Friday, June 30, 2006

Batasuna's Response to Announcement

Leader of the outlawed Basque Batasuna party Arnaldo Otegi, center, speaks during a press conference in San Sebastian in northern Spain Friday June 30, 2006, in response to the Spanish government's announcment of the start of historic peace talks with the Basque separatist group ETA on Thursday. The talks had been widely expected since ETA declared a permanent cease-fire on March 22. Words in the Basque language, Euskerra, read 'For a Free Basque Country, Autonomy.' (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

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Thursday, June 29, 2006

Rodriguez and the Dialogue

Spain's President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero speaks to officially announce the start of peace negotiations with the Basque separatist group ETA during a press conference at the Deputies Congress, in Madrid, Thursday, June 29, 2006. Zapatero warned that talks to end decades of bloodshed would be long and difficult. The talks had been widely expected since ETA declared a permanent cease-fire on March 22, and Zapatero had pledged to formally inform Congress by the end of June, when it breaks for a long summer holiday. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

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Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Viatge a Euskal Herria

Here you have a nice slide show made by a young pro-independence Catalonyan. An added plus is the beautiful song "Haika Mutil" by Mikel Laboa used as soundtrack.



Visca Catalunya Lliure!


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A Survivor's Opinion

Right wingers and neocons in Spain, England and the USA can say whatever they want about the issue of Picasso's "Guernica" and the demand by the Basque Autonomous Community's government for the iconic painting to be moved to either Gernika or the Guggenheim in Bilbo.

What is important here is what the Basques think about it, in the end, they are the ones depicted in the canvas that has come to represent the anti-war sentiments of large portions of the international community.

And this is what a member of a family that experienced the bombing thinks about it, the article was published at The Age's Art section.

Welcome back to Picasso's war zone

June 28, 2006

Will Guernica return to Guernica? Never say never, writes Larry Schwartz.

Until he rang his Basque home town in northern Spain this month Jose Antonio (John) Ugalde had no idea of his people's plans to renew their claim to Pablo Picasso's most famous painting.

His sister-in-law alerted him that with the approach of the 70th anniversary of Guernica's destruction by German bombers serving the nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, the townspeople would seek its relocation from Madrid's Reina Sofia modern art museum.

"Madrid has nothing to do with the Basque country," says the retired fitter and turner, secretary of Melbourne's Gure Txuko (Our Corner) community club for the city's tiny Basque community.

Ugalde, who migrated to Australia in 1956, says there is a strong belief in the Basque region, bordering on the Bay of Biscay, that Picasso's Guernica should be housed in the town it depicts. "The people of Guernica deserve to see and teach their children what they (did)," says Ugalde, who remembers playing Robin Hood in the rubble with sticks for swords. "It was an indefensible town."

He looks forward to the Picasso: Love & War exhibition, which opens at the National Gallery of Victoria this week and features photographs taken by Picasso's then lover Dora Maar in their studio in Paris as the artist created his monumental painting described by NGV senior curator Ted Gott as his "rage against the inhuman slaughter".

Picasso: Love & War coincides with a double exhibition at Madrid's Prado and Reina Sofia museums celebrating the 25th anniversary of the "patriation" of Guernica which was kept in New York at Picasso's insistence until the end of the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.

"There is … no gainsaying the unquenchable authority of Guernica as an icon, especially in Spain," Peter Schjeldahl wrote in The New Yorker this month. "Its arrival there, in 1981, heralded a national liberalisation, whose fragility was made apparent by the painting's initial display, in a building near the Prado, flanked by vigilant soldiers of the Guardia Civil, inside a cage of bulletproof glass."

Schjeldahl noted that the first question at a press conference for the Madrid show was when it would be coming to the Basque region. "Never," the Reina Sofia director had replied.

Guernica is a cultural capital for the Basque people. It was home to about 7000 people at the start of the civil war. Many more people were in town on a market day during the three-hour aerial attack by the German Condor Legion that struck on April 26, 1937. As people fled the bombing they were machine-gunned by fighter planes. An estimated 1685 people were killed and 900 injured in the three-hour raid.

Picasso had been commissioned to paint a mural for the Paris World Fair. He began his painting within a week of the bombing. The 3.5 metre by 7.8 metre canvas that features imagery including a gored horse, fallen soldier, screaming mothers and dead babies has come to be regarded as a protest against the brutality of war.

John Ugalde, 68, says it is all the more valued by the Basque people because Franco's men had sought to blame them for the destruction of their town. "Guernica never had any military bases and the front wasn't there," Ugalde says. "They did it because Guernica was a symbol of the Basque people."

He lives in a terrace house in suburban Melbourne with his Italian-born wife, Lidia, his dog, Gorri (Basque for "ginger") and cat Autztuntxu ("little ash"). The Ugaldes' daughter, Amaia, 25 — a traditional Basque name that means "peace" — accompanied them when he last revisited surviving brothers and sisters in Guernica in 1990.

In the entrance hall of his home is a carved wooden shield painted red, green and gold with the word, "Euskalerria", meaning Basque country. Across the hall is a print of a central Australian landscape by indigenous painter Albert Namatjira. "We are the Aborigines of Europe," he says.

Ugalde understands that the Basques have been in Europe at least 60,000 years and that they are direct descendants of the prehistoric race whose remains were first found at Cro-Magnon, a cave in Dordogne, France.

Ugalde is the youngest of six children. He was born 15 months after the bombing. His father was away fighting for the resistance at the time; his mother tending the family farm on the outskirts of town.

His brothers and sisters would for years recall the horror of that day. "That was a common conversation in our family," he says.

Picasso: Love & War 1935-1945 is on at the NGV from Friday to October 8.

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Monday, June 26, 2006

Madariaga Speaks Out

Julen Madariaga, 74, one of ETA's founding members, gives an interview to The Associated Press, in Paris, Monday, June 26, 2006. Madariaga claimed that his arrest by French police was part of a sting operation aimed to thwart efforts toward a peace process in Spain. He said he was no longer connected to the militant group, but was taken into French police custody last week because two Basque businessmen had sought his help to hand over extortion money demanded by ETA leadership. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

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Firing at the PNV

For a long time the government of the Basque Autonomous Community has been playing both sides of the court when it comes to the Basque struggle for self determination.

They get way too cozy with some elements of the Spanish political landscape, and to prove just how moderate they are, time to time the unleash the brutality of the Ertzaintza on those Basques who dare to carry out actions that demonstrate their will to work towards their dream of statehood for their nation.

The members of the Basque Nationalist Party are also known for their tendency to discredit the efforts by several Basque groups and institutions to push forward the demands by the Basques society for a solution.

