Taking Their Time

They can care less about a peace process, they feel more comfortable when violence rules the front pages of the news papers.

They have done nothing to improve the situation in order to create a better atmosphere to surround the alleged peace negotiations. In fact, if anything, the situation is worst now than before ETA's call for a ceasefire. The dispersion continues, the arbitrary detentions continue, the allegations of torture are still being dismissed, but a new element of repression has been added, the Basque political prisoners are now in clear and present danger of facing virtual life sentences.

And this is all what Rodriguez Zapatero's socialists have to say:

Socialists Will Propose Debate on Basque Peace Process in October

At the European Parliament

09/26/2006

Socialist party in the European parliament will propose a debate on the Basque peace process in the October 23rd parliamentary session, spokesman for the socialist party Enrique Barón crespo reported.

The debate aims to get an announcement of the European Parliament similar to the one by the Spanish Parliament May 2005, according to Barón.

European Socialists leader Martin Schulz will propose the debate in this Thursday's meeting of the leaders of the political parties to decide the schedule of the parliamentary session.

In a parallel initiative, the Spanish socialists members of the European Parliament will send a letter to the rest of parliament members enclosing the Spanish Parliament's offer of talks to ETA May 2005 in order to "avoid confusion," socialist Euro MP Elena Valenciano explained.

Spanish Parliament endorsed 17th May 2005 a plan for talks with the armed Basque group ETA if ETA gave up violence. The plan was approved by all the parties but opposition conservative PP.

This initiative has the support of all the Spanish members of the European Parliament but for the members of the PP.

And then, one has to wonder why is the PP so adamant about their rejection when the PSOE is taking the repression against the Basque society to a whole new level.

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What Concerns?

Ok, before we go into it, read the note that appeared at Yahoo News:

ETA refuses to surrender arms before Basque independence

Sun Sep 24, 11:32 AM ET

Spain's Basque separatist group ETA has said it will not give up its weapons until independence for the Basque region is won, fuelling concerns over the future of a six-month-old ceasefire.

Three masked ETA members read out a statement on Saturday night that said the group "confirms its commitment to continue to fight, weapons in hand, until independence and socialism for the Basque country is won," witnesses told AFP.

"Our blood is ready for that. We shall succeed," the three told a crowd of around 1,000 people gathered in a forest in the Basque region in northern Spain to pay homage to slain members of the group.

They interrupted the celebrations to fire seven shots into the air.

Without referring to the statement directly, Spain's left-wing Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Sunday that his government would "continue to work solidly towards an end to violence" in the Basque region.

But an organisation representing the victims of ETA attacks, the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), said the Basque separatists' statement showed the group could not be trusted.

ETA intended to continue "submitting Spaniards to a process of blackmail, because it has not given up its arms or its objectives," AVT President Francisco Jose Alvarez told the Europa Press news agency.

He added that the current peace process would soon "break down as others have done and will not be as speedy and imminent" as Zapatero promises.

The AVT, which is politically close to Spain's right-wing opposition Popular Party, is organising a major demonstration on October 1 in the southern city of Seville to protest against the idea of direct talks between the government and ETA.

ETA declared a permanent ceasefire in March -- exactly six months ago -- after an armed separatist campaign that lasted 38 years and left almost 850 people dead.

But the Spanish government is only cautiously moving towards all-party talks on the future of the northern region straddling the Pyrenees, amid fierce opposition from the conservative Popular Party.

The lack of progress has sparked frustration among Basques, prompting demonstrations and violence and raising fears that the ceasefire could be abandoned.

Since late August there has been a renewal of urban violence in the Spanish Basque country, with young, radical ETA sympathisers blamed for burning buses and throwing Molotov cocktails.

The head of the Basque regional government, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, said on Friday that he was "worried" about the "evident obstacles to progress and consolidation of the (peace) process."

ETA's political wing Batasuna believes that the peace process is currently in a "particularly serious situation".

