Wednesday, June 27, 2007

In The Mean Time in Scotland

Things are moving in Scotland and The Nassau Guardian has published an article with a bleak outlook, here you have it:

Scotland: The road to nowhere

Gwynne Dyer

On Thursday, 4 May, the Scottish National Party, which promises to hold a referendum on independence by 2010, won the largest number of seats in the election for the Scottish Parliament. It's the first time that Labour has lost an election in Scotland in over fifty years, and the first time ever that the Scottish separatists are in a position to lead a government. So why does this not feel even a bit momentous?

One reason is that Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party, will have to form a coalition government. The SNP won 47 seats to Labour's 46, but for a majority in the Parliament in Edinburgh it needs 65. Its most likely partner is the Liberal Democratic Party, which won 16 seats. Add a couple of Greens and one "independent" who is actually a former deputy leader of the SNP, and he can probably reach the magic number -- but the Liberal Democrats are dead set against a referendum on independence.

Salmond will probably yield gracefully and postpone a referendum on independence until a second term, because he knows that the Nationalists cannot win a referendum now.

The SNP got more votes this time because Scots wanted to punish the Labour Party, which had been in power long enough to wear out its welcome, but popular support for actual independence for Scotland has been stuck at around 25 percent for the past thirty years.

What Salmond and the SNP really need is a long period in office when they can pick fights with the British government on issues where they will look like defenders of Scottish rights. The SNP's programme for the "first hundred days" is rich in symbolic demands of that sort: "repatriation" of North Sea oil revenues (i.e. all for Scotland, none for England); a separate Scottish Olympic team; Scottish control over British negotiations with the European Union on fisheries issues, and so on.

But even that strategy won't get very far, because the SNP's prospective coalition partners will not want perpetual confrontations with London.

The SNP is now beginning the same long and thankless process that the separatist Parti Quebecois entered when it won its first election in Quebec in 1976.

Quebec is the right analogy, because in both cases "independence" is mainly of emotional importance -- and the emotion is not all that powerful. Basque separatists in Spain, Kurds in Turkey, and Tamils in Sri Lanka have bitter memories of mistreatment and repression by the majority nationality in relatively recent times, but for French-Canadians and Scots it is mainly a legacy issue.

The basic argument of separatists in both of these places is that history took the wrong turn a few hundred years ago. Even if things are comfortable at the moment, it is our duty to make the history come out right at last. But things ARE pretty comfortable: Scots already control most domestic issues in Scotland through their own parliament, as does the French-speaking majority in the province of Quebec. GDP per capita in Scotland is 95 percent of the average figure for all of Britain, the same as Quebec's in relation to the rest of Canada.

No doubt an independent Scotland or an independent Quebec would do well economically, but they're doing well economically now. Do they really need to go through all the political turbulence and economic uncertainty of creating an independent state, in order to end up not very far from where they are now? In Quebec, the answer has always been no.

The Parti Quebecois was in power in Quebec for most of the past thirty years, but it only twice dared to call a referendum on independence, and both times it lost. Like the PQ versus the Liberals in Quebec, the SNP may establish itself as the only practical alternative to Labour in Scotland.

It may form the government there for most of the next thirty years. But even that would not mean that it will ever achieve its objective of independence.

After a generation of futile effort to convince Quebecers to vote for independence, the Parti Quebecois tumbled to third-party status in last March's Quebec election. The SNP is riding high at the moment, but the same fate may await it further down the road, because the majority response to its grand project is likely to be: why bother?

There is one big difference, however.

A majority of English-Canadians always wanted to keep francophone Quebec within the country, and were willing to make major economic and political concessions to persuade French-Canadians to stay. Whereas 59 percent of English people, according to a recent opinion poll, are in favour of Scottish independence -- more than twice the proportion of Scots who are.

The numbers are suspect: ask a slightly different question, and you'd get a quite different answer. The English aren't actually eager to push Scotland out of the Union.

But it is true that most English people would hardly notice if the northernmost bit of Britain, containing less than a tenth of the country's population, became a separate country. After all, it would still be in the European Union, so what's the difference?


With the last question the author tells us that it's missing the big picture. It is not what the English think or feel about the situation, is what the Scottish want for themselves. It also proves the little understanding that many have regarding the longing for self determination of those who feel history has short changed them, like the Scottish, the Welsh, the Basques, the Catalans, the Corsicans, to mention some.

If the dominating states don't even bother or do not see a difference, why don't they give up their former colonies once and for all?

.... ... .

Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Gernika

This article you're about to read was published at Sawf News:

Basque museum to showcase Hiroshima, Nagasaki exhibition

Posted on martes, 26 de junio de 2007 (EST)

Japan's ambassador to Spain is to open an exhibition on the aftermath of the August 1945 atomic blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at a museum in Spain's Basque region, organisers told AFP on Tuesday.

MADRID (AFP) - Motohide Yoshikawa will attend the opening the temporary exhibition for its launch at the Guernica Peace Museum in the Basque region on Wednesday.

"Hiroshima-Nagasaki: Effects of the Atomic Bomb" was jointly organised by the museum and UNESCO, the United Nation's cultural and educational body. The exhibition will run until September 9.

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki exhibition, which includes testimony from survivors, is the brainchild of the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall.

The organisers said the exhibition said the idea was to "remind future generations of what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (and offer) a homage to the need for eternal peace and truth."

In 1945, in the dying days of World War II, US air force bombers dropped atomic bombs that devastated the southern Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The bombings, on August 6 and 9 respectively, killed more than 200,000 people and injured untold thousands more.

Guernica's hosting of the exhibition, which comprises some 40 graphic images of the aftermath of the attacks, is loaded with political significance.

The Basque city itself suffered devastating bombing at the hands of German planes in an attack on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.

Artist Pablo Picasso created an iconic painting representing the horror of the attack, which is on display in Madrid at the Reina Sofia museum.

It is the third time the works have traveled outside Japan having been shown in Chicago in 2005 and Las Vegas last year.

.... ... .

Monday, June 25, 2007

Spanish Government Foiled Peace Accord

Like I said, the Spanish political class is full of spineless cowards. First they torpedoed the peace negotiations, now they deny how close they were to clinching a commitment to disarm by ETA. People need to know this so they can finally learn which side prefers violence over peaceful coexistence.

This article was published at EITb:

Government denies contacts, Gara daily offers more details

According to the Basque daily the socialitst party PSOE "rejected a political agreement after the armed group committed to dismantle its military structures as consequence of the process."

Spokesman of socialist group in Spain's Chamber of Deputies, Diego Lopez Garrido, maintained Sunday "it is obvious Spanish government have had no kind of political agreement with the armed group."

During a press conference, Garrido denied what Gara newspaper has been publishing during the last days about meetings, contacts and agreements between Spanish Government, the armed group ETA, socialist party PSOE and outlawed Basque party Batasuna.

According to Gara's Sunday edition, last May 21 took place "the definitive meeting" for a resolution process, a meeting in which "only participated delegations of PSOE and Batasuna. The first rejected the proposal of a political agreement."

The Basque newspaper unveiled ETA would have stopped its armed struggle and dismantle its military structures, if they reached a global commitment and brought the process to its end.

Garrido insisted that "a political agreement would never be accepted with a group of criminals and terrorists." This kind of information comes from "the terrorist milieu, who lack all credibility." Spanish Government’s position was clear, he added.


