Conde-Pumpido the Inquisidor

Seems like the PP has a magnificent guard dog in Attorney General Candido Conde-Pumpido.

Despite the extensive investigation prior to the elections in which it was stablished that EHAK has no links to Batasuna, the Attorney General now says that he will screen those who acted as scrutineers for EHAK at the voting locations.

The sad thing is, the European Union turns its back on this less than candid demonstration of totalitarism by the most reactionary elements in Madrid.

Armed with their Ley de Partidos they deprived thousands of people of a political option, it is just natural that these voiceless Basques would look for another party that they feel represents them. Last time it was the PNV for some of them, this time it was EHAK for the majority of them.

Madrid can not go on stiffling the political options of the Basque society, because it is only through politics that a negotiated and peaceful solution to the conflict can be found. If this crazy atmosphere of political apartheid continues, Madrid will be in fact denying the option to vote and be voted to a lot of individual in the Basque Country.

To elect those who will represent you is both a right and a duty as a citizen, to take that away from people is a flagrant violation of human rights and civil liberties.

This is taking place in Europe from all places, boy, they have to wake up and smell the coffee, pronto.

Here is the note by Berria, Conde-Pumpido is acting on a report from the Guardia Civil, Spain's repressive para-military police force, here is a paragraph that will amuse you:

Conde-Pumpido’s investigations have led him to take the matter up with the offices of the Public Prosecutors of Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Navarre, so that they in turn can approach the Electoral Commissions to obtain the lists of the people who acted as scrutineers in recent elections. “We do know that there have been a number of isolated coincidences, because they have been detected by the Security Forces of the State.” But he pointed out that all the data needed to be gathered to conduct a “thorough” investigation.

The stench of Aznar is not gone.

.... ... .

Gernika

Today we commemorate one more anniversary of the bombing of Gernika.

Don't allow the Basque spelling to confuse you, you may know this town by the name of Guernica.

And I'm sure that you are familiar with the famous painting by Pablo Picasso by the same name, "Guernica".

Maybe many times you wondered what all the nightmarish imagery in the painting represented, maybe someone told you it represented the bombing of a town during the Spanish Civil War.

The painting has become an icon of all what is wrong with war, the civilian casualties, the horrors unleashed on the innocent bystanders, the crazyness of a human killing another human over some little quarrel.

It is no wonder that not too long ago it was concealed behind a blue curtain while lies about some inexistent weapons of mass destruction were tossed around in order to convince the world of the necessity of yet one more war.

Ironic, because from all the missconceptions about the Basques, there is one that tells us that the people Guernica was the first civilian population to endure an airborne bombing.

For it was Winston Churchill who ordered the systematic murder of civilians in present day Iraq, using airplanes to reach remote areas.

Later the same tactic would be used against the rebellious Berbers in northern Sahara.

But since we are an Eurocentric society, we like to say that it happened first to the Basques, for they are after all, Europeans.

Or maybe it is that they were bombed by the biggest of all evils, Adolph Hitler.

Which in turn begs the question, if the Basques were targeted by Adolph Hitler, how come no one mentions them during each year's commemorative acts of the Holocaust?

The bombing of the Basque town of Gernika took place on a day like today in 1937.

It was not a military target for it was well beyond the front lines. But two individuals needed to placate their demons.

Franco was quite upset about the way the war was going, against all odds, the Basque army had been able to hold up on its defence of the newly created Basque Republic. Franco had the resources, the war machinery and troops from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. But somehow, the Basque gudaris that shouldn't have lasted days, managed to last weeks, and then months.

Hitler and Mussolini started to doubt the capability of Franco to win this war. They also started to question the reports given to them by Franco and the Pope that the Basques were all communists that were against the Church. Because day after day they witnessed the Basque devotion to the Catholic faith, and every so often a Basque priest would be captured while assisting the wounded gudaris, or sometimes even fighting side to side with them.