The conservative daily ABC, meanwhile, cited "absolutely reliable sources" as saying on Friday that ETA's ceasefire could be jeopardised if there was no significant progress by mid-October.

Anyone who gets a reading that ceasefire is running out of time when learning about the statment sorely needs to increase his or her IQ.

ETA is not saying that they will fall for the traps and obstacles that Madrid is placing on the road to a solution for the Basque conflict. What ETA is saying is simple, once independence is achieved there will be no need for them to keep their weapons, because in a free and sovereign Basque nation no one will have to defend himself of herself from the attacks by the Spanish or French armed forces, that simple.

And to those who see this action by ETA as a return to their alleged violent ways I would like to remind you that Madrid never renounced to their state sponsored terrorism during the last six months, evidence of this situation are the rash of arbitrary detentions, the virtual life sentences handed down to at least ten Basques political prisoners and the refusal by Madrid to end the dispersion.

So, there you have it, it is Madrid the one that feels at ease with violence, wether the one that occupies the post of Prime Minister comes from the PP or the PSOE.

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The Basque World Congress

This is something I just learned about.

It comes to us via EITb:

50 Years Since World Basque Congress I

1956 Paris

09/23/2006

Today, it is 50 years since president Agirre´s dream, first World Basque Congress, became truth.

UPV's Contemporary History professor Ludger Mees, interviewed in radio programme "Mas que palabras" in Radio Euskadi, has declared that the event was extremely important in its times as 20th constitution anniversary of first Basque Government was also reminded. Such anniversary had a relevant importance in the field of contemporary Basque history and in the history of anti-Franco period movement in the Spanish State.

In the fifties, "Spanish and Basque republican anti-Franco years led by Agirre went into crisis after dictator Franco succeeded in coming out of the international isolation" when he signed agreements whose basis were set in U.S.. Such agreements triggered the anti-Franco period movement to be offside.

Nevertheless, few years before the summit Agirre decided "to recover the strength the movement previously had and to unify different Basque anti-Franco years factions in a large event where they could go beyond their differences" to show the unity of the movement, Mees explained.

According to Mees, every Anti-Franco period sector and entire Basque Government took part in the congress. Many of the attendants came from Latin America where they were in exile and about 60 succeeded to come from the State. Some attendants became important people in Basque politics posterior to Agirre's death.

"Though there were big frictions among anti-Franco period sectors, we have to underline that Agirre joined all of them in one single event that set up a highly important symbol". The historian emphasized.

By that time, Agirre had already seen that the allies' intervention against Franco had failed. Nonetheless, instead of becoming immersed in crisis he tried to find "another way: the European way. Approaching Europe that was being built, joining the continent as democrats, and isolating from Franco. He thought that the dictator would have to abdicate and ease the incorporation of not only the Basque Country but Spanish State too, to the emerging Europe".

However, what Agirre had planned did not come true. This is why Mees thinks that Agirre's main achievement was organizing first World Basque Congress. Finally, though he continued keeping in touch with Europe, first Basque president died in 1960 without being able to see his dreamt free and democratic Euskadi (Basque Country).

We should keep in mind that today, a pseudo-socialist government calls the shots in Spain, and Franco's followers still run amok. The violence against the Basques set in place by the Franco regime and its heirs, the members of the Partido Popular, has been strenghtened by the members of the PSOE, years ago with the creation of the GAL, and today, refusing to seat down and negotiate an end to the Spanish occupation of Euskal Herria even after six months of ETA's announcement of a cease fire.

All of this repression would not be possible if it was not for the quiet support by the other European nations, simply because many of them are also occupying other nations. Examples?

England occupies Scotland and Wales, also keeps an outpost in Ireland.

France occupies parts of the Basque Country, parts of Catalunya, Brittany and Corsica.

And so on and so forth.

