Welsh and Basque

This article published by Welsh OnLine tells us about how the Basque initiatives to rescue and strengthen Euskara (the Basque language) are an inspiration to other peoples defending their own languages, in this case, Welsh.

Here you have it:

Spanish example holds the key to the future of Welsh

Nov 19 2008 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

Wales must learn lessons from the Basque country when it comes to ensuring the survival of Welsh, argues Catrin Dafydd of language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg

THERE is no doubt that the next few months will have a far-reaching effect on the future of the Welsh language. Of course, there is no use discussing the Welsh language as a stand-alone figure in the corner of the pub. When we talk about languages, we talk about people and communities.

The One Wales Assembly Government is about to publish a draft Legislative Competency Order (LCO) that will show us possible legislative scenarios Welsh could face over the coming years.

And while legislation alone cannot change the situation, it can help ensure the future of a minority language in a globalised world.

A delegation from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg recently visited the Basque country to see what people there are doing to keep their language alive.

Of all minority languages, the Basque language – or Euskara – has most in common with Welsh. There are about 600,000 Euskara-speakers in a country with a population of about three million.

From the moment you land in Bilbao, you notice a stark linguistic contrast to our own situation, with visual examples of stronger language legislation – bilingual signs are the norm and the co-operative supermarket chain Eroski provides own-brand packaging with instructions in up to five languages.

You are quickly made aware of the fact that in Euskadi – the autonomous community of the Basque country – citizens have a legal right to use the language in the public and (more recently) private and voluntary sectors. Because of this, companies such as EMUN have been set up to assist all kinds of private companies as they develop effective responses to language rights.

Companies are awarded certificates to show customers that staff are able to provide services in Euskara.

Moreover, the Observatory of Linguistic Rights provides a free phone service allowing people to log complaints when these rights are infringed. The complaints are then catalogued and presented to the government.

Lawyers working on behalf of Euskara Kultur Eskargoa are also responsible for representing Basque-speakers in courts of law. A system of defending peoples’ linguistic rights is an alien concept for us in Wales – currently we can only use Welsh in the courts under fairly limited circumstances.

Kontseilua is an umbrella group of 45 societies and institutions which campaign on linguistic matters. Most of these groups are indirectly funded by public money, yet they are happy to challenge and criticise government policy where necessary in order to promote the normalisation of the Basque language.

The government acts as a champion, not only passing legislation, but also taking responsibility to ensure it is implemented. There is a dialogue between institutions and government, in a country where the fact that independent bodies are ready to offer a critique of the linguistic legislative system is welcomed.

Back in Wales, we seem to be lagging behind other European nations in terms of language legislation. It is high time we redressed the balance between voluntary efforts to promote Welsh and the need for statutory guidance. The length and breadth of the LCO will show us just what the One Wales Government has in store. Will it create the necessary legislative conditions for Welsh language to thrive or will its growth be stunted once more?

The people of Wales should scrutinise the LCO for three things: that the Order allows Welsh to be recognised as an official language; that a commissioner is established to defend linguistic rights; and, most importantly, that it grants specific rights for anyone who chooses to use Welsh on a daily basis at work, at home, at school, at the shops or wherever.

Legislation isn’t a quick fix but positive changes can result. All eyes are on the One Wales Government as it unveils its vision for the Welsh language. Of course, we all have a role to play in ensuring Welsh is used in our communities. But for now, we should examine the exact details of the One Wales Government’s vision for a truly bilingual Wales.

Catrin Dafydd heads Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’s campaign for a new Welsh Language Act

Now, it seems like the Western mail correspondent misses the whole point of the article by entitling his/her article "Spanish example".... is like if I would write an article about the defense of Welsh culture to go on and title it "English culture". This tells you just how deep the disinformation campaign set in place by Madrid against the Basques runs.

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Kontseilua at Work

This is very important, it has everything to do with ensuring that Euskera has a place in the future.

