Democratic Framework Campaign

This note appeared at An Phoblacht:

22 November, 2007

Other News

International : Basque pro-independence movement launches new campaign

‘Onto the streets, into the workplaces, into the universities’

THE Basque pro-independence movement has pledged to take its campaign for ‘A Democratic Framework’ for conflict resolution “onto the streets, into the workplaces and into the universities”.

A massive meeting in Donostia – which included some of the historical leaders and activists of the party together with those members of the current leadership that have not been imprisoned by Spanish courts – heard that ‘A Democratic Framework’ is the key to creating the political change that could bring to an end the current situation of “a lack of recognition and division suffered by the Basque Country at the hands of the Spanish and French establishments”.

This is a proposal that Basque nationalist left activists are ready to take to “each neighbourhood, each village... to make it known to all Basque citizens and... to unite in a real popular offensive”.

Fullaondo said she wanted to send two clear messages to “all Basque nationalist left and democrats” of the country.

“First of all, we reaffirm the commitment to work for the rights of this people. Secondly, we will keep working towards our political project – independence and socialism. Despite all aggression and all obstacles, we will not step back when it comes to achieving our objectives.”

She continued:

“In our hands we have a proposal made by the people and for the people, and [the Establishment] will not silence us. They will try to misrepresent it and to silence our proposal but, with the citizens’ commitment, work and struggle we will overcome all obstacles. The proposal will be presented on the streets, in the workplaces, in the schools and in the universities.”

The pro-independence spokesperson reminded people that the Spanish Government “only offers repression and the imposition of a constitution whose final objective is to close the doors to independence”.

From Fullaondo’s point of view, the conservative PNV Basque Nationalist Party’s strategy serves to reinforce the Spanish strategy as its framework does not consider the possibility of independence for the Basques but “an agreement that closes the door to independence” and reinforces the partition of the Basque territories.

In relation to the creation of a democratic framework, Barrena pointed out to the necessity of an agreement between the “Basque political, social and economic agents”. Initially, the proposal includes a referendum for citizens to decide on the reunion of the provinces under Spanish rule that are, at the moment, divided under two different autonomous administrations. Then those Basque territories under French control can decide if they want to join them.

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