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A Basque Ad Shepherd

Here you have the unlikely story of a Basque immigrant who somehow landed in an ad campaign. Our best wishes go to his beloved ones.

Comes to you thanks to the Marin Independent Journal:

West Marin shepherd was humble star of TV ads

Rick Polito

A West Marin shepherd, whose humble demeanor won him the attention of millions, is dead at 51.

Dio Choperena, who was featured in a multimillion-dollar ad campaign for AT&T Wireless five years ago, died of cancer Sept. 12 at home in Petaluma.

Mr. Choperena was anticipating the birth of twin sons next month. "He wanted to hold them and see them so bad," his widow, Kathy, said Wednesday. "He's not going to be there. It makes it so hard."

A celebration of his life was held Tuesday in Petaluma.

Mr. Choperena grew up in Spain's Basque country and moved to the United States at age 17 to be a shepherd, drawn to the American West by "all the cowboy movies." He worked first in Wyoming but moved to West Marin when his brother needed help on a Tomales ranch.

His unlikely turn at stardom began Easter Sunday in 2000 as he sat in the William Tell Inn in Tomales. Mr. Choperena lived in Dillon Beach and the bar was a regular stop.

Casting director Toni Cervantes was on the hunt for an authentic shepherd for the AT&T campaign and was down the street at Diekmann's General Store scanning the phone book for dairy ranches, when a friend of Mr. Choperena's friend told her about the shepherd and pointed here to the William Tell.

Mr. Choperena appeared in a series of TV spots and print ads, making cell phone calls amid his flock. The commercials featured him leading his sheep along busy downtown streets and through the colorful Venice Beach.

The shepherd maintained his humble habits despite the fame.

Three years ago, he became a landscape contractor, starting a new business and moving to Petaluma. But he kept his sheep. He owned 400 at the time of his death.

Kathy Choperena says her husband remained vigorous until the end. "He worked up until two days before he died," she says.

His widow suggests donations in his memory to the American Cancer Society.

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Haaretz's Take on Terrorism

It is a bit weird to read about terrorism at a newspaper from a country that is considered to be involved in what is widely seen as state sponsored terrorism.

I could have dismissed the whole thing but right off the bat the author places ETA among his list of terrorist organizations, a list that does not include the Irgun nor the Israeli Defence Forces. And well, this is simply unacceptable.

Now, despite his obvious bias which blinds him from seeing all the carnage that the Zionists have visited upon the region due to their nightmarish obsession with an expantionist Jewish state, the article does contain a few good things.

Example:

2. 'One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.'

More of a half-truth than an out and out lie, given the propensity of supporters of one side to explain and forgive atrocities committed by that side, while condemning and often exaggerating atrocities committed by the other.

It is worth noting that definitions of terrorism are legion and agreement is rare.

For the purposes of this piece, however, we will use a formula contained within a UN report issued last year, which defined terrorism as any action: "intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act."

For the purpose of this piece, therefore, we will declare that any side which intentionally attacks non-combatants is practicing terrorism.

With Melitón Manzanas, Admiral Carrero Blanco and all the Guadia Civil elements targeted by ETA this definition makes ETA commandos into freedom fighters.

3. All resistance to illegal occupation is legitimate.

Intentional attacks on innocents are inherently illegitimate

How about Durango and Gernika? And the GAL?

8. 'The objective of the [(check one) war / incursion bombing campaign / liquidation raid] in [Lebanon / Gaza / northern Samaria] is the swift release of the kidnapped soldier/s.'

There is little persuasive evidence that the kidnappers of IDF soldiers can be bombed, assassinated, or otherwise militarily pressured into agreeing to release the captives they hold.

There is more than circumstantial evidence to suggest that the kidnapping may become a pretext for military action aimed at attacking an organization which engages both in guerrilla activity and in terrorism, with Hamas and Hezbollah the primary illustrations.

Whoa!

Finally, hidden in the entire article a pearl of truth. This paragraph tells us that yes, what Israel did in Lebanon can be considered terrorism.

