will also be a photo show entitled "Paraleleo 21." The Web site of the fair will give some room for chatting with Eneko Etxebarrieta and Miyuki Okabe, touring around the world by tandem.

Argizaiola Award and commercial

In turn, the Argizaiola Award of the Basque Book and Record Fair of Durango will be for the magazine Jakin on its 50th anniversary. The magazine has 2,300 subscribers and around 6,000 readers, and has always searched to merge Basque language and culture.

Miriam Peña, from Durango, designed the poster to announce this edition, and for the first time, a TV commercial will announce the fair. Several well-known figures appear in the ad inviting people to visit and enjoy the Basque Book and Record Fair of Durango.

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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Right to Decide

The Basque news outlet EITb has published the results of a survey that indicates a high percentage of Basques would like to exercise their right to decide the future of their nation, here you have it:

88% of the Basques believe they have the right to decide

Half of the Basques think that the Basque Country is a nation. The 45% will back the country's independence in a referendum. The data is included in a survey by Gizaker for Basque radio station radio Euskadi.

The survey that was carried out in October discloses that eight out of ten Basques believe that they have "the right to decide their future", a majority opinion in all the three territories of the autonomous region. Moreover, the 66% considers that the future should be "just a decision of the Basques", that's to say, that future should exclusively be defined by the Basques. Just two out of ten people think that future should be defined "among Basques and Spaniards".

In view of the possibility to carry out a referendum on independence, the 45% of those polled would support the matter while 25% would vote against it. The final result would be then in the hands of the undecided voters, since the 30% have not got clear their position or they just would not vote.

It is outstanding that half of the population (52%) considers the Basque Country to be a nation, being the figures for this topic in Navarre a 32% and in Iparralde (Northern Basque Country in the French State) a 34%.

The data regarding the feeling of belonging to the Basque Country is also remarkable. All citizens think that their province belongs to the Basque Country. According to the survey, 62% of the Basques state that there is no shadow of doubt that "Navarre is part of the Basque Country", although in Navarre this feeling is lower. A 49% of the Navarrans consider that Navarre is not part of the whole. The feeling of belonging is also greater in Iparralde.

Gizaker carried out the over-the-phone survey to 1,000 citizens from the autonomous region, Navarre and Iparralde between 18th and 25th October.


Let us remember now that as co-signers of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, both France and Spain must recognize the right of the Basque nation to decide its future.

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Monday, November 13, 2006

Fear of Peace Process Collapse

Zapatero and Borbon think that the Basque people is not aware of their efforts to derail the Peace Process, well, according to the result of this survey published at EITb the Basques are painfully aware that Madrid is not up to the task and prefers violence and confrontation over peaceful negotiation and resolution.

Here you have it:

Half of Basque society afraid of cease-fire collapse

A 93 percent of Basques are in favour of the process, but are cautious about its course. Half of them think it's advancing very little and are afraid it could collapse, according to a survey by Gizaker for Radio Euskadi.

Basque citizens are overtly in favour of the peace process. Nine out of ten citizens in the Basque Country are in favour of the process, a stance common to all stratums, according to a survey carried out by Gizaker for the public station Radio Euskadi.

Navarre is the province in which the support is lowest with an 89 percent. Those who don't support it say it's not fair, leads nowhere or means surrender. Among those who back the process, the 36 percent think that the way to advance is dialogue, although prisoner's rapprochement and amnesty are considered good measures as well.

Most of those polled –nine out of ten- are in favour of talks between the Spanish Government and the armed band ETA to put an end to violence and a multiparty table to search the end of the political conflict.

The process is not advancing

Despite the support to the peace process and the results, there is some kind of confusion among citizens with regard to its course. Over half citizens in the Basque Country believe that there has been little or no progress since the ceasefire was declared.

Most people don't know why there is no progress, but those who voiced their opinion said the Spanish Government is mainly responsible for it. Curiously, those who think there has been some progress (41.8 percent) think that it was thanks to the steps taken by Zapatero's Government as well as ETA.

Most of them –seven out of ten- think that conservative PP and UPN are the only parties that don't want the process to prove fruitful.

Fear of truce collapse

Over half Basques –six out of ten- consider that ETA could put an end to the truce and could attack people. There is not a clear idea on when definitive peace could be reached. Half citizens assure they don't know, and a 35 percent think maybe in less than five years.

Citizens don't have the feeling that their personal life quality will change if ETA disappears.

The survey was carried out by Gizaker with a sample of 1,000 individuals living in the Basque Autonomous Region, from October 18 to 25.

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Saturday, November 11, 2006

If You Visit Gazteiz

Just in case your wandering takes you to Gazteiz, here you have some advice from EITb about where to get the best pintxos in town:

Pintxos in Vitoria-Gazteiz

Pintxos are real miniature culinary masterpieces. In numerous Basque towns there are certain areas with a concentration of taverns and bars which specialise in the preparation of these gastronomic jewels.

Eating pintxos is usually accompanied by "poteo" or bar hopping, which consists of drinking wine, cider or zuritos (small glasses of beer) while standing in the company of friends and moving from one establishment to the next.