How about that last sentence, sounds to me like he is talking about the government that he represents.

.... ... .

Txalaparta Around the World

The article you are about to read reminded me of the project Mundua 'ta Musika by my friend José Santancara, here you have it, comes to us via EITb:

Basque film Nomadak TX succeed on the world stage

The film Nomadak TX, in which Martinez and Otxoa turn the traditional Basque instrument txalaparta into a medium for cross-cultural exchange, was screened at Silverdocs as the Music Documentary Award winner.

After its success at several international festivals (Seattle, Nantucket, San Sebastian-Donostia, Guadalajara, Amsterdam, Belfast,...), the Basque film Nomadak TX, directed by Raul de la Fuente, was screened at AFI Silverdocs as the Music Documentary Award winner.

The AFI Silver Theatre hosted from June 12-17 the international film festival Silverdocs, a competition founded by the American Film Institute and The Discovery Channel.

The fifth edition of the festival screened 100 documentary feature films and shorts from a variety of countries and filmmakers. The Silverdocs Music Documentary Award was presented to Nomadak TX.

The film tells the story of a trip Basque musicians Harkaitz Martínez and Igor Otxoa, members of Oreka Tx, made through India, Lapland, Mongolia and the Sahara desert, a trip in search of the world’s last remaining nomadic tribes.

Traveling around the world, they perform for native peoples and nomadic tribes, bringing their singular music to other cultures. Otxoa and Martinez use the traditional Basque instrument, the txalaparta (similar to a xylophone), as a medium for cross-cultural exchange and understanding, turning it into a meetingplace for people and different cultures.

As Silverdocs points out on its web site, "the film captures an extraordinarily fluent and dynamic conversation across borders and languages, articulated through music. Through encounters with other musicians—a Mongol musician and a Hindu taxi driver, a Sami singer and an aging Saharan lady—the txalaparta becomes more than a musical instrument; it is a tool for communication in which everyone expresses their desires."

"Stunning photography and superb music fill nearly every frame of the film, culminating in an amazing performance piece involving the music of all tribes in unison with the txalaparta. With little dialogue, the film speaks volumes on the significance of music in our lives, and its power to connect people all over the world."

.... ... .

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Video : Kilometroak 2007

Thanks to You Tube I present to all of you the video made as part of the publicity campaign for this year's edition of Kilometroak:



If you wish to learn more information about this important initiative, please follow the link to Kilometroak's web page.

~ ~ ~

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Euskal Herria: New Town Councils

So, the betrayal by the PSOE to the people of Nafarroa has now taken place. Despite the sour exchange between the leaders of the pseudo-socialist party with Mariano Rajoy and his thugs at the PP, the PSOE decide to present the fascist Yolanda Barcina with the chance to be reelected to office in Iruñea. This backwards political move by the PSOE demonstrates just how deep the hatred towards the Basque people runs in Madrid.

Here you have a note by EITB regarding the setting up of new town councils in the peninsular portion of Euskal Herria:

Politics

Town and city councils

Basque Country, Navarre set up new town councils

06/16/2007

Iñaki Azkuna (PNV), Odón Elorza (PSE) and Yolanda Barcina (UPN) took office again in Bilbao, Donostia and Iruña respectively. In Gasteiz, socialist Patxi Lazcoz snatched mayor's office from conservative Alfonso Alonso.

Citizens from the Basque Country and Navarre elected their town councillors and county councillors on May 27. Today, June 16, town councils were constituted.

Apart from a few exceptions, the mayor's office went to the one who got most ballots, as only a few previous agreements had been reached. Most of the mayors will have to negotiate with other political parties during the coming term of office as they have no majority.

The Basque leftwing nationalist movement gathered in front of the town halls to manifest against the banning of ANV's candidates. Five people were arrested.

Alava

Patxi Lazkoz (socialist party PSE-EE) was the most voted candidate in local elections in Vitoria-Gasteiz. He was elected new mayor during the constituent session of the town council that started at 10:00.

Bizkaia

In Bilbao, Iñaki Azkuna (Basque Nationalist Party PNV) reached an agreement with communist Ezker Batua. The constituent session took place at 11:00.

In Bizkaia, the tripartite (PNV, EA and EB) and socialist PSE-EE agreed to respect the most voted candidates. By consequence, PNV took Getxo's mayor's office, whereas PSE-EE took Sestao's mayor's office.

Gipuzkoa

In the Basque town of Donostia-San Sebastian, mayor Odon Elorza was the most voted candidate. He could count on the coalition of Ezker Batua-Aralar for backing his government.

Navarre

The constituent session of Pamplona/Iruña's town council started at 12:00. The candidate of conservative Union of Navarran People UPN, Yolanda Barcina, has been re-elected mayor as the Socialist Party of Navarre PSN announced on Monday they won't support the candidate of the Basque nationalist coalition Nafarroa Bai to take Pamplona/Iruña’s mayor’s office.

PSN's board said they won't accept any ANV vote and won't support any candidate that depends on the support of ANV.

PSN, Nafarroa Bai and communist Izquierda Unida de Navarra reached an agreement to create a coalition in six towns of Navarre, Barañain, Burlada, Zizur Mayor/Zizur Nagusia, Villava/Atarrabia, Alsasua and Olite. Nafarroa Bai took mayor's office in Barañain, Zizur Mayor/Zizur Nagusia, Villava/Atarrabia and Alsasua, whereas PSN took office in Burlada, Olite y Ansoain.

~ ~ ~

Bilbao : Fight for Survival


San Mamés
Originally uploaded by kimiborracho
This is it, Athletic de Bilbao goes for all or nothing in this what very well could be their last game at the top soccer division in Spain.

I know a couple of friends that will be unable to get some sleep tonight. Some of them root for Real Sociedad, some for Athletic. The best of lucks to all of them.

Here you have a note that appeared at Covers, the title is scary enough, although mistakenly the author forgets that Osasuna is also a Basque team, here you have it:

La Liga
Saturday, Jun 16, 2007

La Liga back to one Basque team?

By Associated Press

MADRID, Spain -- It's been 40 years since the Spanish league fielded a single Basque team.

Come Sunday, it could be time again.

Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad are involved in the "other" great fight that comes with every league title race: Avoiding the drop.

Pamplona-based club Osasuna, which reached the UEFA Cup semifinals this season, sits mid-table and will go into next season with a European qualifying place on its mind.

But Athletic and Sociedad - as well as Real Betis and Celta Vigo - are fighting to be one of the two clubs to stay up after Sunday's final round of league matches.

Betis and Athletic have 37 points, Celta 36, and Sociedad 34. Last-place Gimnastic Tarragona, which has 28, has already been relegated.

The stakes will be highest for Athletic when it hosts Levante at San Mames Stadium on Sunday. Bilbao are 1/3 with Levante at 15/2.

Winner of eight league crowns, Athletic is one of only three clubs to have never dropped out of the topflight in its 109-year history. The others are Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

The Rojiblancos, who escaped relegation last season by winning their final two games, host Levante.

"Athletic will get the result it needs," club president Ana Urquijo said. "It's an important game and we'll face it like we've faced others in difficult moments."

Athletic was built on the "cantera," a club policy of recruiting only Basque players that has been the base of team selection since 1912.