Well, seems like Rome does not pay traitors, check this out:

Members of Basque Nationalist Party called to be questioned

Questionings

06/25/2006

A Spanish judge investigating extortion rackets run by the outlawed armed Basque group ETA has ordered two prominent members of the governing Basque nationalist Party to appear for questioning, a court official said.

National Court Judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Saturday ordered Gorka Aguirre, a member of the Basque Nationalist Party's executive board, to appear for questioning about his suspected collaboration in ETA's demands for payments from businesses, the official said late Saturday. He was speaking on condition of anonymity because court policy forbids him to be identified publicly.

Former Basque Nationalist Party president Xabier Arzalluz was also called to give evidence, but is not suspected of any wrongdoing, the official said. The Basque Nationalist Party has been the leading group in the Basque regional government for more than two decades.

The probe comes as the Spanish government prepares to open talks with ETA following the group's announcement of a permanent cease-fire March 22. Political groups close to ETA say the judge's actions can only hinder any eventual peace process.

Twelve suspected members and collaborators of ETA were detained in Spain and France in a cross-border police operation on Tuesday against ETA's 20-year-old extortion operations.

ETA, whose name stands for Basque Homeland and Freedom, has killed more than 800 people, mostly Spanish security force members, since 1968 in its campaign for independence.

On Friday, Grande-Marlaska ordered the arrest of two Spanish businessmen suspected of making payments to ETA. If they are shown to have made the payments voluntarily, they will be formally charged with collaboration. If they are found to have acted under coercion, they will likely be freed.

In recent years, several business owners have been questioned by judges for allegedly making payments to ETA, but none has been formally charged. Of the five arrested in Spain, four have been jailed on provisional charges of membership in, or collaboration with, an armed group. The fifth was released.

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Kudos to Catalonya

The Guardian Unlimited publishes some encouraging words towards the Catalonyans.

The article contains a reference to "extreme separatists", my guess is that it refers to the parts of the statut that were removed which prompted some Catalonyans to refrain from voting because in their view this light version of the original proposal rendered it useless.

I would like to mention that the ban on bullfighting is a great move by the Catalonyans, there can not be culture where there is torture. And torture is something that some Spaniards seem to have a special affinity for, specially when used against those who reject the present status quo in which the national identities of the Basque, Catalonyan, Guanche and Galizan peoples are suffocated by the right wing point of view that sees Spain as a nation created by God Himself that must remain One as to ensure His Will.

Here you have the article:

Leader

In praise of ... Catalonia


Monday June 26, 2006
The Guardian

From Pyrenees mountain heights to the streets of Barcelona and the shores of the Costa Brava, Catalonia is asserting itself with confidence, both politically and culturally. Ten days ago its people voted overwhelmingly for a new charter of autonomy, which will see their powers of self-government bolstered. Then, last week, its parliament moved to ban bullfighting, a cruel practice that has long fallen out of favour with most Catalans. But the repercussions of legislating against the blood sport are wider than animal welfare: they involve disowning a national symbol of Spain and refreshing the distinctiveness of the Catalan identity, which has roots going back to the Middle Ages.

The robustness of Catalan consciousness should be saluted. Only three decades have passed since Franco's regime, which not only denied the region a say in its own affairs, but punished people for speaking its language. For a time, the native tongue suffered, but today it is understood by almost all residents, and it is younger people who most often write it. It is to the credit of the Madrid government that it has the maturity to champion regional - diversity and autonomy; it is to the credit of Catalans that they embrace it in such numbers, dismissing the rejectionist pleas of both the old right and extreme separatists. The progress made should help light the way to addressing nationalist tensions around the world - including the thorny question of the Basque country, which Spain must now turn to.

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Saturday, June 24, 2006

Baiona: Thousands March for Prisoners Rights

Thousands of Basques demonstrated their support for the rights of the political prisoners during a march that took place in Baiona.

The police operation in place at the border between Hegoalde (occupied by Spain) and Iparralde (occupied by France) demonstrated that the laws in Europe do not apply to the Basque citizenry. Maybe this time the nay-sayers will understand the Basque dream of a free and unified nation, so in the future they are not prevented from exercising their freedom of transit, their freedom of gathering and their freedom of speech, all of them trampled in an Europe with no borders.

Here you have the report by EITb:

Thousands of people defend Basque prisoners' rights

March in Bayonne

06/24/2006

According to a French police spokesman, police controls at the French-Spanish frontier increased on Saturday due to the demonstration supporting Basque prisioners in Bayonne.

As a consequence of this measure, the demonstration organized by a group called Ibaeta Forum, started later than it was supposed to start and twelve buses were unable to cross the frontier.

According to the organizers, 3,500 people took part in the march of Bayonne where Basque prisioners' right have been demanded.

In the communiqué read at the end of the demonstration, the Ibaeta Forum reminded French Government "France is also part of the conflict" as one out of four Basque prisioners are in French prisions.

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San Juan in Gernika

A man pours cider during the traditional San Juan's (Saint John) night in Gernika, northern Spain June 24, 2005. REUTERS/Vincent West (SPAIN)

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Friday, June 23, 2006

Breaking Up

The Wall Street Journal published an article called "Spanish Break-Up Party" that showcases the right wing primal fear towards self determination.

Since the WSJ requires being signed up in order to read their web page, I reproduce here only the paragraphs that called my attention.

Here we go.

Things start to warm up in the very first paragraph:

Peaceful separations are as rare among nations as they are among humans, but the Catalan and Spanish governments have pulled one off, for now. The long-term implications, though -- for Catalonia, Spain, and other European regions seeking autonomy -- are potentially unsettling.

Why are the implications so unsettling?

Why does a news outlet from a country that wrestled independence from another country sees a process were other nations seek their own way so troublesome?

Why do US citizens get so worked up about the self determination of other people when they love saying that they live in the "land of the free and the home of the brave"?

When did the US citizenry decided no to side with the underdog?

Shouldn't they support those who are brave enough to demand their freedom?

Then, the author splurges in a bit of Basque bashing:

On the bright side, local government tends to be more responsive to citizens' needs. The Catalan government, moreover, pursued its quest for greater autonomy through peaceful, legal means, drafting a new statute and negotiating its content with Madrid before putting it to voters. That's an important precedent in a country where the Basque region's ETA terrorists pursued independence with bombs and guns, before announcing a "permanent ceasefire" this past spring. Basque nationalists had sought to unilaterally change the terms of their relationship with Madrid. The Catalans chose a different path. "The system has shown its capacity to adapt," Spain's former deputy foreign minister Miguel Nadal, a Catalan, told us. "This is important, even if the final outcome isn't the one you wanted."

Once again, mixing all the Basques in the same bag.