The note appeared at Berria, here you have it:

Kontseilua urges governments to establish specific aims and deadlines

It has put forward the main guidelines that need to be followed to bring about the normalisation of the Basque language

Asier Iturriagaetxebarria – BILBO (Bilbao)

Kontseilua, the Council of Social Organisations in Favour of the Basque language, yesterday presented a report aimed at guiding the Basque language normalisation process. It includes ten main language policy guidelines that will need to be implemented over the next four years. Kontseilua’s general secretary Xabier Mendiguren explained that these guidelines would need to be applied in order to bring about the normalisation of the language. He added, however, that specific aims and deadlines would have to be added. “Otherwise all that has been achieved so far will not be of any use to normalise our Basque language, and the aims will be postponed sine die.”

He summarised what language policy should be like over the coming years thus: “One which will have specific deadlines and aims, be given the necessary resources, include all departments, be designed in such a way as to reach all sectors of society, it should start from the general administration and permeate right down to local administrations, it will aim to guarantee linguistic rights, be applicable throughout the Basque Country and have an overall perspective”.

Iñaki Lasa, responsible for Kontseilua’s politico-institutional line, complained about the administration’s failure to take effective measures. “Very often Basque speakers are blamed for failing to use the Basque language, but this is unfair, because Basque speakers will not have the chance to use their language if the necessary measures and resources are not in place.”

The report comprises ten proposals:

1) To go beyond the Linguistic models in education to ensure that students are proficient in Basque when they finish their compulsory secondary education.

2) To create a deputy vice-presidency for Basque in the BAC Government.

3) To make the administration Basque-speaking.

4) To make the workplace Basque-speaking.

5) To have laws in favour of the Basque language passed.

6) To expand the teaching of Basque to adults.

7) To establish quotas for the media in accordance with sociolinguistic development.

8) To increase the budget for Basque.

9) To make university education and vocational training Basque-speaking.

10) To draw up an adequate language policy that establishes aims and deadlines and includes all sectors.

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To Eguzkitza

Bilbo

I said before that to create spaces for Euskera to develop is a task of titans.

Mainly because of the two linguistic giants that share the geography of Euskal Herria, Spanish and French.

So whenever Euskera loses one of its champions, one realizes more needs to be done.

I was glad to read about the hommage to Eguzkitza's work and legacy at Berria:

Always remembered… a thousand years on (*)

A group of authors organised a beautiful, moving event at the Euskalduna Hall in Bilbo yesterday to pay tribute to the late Andolin Eguzkitza

Irune Berro – BILBO

As a child he played with trains and planes. From a young age Andolin Eguzkitza (1953, Santurtzi-Bizkaia – 2004, Bilbo) had the spirit of an explorer, according to his brother, Iñaki Eguzkitza. He was an untiring explorer of the Basque language. He was a writer, linguist and member of the Academy of the Basque Language, the Euskaltzaindia. When he was 15 he joined the Basque language race; from his hometown of Santurtzi (Bizkaia) he set out on the road to become a Basque speaker. So remembering the numerous Basque citizens who have taken that road, tribute was paid to Andolin Eguzkitza yesterday in the context of the Korrika cultural events. The event, entitled Mila urte igaro eta… (*), was organised at the Euskalduna Hall in Bilbo by a number of authors to pay tribute to the Basque language lover who died last year.

The event brought together a broad spectrum of representatives of Basque culture and Basque language activity; among those present were Xabier Mendiguren-Bereziartu, the General Secretary of Kontseilua; Gabi Basañez, a member of the EHE; Joan Mari Larrarte, secretary of the Board of the EKT (the publishers of BERRIA); Andres Urrutia and Xabier Kintana, the chairman and secretary, respectively, of the Euskaltzaindia; Kirmen Uribe, the writer, and Mikel Martinez, the actor.

(*) “Mila urte igarota, ura bere bidean…”: the beginning of an epic poem dating back to approximately the 16th century about the Battle of Beotibar (1321), which means that the water follows its course a thousand years on.

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Advancing Euskera in Nafarroa

It is about time a law that prevents Basques from developing spaces for Euskara in parts of Nafarroa, a Basque province, because of a law that allegedly was established to help protect and promote the language.