The "cantera" has spawned players such as Rafael Moreno Aranzadi - who's nickname "Pichichi" is used on the award given to the league's top goalscorer - and 89 Spain internationals, including striker Talmo Zarra, who set the league record with 38 goals in one season.

Since the domestic double winning season of 1984, Athletic has managed five top-five finishes.

"Your new Atheltic," a party nominated for next month's presidential elections, wants the team to be 30 percent foreign.

"Athletic's members are mature and understand that it cannot continue on the same path of little by little getting through poor seasons that are weighed down with hardship," the group said in a statement released on Friday.

A drop to the second division could be costly to Spain's oldest soccer team since it's planning a new 55,000-seat stadium to be ready for 2012.

"The decisive moment has arrived," coach Joseba Etxeberria said. "We know we cannot fail and we will not fail. We can't even think of things going wrong."

Sociedad has a date with Champions League qualifier Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium where it has won only eight times in 58 encounters.

Sociedad holds the tiebreaker advantage in case of a four-way tie at 37 points, with Betis also staying up. In case of a three-way tie, Sociedad is safe too.

Still, the team which challenged Madrid for the league title to the final day four years ago needs help from others to survive its first drop since 1967.

"We're preparing knowing that if we win we have hopes," Sociedad striker Darko Kovacevic said. "We have options, and not a few. It's still very open."

Sociedad fields Basque players along with internationals like Serbia's Kovacevic.

Little investment in last season's squad - which finished one point above relegation - has left the team in the bottom three since the start of the season.


~ ~ ~

Barcelona : Identity and Solidarity


Comes from the earth but does not have the weight of a stone…
Originally uploaded by 45street.


It is refreshing to find an article that tells us how the Catalans feel about themselves. All to often the foreign visitor will assume that the official version about Spain and the stateless nations within it is the one to rely on.

Well, Rick Steves gives us a more accurate vision of what it is to visit Barcelona, the vibrant city that is capital to Catalunya.

The note appeared at the Travel section of CNN, here it is:

Barcelona: Leading a stateless nation

POSTED: 10:51 a.m. EDT, June 15, 2007

By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

(Tribune Media Services) -- Barcelona is Spain's second city and the capital of the proud and distinct region of Catalonia. With Francisco Franco's fascism now long gone, Catalonia's creative and independent spirit is on a roll. Many visitors find this to be Spain's most cosmopolitan and vibrant corner.

In Barcelona a local told me "Catalonia is Spain's Quebec." Traveling here you see how the people of Catalonia have an affinity for other "stateless nations." Locals don't like to call their corner of Iberia a "region" of Spain -- that's what Franco called it.

They stress that they are a "nation without a state." And they have an affinity for other people who didn't get their independence when they drew the national boundaries. They live in solidarity with other stateless nations, finding Basque or Galician bars a little more appealing than your run-of-the-mill Spanish ones.

Barcelona has a rich history: Roman colony, a Dark Age Visigothic capital, and a 14th-century maritime power. And beyond its great sights, be sure to appreciate the city's elegant sense of style and Mediterranean knack for good living.

The city's main square, Placa Catalunya, is the center of the world for 7 million Catalan people, a lively scene throughout the day. The square is decorated with statues honoring important Catalans. Catalonia has its own distinct language, history, and flag, which locals fly proudly next to Spain's on government buildings and all alone from their apartments.

Catalonia has often been at odds with the central Spanish government in Madrid. Back in the '30s this area was one of the last pockets of resistance against the fascist dictator Francisco Franco. When Franco finally took power he punished the region with four decades of repression. During that time, locals were prohibited from flying their flag. To show their national spirit, they flew the flag of the Barcelona soccer team instead.

Even Barcelona's ATMs are in solidarity with the European family of "Stateless Nations." They offer the correct choice of languages: Along with Angles, Frances, and Castella (Spanish), you'll always find Gallec, Euskera and Catalan. Even though there's likely not a person a year who would speak only Gallec (from Galicia in northwest Spain) or Euskera (from the Basque country), they give them the linguistic respect they would hope for in a foreign land.

Each Sunday Barcelonans gather in front of their cathedral to celebrate their community by dancing the traditional Sardana. Traditional instruments, which evoke the struggle these people have waged through the centuries to keep their culture alive, sound sweet (I think only) to Catalan ears.

The Catalan language is irrevocably tied to the history and spirit of the Catalan people. Since the end of the Franco era in the mid-1970s, the language has enjoyed a huge resurgence. It's the language of the local schools and, today, children here speak Catalan first, Spanish second.

A recent affluence has elevated the city. There's barely a hint of danger in the once frightening Gothic Quarter. I remember the city's main boulevard, the Ramblas, when it was rich at the top and very rough at the port. Lurid prostitutes would line the street where it finally hit the harbor.

Today, the Ramblas is rich at the top and rich at the port and the holes ground by anxious high heels into the stone thresholds of brothel doorways are the only things left of the prostitutes.

The toughest thing surviving on the Ramblas are the roving gangs of thugs who run the high-energy, extremely twitchy shell games. With spotters uphill and downhill, and a full team of shills, nervous men scoot their dodgy peas. It's amazing there are enough fools on the streets to keep them in business.

While souvenir shops and crowds of tourists have diluted the Ramblas' former elegance, it still offers an entertaining place to see the carnival of Barcelona life. But pay attention. Wherever people stop to gawk, pickpockets are at work. I think you're as likely to have your pocket picked in Barcelona, especially here on the Ramblas, as anywhere else in Europe. If you stop for any commotion or spectacle, put your hands in your pockets before someone else does.

And Barcelona offers edible travel thrills, too. Pimiento de Padron (or in Catalan, Pebrots de Padro), lightly fried peppers salted and served piping hot, are a kind of Russian roulette for the taste buds. Eager eaters know that every once in a while you hit a super spicy pepper. Munching through a plate of peppers while watching the paseo filling the street in front of my little table, I was starting to understand the passion people have for this great city.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. E-mail him at rick@ricksteves.com, or write to him c/o P.O. Box 2009, Edmonds, Wash. 98020.
© 2007 RICK STEVES, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

Notice that he also refers to the Basques yearn for recognition and statehood for Euskal Herria and the solidarity that the Catalans show towards their "cousins".

Kudos to Mr. Steves for this great piece.

~ ~ ~

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Mayo is Clean


Iban Mayo
Originally uploaded by meredithfitz
Good news, Basque rider Iban Mayo has been cleared from the doping scandal.

Now he can go back to getting back into shape, and despite not riding for Euskaltel Euskadi, win a few more medals.

Here you have the note from Yahoo News:

Mayo cleared of doping as UCI probes Petacchi, Piepoli

Thu Jun 14, 3:02 PM ET

Spanish climber Iban Mayo, one of three riders whose urine samples were reported to have shown traces of drugs during the recent Giro d'Italia, has been cleared of doping by the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Thursday.

But cycling's world governing body confirmed that Italian pair Alessandro Petacchi and Leonardo Piepoli were still under investigation.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday that the three cyclists returned 'non-negative' tests at the first major Tour of the season, which ran from May 12-June 3.

The paper said sprinter Petacchi and climber Piepoli tested positive for salbutamol, a substance primarily used to treat asthma.

Salbutamol is a banned substance, but riders with asthma may use it to certain levels if they possess a medical certificate.