He claims that unlike the Catalans, the Basques "had sought to unilaterally change the terms of their relationship with Madrid". How little understanding and how little knowledge of the Basque quest for self determination.

Not once the author refers to the so called Ibarretxe Plan, a proposal almost identical to the Catalan new statut.

Why do that?

It is easier to say that the Catalans deserve more autonomy because they have never used violence to achieve what they want. Instead, the author mentions ETA and proceeds to bundle all Basque nationalists together, whether they are the lukewarm members of the Basque Nationalist Party (Ibarretxe's party) or the members of an armed group.

In doing so, the author makes two mistakes:

First of all, the violence he regrets so much emanated in the first place from Madrid. He does not mention that the present struggle for self determination by the Basques and the Catalonyans was fueled in great measure by the Francoist Regime's violent repression of the cultural identities of the nations within Spain. Nations that are within Spain against the will of their respective peoples.

Thousands were tortured and murdered in Catalonya and Euskal Herria to ensure Francisco Franco's vision of an Unified Spain Under God. This point of view by the fascist Spanish dictator is shared by a large percentage of the Spanish society. Strangely enough, it is also shared by large sectors in the US society, a country that fought a "Great War" against Fascism in Europe.

But somehow, now one talks about that violence, it is all about ETA and the violent Basques, as opposed to the pragmatic Catalonyans, so willing to negotiate.

The second mistake is blatant, and it may not be a mistake, but a conscious effort to vilify the Basques. But what is it?

Simple, to repeat the old Spanish propaganda mantra that all Basques are violent, and that there is no difference between the Basque political parties and ETA, since they share the same goal, they are all the same.

What is that goal?

The independence of the Basque country.

So I ask, was there a political party wrestling more autonomy from England back in 1776?

Would Washington followers had settled for more control over the taxes for the Colonies?

Did London considered the Colonials a bunch of violent individuals, what today are called terrorists?

Hopefully this will clear the picture for my US readers.

But lets us continue to dissect the WSJ article, here you have this pearl of wisdom:

Despite some cries of alarm, the result doesn't mean that the end of Spain is nigh. A majority of those who voted want more autonomy; that's not the same as independence. In fact, the outright separatists in Catalonia opposed the statute for not going far enough. Given their strong feelings on the subject, it's a good bet they hit the ballot box rather than the beach last weekend, making up part of the 21% of voters who voted "no."

The so called "outright separatists in Catalonia" did opposed the statute, because as part of the Catalonyan negotiating team, they did not approve of the modifications that produced a light version which accommodated the Spaniards more than the Catalonyans.

And regarding that bet, what about those voters being among those who refused to cast a vote that day? Because there is no mention in the article about the low turn out for the referendum. To say that the "outright separatists in Catalonia" voted for the "no" is to say that they are willing to torpedo any initiative that does not give them what they want, to the extreme of siding with the Spaniards that live in Catalonya who are the ones that voted "no" in an effort to disrupt the will of those who have the right to decide the future of their nation.

The author then minimizes the fact that not voting for a proposal that does not fulfill what you expect from a legislation that would ensure more freedom for your people is actually a democratic way to express you are not happy with the actions of those who allegedly represent you. The low turn out is then sending a strong message to Barcelona and Madrid: the new statut is toothless, that 48% of Catalonyans that did not vote want more.

What they want is independence, what they want is freedom, give them the chance given to the Montenegrins and you will see.

Same goes for the Basques.

And regarding all the yadda-yadda about the poor regions of Spain, why should the nations colonized and subjugated by an imperialist power should renounce to their right to be independent in behalf of the failure by the invading state to resolve its own deficiencies?


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Kafkian Process

Seems like after eight years of investigation by Baltasar Garzón and his heir Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the Spanish State does not have a solid case against those arrested accused of belonging to a ring in charge of collecting the so called "revolutionary tax".

One of them has been released, so, why was she arrested in the first place?

The answer is simple, to create roadblocks for the peace process.

This is the note by EITb:

Basque detainee release without testifying

Police operation

06/22/2006

Association in defence of the Basque prisoners' rights, Askatasuna, reported that one of the detainees who was arrested last Tuesday in Biarritz, was released without testifying in Paris before the magistrate Laurence Le Vert. Izaskun Gatxegi is wife of Eloy Uriarte, one of the 12 arrested in the police operation.

Three of the seven arrested last Tuesday in Lapurdi in an operation against the ETA's extortion apparatus, Julen Madariaga, Jose Antonio Cau and Cristina Larrañaga, are being transferred today from Bayonne to Paris. There, they will give evidence before the judge after testifying at the antiterrorism section of the Criminal Investigation Department, for their possible trial.

On his part, the Spanish National High Court judge, Fernando Grande Marlaska, will take statements from Ramon Sagarzazu, Jean Pierre Harocarene, Iñaki Aristizabal, Joseba Elosua and Karmelo Lukin, arrested in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa and Santa Pola, in southeastern Spain. Jean Pierre Harocarene will be the first to testify at 5:30 p.m.

Habeas Corpus

The National High Court denied the writ of habeas corpus requested for the detainee Ramon Sagarzazu. His lawyers requested it on the grounds of "serious hearth problems." The defence of Iñaki Aristizabal also filled a petition on the same grounds, but received no reply.

The operation against ETA's alleged extortion apparatus was the result of investigations ordered by the judge Fernando Grande Marlaska and the French magistrate Laurence Le Vert.

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Thursday, June 22, 2006

Cossiga's Solidarity

Francesco Cossiga gave a lesson on statesmanship to his Basque and Spanish counterparts.

Hopefully at least Ibarretxe appreciates the vote of confidence by the Italian politician and starts showing this sort of solidarity towards the Batasuna leadership constantly under attack by the Spanish Inquisidors.

This is the note published by EITb:

Italian ex president supports Basque premier incriminating himself

Lawsuit against Ibarretxe

06/22/2006

The former Italian president and life senator Francesco Cossiga has presented a writing at the Justice Supreme Court of the Basque Country incriminating himself in the lawsuit against the Basque premier for meeting Batasuna.

The Court admitted the lawsuit presented by the Ermua Forum against the Basque premier Juan José Ibarretxe for his meeting with the leaders of the outlawed leftwing nationalist party Batasuna, among them party leader Arnaldo Otegi, on April 19.

Cossiga has presented a short writing in which he incriminates himself out of "solidarity" with the Basque premier.

All the councillors of the Basque Government also announced their intention to incriminate themselves to support Ibarretxe.



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The Pan and the Kettle

Madrid continues its repressive measures against the Basques as it was shown with the onslaught of arrests that took place in different locations of Euskal Herria and Spain.