Hitler's advisors also were concerned with Franco's obsession on destroying the Basque industrial infrastructure. They could not understand why Franco was hell bent on conquering the region just to destroy its more valuable asset, its industry.

So Franco needed to break the Basque spirit, and he ordered the destruction of the very heart of the Basque nation, Gernika.

Hitler on the other hand needed to try this new strategy posed to him by his air warfare strategists. They needed to try out these new Junker bombers, they needed to try out their Stukas, heck, a prototype of the Messerschmitt was also waiting to be put to test.

And Hitler agreed, and the rest is history.

But they Basques did not give up just like that after the rape of Gernika, oh no, they continued to fight all the way to 1945.

Many gudaris and their families ended up in death camps in Germany and Poland. In Hegoalde, the Falangists abducted, murdered and tortured Basques that opposed the regime. The Guardia Civil torched the farms of Basque families that assisted Allied pilots, Jewish refugees and varied other peoples escaping the Nazis. In Iparralde the Gestapo rounded up as many Basques as they could to try to break down the organization known as La Ligne, an underground group that was the backbone of one of the escape routes out of occupied France.

This is why I agree when Suslush says that every Basque family should have a "Guernica" on the wall in their living rooms.

Today, my heart aches, for what happened that market day in Gernika, and for what its happening to humankind.

~ ~

In Donibane Garazi

Donibane Garazi

Hundreds of demonstrators march behind a banner that reads 'Reconstruct Navarre for the Independence of the Basque Country' as they march through the streets of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, southwestern France, ' Saturday April 23, 2005. The demonstrators support the Basque nationalist party Batasuna, outlawed in Spain. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

.... ... .

Moron Alert

If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know by now that I have not too much love for right-wing loonies.

There is some halfwit that writes for The Miami Herald by the name of Carlos Alberto Montaner who just penned an article called The Chavez- 'Banana Left' Alliance.

It is the classic drivel, but to tell you the truth, Chavez is not exactly my favorite cup of tea, so I did not really care for what Montaner had to say, that is until I read this paragraph:

• In Mexico, the colorful Subcomandante Marcos, noted for supporting ETA's Basque terrorists and denouncing the Spanish monarchy, has gone from being an icon of the left to becoming an embarrassing fellow traveler.

I can not believe that after two years the right wing Cubans at the orders of Madrid are still trying to pin that one on the Sup.

Just a couple of weeks ago I posted something about it here at Ingeleraz.

I also have posted at Gazteleraz the original letters in Spanish by the Subcomandante Marcos and in none of them he offers a hint of support for ETA. Quite the opposite, he demands from them to stop the violence and he even offers himself as a victim if only to give the Basques a chance to negotiate a way out of the conflict.

The Subcomandante Marcos and the EZLN have repeatedly voiced their support for the Basque people, but only an idiot or someone that wants to manipulate the perception of the Basque conflict would call that support for ETA, like Fehr from Mana did.

When I read notes like the one by this Montaner character I realize how much ignorance and misconception there is about the Basques, their struggle and their right to self determination.

~ ~

Eleanor and Michael, Basque-phobes

Well, fresh from the Outback we get the Basque-phobe of the week.

Eleanor Hall has this nicety to say about the Basques:

The Basques have long been a thorn in the side of Madrid, with terrorist group ETA killing hundreds of Spaniards and local opponents in its fight for an independent state.

Well, she sounds rather informed and fair on her statements isn't it?

But she was not alone, on an article by her outfit called "The World Today", which is a feature at ABC online, she and a Michael Vincent ride the same wave that has been all over the international media saying the Basque dream of independence has been destroyed because get this, Basques voted for EHAK, a pro-independence party, instead of granting majority to Ibarretxe and the PNV.

Huh?

Anyway, Michael Vincent gets quite patronizing when he calls Juan José Ibarretxe by the title senor:

Senor Ibarretxe had hoped to win a majority and force Madrid to help make this region into an internationally recognised state. Instead, he'll now have to negotiate with his Basque political opponents.