Mayo was reported to have tested positive for testosterone, the banned male sex hormone which snared Floyd Landis on his way to victory in last year's Tour de France.

But the UCI said in a statement that Mayo, who was tested following his victory on the 19th stage to Terme di Comano, had not breached doping rules.

"The UCI has noted press reports about three purportedly abnormal analysis results linked to the last Giro d'Italia," the UCI said in a statement.

"While regretting the premature publication of this news item, the UCI wishes to clarify the following points.

"No breach of the UCI antidoping rules was committed by the Spanish rider Iban Mayo of the Saunier Duval team.

"A further examination conducted by IRMS has enabled any possibility of testosterone administration to be ruled out.

"This further analysis was requested by the UCI following the notification by the Rome laboratory of a T/E value in excess of the norm laid down in the rules; that finding made further examinations necessary.

"The history of this particular case shows the vital need to await the closure of the relevant investigations before reaching conclusions.

"In the other cases, the analyses requested by the UCI are still in progress."

Petacchi, who won the Milan-San Remo classic in 2005 and four stages at the Tour De France in 2003, rides for Milram while Piepoli rides for Saunier Duval. The Italian sprinter also won five stages on this year's Giro.

According to the Gazzetta, neither team was informed of the positive tests by the UCI.

Saunier team manager Mauro Gianetti was left confused about the fate of his two cyclists.

"I called the UCI and they said to me 'If you haven't heard any news, it's because there isn't any.' This is absurd," he said.

Piepoli reacted to the news prior to the start of the Dauphine Libere's fourth stage in France, saying: "It's true that I take salbutamol to treat my allergy.

"Mauro (Gianetti) asked me how much I had taken. But I don't know how many puffs I took. I take it each time I need it. It depends on the seasons."

The Gazzetta reported that further examination of the three urine samples were being carried out at a laboratory in Rome, and that they may be taken to Barcelona, Spain for more tests.

In his prime as part of the Basque Euskaltel team, the 29-year-old Mayo was one of the few riders capable of challenging the dominance of Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich on the Tour de France mountain stages.

He won the stage to Alpe d'Huez in 2003, and won the Dauphine Libere stage race, an important build-up to the Tour, in 2004.


~ ~ ~

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Zapatero Retaliates in Mexico

Upset because he has been exposed as a lame politician, a man bent on perpetuating the colonialist occupation of a nation that cries for freedom, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has demanded from his allies to start punishing Basque citizens no matter where they are.

This is why Mexico deported Andoni Azpiazu Alcelay, a week after the ETA said it was ending a 15-month ceasefire in which Spain did absolutely nothing to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the political conflict that pits Spain against Euskal Herria.

Migration authorities found Andoni Azpiazu Alcelay in the city of Cuernavaca, thanks to an anonymous tip, and expelled him because he lacked a visa, Mexico's government said.

ETA, which has been fighting for an independent Basque state in northern Spain and southwestern France for four decades, said last week it was abandoning a ceasefire it had declared in March 2006.

The government of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero started exploratory peace talks in mid-2006, but broke them off at the end of the year after ETA detonated a bomb at Madrid's airport in December after Zapatero arrested ETA's envoys to the peace negotiations in clear violation to international treaties.

In 2006, Mexico extradited six people to Spain for suspected links to ETA after a three-year legal battle in which Spain failed to produce a single piece of evidence to support its outlandish accusations.

In the mid-1990s, Mexico signed a extradition treaty with Spain in which it ceased to treat suspected terrorists as political refugees in clear violation with Mexico's Constitution and the country's hard earned recognition in the international community as a safe haven for those who are escaping ethnic, religious or political persecution. But Spain is taking advantage of its position as a trade mediator between Mexico and the European Community, demanding Basque citizens in return for their support.

Zapatero is exporting Spain's brand of repression against the Basque people as a result of his refusal to sit down with the Basque political forces to seek a peaceful end to the occupation of Euskal Herria in its peninsular portion. He is no different from Milosevic.

.... ... .

Batasuna Wants Peace

Unlike the Spanish State that chose to perpetuate the political conflict with Euskal Herria by sinking the peace talks by having the envoys for the pro-independence Basque side arrested, Batasuna continues to call for the peace process to continue. This interview was published by Alert Net:

INTERVIEW-Batasuna still hopes for Spanish peace talks

12 Jun 2007 12:00:38 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Jason Webb

MADRID, June 12 (Reuters) - A Basque separatist party banned for links to ETA rebels still hopes for a revival of peace talks with the Spanish government despite the end of an ETA ceasefire last week, a leading party member said on Tuesday.

But Joseba Alvarez, a prominent member of banned party Batasuna, said he feared Spain's Socialist government would take a tough stance against ETA in the lead-up to general elections due by next March.

"Our objective is to get back to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible," Alvarez told Reuters by telephone from Pretoria, where he said he was studying South Africa's transition from apartheid.

He recognised it would be difficult to revive peace talks the government started last year with ETA to end four decades of violent conflict in the Basque Country.

Last week the government responded to ETA's announcement that it was abandoning a ceasefire by transferring the best-known rebel prisoner from hospital to jail. Batasuna's leader Arnaldo Otegi was jailed on Friday for praising terrorism.

The government, now braced for possible ETA bombings or assassinations, regards Batasuna as ETA's political wing.

Alvarez said isolating Basque separatists only made an ETA attack more likely.

"If they step up (police) repression, if everyone starts thinking and talking about what to do when there's an attack, then what we're doing is making it more probable, not less probable," Alvarez said.

The last time ETA struck was in December, when a bomb at Madrid airport killed two people. But the rebels said at the time that their ceasefire still held and the attack was just meant as a warning.

Alvarez said Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero had made the most serious attempt yet to negotiate an end to the Basque conflict. But patience was needed, he added.

"Processes to resolve conflicts tend to be very long and they tend to have their good moments and their bad moments," he said.


Something tells me that Madrid will not pay attention to this call for peace, the Spanish politicians are very comfortable with the colonialist and genocidal past of the country they run.

.... ... .

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Musical Instruments

This article comes to us via EITb:

Basque musical instruments

No one visiting the Basque Country leaves without noticing the magical sounds of so many instruments strongly rooted in the folkloric traditions.

Everyone visiting the Basque Country usually becomes familiar with the txistu, accordion and tambourine, but there are other Basque musical instruments. Some are unique to a particular region and set of dances in the Basque Country.

The Basque Country has zealously preserved its own folkloric traditions, but likewise it would be unusual for a country such as this, which has always regarded music as one of its most genuine means of expression, to remain distanced from other musical tendencies.

And in fact the Basque Country hosts for example the most important Jazz festivals of Spain, such as those of Vitoria-Gasteiz and Donostia-San Sebastian, and offers programmes of classical music such as the Fortnight of Music of Donostia-San Sebastian or the Bilbao Opera season.

As far as the music goes, the txistu is the Basque instrument. It is a simple wind instrument which, in its different forms, and usually accompanied by a light drum beat played by the same musician, is used to play the music of the majority of Basque dances, from the most solemn ones to the "jotas" and fandangos, which everyone dances.

An instrument which often fulfils similar functions is the alboka, a little pipe made of straw, wood, and horn. It is made from the horns of oxen and it produces a high pitched sound. It is not difficult to play, it is said, but the musician must always maintain a mouth full of air. It was nearly lost in recent years but it has been resurrected, especially in the towns of Bizkaia. The alboka is often times accompanied by a tambourine.