Yet, the members of the PSOE and the PP continue their bickering and their blame game.

Which begs the question. Is this part of a joint strategy to suffocate this opportunity to achieve peace?

Check this out and draw you own conclusion, the note appeared at EITb:

ETA's statement sets Spanish Govt and opposition at odds

ETA statement

06/22/2006

The Spanish government is very annoyed at the conservative PP president's reaction on the last statement of the Basque armed group ETA. The justice minister, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, assured it is "uncharacteristic" of Mariano Rajoy to "nourish ETA's discourse and encourage the band." But the leader of PP kept on criticizing the Spanish government, to which he demanded to deny publicly socialists have commitments with ETA, as the organization insinuates.

Lopez Aguilar accused PP of "once more, of giving false hopes to ETA's statements," which described as "absolutely uncharacteristic of the opposition." "It means giving false hopes to a terrorist organization which does not deserve any comment from the government's part," added, convinced that "now as never before, self control, moderation and, of course, loyalty and faith in the government that leads the antiterrorism politics are necessary."

However, Rajoy is constantly asking the government for reasons. Thus, he asserted "it would be good" if a representative of the government would "say it has no commitment with the terrorist organization," "something ETA insinuates in its statement, and that, if true, would be very serious" for the leader of PP. If there is no denial, Rajoy stated "he would have serious doubts whether there was or not a commitment." Lopez Aguilar replied no government "is under an obligation to make comments on statements of a terrorist group."

ETA's "loudspeaker"

The spokesman for the Spanish socialist PSOE party, Diego Lopez Garrido, demanded Rajoy to merely trust the Spanish government, instead of acting as the "loudspeaker" of ETA and using the armed group's opinion as a "territory for political confrontation."

For the socialist leader, conservatives are showing "an unfounded mistrust" especially because "for the first time in 40 years there is no terrorist activity" in Spain.

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Reactions to ETA's Statement

Once again ETA shows it commitment to peace.

Despite the rash of detentions where a dozen Basques were deprived of their freedom by the repressive joint operatives by Spain and France, the Basque armed group insists this is the time for peace, but also demands the same level of commitment by all the actors in this drama.

Here you have some of the reactions by the international media to the latest call for dialogue.

Angola Press: ETA calls on Spansh gov't to boost peace efforts

MADRID, 06/22 - The armed Basque separatist organization ETA issued a statement Wednesday, calling on the Spanish government to redouble its peace efforts and reiterating its commitment to Spain's peace process.

The group said that there had been "obstacles" since a ceasefire was declared on March 22, referring to Tuesday's arrest of 12 people for extortion, five in Spain and the rest in France.

"ETA calls on the government to take the steps needed so that no law nor court order will be an obstacle or limit to the commitment that is broadly supported by the Basque people, so that words can become reality," the statement said.

"In order to allow the negotiation process to develop, Spanish authorities need to adopt and fulfill their ceasefire commitments, " said the group.

The Spanish government must guarantee a complete end to repression, a halt to attacks against political prisoners, and must apply laws which halt pressure, blackmail and extortion against the political activities of independent leftist groups, the organization demanded in the statement.


TVNZ decides to side with Madrid and sees the call for commitment as a warning, they also deny the presumption of innocence for those recently arrested: ETA warns Spanish government

The statement comes a day after Spanish and French police arrested 12 suspected ETA guerrillas in the biggest operation against the Basque separatists since the ceasefire was declared.


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Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Will There Be an Answer?

A poster is seen on a street asking if mass arrests will help the Basque peace process, in Bilbao, June 21, 2006. Thirteen people were detained on June 20 in the biggest operation in Spain and France against armed Basque separatists ETA since they declared a cease-fire in March. REUTERS/Vincent West (SPAIN)

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Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Reactions to the Detentions

EITb brings to us some of the reactions to the wave of arrests that took place yesterday.

Here they are:

Reactions of Basque political parties

Arrests

06/20/2006

Basque Nationalist Party PNV

The president of the Basque Nationalist Party PNV in Gipuzkoa, Joseba Egibar, has noted that the "detentions" and "police operations" are never "positive news" but "normal news." In his opinion, Police must solve the investigations started and it's "normal" that past events are investigated.

Such operations as today's "don't favour the process," according to Egibar. However, the nationalist leader hopes "the process for the resolution of the conflict will follow."

Asked about the possibility that political influences could have prompted the arrests, Egibar has pointed out that Police "has always been guided by political control." He has added that "(conservative) PP has always had something to do with the investigations linked to ETA."

"Furthermore, taking into account that judges Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Laurence Le Vert have ordered the operation, I'd like to know who is behind," he has noted.

Conservative PP

Conservative PP secretary general, Carmelo Barrio, has affirmed that the operation against ETA's extortion operations is "a satisfaction reason" and shows that Democracy "is ready to defeat terrorists."

He has highlighted that it is "a very important judicial operation" in which judges Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Laurence Le Vert "made a good job" using the tools of Democracy to "neutralise terrorists."

In his opinion, with this operation, "once again it has been revealed that when Democracy works, we advance a lot." That is why he has said "the essential element to show that Democracy works is the defeat of ETA."

Socialist PSE-EE

Basque socialists preferred not to voice their opinion on the police operation in public, and have referred to the statements by Interior minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba.

Nationalist EA

EA has also decided not to voice political interpretations of the operation because, as they have explained, "we have never talked about arrests."

Communist EB

Communist EB spokesman, Mikel Arana, has asked not to use the police operation against ETA's extortion operations to "boycott the peace process."

Arana has affirmed in a statement that such an operation is the consequence of proceedings started in 1998 and adds "it's evident that Justice must act when there is evidence of crime."

He has added that, however, "presumption of innocence must be preserved and these events can't be used to hinder the peace process and political normalisation, since those are demands of Basque society."

That is why he has asked for "caution, moderation and prudence" from political, institutional and judicial representatives, and has reiterated that his party "will bet for an authentic peace process."

Outlawed leftwing nationalist Batasuna

Outlawed leftwing nationalist Batasuna spokesman, Arnaldo Otegi, has said that the police operation against ETA's extortion operation is a "clear and straightforward" attack against the hopes of Basque society. Furthermore, he has affirmed that it "doesn't match with the current situation."

In a press conference in Donostia-San Sebastián, Otegi has stated that this operation is " a political decision" of the socialist Government. Thus, he has asked Rodríguez Zapatero's Executive "how this helps to overcome the conflict and tackle the peace process."

