Today at EITB

Spain attacks, the Basques speak out.

These two notes appear today courtesy of EITb:

Outlawed Batasuna affirms one part can't build process on its own

Batasuna leader Joseba Permach has denounced today that the Spanish Government is still using a "repressive strategy" revealed by Otegi's latest sentence. He has assured that "it's impossible to move a peace process forwards with the help of "an only part."

Permach and also Batasuna leader Juan Joxe Petrikorena have referred to the 15-month jail sentence for Arnaldo Otegi for praising terrorism unveiled yesterday. They have also referred to the arrest of Sandra Barrenetxea, who has denounced tortures, the shutdown of a bar linked to leftwing nationalism and the denial of permission for Otegi and Pernando Barrena to travel to Ireland to take part in a Sinn Fein act.

Basque premier demands Law takes "new stage" into account

Yesterday, Spanish National Court sentenced leader of Batasuna, Arnaldo Otegi, to 15 years in jail. In view of the sentence for Otegi, charged with praising terrorism, the Basque premier, Juan José Ibarretxe, has asserted that a new stage is open in terms of politics and "spreading justice."

Juan José Ibarretxe affirmed so referring to Otegi's offence of glorifying terrorism in a tribute paid to a late senior member of the Basque armed group ETA, José Miguel Beñaran Argala, in the Basque town of Arrigorriaga, city nearby Bilbao.

The Basque premier has pointed out that everyone should "match up with new times, justice, politics, and media." "We should take into account the new stage is open in terms of politics and spreading justice."

The Basque premier, who attended the popular celebration of San Prudencio in Vitoria-Gasteiz, has stressed the importance of separating powers in a democracy.

Nationalist politicians denied permission to travel to Ireland

A Spanish Judge on Friday denied permission to two prominent Basque nationalist politicians to travel to Ireland to attend a Sinn Fein political event next month, court officials said.

National Court Judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska said in a ruling that Arnaldo Otegi and Pernando Barrena would go in representation of an outlawed organization and that there is a risk of them fleeing the country.

In turn, leftwing trade union LAB representative, Rafa Díez, has been given permission to make that trip and represent his union in the political event.

Díez, Otegi and Barrena had asked the judge for permission to leave Spain for Ireland next May 6-12. Otegi and Barrena are both leaders of the outlawed Batasuna party, considered the political wing of the armed group ETA, which declared a permanent cease-fire last month.

Otegi was convicted Thursday of defending terrorism and sentenced to 15 months in prison.

This can tell you who wants peace, and who is rather comfortable with violence.

In other news, EITB tells us about Atxaga's presence in New York:

Basque writer Bernardo Atxaga at NY Festival of International Lit

The Basque well-known writer Bernardo Atxaga is taking part these days in the PEN World Voices, the New York Festival of International Literature, which has gathered 134 writers from 41 countries. The festival started on April 25 and will last until April 30.

Bernardo Atxaga was born in Asteasu, Gipuzkoa, in 1951. He is a poet and novelist, and writes both in Basque and in Spanish. He published his first book of poems Ziutateak (The Cities) in 1976 and two years later Etiopía, for which he won the Critic's Prize. Obabakoak was awarded Spain's National Literature Prize in 1989 and has been translated into more than 20 languages. Recently, a movie based on this novel has been in cinemas.

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