It is difficult to say with certainty what txalaparta were and for what they were utilized. They date from ancient times, some claim from the pre-historic era. They are two thick wood staffs, that are struck down upon a hard surface in a rhythmic fashion. The only known tune that has been retained comes from the sidrerias or cider houses, producers of popular sagardoa or cider wine. It is possible that the txalapartak owe their origin to these cider houses. They used them to notify the surrounding community (up to ten kilometers away) of the new batch of cider wine that was ready. Villagers would then arrive to test samples and decide if they wanted to buy a portion.

The tobera are very similar to the txalapartak except that they are made of iron in place of wood. These are often used to celebrate and proclaim a wedding.

The Dulzaina comes from a diversified family of instruments from the province of Nafarroa. Difficult to play, it is used to play the various folk dances in Nafarroa. Unlike the txistu, it is played with both hands. It was in danger of being lost but recent efforts have succeeded in preserving and promoting the continuation of this instrument.

The Trikitixa: includes an accordionist and tambourine player that help to enliven Basque gatherings and festivals. It was first introduced into the Basque Country in the provinces of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa towards the end of the last century.

.... ... .

Monday, June 11, 2007

Euskera Summer Camp in Boise

This article comes to us via EITb:

Basque Museum of Boise hosts summer camp in euskara for children

The summer camp is designed to provide an environment for students with prior Basque language experience to come together to practice communication skills in Euskara while engaging in fun, educational activities.

The Basque Museum and Boiseko Ikastola have organized a summer camp in euskara for children. The linguistic immersion camp will take place at the Basque Museum of Boise from June 11 to 15.

This camp will be taught in Euskara, and is designed to provide an environment for students with prior Basque language experience to come together to practice communication skills in Euskara while engaging in fun, educational activities.

Campers will get hands-on experience in Basque cooking, sports, language, dance, music, and history, all taught in Euskara. Ryan 'Patxi' Kerns will be the instructor for the 6-9 year olds and Ramona Larrea will be the instructor for the 3-5 year olds.

The camp will be held each day from 9:00-12:00 p.m., June 11-15 at the Basque Museum.

[Source: Basque Heritage]


.... ... .

The Ekain Caves

This article comes to us thanks to EITb:

Ekain Caves in Zestoa Gipuzkoa, Basque country

ZESTOA –Gipuzkoa: Ekain caves’ replica will have more than 80,000 visits per year A French company is building a replica that will be placed next to the original at the end of year 2006.

35 years ago two discovered Ekain cave. From that moment on Ekain has turned into a sanctuary for specialists of prehistory. The cave is considered valuable owing to its cave paintings and its excellent maintenance.

Aranzadi Science Society, promoter of Ekain project, apart from preserving this treasure, has promoted the building of a replica of the cave in France, 500 metres away from the original one.

The replica will be open in 2007 and will be visited by 80,000-120,000 people a year, according to estimation of the recently-constituted Ekain Foundation. This association, sponsored by Basque Government, delegation of Gipuzkoa, and city hall of Zestoa, will promote “Ekain berri” project, which apart from the replica, includes Prehistory Basque Museum’s building in Lili Palace, car parking and repairing already existing roads.

Promoting Urola Coast

Up to now, almost four millions and a half have been invested in the initiative and in the following years 10 millions and a half more will be used for the project. The idea is getting a connection between ecology and culture, the same way they want to get it between Menosca project in Zarautz –about roman presence in the area-, Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Oteiza pelota courts in Azkoitia, and Loiola basilica’s promotion in Azpeitia. Thus, a new offer in tourism, culture and leisure time will be created in Urola coast, with “Ekain berri” as badge project.

Building the artificial cave, erected by architect Txema Balerdi is already finished, and cost two million Euro.

.... ... .

Spanish Politicians Exposed

The article you're about to read was published by the International Herald Tribune is a lame attempt at excusing the behavior displayed by the top Spanish politicians during the peace process initiated by ETA's ceasefire. I say it is a lame attempt because it actually exposes the Spanish politicians in all of their hate-mongering self, here you have it:

Spanish prime minister says there were talks with Basque separatists ETA

The Associated Press
Published: June 7, 2007

MADRID, Spain: Spain's prime minister on Thursday acknowledged there had been high-level talks with Basque group ETA in an attempt to defuse violent separatism in the country's troubled northern region.

"There have been direct and indirect contacts during a short period," Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said during a television interview on Canal Cuatro station.

Zapatero said he would not give details about the talks, in order to protect those involved.

"One has to have prudence because there are people who committed themselves a great deal, including people from outside our country to whom I am very grateful," Zapatero said.


What Zapatero fails to mention is that he had Spain's regular police forces and secret services arresting ETA's envoys which is a violation of international treaties that convey immunity to the negotiators to a peace process.

This week, ETA announced the end of a 15-month self-imposed cease-fire, though it already had detonated a massive car bomb at Madrid's international airport on Dec. 30, demolishing a five-storey car park, killing two people and shattering any hope of a negotiated solution.


No one had to die that day, but the Spanish police refused to act in behalf of two immigrants from Ecuador despite having information of where they were, something that Zapatero does not mention.

Zapatero broke off all contact with ETA following the explosion.

The prime minister said, however, that he still felt it had been his obligation as government leader to try for a negotiated end to violence.


All he needs to do to end violence is to withdraw all the Spanish occupation forces from Euskal Herria by having Spain renouncing to its genocidal and colonialist past.

ETA, which stands for Basque Homeland and Freedom, is accused of killing more than 800 people since 1968 in a violent campaign for independence from Spain.


Ok, so, who is counting all the people murdered by the invasion, conquest and colonialist regime by Spain against Euskal Herria?

"I would have wished to have had the backing other prime ministers had," Zapatero said in reference to heavy criticism from the opposition conservative Popular Party.

When in opposition Zapatero said he offered former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar his full support in efforts to eradicate terrorism from Spain.

The Popular Party, now led by Mariano Rajoy, claims Zapatero's government has shown weakness in trying to deal with ETA, which has been classified in Madrid, Brussels and Washington as a terrorist organization.

Rajoy was deeply critical of Zapatero for negotiating with ETA before it renounced violence and disarmed.


This last part is the one I was telling you about, the one that exposes the Spanish political elite in all of its rotten and dispicable reality. Heh, and they thought this article would make them look good.

.... ... .

Saturday, June 09, 2007

In Support of Otegi

As you may know by now, Zapatero ordered top Basque politician Arnaldo Otegi because he feels like he needs to punish anyone who dares to advance the right of the Basque nation to its self determination. Well, Otegi is not on his own and people will take to the streets in solidarity with the jailed leader of Batasuna. Here you have this article published by EITb:

Basque leftist movement to protest against imprisonment of Otegi

According to Batasuna sources, spokesman for Batasuna Joseba Permach will address the attendants after the rally.

Basque leftist militants will hold a rally Saturday evening in the Basque town of Elgoibar to protest against the imprisonment of the leader of the outlawed party Batasuna Arnaldo Otegi.

After the protest, spokesman for Batasuna Joseba Permach will address the attendants, Batasuna sources reported.