In his opinion, with this kind of "public order dynamic" the socialist Government wants to "hide" that it has a problem "not with leftwing nationalism, but with a country that is a nation and has the right to decide."
Police operation

06/20/2006

The general coordinator of the leftwing nationalist party Aralar, Patxi Zabaleta, assured today the arrest of Julen Madariaga, charged with alleged membership of the Basque armed group ETA's extortion operations "is a clear move of Spain's judicature against the peace process this country needs."

At the press conference, Zabaleta asserted that Madariaga, member of the leftwing nationalist party Aralar, "was one of ETA founders in the times of Franco's regime, and has been a tireless fighter for peace and freedom for ages."

"Grande-Marlaska's accusations to Aralar or Basque Country citizens don't deserve credibility," added.

In this sense, Zabaleta said, "it is PSOE's responsibility to make moves so that the peace process be irreversible, and as soon as possible."

Finally, Zabaleta pointed out that from "Aralar, we want to show our solidarity with the detainees in this police operation, especially with Julen Madariaga and his family." He also claimed the "immediate release of all the detainees, and the vanishing off of the National High Court."

12 detentions

06/20/2006

The spokeswoman for the Basque government, Miren Azkarate, considered "odd" the detention of alleged ETA members linked to extortion operations, as those detained are citizens "who long ago got publicly clear from violence and kept that change in attitude over years."

After the Basque government meeting, Azkarate demanded "explanations" over the cause of the detentions "as soon as possible," so that "all of us notice what behind of this matter is."

Asked whether the police operation could affect the peace process, she refused to answer, as she is expecting more information on the issue.

Endorsing meetings with Batasuna

In turn, the council of the Basque government unanimously stated they "support and endorse" future meetings between the Basque premier, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, and members of the outlawed Batasuna party.

The announcement was made following the council's appeal to the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country against a lawsuit brought by Ermua Forum against the Basque premier, who met with members of the outlawed party on April 19.

In view of the lawsuit, the spokeswoman for the Basque government, Miren Azkarate, explained members of the government "found themselves guilty" to support Ibarretxe, adding "they acknowledged and participated in deliberations which led to meetings between the premier and the leftwing nationalist party."

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Sunday, June 18, 2006

Catalunya's Step by Step

Seems like the Catalonyans decided to back up the new statut, maybe next time they go to the voting poles the result is their independence.

Here you have an article about today's referendum:

Voters back greater autonomy for Spain's Catalonia Region

The author tells us about how it went:

Voters in the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia opted to seize key powers of self-government in a historic referendum to gain greater autonomy from Madrid.

With 99 percent of the votes counted, 73.9 percent of voters had backed the new statute, while 20.7 percent voted "no", with voter turnout at about 48 percent, official results released by the regional government showed.

More than five percent of ballot papers were blank or void.

I bet Solana is going to hate it when he finds out about the 20% above what he demanded from the Montenegrins last month.

Of course the article had to tackle the Basque issue:

The referendum was seen as a crucial test for Zapatero as he seeks to rally support for peace talks with separatists demanding self-rule for the Basque region of Spain.

Before casting his vote, the Catalonia regional government's President Pasqual Maragall said the referendum was "the most important day since the constitution was signed in 1978 and (Catalonia's) first statute," in 1979, during Spain's transition to democracy.

Shortly after the first exit poll indicated a three-quarter majority vote in favour, the First Secretary of the Catalan Socialist Party Jose Montilla hailed "a great day for Catalonia."

Zapatero has weighed in heavily in support of the autonomy charter and became personally involved in working out a compromise in the Spanish parliament and in the subsequent political campaigning.

Together with the Basque question, the Catalonia vote has become one of the most perilous political issues of his time in power.

Which in turn lead to the issue of the extreme right's reaction in Spain to the peace process:

Right-wing Spanish newspapers said the plebiscite was a test for Zapatero as he attempts to secure backing for peace talks with the armed Basque separatist group ETA, which declared a permanent ceasefire on March 22 after a bloody 38-year campaign for independence.

Zapatero intends to ask his Socialist-led parliament to endorse the beginning of direct talks with ETA, which is blamed for more than 800 deaths during a four-decade campaign for an independent Basque homeland.

The Popular Party broke off contact with the government after its announcement that it would pursue talks with Batasuna, ETA's political wing, and backed a recent large rally opposing the peace initiative.

The winds of change are blowing in the air.

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Saturday, June 17, 2006

Peace March in Irunea

Thousands of demonstrators carrying Basque flags are seen during a protest against Spanish judge Grande Marlaska's decision to ban a demonstration in Pamplona because of its possible links with Batasuna, in Pamplona northern Spain, Saturday, June 17, 2006. Batasuna is widely considered the political wing of the Basque separatist group ETA that recently announce a cease of fire. Batasuna is likely to be a key figure in possible negotiations between Basque separatists and the Spanish government. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

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Friday, June 16, 2006

About McGuinness and the Peace Process

This interesting article appeared at Times On Line:

Europe

The Times
June 16, 2006

Brother in arms now a midwife of peace





THERE was a time when Martin McGuinness was proud to call himself an IRA man who would not stop fighting until Britain declared it was leaving Ireland for good.

But there was a very different Martin McGuinness on show in the Basque Country of northern Spain this week: a charming, witty fellow explaining the benefits of the Irish peace process. He even admitted to a relationship with Tony Blair intimate enough for the two of them to discuss the Eta ceasefire together.


When presented with a makila — a ceremonial Basque walking staff that conceals a metal spike — he quipped that he would have to hand it over to General John de Chastelain, the decommissioning chief, on his return to Belfast.


You can read the rest of the article here.

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Thursday, June 15, 2006

More on Veleia's Archeological Discovery

Thanks to EITb, we learn more details about the archeological discovery in Veleia:

Iruña-Veleia archeological site

Oldest colour names, verbs and religious references in Basque

06/15/2006

The managers of the archaeological site Iruña-Veleia, ten kilometres away from Vitoria-Gasteiz, have unveiled the details of their discovery today. As they have said, they have found words of two kinds: common, and linked to religious issues.

Among the common words, they found "zuri urdin gori" (colours white, blue and red), "urdin isar" (blue star) -although philologists think that in this case the meaning is separate star and blue-, "edan ian lo" (drink, eat, sleep), "ian ta edan" (eat and drink) and "jaun" (lord).

Other words are linked to religious issues: "Geure ata zutan" (our Father among us), the greeting ancient Christians used, and "Iesus, Ioshe ata ta Mirian ama" (Jesus, Jose and Virgin Mary), that is, the Sacred Family.

According to this discovery, the first common words in Basque would have been found in Alava, bringing the apparition of written Basque records several centuries backwards in time. The first recorded writing was, as in the case of Spanish, San Millán's glosses (La Rioja).