Senor Vincent, a "Mr." Ibarretxe was more than enough.

And while we are all weary of China invading Taiwan, Senor Vincent takes the idea of military intervention in Euskal Herria lightly:

Some Spaniards consider the plan sedition, with newspaper editorials in recent days saying Spain risks disintegration. And back in January the National Defence Minister threatened to send in the troops if any region engaged in, quote, "projects which violate the sovereign will of all Spaniards".

Finally, Senor Vincent, an Australian that doesn't understand what democracy is, and can care less about a concept called "assumption of innocence", goes ahead and parrots Aznar's mantra about Batasuna being the political party of an armed group:

MICHAEL VINCENT: But the new force he speaks of is the recently created Communist Party. They were backed in this election by Batasuna, the banned political wing of terrorist group ETA.

Just like that, Michael Vincent arrives to a veredict that not even Madrid has been able to consolidate with something called evidence.

Thanks to their blatant stupidity, Eleanor Hall and Michael Vincent are this week's outstanding Basque-phobes.

.... ... .

"Independent" Non Sense

These fellas call the propaganda machinery they run by the name of "The Independent".

They of course know little or no Euskera (Basque).

So, despite EHAK prominently displaying the words "Demokrazia eta Bakea" on their electoral campaign, which translates into Democracy and Peace, "The Independent", on an article titled "The 5-Minute Briefing: Basque Separatism", publishes this:

A sizeable proportion worries that nationalist demands unnecessarily provoke discord with Madrid. But a minority - represented by Ehak - consider themselves oppressed by Spain and want to secede. They argue that any means, including arms, are justified to achieve that aim.

No one from EHAK has said such a thing, but hey, they are Basques, they must be violent.

.... ... .

Patxi's Drivel

Hopefully Patxi decides to continue to spill his venom, that way Ibarretxe will think twice before trying to ask him for a deal to kick start a new coalition.

This is what the PSOE's candidate think about the outcome of the election:

"It's evident that the Ibarretxe plan lost,'' said Patxi Lopez, the leader of the Basque Socialist Party, in televised comments after the result was announced. "Those who wanted division and confrontation have instead been rewarded by the opposite, a display of centrism represented by the Socialists.''

He also stated that he will not be a vice-Lehendakari.

Granted, Ibarretxe did lose sorely needed support, he brought that upon himself. But lets be honest, most of Patxi's votes came from disenchanted PP followers.

The PP has been in such disarray since they were kicked out of power thanks to the lies told by the drones under the command of Aznar that they did not present a real political option in these elections.

But lets take a look at the numbers.

Ibarretxe has 29 seats, Patxi can count only 18.

If Ibarretxe knocks at the PSOE door and they say yes, that gives him 47 seats, but that would require for Patxi to give up his dreams of becoming a Lehendakari, because in all reality, he trails behind by 11. The PNV has the upper hand and Patxi knows it.

But lets suppose that Ibarretxe decides to close ranks with the nationalist Basque parties instead. I mean, lets just dream that Ibarretxe really wants what the Basques want.

Then he gets EHAK's 9 seats, IU's 3 seats and Aralar's 1 seat, for a total of 42. That leaves the PSOE with 18 and the PP with 15. Even if the two pro One Spain, Blessed by God and Undivided parties decide to go at it just to continue be vehicles of repression by Madrid, they would have only 33 seats, not exactly what you could call majority.

A lot of political games will be played in the next few hours.

But it is all being done peacefully, that is why the nay-sayers are not mentioning anything, nor posting pictures of pretty Basque girls waving Ikurriñas.

The nay-sayers want to stick to the version in which only violent and brute Basques want independence from Spain and France.

They can't handle the truth, just like Patxi.

.... ... .