Spanish judges sent the Basque leftist movement's most prominent politician to prison Friday on a terrorism conviction - more evidence of retaliation for the announcement this week by armed group ETA that it was calling off its cease-fire, analysts said.

Arnaldo Otegi, the 48-year-old leader of the outlawed Batasuna party, was arrested as he walked to a news conference in San Sebastian and was quickly jailed in the Basque city. The Supreme Court had rejected his appeal against a conviction and 15-month sentence handed down last year.

Batasuna called Otegi's arrest an act of "maximum gravity." It said the government of Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero had silenced the leftist movement's chief representative.

Otegi was found guilty by a lower court of defending terrorism - a crime in Spain - through remarks he made in 2003 at a rally in memory of an ETA leader on the 25th anniversary of his death. In a nearly identical case in March, however, prosecutors dropped the charges at the last minute and Otegi walked free.

.... ... .

Friday, June 08, 2007

Otegi Incarcerated

Now that the Spanish government has been exposed one more time in all its mendacity it was just a matter of time for Zapatero and his repressive apparatus to escalate their vindictive actions against the Basque nationalism.

This note appeared at Yahoo News describes the most recent move by the Spanish government against Basque politician Arnaldo Otegi, the front man for the leftist nationalist movement:

Basque separatist leader sent to jail

By DANIEL WOOLLS, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jun 8, 7:28 AM ET

Spanish police arrested the Basque separatist movement's most prominent politician on a court order for him to start serving a 15-month sentence for defending terrorism, a court official said.

Arnaldo Otegi, the 48-year-old leader of the outlawed Batasuna party, was arrested in the Basque city of San Sebastian, the National Court official said on customary condition of anonymity.

Otegi was convicted last year over remarks he made at a rally in memory of a leader of the armed separatist group ETA on the 25th anniversary of his death. He was arrested after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal.

The ruling is certain to infuriate the Basque independence movement. ETA called off a 15-month-old cease-fire on Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Otegi in effect praised terrorism, which is a crime in Spain. Otegi's lawyer said the politician was simply exercising his right to free speech and discussing ways to end the 40-year Basque conflict.

A five-judge panel at the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against the appeal.

The case then went back to the National Court, the lower tribunal that originally issued the guilty verdict. It had the option of suspending the sentence because it was less than two years, but chose not to and Otegi was arrested.

The court official said that only minutes elapsed from the time the higher court ruled to when Otegi was picked up on his way to a news conference.

The ruling is certain to infuriate the Basque independence movement.

On Wednesday, the government ordered a notorious ETA killer sent back to prison after recovering in hospital from a 114-day hunger strike, rather than let him serve out the rest of his term under house arrest, an option that had been raised initially.

By the way, this is one example of the sloppy coverage that the Basque conflict gets from "reporters" that do little else than to act as resonance boxes for the Spanish propaganda machinery.

Notice how Daniel Woolls repeats the same paragraph twice:

The ruling is certain to infuriate the Basque independence movement.


And then, he omits Iñaki de Juana's name from his next to last paragraph. Or maybe Daniel Wolls was afraid to be accused by the Spanish National Court of praising terrorism for printing Iñaki's name?

~ ~ ~

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Ibarretxe's Betrayal

BAC's premier Juan José Ibarretxe is going way to far in his new role as a lackey for Madrid's decision makers.

If his party has failed to attract more voters it is their own fault, as it is shown in the constant decline of votes to his party since that year in which the Basques, wanting to believe that he was the answer, gave him the votes he needed just to see him squander his political capital in favor of the technocrats within his party that were more worried about the economic profits that the wish of the Basque people.

Upset because of the last election showed that his start is fading away, now Ibarretxe takes the opportunity created by Zapatero's hate filled speech to fan the flames.

Here you have this note from EITb:

Political Council Meeting

Basque premier: "ETA deceived Batasuna's voters"

06/07/2007

Juan Jose Ibarretxe believes that ETA's announcement "is a huge frustration and a deception" to Batasuna's voters.

The Basque premier, Juan Jose Ibarretxe assured that he will use all police means he can reach to defeat ETA and that nobody will shatter the peace future of Basques, "no matter how painful the death throes of terrorism are." Furthermore, he said that ETA "deceived" Batasuna's voters.

In a statement read following the Political Council meeting of the Basque Government -formed by the Basque premier and councillors Javier Madrazo and Joseba Azkarraga- Ibarretxe voiced their "categorical rejection and condemnation of violence."

In his opinion, ETA's statement putting an end to the ceasefire is "a huge frustration and a deception to Batasuna's voters." "ETA shut the door to hope with a bang as well as to the voters who backed ANV to push the peace process," he noted.

In his opinion, ETA "is again on the fringes of the Basque people, who demand its dissolution once and again." "Violence is the past and Basque society doesn't want it, it looks to the future and either nothing or nobody will shatter the peace future, no matter how painful the death throes of terrorism are," he said.

Ibarretxe announced the compromise of the Government to boost the Plan for Peace and Coexistence approved by the Political Council on April 26, 2006, which defined "the foundations to set up a peace and coexistence plan." He noted that he will delve into the solidarity initiatives with victims and will promote "the respect and defence of all human rights."

"There can't be illegal shortcuts against terrorism, we can't act guided by action-reaction, as we are observing lately," he said, and added that "he will use all the police means he can, but will also report human right violations, wherever they come from."

Dialogue without exclusions

The Basque premier defended political dialogue "without exclusions " to find solutions to "coexistence problems" because "without dialogue, there is no solution."

Thus, he said "now more than ever, we need to claim for institutional and parties' dialogue to avoid the use of violence as a confrontation weapon."

Likewise, after he affirmed Euskadi can achieve peace, he called for a dialogued end to violence "when ETA shows unequivocal evidence that it is ready to put an end to terrorism once and for all."


Hey Ibarretxe, you need to instruct Javier Balza not to obstruct the dialogue among the Basques and demand from him to stop the violence that the Ertzaintza exercises over the people they are supposed to defend.

And by the way, to call Ibarretxe the Basque Premier is like calling Basque-phobe Sanz the Basque Premier just because he rules over Navarre.

~ ~ ~

A Basque Winnemucca

Winnemucca.

For many of you this may be the first time you read that word. It is the name of a town in Nevada. Happens to be that it is also home to a quite active Basque community.

This note appeared today at EITb:

Basque Americans

NABO Annual Convention kicks off in Winnemucca

06/07/2007

Every year since 1979 one of the member clubs hosts the NABO Convention meeting which is usually the largest annual gathering of Basque-Americans. This year the meeting will be hold at Winnemucca, Nevada.

From Friday, June 8, to Sunday, NABO will hold its Annual Convention in Winnemucca, hosted by the Euskaldunak Danak Bat Basque Club.

Every year since 1979 one of the NABO member clubs hosts the Convention meeting which is usually the largest annual gathering of Basque-Americans.

While the NABO Convention kicks off on June 8, at the Winnemucca Convention Center. Several activities are scheduled on Friday, including mus tournaments, the exhibition Making West Home: A Basque Journey by photographer Linda Dufurrena, concerts by the Boise accordion group Txantxangorriak, Jean Flesher on accordion and a performance by the Winnemucca Irrintzi Beginner dancers, as well as a concert by Luhartz, a band from Durango (Bizkaia, Basque Country).