Philological debate

The manager of the site, Eliseo Gil, and the philologists Hendrike Knörr (vice-president of the Academy of Basque Language) and Joaquín Gorrotxategi, have explained for the press that the findings have an "outstanding importance," but they have demanded more time for investigations.

The words were found on the foundations of a house, written on bricks, although some of them were inscribed on glass and bones. Apart from the Basque words, drawings showing scenes of Jesus' life were also found, as well as what could be a representation of the Last Supper.

Angry

The managers of the archaeological site have shown their anger at the leaks about the latest findings in the Alavan town.

"These have been totally irresponsible leaks that have annoyed the scientific community raising suspicions of fraud and search of prominence," Knörr affirmed.


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ETA and the French

Well, Forbes published an article about the letter that ETA sent to the French authorities and the French society asking for their involvement in the ongoing peace process.

Here you have it:

Basque Group Wants Talks With France

06.14.2006, 11:08 PM

Basque separatists called Wednesday for negotiations with France, where the rebel group has long made territorial claims.

The armed group ETA issued a statement saying the cease-fire it declared March 22 still stands and it wants to take the peace process "to the end."

The statement said France had imposed "silence and censure" on its people to mask the fact that ETA claims territory in Basque-speaking regions of southwest France as well as parts of northern Spain for an independent homeland and must now be part of the peace process.

ETA said France "must give a positive response, taking concrete steps on the path to recognizing the rights of Basque citizens and showing its commitment to finding a democratic solution to the conflict."

The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the search for a political solution to the Spanish Basque issue was a matter for Spain.

France long served as a haven for ETA militants but Spain says better cooperation between the two countries' police forces helped net hundreds of arrests in recent years and dramatically weakened the rebel organization.

ETA is blamed for more than 800 deaths since the 1960s in its drive to create an independent homeland in northern Spain and southwest France.


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Zapatero and the Catalonyan "Yes"

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero gestures during a campaign for the 'Yes' vote for the upcoming Catalan Charter vote, in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, June 10, 2006. Voters in Catalonia are expected to say a loud 'yes' Sunday to a charter that would grant the wealthy and powerful Mediterranean region more autonomy, angering conservatives who say the blueprint heralds a breakup of the Spanish state. Supporters say the plan is not a step toward outright independence, but a matter of Spain acknowledging it is a patchwork of peoples,Catalans, Basques, Galicians, Valencians and others, with distinct cultures, languages and customs. The document being voted Sunday engages in linguistic acrobatics to address Catalans' sense of nationhood while also trying to respect the Spanish constitution. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

McGuinness in Irunea

Sinn Fein's Deputy leader Martin McGuinness wears a typical Basque beret as he holds a Basque cane he was given in Pamplona, northern Spain, Wednesday June 14, 2006. McGuinness is in the Basque area of Spain to support the peace process between the armed Basque separatist group ETA and the Spanish government. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

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Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Partner's Divine Intervention

People walk around a stone dedicated to St. Anthony to ask the Portuguese-born saint for a partner,in the Basque mountain pass of Urkiola, on St. Anthony's day, June 13, 2006. REUTERS/Vincent West(SPAIN)

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How the PP Uses the Victims

I found an excellent post about how the PP sees uses and abuses the so called victims of terrorism.

I found it at a blog called Thebadrash.Com, here it is:

The PP loves victims of terrorism

During their time in power as well as during their disgraceful period in opposition, the PP have put nearly all of their energy into dividing Spain. Their constant jibes and threats - targeted against not only the left-wing but against distinct national groups within Spain - have changed this country and have increased tensions between Catalans, Basques, Spaniards, immigrants, conservatives, liberals and socialists.

This is a typical modus operandi for a one-policy party. Political entities of this type have no real philosophy or plan behind them other than the manufacture of fear among the populus. And they’re very successful at it. Intelligent, reserved Spaniards and Catalans whom I know are hesitant to pursue their own political goals because of a perceived threat that if modernisation of this country ‘goes too far’, the right wing will ruin things again.

The PP use this fear to divide the people of Spain. They use it to radicalise Spanish politics. These methods only ever benefit the PP and are all the more disgraceful because they are merely a means to attempt to regain power: as we have made very clear before, the PP does not believe in anything except its own right to control Spain.

To try and derail peace talks between the government and ETA, peace talks which the PP have already agreed to, purely in order to win political points, is the most abhorrent and repulsive act so far committed by this party. Their aim is clearly to gain power at all costs: even if it means that the streets of Spain run with the blood of more victims of terrorism. To call the PP simply power-hungry and divisive is to miss the point. The PP care so little for the people of Spain that they would rather see them dead than alive; if it meant that they controlled la Moncloa. So the question now is whether you’d like to see more victims of terrorism or fewer. The PP know which they’d prefer, and that’s why they’re trying to provoke more violence.


And just to show you how accurate he was with this lines, check this reaction by a Españolista Spaniard:

Alberto

Fantastic! What a steaming load of biased, overstated, unsubstantiated bollocks!

Any chance of some evidence for your assertions here, Tom? How about quoting official policy on each side and using detailed argument? What about looking at some actual facts, dates, figures, laws?

Do you know anything at all about the subject?

Yes indeed, the post went straight to the rotten heart of the right wingers in Spain.

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Monday, June 12, 2006

Askapena : The Crisis | Cronology of a Big Turbulence

This comes to us thanks to our friends from Askapena:

Towards Independence and Socialism
EUSKAL HERRIA - BASQUE COUNTRY
STEP BY STEP ASKAPENA's Informative Service N. 137

THE CRISIS: CHRONOLOGY OF A BIG TURBULENCE (I)

The negotiation process in flying terms is due to land on the runway to slide peacefully but it cannot. Even worse, in the landing process it is subject to dangerous turbulence, which jeopardise all the manoeuvres for getting closer.

The Spanish state is playing with fire. Since ETA announced its cease of fire, Spain's strategy has been a non stop provocation. An approach which is not the most appropriate one for a verified cease of fire and for a true effort in order to create a relaxed atmosphere for the talks that have to take place. There is true evidence about the fact that the Spanish state is trying really hard to condition and suffocate the Basque pro independence party: prohibition street demonstrations so that Batasuna should disappear from the streets, a very strong repressions if the acts are carried away despite the ban, a big increase of police road controls, continuous arrests on both sides of the inter-state frontier, persuading some other states to collaborate with the Spanish repression by arresting Basque refugees in those countries giving them away to Spain, also by hardening the prison policy by which Basque political prisoners are scattered in Spanish prisons very far away from their home, blackmailing 60 leaders of the Basque pro independence party with the 18/98 trial which is being carried out in the Spanish National Court under shameful conditions? another repressive strategy by the Spanish state consists in asking for huge amounts of money to leaders of Batasuna in return for their provisional freedom.