Hornet's Nest

A good example of a media outlet bent on manipulating information would be Expatica, today they have a header that reads: Split Basque vote ends independence hopes.

Once you access the note you find this pearl:

Pro-independence Basque nationalists dealt a blow to plans to win greater autonomy for the troubled region from Madrid by denying the ruling moderates an absolute majority of regional assembly seats.

Their lack of understanding of the Basque conflict is so painfully blatant that they are willing to publish absolute non sense.

How can a "pro-independence Basque nationalist" party be a deterrant of greater autonomy for the Basque Community?

If anything, they will demand more than what Ibarretxe is asking for.

Ibarretxe wants coexistence, EHAK goes a step further, they talk of independence.

To anyone that understands just a little bit, the result of the election will demand more commitment from who ever is the Lehendakari to look for ways to end the conflict and secure a future for the Basques in which they can present themselves for what they are.

.... ... .

The Results

This is the results of the election as published by Berria, you can also see an animation here.

Results

And the chart by province with the over all totals:

	ARABA		BIZKAIA		GIPUZKOA		EAE
	8	51.601	11	264.774	10	147.498	29	463.873
	2	14.180	2	65.431	5	70.577	9	150.188
	0	2.541	0	10.187	1	15.273	1	28.001
	1	8.395	1	36.258	1	20.278	3	64.931
	7	43.765	5	113.867	3	51.163	15	208.795
	7	42.994	6	151.347	5	78.088	18	272.429

.... ... .

Elections Outcome

It was a day full of surprises.

Or maybe not.

There was a price to be paid for the Ibarretxe Plan.

There was a price to be paid for being remiss when it came to defending the rights of those that are the choice targets for Madrid's repression.

And today Juan José Ibarretxe had to face the checks and balances of his last four years as the head of the Basque Autonomous Government.

There is only one clear winner in the election, and that is the will of the Basque nation. Once again they go peacefully to the polls and they speak their voice one vote at a time.

The PP took a beating, obviously the last few years of arrogance and refusal to negotiate pushed quite a few Spaniards to switch sides to the PSOE. The PP could see this coming, and for a while now they have been saying that they will throw their support behind Patxi Lopez, the PSOE's candidate to Lehendakari (who by the way already stated that he will not be vice Lehendakari to Ibarretxe).

If Patxi decides that he really wants to be Lehendakari and actually accepts the support of the PP, he will have a shot at it, but in the mean time he will let everyone know that as a politician he is very willing to go to bed with the devil, if that means he can hinder the Basque dream of self-determination.

The PNV got 29 seats, a loss of 4 from the results in the last election. IU was able to hold to its 3 seats and Aralar, present for the first time, got 1.

That gives Ibarretxe a total of 33 seats.

Patxi's party got 19 seats, and San Gil (y pollas) is ready to donate her own 14 seats, which makes it a tie to 33 seats.

To come up with a Lehendakari someone needs majority.

And who is the deal breaker?

EHAK, who got 9 seats thanks to its own votes, and those of the voiceless, plus quite a few from the disenchanted by Ibarretxe's unability to be more consistent with his campaign promises.

There will be a lot of negotiations, one thing though, the media has been saying that Ibarretxe's plan to wrestle more autonomy from Madrid suffered a set back because of all the votes that what is being called a "radical pro-independence party" obtained.

Now, if there was ever a non sequitur.

.... ... .

Standing For Basque Identity

EHNA

Voters hold up their Basque identity cards, demanding to vote with them, as it is only allowed to vote in the Basque elections with Spanish identity cards, in Hernani, Northern Spain, Sunday, April 17, 2005. Some 1.8 million people are eligible to vote on Sunday in the election for the 75-seat regional legislature. Voters in the Basque country gave a disputed plan for autonomy bordering on independence from Spain its first grass-roots test Sunday in elections in a region scarred by decades of separatist violence. (AP Photo/Ander Gillenea)

.... ... .

