Supporting the Basque Political Prisoners

There is no way around it, Spain's repressive measures must come to an end.

Today, thousands marched to show their support towards the collective of Basque political prisoners in a demonstration called by the Ibaeta Forum, here is the note according to EITb:

IBAETA FORUM

Mass demonstration in favour of Basque prisoners in Donostia

10/07/2006

Thousands of people have demonstrated in Donostia-San Sebastian in favour of Basque prisoners. Many leaders of banned Batasuna, leftist Aralar and Basque trade unions LAB and ELA have attended the rally summoned by the Ibaeta Forum.

The demonstration has begun at 05:00 pm at the tunnel of the Antiguo neighbourhood. The protest was opened by a banner demanding "Euskal presoak Euskal Herrira. Dagokien eskubide guztiek jabe" (Basque Prisoners to the Basque Country. In Control of all Their Rights), which was carried among others by secretary general of Basque trade union ELA Jose Elorrieta; Batasuna leaders Joseba Permach, Pernando Barrena and Joseba Alvarez; secretary general of Basque trade union LAB Rafa Diez; and leader of leftist Aralar Mikel Basabe. Juan Mari Olano, spokesman of political prisoner and exile support organisation Askatasuna; and lawyer Iñigo Iruin have also taken part at the event.

Relatives of Basque prisoners were at the head of the rally carrying photos of the inmates while the banner followed them. The attendants have chanted several slogans, such as "De Juana askatu" (Release De Juana), "Presoak Etxera" (Bring Prisoners Home), "Pakerik ez amnistiarik gabe" (No Peace without Amnesty) and "Independentzia" (Independence). A photo of Basque prisoner De Juana Chaos recalled his 62 days on hunger strike. Signatures to request his release have been collected at the event.

At the end of the rally, the spokesman of the Basque prisoners’ platform Ibaeta Forum has read a communiqué in Boulevard Street, demanding Spanish and French governments to move Basque prisoners to Basque country jails and to release “six ill prisoners and other 126 that have already served sentence”.

Batasuna

Leader of Batasuna Jone Goirizelaia has requested Spain’s government to end with its policy regarding ETA prisoners, because it is “unacceptable, even more when we are dealing with a peace process”.

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