The very last agression

This repressive strategy's last and most violent expression has consisted in taking policy under justice in order to corner Batasuna's leadership. The government has had very big contradictions from the very beginning: it has asked to the Parliament permission to talk to ETA, and at the very same time the government has closed its door to official dialogue with Batasuna, because according to the Spanish government Batasuna is a "terrorist organization". So the government from Spain keeps Batasuna illegal, but at the very same time it openly admits that there are private contacts between the PS of Euskadi ( the Socialist Party from the South Western Basque Country) and Batasuna.

The Spanish government favours the Political Party Law as this law enables the government to let more or less freedom to its interlocutors. This law is like Damocles' sword for the people sitting in front of the government at the time of speaking. As previously mentioned these coercive measures have been increased since the cease of fire by ETA and since Batasuna has carried out the necessary political management. This is the chronology of the crisis that has happened:

March 24th.- After the cease of fire by ETA, Batasuna did celebrate a populated press conference in Iruñea in order to value the situation that there was after the permanent cease of fire by ETA. This conference was considered by the Spanish Court Prosecution as a way of not carrying out the Law of Political Parties, since from their point of view there was an attempt by Batasuna to introduce to the public the party's new direction and it asked the Spanish National Court to open charges against eight members of Batasuna's management, because from their point of view that press conference was "a recurring crime".

May 19th.- The Spanish National Court accepts the prosecution's proposal and calls to eight representatives of Batasuna to declare in that same Court on the 30th and 31st of may. The judicial pronouncement accepts the prosecution's proposal and between the representatives called to declare is Arnaldo Otegi, who because of feeling ill, was not present on the 24th of May.

May 19th.- That very same day Batasuna holds a conference to evaluate the critical situation in which the peace process is at that point. " We are in a very extreme situation and this is not the way to build a solution process up? All that people justifying and protecting any kind of repressive measure are walking the path of blackmailing the process itself, so that this opportunity should be lost? the only aim of the Spanish National Court is to keep a structural continuous and intense repression against the Basque left wing pro independence sector? This is not the way to get a solution, but the ideal way to cause crisis and confrontation? We have proved that we the same patient as responsible at a political level, but a peace process cannot bet achieved on this ground"

May 21st.- The Spanish government does understand what those words do mean and Zapatero holds a political meeting in Euskal Herria as an answer. According to some people the Spanish government did clearly understand the message of the 19th of May, did evaluate its relevance and decided to move forward the date when Zapatero was to announce his intention of talking to ETA.

May 22nd.- In this occasion, Batasuna did understand the message and it organised a new conference in which Batasuna did appreciate the announce by Zapatero in Barakaldo of his intention of having conversations with the armed organization. But it asked to advance in the phase of normalization opening a new space of dialogue with the political forces.

May 24th .- On its intention to advance in a climate for dialogue for resolution, Batasuna made a new step: it introduced its members in charge of the dialogue with the Spanish government and asks to the rest of organizations to stop making declarations and to do the same. The Spanish government delegate in Navarra warned that very same day that he will send to the Spanish National Court reports about the conference by Batasuna, since from his point of view, the introduction in front of the press of the members in charge of the dialogue is against the law.

May 25th .- Batasuna warms that the non stop attacks are bringing the process close to collapsing: " Rubalcaba and Zapatero's advisers are pulling very strongly from the string and they may know what they are doing? if next week the negotiators happen to go to prison, the situation will be blocked" ( Joseba Permach).

May 26th .- The Government wants to decrease the tension and it lets the people know by means of El País newspaper that the prosecution (the same one that favoured the opening of diligences) is not going to ask for special measures against the accused ones. The very same day, the judge of the Spanish National Court, Mr Marlaska, goes in the opposite direction. Having in consideration the declarations by Joseba Permach, the interview to ETA that Gara the newspaper published on the 14th of May and the introduction of negotiators on the 24th , Marlaska increases the accusation against Batasuna, accusing the organizztion of "terrorist threats".

May 27th .- Batasuna (Pernando Barrena) gives a conference in which he makes clear that the situation is on its limit: "We are clearly betting on the process, but the PSOE may make it collapse".

The tension is now extreme. On the 30th and 31st of this month eight representatives of the left pro independence party are meant to go to the Spanish National Court and they are very likely to go to prison. They have decided to pay no fees if they are imposed. That same day things may improve. This all Hill be the subject for the next Step by Step.

Euskal Herria, 11th of June 2006
info@askapena.org

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Sunday, June 11, 2006

Biarritz Welcomes the Champions

Biarritz Olympique rugby players display the 'Bouclier de Brennus' trophy to cheering and welcoming fans, as they tour the city of Biarritz, southwestern France, aboard a double decker, Sunday, June 11, 2006. Biarritz won the trophy after defeating Stade Toulousain 40-13 in the French rugby league final at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

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Saturday, June 10, 2006

No More Euphemisms

For years now several news outlets have been calling the Partido Popular and other groups and institutions in Spain by the term "conservative".

Finally, here comes an article that calls them by what they are, right-wingers.

And let us remember that the right wing in Spain is still to come clean from all the crimes commited by Francisco Franco's regime.

The article contains one more departure from the old cover up that had people thinking that Spain is a democracy. The author is very adamant to indicate that the right wing in Spain opposes peace, just like that, clear and simple.

Here you have it, it appeared at Yahoo News:

Spanish right-wing marches against Basque peace talks

by Marie-Noelle Valles

Sat Jun 10, 4:24 PM ET

Spain's right-wing opposition and other conservative groups marched through Madrid evening to protest at the Socialist government's plans for peace talks with armed Basque separatist group ETA.

The march, organized by the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT) and backed by the right-wing Popular Party (PP), brought together people opposed to plans by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to start peace talks with ETA, following the latter's declaration of a permanent ceasefire.

The PP claimed 1.1 million people turned out for the march under the banner of "Negotiations, not in my name", but police put the number at 200,000.

They gathered in Madrid's Plaza de Colon (Columbus Square) at 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) brandishing placards saying "Zapatero, traitor" and "War on ETA".

The "interlocutors that the government considers valid are assassins that have killed nearly a thousand people," said AVT president Francisco Jose Alcaraz, whose brother and two nieces were killed in an ETA attack in 1987.

ETA is blamed for more than 800 deaths during a four-decade campaign for an independent Basque homeland comprising parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. But it has not been held responsible for any deaths since May 2003.

On March 22 this year, ETA declared a permanent ceasefire, opening the way to direct dialogue with the government and to negotiations between the political parties in Spain's northern Basque region.