Casco Viejo

The cobbled streets of Vitoria's Old Town are not only the nightlife scenery for the young. During the day, at around midday, many of its bars offer dozens of miniature specilities on the counters, which are ideal to accompany the Rioja wine, which is a must here to enjoy what Alava has to offer. Vitoria's pintxos are prepared with products from the land, meats and vegetables. In particular, they use cold cured meats, cheese and peppers, which are the real kings of Vitoria's bars. Amongst the bars that best look after this gastronomic offer we must mention, Trafalgar, Bazter or Ondarribi.

Town center

The city's shopping and walking area. The streets invite you to walk peacefully, and for this, there is nothing better than stopping at the bars, such as El Rincón de Luis Mari in the calle Rioja with its excellent bar; the banderillas at Saburdi (Dato, 32); the variety of cold and hot pintxos at Casa Felipe (Fueros, 28); traineras, salmon rolls and pintxos of mushroom with ham and Dublin Bay prawns at El Dólar (Florida, 26) and gildas, omelettes or slices of bonito with mayonnaise and piquant red peppers at El Mesón (Ortiz de Zárate, 5).

Zona Nueva

The area surrounding Gasteiz Avenue is a business and office area. Mid morning, it is very common to see the office workers in the bars to have a wine and a pintxo before going back to work. They meet at places like Los Guaranís, popular for its octopus and calamari; Altair, specialising in bread rolls with fillings, or Alboka, popular for its hot snacks.

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Peace Process and Self-Determination

While Zapatero continues to stall the Peace Process, allowing authoritarian individuals like Baltasar Garzon to step up the repressive measures, people in the Basque Country take to the streets to show their support for the self-determination of their land. This note comes to us via EITb:

Thousands people claim self-determination in Bilbao

Police presence has been notable as judge Garzon ordered Home Department not to allow any symbol related to leftist nationalist organization Askatasuna.

Thousands people rallied in the protest called by leftist nationalists in Bilbao. The slogan was “Basque Country, self-determination”. The demonstration began at around 5 p.m. and marched surrounded by important police presence.

Banned leftist nationalist party Batasuna members: Arnaldo Otegi, Rufino Etxeberria, and Pernando Barrena, and trade union LAB secretary, Rafa Diez Usabiaga, were some people heading the protest.

In the beginning of the rally, several people unfolded a placard in a bridge. It said “Release De Juana”, referring to Basque armeg group ETA prisoner. He restarted the hunger strike after being sentenced to twelve years and seven months imprisonment for writing two opinion articles.

When the demonstration was about to begin, an Ertzaintza responsible informed the people calling the rally of conditions in which the protest had to be carried out.


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Friday, November 10, 2006

Batasuna's Commitment

Madrid (through both the PSOE and the PP) is trying to derail the Peace Process, the PNV is out of ideas, but there is those who stick to their commitment with the Basque people. This note at EITb talks about it:

Otegi: "We commit ourselves to work until the end" of process

Spokesman of banned Batasuna has stressed that armed group ETA has shown reliable evidence of being willing to "find a solution to the conflict".

Spokesman of Basque Nationalist Batasuna Arnaldo Otegi stated on Friday that the Leftists "commit ourselves to work till the end" of the peace process and the political normalisation in the Basque Country.

In an interview on Basque public TV ETB, Otegi explained that his yesterday's statements were "categorical" in order to "warn citizens of the state of the situation". He also noted that it is already five months that the process is blocked due to the lack of any improvement in the creation of the negotiating table, as well as to the persecution the Basque Nationalists are undergoing. He considered that the 12-and a-half-year sentence to Iñaki De Juan Chaos is "the last straw that broke the camels' back".

"Despite all of this, we will carry on working. Channels are still open", he said. "To stabilise the peace process, it is necessary an agreement among Basque parties on the "methods and the political agenda for the multilateral dialogue".

Otegi maintained that ETA "has not broken anything" and has given "reliable evidence" of being willing to "look for a democratic solution to the conflict".


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Friday, November 03, 2006

Basque Parliament and Self-Determination

This note comes to us thanks to EITb:

PP and PSE voted against

Basque parliament adopts resolution on self-determination

11/03/2006

The motion introduced by Nationalist EA and Communist EB has been supported by all parliament groups, except for Conservative PP and Socialist PSE. The Basque Chamber adopted a similar resolution in 2002.

The Basque parliament has adopted on Friday by the votes of Nationalist PNV, Nationalist EA, Communist EB, Leftist Aralar and the Communist Party of the Basque Land EHAK an initiative that supports the right of the Basque society to decide its future. Conservative PP and Socialist PSE did not support the document. The resolution pledges its commitment to a dialogue without exclusion in order to establish the basics to achieve a political normalisation.

The motion by Nationalist EA and Communist EB congratulates Montenegro for the referendum they held on May 21st to consult the country's union with Serbia.

PNV member of parliament Jose Antonio Rubalkaba has stated that it's time that the Basques could exercise that right since "most" of the society demands it.

PSE leader Patxi Lopez has said that he is willing to "go into that topic", although he has specified that always "within the law". The Socialist leader has explained that some things are decided among Basques, others jointly with the rest of the Spaniards and some others with the Europeans".

PP's spokesman of parliament Leopoldo Barreda has also defended the self-determination right, but he has underlined that that right is "not our business", since we are "self determined within Spain".



How strange that the PP and the PSOE voted against the right of the Basque people to its self determination, I wonder why they did it.


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