On Saturday morning a great parade through the streets of the town will take place, followed by the inauguration ceremony with performances by Jean Flesher Band and Noka. In the afternoon there will an exhibition of Basque sports and contest and the day will end with dance performances and music of Jean Flesher Band, Luhartz and the local band What’s Next.

On Sunday father Martxel Tillous will celebrate a mass at the West Hall, followed by performances of Txantxangorriak and Noka. A delicious Basque meal will be served at midday. The Convention closes in the afternoon with dance perfomances, jota contests, junior weight carry and junior soka-tira contests.



~ ~ ~

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

De Juana Back in Jail

The Spanish political class is enraged by ETA's decision to put an end to a masquerade that was leading nowhere. The Spaniards decided to torpedo the peace process and continue their violent repression of the Basque right to self determination. So now, the Spaniards are hitting anyone they can put their hands on, in this particular case, Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana.

This article was published by EITb:

ETA prisoner De Juana returns to jail out of Basque Country

The Basque prisoner was removed Wednesday from the hospital in the Basque city of San Sebastian where he had been recovering from a 114-day hunger strike. He was taken to Aranjuez prison, just south of Madrid.

The inmate Iñaki de Juana Chaos has been declared healthy again and was removed Wednesday from the hospital in the Basque city of San Sebastian where he had been recovering from a 114-day hunger strike. He was taken to Aranjuez prison, just south of Madrid.

On Tuesday, Interior minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said De Juana Chaos, released from prison on March 1 after a hunger strike that left him gravely ill, will be sent back to jail, not home, to serve out the rest of his prison term under police surveillance, a possibility that had initially been raised.

He has already served 18 years after being convicted in 25 deaths in a series of ETA attacks and now faces the last 14 months of a separate, three-year term for newspaper articles that were deemed to be terrorist threats. He is being sent to another prison but officials will not say where.

Perez Rubalcaba said in a radio interview that when he first agreed to move de Juana Chaos back in March, he did so out of humanitarian reasons. But with the ETA cease-fire over, he said, sending de Juana Chaos home is out of the question. "It is evident that circumstances have changed with respect to that moment. The state has to be firm and intelligent, dealing with the new circumstances," Rubalcaba said.

.... ... .

San Juan Festivity in Euskal Herria

Some more cultural information from the Basque Country courtesy of EITb:

San Juan in the Basque Country: The most widespread festivity

San Juan festivity, the most widespread festivity, will be celebrated on June 24 with many different bonfires.

Besides its deep purifying character the bonfire of San Juan’s eve bears relation to the bonfires lighted to keep off non-desired visits: the evil spirits that, using the privileges this holy night offered, might be a threat.

In almost all Europe, the summer solstice comes accompanied with ancestral rituals. Many Basque villages – Agurain, Hernani, Eibar, La Guardia, Leioa, Muskiz, Segura, Tolosa, …- celebrate their patron festivities in honour of San Juan (24th June), and all of them are still reminiscent of traditions with an origin lost in history.

San Juan’s Eve: Protecting and purifying fire

Regardless of the patron they chose, all the villages in the Basque Country gain a magic atmosphere on San Juan’s eve, when they light the bonfires, which take their roots from ancestral traditions related to the summer solstice. Obviously, this way of getting into a new natural cycle, leaving definitely aside the winter and welcoming the summer, is not a Basque peculiarity. There is a similar atmosphere in many Spanish places and European countries, whatever its cultural roots.

Nevertheless, the rituals related to the shortest night of the year have survived more intensely in some cultures, and the Basque is one of them. According to the Celtic tradition, the dead could get in touch with the living on this night. Besides its deep purifying character – reinforced in some cases by rituals related to water- the bonfire of San Juan’s eve bears relation to the bonfires lighted to keep off non-desired visits: the evil spirits that, using the privileges this holy night offered, might be a threat. Rites that are represented in very peculiar dances in some places such as the ones mentioned in this proposal.
.... ... .

Basque Library in the USA

This article comes to us via EITb:

Basque Library of University of Nevada launches new Web site

The new Web site was designed to include services that were not offered before as well as interfaces in four languages. A clear design and easy use were targeted.

The Basque Library of the University of Reno completely reformed its Web site to make it easier to access and find information.

The new Web site was designed to include services that were not offered before as well as interfaces in four languages: English, Basque, French and Spanish. A clear design and easy use were targeted, with the information divided in different sections.

Through an only search, information will be searched in the library catalogue, Basque database, Basque archive, Basque films as well as magazines.

New contents

The Library of Reno receives different materials, among them compilations of documents, pictures, audio and videos, as well as posters, etceteras. Up to now this information was not available in the Web site.

Hundreds of magazines that were not included in the catalogue will be also available now. The library will also offer a RSS service of the new books it acquires.

Collection of links

Those who approach the Basque world for the first time or those who want to access more information about issues related to the Basque Country will have a series of links gathered by the Library. The links will provide information on the diaspora, culture, language, genealogy, libraries and data bases, universities, research centres, media groups and statistics, among others.

There will also be a RSS service to receive up-to-date news about the Basque Country in English. Likewise, the library created a section to spread the most meaningful news about the library.

.... ... .

First Europeans

Oh this is going to make a lot of fellas in the Basque-phobe camp so upset. Here you have it, as published by EITb:

'First Europeans were Basques and Basque the first language'

That’s the theory of a philologist and historian Jorge Maria Rivero Meneses in his book El verdadero origen de los vascos: la primera humanidad that will be presented Wednesday in Koldo Mitxelena library.

The philologist and historian Jorge María Ribero Meneses, after being investigating for years, reached the conclusion that Basque people were the first inhabitants of the European continent. According to Ribero Meneses, in addition, nowadays Basque is the evolution of the world’s oldest language. At the very beginning it was generalised throughout the north of Spain.

That is what he says in his book El verdadero origen de los vascos: la primera humanidad (The real origin of the Basque people: The first human beings), which will be presented Wednesday in Donostia’s Koldo Mitxelena library.

Is to mention, that the first Basques Ribero Meneses makes reference to, are not the ones we know nowadays, “Cantabria and Basque country have always been the same, as it is shown in many maps and ancient documents, but the historian and theologian Enrique Flórez, in the XVIII century, insisted on leaving the Basques outside, defending with nonsense things that only the people from Santander were from Cantabria”. According to the philologist and historian, that is the origin of the Basque “independents”, due to this, according to Flórez “created a serious problem to the identity of the Basque people”.

The philology, toponimy, arqueology and genetic studies support this author’s theories that have been presenting since 1984 of Cantabria’s area as the are where the first intelligent human being developed. The DNA studies published in 2003 support this theory, which assures that three fourths of the Europeans come from a specific population of Northern Spain. In 2006, another genetic study showed that British Island’s inhabitants came from the Cantabric coast.


There you go, in case Basques needed more reasons to support their demand for self determination.

.... ... .

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

ETA's Cease Fire End Text

The translation of ETA's text in which it declares the end of the cease fire has been published by EITb:

Full text of ETA's announcement in translation

ETA said in a statement sent to two Basque newspapers that the truce it called in March 2006 will end as of midnight Tuesday. Following is a translation by eitb24 of the original full text.

Following is a translation by eitb24 of the original full text.