Under A Grey Sky

Rain

A voter is covered by his umbrella on his way to cast his ballot for the Basque elections in Arrankudiaga, Northern Spain, Sunday, April 17, 2005. Some 1.8 million people are eligible to vote on Sunday in the election for the 75-seat regional legislature. Voters in the Basque country gave a disputed plan for autonomy bordering on independence from Spain its first grass-roots test Sunday in elections in a region scarred by decades of separatist violence. (AP Photo/Mariana Eliano)

.... ... .

Aznar's Busy Little Bees

Falangists

Right wing demonstrators gesture waving Spanish flags and those of the Spanish Falange, the political party that backed former Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco, during a demonstration in Madrid, Sunday, April 17, 2005. An estimated 5000 demonstrators protested on Sunday for the unity of Spain shouting slogans against Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Basque president Juan Jose Ibarretxe on the day Basque elections are being held in Northern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

.... ... .

Remember the Pintada?

It was first posted at Garagoittiko Orakulua, today it was featured prominently by the Associated Press coverage previous to election day in the Basque Autonomous C0mmunity.

Of course, as usual, the international media screws it up, and the boy on the picture does not get to be mentioned by his ethnicity. If he was Lebanese, Kurd, Chechen or Taiwanese you bet it was going to be stated that way in the footnote. But since he may be Basque and the big wigs in the media take their cues from right wing clowns like Aznar, well, the Basque identity is downplayed.

Don't you love the media and their commitment to unbiased reporting of events?

Munitibar

A boy stands next to a pro-independence painting in a street in Munitibar, northern Spain Saturday April 16, 2005 that reads 'No to Exclusion' in reference to the banning of the Basque party Batasuna for their ties with the Basque separatist group ETA. Voters in the Basque region go to the polls Sunday in the Basque regional elections. (AP Photo/Mariana Eliano)

.... ... .

Otegi in Durango

Otegi

Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the outlawed Basque nationalist party Batasuna, delivers a speech during an electoral rally in Durango, northern Spain, April 15, 2005. Basque proposals to wrest virtual independence from Spain dominate a regional election on Sunday as the Socialist government in Madrid fights to stop a plan some fear could redraw the map of Spain. REUTERS/Pablo Sanchez

.... ... .

Aranburu in Bilbo

Aranburu

Maite Aranburu, representative from a little-known Basque communist party EHAK, holds up a ballot paper in front of a banner supporting Basque prisoners during an electoral rally in Bilbao, northern Spain, April 15, 2005. The fringe party has become a focus of the campaign after banned party Batasuna threw its support behind the communists. REUTERS/Vincent West

.... ... .

Ibarretxe Campaigns

Ibarretxe

Basque Premier Juan Jose Ibarretxe greets supporters at the end of their last electoral rally before the upcoming Basque regional elections in Bilbao, northern Spain, April 15, 2005. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Friday told Basque regional leader Ibarretxe to forget his plan for virtual independence, two days before elections in the restive region. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

.... ... .

In Hernani

This picture was taken at Hernani today, it is meant to portray the political campaigning in full force in the Basque Autonomous Community as we speak.

A lot is at stake.

The players in Madrid and their underlings in the BAC are nervous, they can feel a major victory for the pro self determination parties. And the word referendum is mentioned again and again.

Hernani

Now, let us analize the footnote to this picture.

A woman walks past electoral posters in Hernani, in Spain's Basque Country, April 15, 2005. With separatist party Batasuna banned from the ballot as the political wing of ETA, the Marxist-Leninist group EHAK has been backed by Batasuna putting it on the center-stage as the pro-independence force. Basque regional elections will be held on April 17 in a vote the Basque premier Juan Jose Ibarretxe bills as a verdict on his plan for 'free association' with Spain, which would recognise Basque nationality and the rights to self-determination. The poster reads in Basque language, 'vote EHAK, Democracy and peace.' REUTERS/Pablo Sanchez

First mistake?