9. 'If there were no occupation, there would be no terrorism.'

It is debatable whether this statement fits better into the status of a lie or a contention. It is, in any event, an argument which has lost much of its power in the wake of the pull-out from the Gaza Strip. Within days, evacuated settlements were used as launching pads for rocket attacks that markedly increased terrorist attacks against southern Israel.

Uh oh, back to the bias. Israel left the Gaza Strip but there is plenty of kibbutzim in the West Bank, ergo, the occupation continues.

10. 'Terrorism is the only defense of oppressed peoples against the vastly better equipped oppressor.'

On the surface, terrorism seems to work, despite its moral failings. But in the case of the Gaza withdrawal, hailed by Hamas as the Great Victory of Resistance, it may be persuasively argued that Israel would have withdrawn from the Strip years, perhaps even decades before, had terror groups not worked to foil every attempt at a peace agreement.

The fact is that Israelis were trying to find a formula to leave Gaza for years. There were even many in the settlement movement who viewed Gaza as a distinct liability to the wider cause.

One thing is certain - terrorism is self-destructive on the broadest levels. It has cost the Palestinians their once-broad support in Israel and around the world for the swift creation and recognition of an independent Palestine.

Terror attacks following the disengagement have persuaded most Israelis that further withdrawals would be mistaken.

Terrorism, particularly the concept of suicide bombing, has tarnished the Palestinians' good name in the world, and their image of David in the contemporary Goliath myth.

There are many diplomatic, political and public relations alternatives to terror. Had the Palestinians focused on them and not on the armed struggle, they would have had statehood long ago.

What a lie, the whole world supports the Palestinian right to statehood, if it was not for the USA there would be a Palestinian state as we speak.

Oh yes, this is supposed to be an experiment, so if you want to be part of it go check out the article "The 10 most useful lies about terrorism".

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Solidarity with Basque Hunger Striker

We received this urgent call for action from the Belfast Basque Committee:

PROTEST RALLY SATURDAY 23RD 12.30PM AT EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFICE, WINDSOR HOUSE, BELFAST

URGENT ACTION NEEDED

BASQUE POLITICAL PRISONERS ON 44 DAYS ON HUNGER STRIKE

On August 7, Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos began a hunger strike to demand his right to be released. Iñaki de Juana should have been released on October 25, 2004, after serving his sentence in full and having spent 18 years in jail. However, the Magistrate at the First Penal Court of the Spanish Audiencia Nacional (Spanish Special Court) Gómez Bermúdez, issued a decision dated October 22, attempting to contest the remission Iñaki was entitled to and to stop his release .

In view of the impossibility to maintain this line of argument, the judge decreed his remand in custody for an alleged crime of membership of an armed group and terrorist threats.

The basis for the accusations were two opinion articles the prisoners sent to the daily Gara . This is depsite Audiencia Nacional judge Santiago Pedraz finding where Iniakde Juana expressed his support for the Basque National Liberation Movement –BNLM- which "is not comparable to ETA". He added that "this movement is not defined as a terrorist organisation" and therefore the crime of issuing terrorist threats was not proven.

Following this decree the Spanish media unleashed a campaign against the judge's decision.The Spanish Minister for Justice, stated "we shall build new charges so that they are not released!" The State General Prosecutor, Cándido Conde Pumpido, said "we shall continue to oppose his release insofar as it is legally possible" and appealed Pedraz's decision. As such a new request for a 96 year prison sentence was put forward by these bodies.

In these circumstances, Iñaki believes he has no other way forward but to go on an open-ended hunger strike, even if he it takes him to his death. Therefore, we are calling for active solidarity towards Iñaki and we are issuing a call to international public opinion to denounce the lack of legitiamacy of the new charges against him and to demand his right to be released.