"ETA, Basque socialist revolutionary organization for national liberation, wants to announce Basque citizens:

It’s time for clarification. Euskal Herria wants to overcome its institutional division and make a way to the construction of an Independent State. Thousands of voices in favor of a political and social change, thousands of voices in favor of this country. ETA too backs a process for the liberation of the Basque people. The final stage of this process will surely be an Independent State called Euskal Herria. Nevertheless, in order to reach this stage, a unique framework is needed including Navarre, Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, and another that unites Lapurdi, Benafarroa and Zuberoa. With the union of the seven territories, we will construct the future of our country.

All in all, the union of the seven provinces to construct the future of our people. It’s obvious that pseudo-solutions will take nowhere. The future is in our hands and we will succeed.

The masks fell. Zapatero's character has turned into a fascism that left parties and citizens without rights. But they are not the only ones. Insulting repeatedly, unable to satisfy their desire for money, the PNV leaders lost their mask as well. Unfortunately, the liberty of people uses to have treachery as its enemy. Each time it was necessary to take important decisions to construct the future in defense of Euskal Herria, they lied. Now, in return, citizens didn’t give them blank checks to continue feeding the suffering of this people under the Spanish protection. They only succeeded in seducing those responsible of the repression against national rights, not the Basque citizens, who want to live in democracy and freedom.

We citizens suffer the lack of democracy. Instead of disappearing, the attacks against Euskal Herria increase and become worse. Spain’s Justice kept out off these antidemocratic elections thousands of citizens and the Basque leftwing movement, principal agent of the process. Euskal Herria is actually living a state of exception. The recent elections were illegitimate. Spain’s Government responded to ETA’s permanent ceasefire with arrests, torture and every type of persecution. Minimum democratic conditions for a negotiating process do not exist.

We have the key to guarantee the present and future of Euskal Herria: self-determination and territoriality, and the grains that thousands and thousands of citizens have sown will bring our country an abundant harvest.

Meanwhile, we confirm our decision to defend with arms the people who are attacked with arms.

We call all citizens to rebel against this fake and corrupt democracy and to engage themselves in the construction of a free State called Euskal Herria. Everyone from his own area and with his own possibilities. With generosity and in unity.

Finally, ETA wishes to announce that it is abandoning its permanent ceasefire and has decided to act on all fronts in defence of Euskal Herria as of midnight June 6, 2007.

In Euskal Herria, june 2007

.... ... .

End Of the Cease Fire

Unable to keep its commitment to a peaceful resolution of Euskal Herria due to the treachery of the Spanish government (heir to a genocidal and colonialist past) the Basque pro-independence group ETA has called off the cease-fire.

This is what the press says about it in the CNN version:

Basque group calls off cease-fire

POSTED: 10:16 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

From CNN Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Basque separatist group ETA called off a unilateral cease-fire it declared more than a year ago, a statement published in a Basque newspaper said on Tuesday.

The ETA statement was published overnight in the Basque-language newspaper Berria and it warned of attacks resuming as early as midnight Tuesday (6 p.m. ET).

The announcement came a day after Spain's largest-circulation newspaper, El Pais, published a story, citing police and intelligence services, warning of imminent new ETA attacks.

Government ministers huddled Tuesday morning to address developments, CNN's sister network CNN Plus reported. In a nationally televised statement after the meeting, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the Spanish government would never respond to the actions of terrorists.

Reacting to ETA's announcement, Basque politician Javier Madrazo said in an interview with Spanish radio network SER that "ETA always blames others when it breaks a cease-fire. But they're the only ones to blame."

Much of Spain had already considered the cease-fire dead following a December 2006 ETA car bombing at a parking garage at the Madrid airport, which killed two people.

Prior to the December 30 airport bombing, ETA had not killed anyone since 2003.

After the blast, the government announced that it considered the peace process finished, although ETA later issued a statement saying its cease-fire was still in force.

But after the bombing, the Spanish government said it would no longer trust any future ETA cease-fire announcements and instead would expect the group to make a pledge to end violence and lay down its arms.

The ruling Socialists and the opposition conservatives have long been at odds over policy towards ETA.

The conservatives have argued that the rule of law and police crackdowns are enough, while Socialists have said that those measures combined with possible dialogue after a commitment to end violence would be better.

The cease-fire was a unilateral ETA initiative -- one to which the government never agreed. Spanish police continued to arrest group members, upsetting ETA leadership, which called the arrests "aggressions," claiming ETA prisoners had been tortured.

In late March, Spanish and French authorities arrested 10 suspected members of the Basque group in what police called a blow to ETA's "infrastructure."

A total of 21 ETA suspects have been detained this year, including 10 in Spain and 11 in France, the Spanish Interior Ministry recently said.

About 500 people -- including convicted ETA operatives and suspects awaiting trial -- are in Spanish jails and an estimated 100 more are in French jails, authorities have told CNN.

ETA's announcement of a unilateral, "permanent" cease-fire on March 22, 2006 initially raised hopes for an end to nearly 40 years of ETA violence...


Among those 21 ETA suspects detained this year were the envoys of the group to the peace talks, something that is considered a violation of international treaties granting protection to those involved in this kind of negotiations. That is the bit of information that you will not read at the main stream media.

Spain has wasted one more chance to find a peaceful resolution to the political conflict generated by its colonialist occupation of Euskal Herria. Something tells me that after ETA's announcement the Spanish will back up from the negotiation table.

.... ... .

Saturday, June 02, 2007

In Tolosa

This gastronomic article comes to us via EITb:

So typical in Tolosa and Goierri

Visitors cannot leave Tolosa and Goierri without tasting typical Basque Beans and Steak.

Beans on Ernio Mountain

Ernio is a mountain quite familiar to most Gipuzkoans. The closest 1,000-metre peak in the spur range of the Pyrenees has become a customary hike for a number of people from the many nearby industrial towns. The ritual alubiada, or pot of beans, is often served to restore hikers' energy after their early-morning excursions.

The steep vegetable gardens and cool air of the Goierri region valleys gave rise to a delicious, thin-skinned black bean with soft; almost sweet meat called the tolosana. Beans were often grown in symbiosis with maize, much the same as in America and then harvested in autumn. The "etxekoandre" (Basque for housewife) then cooked them slowly on a wood-fired iron stove along with products from the annual pig slaughter. Today this dish can be found in several local restaurants, offering choice and quality at least as good as the most sophisticated coastal establishments.

Steak Country

Basque livestock has been venerated for ages. "Farmers look after their animals as if they were members of the family," noted Catalan traveller Mañe y Flaqué in a meticulous description of the Basque Country and Navarra one hundred and fifty years ago. Pío Baroja, in a more cynical tone, said that in order to live well here one had to be either a priest or a cow. Locally grown Basque meat holding the official Kalitatea Label of Quality or the stamp of approval from other independent stock raising associations is truly extraordinary. The vast majority of livestock feed on grassy pastures, and massive stabling is rare. This explains the reverence for the possible best cut of beef, and here the chuletón is unquestionably the ultimate in gourmet eating.

Today, this meat comes from carefully fattened cows instead of oxen, which are now bred essentially as a sport animal for competing in "idiprobak" competitions (ox superiority contests). The cuts of meat are "cured", depending on the quality and size, sometimes for over forty days. The meat is then cut into thick slabs of about a kilo each and roasted over a wood fire following a very particular technique. Tolosa has become the world capital and exporter of this difficult art.

.... ... .