The use of the word separatist. To then suddenly use the correct word, pro-independence.

Second mistake?

Batasuna banned from the ballot as the political wing of ETA.

Ahem, where is the assumption of innocence? Batasuna has never claimed to be ETA's political arm. The only ones saying that are the right wingers in Madrid, and well, the process is still open, so, the word alleged is missing in that sentence.

The US press just doesn't get it right.

.... ... .

Patxi's Map

Patxi

Socialists candidate for Basque regional president Patxi Lopez delivers a speech during an electoral meeting in Bilbao, April 14, 2005. Basque proposals to wrest virtual independence from Spain dominate a regional election on Sunday as the Socialist government in Madrid fights to stop a plan some fear could redraw the map of Spain. REUTERS/Vincent West

.... ... .

Today in Barakaldo

Barakaldo

Thousands of nationalist Basque supporters wave flags during a political meeting in Barakaldo, Northern Spain, Saturday, April 9, 2005. Campaigning got underway Friday for April 17th Basque regional elections. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

.... ... .

Di Luca Takes It

Good call by Retarius!

Italian Danilo di Luca gave a great performance and claimed the title of this year's edition of the Tour of the Basque Country.

Aitor Osa, the highest ranked Basque competitor saw his lead slip and ended up in fourth place.

Txapeldun

.... ... .

Providing A Voice

Donostia

Arnaldo Otegi, leader of outlawed Basque independence party Batasuna, left, during a press conference in San Sebastian, Spain, Friday, April 8, 2005. Otegi requested its supporters to vote for EHAK (Basque lands comunist party). (AP Photo/Ander Gillenea)

~ ~

Aitor Osa Leads

Alejandro Valverde won the third stage of the Basque Country tour with the finish line in Gazteiz, but Aitor Osa is still the overall leader.

Hopefully Haimar Zubeldia and Iban Mayo will step up to the plate soon.

Gazteiz

.... ... .

The Basque Country Tour Starts

Danilo di Luca

Italian Danilo Di Luca celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the first stage of the Tour of the Basque Country in Zarautz, northern Spain(AFP/Rafa Rivas)

.... ... .

Not Just Another Rugby Match

Biarritz's rugby team defeated Munster 19-10 at the Anoeta Stadium in Donostia today.

To the uneducated eye and to the uninformed this may seem like just another sporting event.

But the whole thing conveys something bigger, something that runs deep.

Biarritz it's a touristic town in Lapurdi, one of the three provinces that are today known as Iparralde, the Northern Basque Country, sometimes refered to as the French Basque Country.

Donostia, on the other hand, is a touristic town in Gipuzkoa, one of the four provinces that are today known as Hegoalde, the Southern Basque country, sometimes refered to as the Spanish Basque Country.

Biarritz it's on a run to win the European Rugby Championship, as the team makes it to the next stage of the competition, it becomes more and more evident that their stadium is not big enough to hold an event of this importance.

So, they decided to look for a new location to call home.

What about a nearby town in France?

Well, think again.

Those who called the shots decided to move the home games to another Basque town, and since for the Basques the artificial borders imposed on them do not really exist, they decided to go to nearby Donostia, on the other side of the Pyrinees, but still within Euskal Herria.

The Irish cousins had to face the Basque squad nestled among 20,000 supporters. They put up a fight, they took to the field with courage and dignity, but in the end, more than a simple rugby match was at play.

Today the Basques from both sides of the Pyrinees told the world a simple message:

Zazpiak Bat.

The Seven are One.

Biarritz Anoeta

Biarritz's center Martin Gaetan (L) of Argentina runs with the ball in front of Munster's center Rob Henderson during European Cup quarter final Rugby Union match, 03 April 2005 at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian. Biarritz beat Munster 19-10.(AFP/Michel Gagne)

.... ... .