PP leader Mariano Rajoy said he hoped the government "takes good note of presence of hundreds of thousands of Spaniards who say that in no case can we negotiate or pay a political price to a terrorist organisation."

But Zapatero said earlier Saturday he was convinced he had the support of most Spaniards in opening talks.

"The great majority of Spaniards know what it means to submit to the pain and horrors we have experienced and at what point it is worth making peace," he said.

The PP was ousted by the Socialists in March 2004 after PP leaders blamed ETA for the devastating Madrid bombings of four days earlier, despite increasing evidence that they were the work of Islamic extremists.

On Tuesday the PP broke off ties with the government after the Basque branch of the ruling Socialist Party announced it planned to pursue talks with ETA's banned political wing Batasuna.

That ended the fragile and short-lived truce between government and opposition over the launch of the peace process.

Zapatero has now delayed asking parliament to formally approve a timetable and structure for negotiations with ETA and Batasuna until after June 18.

Other groups representing victims of ETA violence protested at the politicisation of their cause, saying "certain people" were wrongly claiming to represent them.

"From 1981 to 2003, we victims of terrorism never entered into party (political) problems of any kind," they said in a joint statement on Friday.

"Politicians do what they have to do. We must not interfere. All we demand is that the government use all means to end violence," Jesus Ramirez, vice president of one of the signatory groups, told AFP.

These groups also rejected attempts to link the Basque peace process to the bomb attacks that destroyed four commuter trains in Madrid on March 11, 2004, four days before the general election.

An investigation into the bombings, which killed 191 people, ruled out any involvement by ETA but the PP and AVT still insist responsibility for the attacks has not been clarified.

At its last protest in February the AVT claimed to have attracted 1.7 million people. The police figure was 110,000.

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Biarritz Olympique Champions of France!

Biarritz rugby team players celebrate with the trophy after winning the final of the French rugby championship at the Stade de France in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Saturday June 10, 2006. Biarritz defeated Toulouse on a 30 to 11 score.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

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Mayo Takes Dauphine's Stage

Iban Mayo of Spain celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 6th stage of the Dauphine Libere cycling race between Briancon and La Toussuire, southeastern France, Saturday, June 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Patrick Gardin)

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The AVT Exposed

For a long time now I have been pointing out that the Asociación de Víctimas del Terrorismo is not what it claims to be, a human rights organization.

Far from it, the AVT is actually a front group for the Francoist Partido Popular. The Partido Popular, heir to Franco's regime, has been using the association of victims as a tool to criminalize anything and everything Basque. To leave the Partido Popular on the lead of any victim's association is like leaving a liquor store in the hands of an alcoholic, let us remember here that the PP has refused again and again to recognize the victims of Franco's regime and that at one time José María Aznar threw a tantrum when the Basque village of Gernika-Lumo removed the name of the dictator from the main square.

Until today not a single murderer from the Franco regime has seen the inside of a prison cell, and who can deny that it was their genocidal violence against the Basque people what produced the conflict that the Basques and to certain degree Zapatero's PSOE want to resolve today.

So, the PP position against dialogue is simply adding insult to injury, and their usage of a victim's association for political gain is simply criminal.

And this goes to the nay-sayers and Basque-phobes out there. Tell me how many victims of the GAL have been accepted in AVT.

And as if being the dark operators behind AVT was not enough, the Partido Popular is also behind the actions by a victims' association from the Basque Country, known as the Foro de Ermua, which also carries out the PP's policies by disrupting any steps towards peace and political normalisation in Euskal Herria

Not a whole lot of people paid attention, but to prove my point, here you have this article appeared at the Gulf Times:

Spain’s terror victims decry politicisation of their cause

Published: Saturday, 10 June, 2006, 10:28 AM Doha Time

MADRID: Victims of terrorism in Spain decried yesterday what they called the politicisation of their cause ahead of an opposition-backed march against planned government talks with the Basque separatist group ETA.

“From 1981 to 2003, we victims of terrorism never entered into party (political) problems of any kind,” groups representing victims of terrorism from several regions of Spain said in a joint statement released yesterday.

It added that “certain people” were wrongly claiming to represent terrorism victims, though it denied “categorically” that there was any division between the victims.

The statement was issued independently of another victims’ body, the conservative Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), which opposes the government’s plans to negotiate with ETA.

The AVT, which is closely allied with the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP) and is a long-standing critic of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s Socialist government, called for a march today at 6pm (1600 GMT) against the talks.

ETA is blamed for more than 800 deaths during a four-decade campaign for an independent Basque homeland. The government declared plans to hold talks with the armed group after ETA announced a ceasefire in March.

The PP has broken off co-operation with the government in protest at the planned talks and called on all its supporters to join the march.

In their statement the groups said they hoped ETA would surrender its arms and observe strict respect for the law before negotiations started.

They also rejected attempts to link the peace process with ETA to the issue of bomb attacks that struck trains in Madrid on March 11, 2004.

One of the slogans adopted for today’s march is “We want to know the truth”, referring to the train bombings which killed 191 people.

An investigation into the bombings has ruled out involvement of the armed Basque group, but the PP maintains that responsibility for the attacks – including the possibility of ETA involvement – has not been clarified.

Gerry Adams, the head of the political wing of Northern Ireland’s IRA separatist group, on Wednesday condemned Spain’s conservatives for jeopardising the peace process with ETA.

“The victims are the people who have most suffered... but not all victims respond in the same way,” he said, adding that no one should “exploit the suffering of victims for a narrow political agenda”. – AFP


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Basque Archeologic Discovery

This comes to us thanks to EITB:

Iruña-Veleia

Third-century Basque inscriptions found in archeological site
06/09/2006

As the dailies Diario de Noticias de Álava and Diario de Noticias de Gipuzkoa report today, Basque inscription remains have been discovered in the Basque archaeological site of Iruña-Veleia, in the southern Basque Country.

Archaeologists in the site of Iruña-Veleia have discovered an epigraphic set "among the most important of the Roman world," with a series of 270 inscriptions and drawings from the third century and a representation of a Calvary, "the most ancient known up to this moment."

Furthermore, in the same site, 10 kilometres away from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque inscriptions have been found, apparently dating back to the third century. This would bring the discovery of the first recorded documents written in Basque eight centuries backwards.

Up to this moment, the most ancient were those found at the San Millán de la Cogolla monastery in La Rioja, from the eleventh century after Christ.

If the ages of these writings were confirmed, that would cause a revolution in the theories of the origins of the Basque language, and will move its birthplace to Alava.

Furthermore, some of the legible writings in Basque refer to Christian themes, which would strengthen the hypothesis that there existed Christian communities in the Basque Country earlier than historians thought.

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