This is a call to all groups and people in solidarity, to express their protest to Spanish consulates and embassies and to send their messages to the addresses of the following people, directly responsible for Iñaki de Juana Chaos' situation.

HELP SAVE INAKI’S LIFE!!!

~SEND SOLIDARITY MESSAGES TO INAKI THROUGH: irishbasques@hotmail.com

~BELOW PLEASE FIND A DRAFT LETTER THAT CAN BE COPIED AND SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES (by email or by post) OUTLINING YOUR SUPPORT FOR INAKI DE JUANA AND YOUR OPPOSITION TO THE CLEAR ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT.

(Spanish Embassador in Ireland)
D. José de Carvajal Salido
Spanish Embassy in Ireland
17A, Merlyn Park, Ballsbridge Dublin
Tel: 269 16 40
Fax: 269 18 54
Email: embespie@mail.mae.es.


(Spanish Prime Minister)
José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero
Presidente del Gobierno Español
Palacio de la Moncloa,
Avda. Puerta de Hierro, s/n.
28071 Madrid
España
jlrzapatero@presidencia.gob.es
Fax: 0034 913900217

(Spanish Special Court's President)
Carlos Divar Blanco
Presidente Audiencia Nacional
C/ García Gutiérrez, 1
28004 Madrid
España
Fax: 0034 913973381

(Spanish Prisons' Director)
Mercedes Gallizo Llamas
Directora General de Instituciones Penitenciarias
C/ Alcalá, 38-40
28014. Madrid
España
Fax: 91 335 40 52

DRAFT EMAIL/LETTER:

We the undersigned are calling for the immediate release of Iñaki de Juana and that the call for 96 years by the the Third Section of the Audiencia Nacional Penal Court in prison clearly is an abuse of fundamental human rights. Given the fact that Inaki de Juana has already served 18 years in Spanish prisons and as such is entitled to remission and therefore immediate release it is imperative that Iñaki de Juana is released without further delay.

Iñaki de Juana should have been released on October 25, 2004, after serving his sentence in full and having spent 18 years in jail. However, the Magistrate at the First Penal Court of the Spanish Audiencia Nacional (Spanish Special Court) Gómez Bermúdez, issued a decision dated October 22, attempting to contest the remission Iñaki was entitled to and to stop his release violating the universal right to release of those who have served their sentences in full.

At a time when there is a possibility of real and meaningful dialogue in the Basque Country in the search for a resolution to the conflict this decision is of no benefit to the chances for a lasting resolution in the Basque Country and any goodwill by the Spanish Government. We are also appealing that the declaration by Audiencia Nacional Judge Santiago Pedraz, who rejected the charges brought against Iñaki de Juana, be respected and that political interference with the judicial process is ended.



Keep up to date on Basque struggle news.

www.irishbasquecommittees.blogspot.com

.... ... .

An Announcement

First of all, I want to welcome all the visitors that honor this space, this blog.

Now, I would like to remind you that just as the title indicates, this is a blog dedicated to Euskal Herria, the Basque Country.

Which means that here you will find information about just about anything related to the land of the Basques. And that includes politics, yes, politics. I know that there is those within the Basque diaspora who are afraid to discuss the events that day to day etch the political reality of Euskal Herria, such is not my case. Many members of the Basque diaspora keep quiet because someone told them to keep quiet, some even get money in order to keep quiet, that is bad. But what is even worst is that there is some that keep quiet because they censor themselves, they simply refuse to stand up to those who manipulate the image of the Basque people to their own sick benefit.

Well, good thing is, there will always be those who love Euskal Herria so much that will not remain silent. That is the force behind this blog.

So, if you are here looking for information about the Basques or the Basque Country you came to the right place. There is archives that go back at least four years, so, if you happen to end at this page and you feel is too cumbersome to sort out the information, please do not hesitate to contact me or leave a message at the comment system, I will gladly get back to you with the information you require.