A Voice Against the Witch Hunt

For the members of the PP repression comes so natural that now they are demanding that any party that is mentioned by members of Batasuna as a possible option for those left without a voice and a political option, should also be banned.

The PP, in the meantime, has called on the Spanish Government to take action against the EHAK. Raxoi referred to this during a political meeting at the Euskalduna Hall in Bilbo together with Maria San Gil. He stuck to the same lines: “The EHAK has the stamp of ETA and terrorists cannot stand in elections”. The PP Chairman said that in the last few days they had seen evidence to prove this, but he did not specify what this evidence consisted of.

Berria reports that at least this time, a voice has decided to call this move unnecessary:

It was against this background that Lopez-Aguilar made his comments.

He said that if he were to take the course the PP were demanding, the mere fact that Batasuna should mention a democratic party would cast suspicion on the party concerned. “No one has put one over on the Government,” because, he felt, the Spanish Government was acting within the law and no one could insist that precautionary measures be taken without evidence. But he would ask the Lawyer of the State to take steps, if he had any evidence.

No matter how much I try, I just can't see how is it that some naive people out there considers Spain a democracy.

The day they realize this more than evident situation in which civil liberties and human right are trampled in behalf ot a reactionary concept of national unity, they will understand why the Basques want independence.

~ ~

No to Apartheid!

Donostia

Joseba Permach (C), spokesman of the outlawed Basque nationalist party Batasuna, raises his fist as he chants a Basque separatist anthem after an illegal demonstration called for by Batasuna in San Sebastian April 2, 2005. Basque regional elections will take place on April 17. The banner reads in Basque language 'No to illegalization, No to repression'. REUTERS/Pablo Sanchez

.... ... .

Championing All Options

The Basque Country is at a crossroad.

The Basque society supports a negotiated end to the struggle, the full weight of a nation is behind the Basque nationalist parties.

Madrid knows it, that is why it went to the extreme of bringing back some of Franco's worst examples by banning a political party (Batasuna) and an electoral list (Aukera Guztiak) in their attempt to deprive thousands of Basques of a political voice.

They do it because they know the international community do not care.

There is voices in the desert, like those of Mark Kurlansky, Hillel Halkin, Rigoberta Menchu and the Sup Marcos, there is echoes, but more must be done to prevent more injustice, more illegal arrests, more torture, more political prisoners.

The Basque Country is ready to express its will, and since Madrid decided to curtail some right, one more political party gets into the fray and announces that they will champion the political platform presented by Aukera Guztiak.

Here is what Berria published today:

AukeraGuztiak itself, Batasuna, Aralarand the Communist Party of the Basque Territories (EHAK) all believe that the annulment of the Aukera Guztiak lists by the Spanish Constitutional Court signifies a setback for democracy. They all say that this “grave” situation has to be addressed. So, Aukera Guztiak called a meeting of all the parties which oppose the Law of Political Parties with the aim of “taking a new step forward” and seeking a practical way out of the situation. The call that brought Aukera Guztiak, Batasuna, Aralar and the EHAK together has produced a result. The Communist Party of the Basque Territories (EHAK) is prepared to take over from Aukera Guztiak and abandon its own plans, so as to take the restoration of democracy and peace as its sole aim. So the EHAK has put its lists, which are legal, at the service of civil and political rights.

The Spanish authoritarian strategists did not see that one coming.

~ ~

They Call This Democracy II

The ban to Aukera Guztiak has been upheld.

Everyone knew that, this is after all a take no prisoners campaign to deny the Basques their right to their self determination.

On what do they base the ban?

Well, lets say that one day you sent a letter of support to a Basque political prisoner.

You're banned.

Or maybe you took part of a pro self determination demonstration 15 years ago.

You're banned.

One of your family members belongs or used to belong to Batasuna.

You're banned.

The list goes on, the Spanish Police actually investigated every and each one of the 30,000 people that signed to get Aukera Guztiak to run in the elections.

I guess by now you can imagine what was the chief accusation.

This is what Berria reported:

The judges, Guillermo Jimenez, Vicente Conde, Eugeni Gay, Elisa Perez, Pascual Sala and Ramon Rodriguez-Arribas met early in the afternoon to decide whether or not to support Aukera Guztiak. The judges that make up the 2nd chamber basically had to rule on whether the Spanish Constitution and the rights of Aukera Guztiak’s members had been respected, when the Spanish Supreme Court annulled the Aukera Guztiak candidature.

And they said the ban stands. What a surprise.

.... ... .

Ban Upheld

Marije Rodriguez de Lera (L) and Ana Arbulu (C), representatives of pro-independence Basque party Aukera Guztiak (AG), which was banned from running in regional elections this month, hold a news conference in Bilbao in northern Spain April 1, 2005. Spain's highest court has upheld a ruling barring the pro-independence Basque party from running in regional elections this month because of its links to armed separatist group ETA and outlawed party Batasuna. REUTERS/Vincent West

.... ... .

Election Time

Two workmen hang an election poster of Basque PNV candidate and current regional President Juan Jose Ibarretxe in Bilbao, northern Spain, Friday April 1, 2005. Campaigning got underway Friday for April 17 Basque regional elections likely to center on a disputed plan for more autonomy from Spain. (AP Photo/ Alvaro Barrientos)

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Echoes of Hillel Halkin

Seems like the scathing article by Israeli journalist Hillel Halkin is resounding all over the place, now you can hear echoes of it all the way to Montana.

Sadly, at this time the name of the author of the article titled "A Homeland for the Palestinians? Why They? How About All Those Others?" is lost. However, I will be contacting the Montana News and try to find out who she or he is so I can post it here.

Now, there is quite a few things that I do not agree with, but all in all, this should have Aznar, the Barcepundit, the Intelligencer and quite a few others shaking in their boots.

Here you have what the author says about the Basques:

How about other nationalities that yearn for a homeland, for their own state? There are first of all the Basques, the vast majority of whom live in the northwestern region of Spain. They are a unique people, with a language and a culture that has no relationship to anything else in the world. They have been fighting to become liberated. But Spain – most vociferous in the promotion of a “Palestinian homeland” – refuses that. An independent Basque homeland would not endanger Spain in any way. But does the world, does the UN support the Basques in their quest for independence? Of course not!

And:

Both the world and especially the Europeans don’t really care about self-determination – they don’t lose any sleep over the Basques, the Kurds, the Tibetans or others who yearn for a homeland. They care about their own political and economic interests, which they cloak in the language of political morality.

Now, since the whole thing about Taiwan is warming up to a boil, how 'bout this:

And then there are the Tibetans. They are a distinct people, unique in language and religion. They have been annexed by China, which has flooded the country with its “settlers.” The Chinese are fully in the process of making Tibet into an integral part of China. Clearly, an independent Tibet would not be any existential threat to China. But does the world, does the UN support the Tibetans in their quest for independence? Of course not!

One more thing, while Yahooing "Hillel Halkin" and "Basque" I found out that there is an Israeli that doesn't really like him, at his blog Israpundint (not really working at present, better if you read the "cached" option) he published a post attacking Hillel in which he defends the Basques!

Here you go:

Then Halkin proceeds to destroy his own case by admitting Israel cannot arrive at a peaceful settlement with the Palestinian Arabs. He goes even further and legitimately questions the recently created Palestinian people's right to a state. Halkin ticks off a whole list of far larger and more deserving minority groups in much larger areas, that have no such rights ­ The Chaldeans, Kurds, Chechnyans, Ibo of Nigeria, the Basques of Spain, Uighurs, Karens, Mizos, Nagos, etc. ­ peoples of whom most of us have no knowledge whatever.

Meaning, both sides in Israel understand the need for a Basque Homeland.

Great!

You can read the whole article here.

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