Oh, and before I go, I am a firm supporter of the right of the Basque people to their self determination. The Basque Country, with the seven provinces that comprise it, should regain its sovereignty, and soon, before the damage already inflicted by Spain and France gets to the point of no return.

Peace, justice and freedom.

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Carson City's Basque Festival

This note comes to us thanks to Nevada Appeal:

Annual festival at St. Teresa's highlights Basque heritage

Rhonda Costa-Landers
Appeal Staff Writer
September 14, 2006, 4:01 AM

Like many cultures, the Basque people have traditions fondly kept in the forefront of their lives today.

The annual St. Teresa Basque Festival is an opportunity for the community to see, hear and taste several of those traditions.

The festival is Sunday at Fuji Park in Carson City.

Festival activities include dance performances by the University of Nevada, Reno's Basque dancers, verse singing by a Bertsolari, dog-herding demonstration by Sandy Moore and wood chopping demonstrations by Juan and Stephanie Brauna.

Gates to the festival open at 11 a.m. Mass led by the Rev. Jerry Hanley of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community is held at noon and the traditional Basque food is served at 1 p.m.

"The best thing about the festival is it's a community-wide event," said Jim Cavillia, co-chairman of the event.

"Kids running around having fun. The Basque culture thing and the dancers. It's something you don't see every day. People have a good time here, and it's relaxing."

Activities for the youth will be in abundance, including sack races, volleyball and face painting, among others.

The festival is a fundraiser for St. Teresa of Avila School and church youth programs. Cavillia said the festival last year netted around $35,000.

"It's more of a 'funraiser' than fundraiser," Cavillia said. "The festival's a good thing to bring the community together. After 9/11, we made a decision not to cancel the event, which was probably a good thing for the community.

"People were walking around with American Flag stickers on their chest. It's a fun distraction."

Traditional Basque food to be served includes roasted turkey and lamb chops cooked on mahogany coals, lamb stew by local chef Charlie Abowd, Basque chicken with peppers and garlic, Basque beans prepared by three Basque restaurants in Douglas County - the Overland Hotel, JT and The Country Club.

"There will also be picon punch, a more regional Basque drink, that packs a punch," Cavillia said. "All kinds of good stuff from Charlie."

Cavillia, who has been a member of St. Teresa's for 15 years and a volunteer for the festival, said several Basque cooks from Ely come in to help prepare the food.

"If I put in the hours at work I do at the festival, and donated it, I'd make more money," he said. "But this is more fun.

"It's a small group of people who work really hard for the year to make this happen. Charlie Abowd is a lifesaver. He puts a lot of work into this to make it happen. He's a good guy for this town."

If you go

WHAT: Ninth annual Basque Festival

WHEN: 11 a.m. Sunday gates open; Field Mass at noon; picon and chorizo bars opens at 1 p.m., dinner from 1-3 p.m.; events and entertainment at 1 p.m. See full schedule at Basque Festival.

WHERE: Fuji Park

COST: $30 at the door; $25 in advance; 15-younger free

.... ... .

Maskey and Barrena

Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey (R) and Pernando Barrena of the banned Basque separatist party Batasuna talk before a joint news conference about the Basque peace process in central Madrid September 11, 2006. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (SPAIN)

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Barbara Arestegui

A few years ago, during the half time of a sporting event there was a presentation by U2. And while Bono was singing and The Edge was doing his thing, suddenly they started to roll the names of those killed in September 11 of 2001.

The first name to appear called my attention. Later I could not find it on the different lists they published.

Now I have the info, her name was Barbara Arestegui according to the Cape Cod Times:

Barbara "Bobbi" Arestegui, 38, Marstons Mills, flight attendant, American Airlines. She was not scheduled to work Flight 11 that day but had accepted extra flights. She was saving up vacation to take a trip with her boyfriend to Vermont at the end of this month. She was the middle of five girls from a California family with Spanish Basque roots.

There was a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at the Osterville Baptist Church.

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