Is it possible that the European Community can be so blind as to allow some backwards politicians to endanger one of Europe's (and the entire world for that case) most unique languages?

Basque language activity representatives demand new law

On the 18th anniversary of the passing of the law in Navarre, they called for the language zone system to be abolished and for linguistic rights to be protected

Maitane Burusko – IRUÑEA (Pamplona)

Today it is 18 years since the Government of Navarre's charter law 15/1986, or law governing the Basque language was passed. However, it is no cause for celebration for the players in the field of Basque language activity. They have denounced “the division and the continual violation of linguistic rights,” which have resulted from cutting Navarre up into three linguistic zones.

This was why a number of players involved in Basque language activity were keen to give a joint assessment yesterday to demand that, “on the basis of the conditions laid down in the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights, Basque should be given official status, that it should be treated as something that belongs to Navarre and that it should be given priority”. So the following bodies made a call for the repeal of the current Basque Language Law: Administrazioan Euskaraz (Organisation promoting Basque in the Administration), AEK, Behatokia, Euskal Herria Euskaraz, IKA (Association of centres teaching Basque and literacy in Basque to adults), Kontseilua, Oinarriak (Association of 15 organisations working for the standardisation of Basque in Navarre) and Sortzen-Ikasbatuaz (Association of Basque-speaking public schools).

The representatives of organisations working in the field of Basque language activity who met together are basically saying that the Basque Language Law in Navarre lacks “the necessary foundations” to bring about the normalisation of the Basque language. On December 15, 1986 the Government of Navarre implemented the law, which governs the linguistic rights of Basque speakers in Navarre, according to where they live.

Behatokia’s chairman Paul Bilbao explained that it was “a decision devoid of logic, “because it is inconceivable that the law itself should recognise that the language belongs to Navarre, while at the same time it divides up its official status on the basis of zones”. Bilbao added that over the last two decades people have not enjoyed any rights in the non-Basque speaking zone established by the law. As far as the mixed zone laid down by the law was concerned, the Behatokia chairman stressed that the law had contributed to the decline of the language in the institutions over the last few years.

The Government of Navarre has in fact passed a number of decrees to reduce the use of Basque, for example decrees 37/2000 and 29/2003, which were blocked by the courts. Paul Bilbao said that even in the Basque-speaking zone the Government of Navarre had flouted the law; he pointed out that linguistic rights are systematically being infringed today. On behalf of the players involved in Basque language activity he added: “At the end of the day the Basque Language Law has contributed towards discrimination among the citizens of Navarre and towards making the language disappear.”

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Spain Fails the Euskara Test

This shouldn't come as a surprise, after all, what Spain wants is to remove anything Basque from the face of the earth, but this report by Behatokia is very interesting and it appeared today at Berria English:

Basque Language Watchdog denounces Spanish Government’s failure to fulfil European Charter

It has produced a report examining how the European Charter has been applied to Basque and has submitted it to the European Council

Agurtzane Solaberrieta – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The Language Rights Watchdog Behatokia has examined how the Spanish State has applied the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the case of Euskara, the Basque language, and the conclusion it has reached is clear: Madrid has not fulfilled the European Charter.

The Spanish State was among the first eleven to sign the European Charter. It signed it on November 5, 1992, ratified it nine years later on April 9, 2001, and enforced it on August 1 of the same year. This is why Behatokia, with the contributions of other institutions involved in Basque cultural activity, has produced a report in which it examines how the Spanish State has applied the European Charter to Basque. Like Behatokia, the social organisations of other communities have also produced reports of this nature, as in the case of Catalonia and Galicia, to look at how the European Charter has been applied to their languages. Likewise, the Spanish Government has also produced its own report, because the first paragraph of Article 15 of the European Charter (Part IV, on enforcing the Charter) requires that the Spanish Government submit a report within a year of enforcing it to the General Secretary of the European Council. The Spanish Government presented its report on September 23, 2002. The report drawn up by Behatokia is entitled: ‘Assessment of the applying of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages to Basque by the Spanish State’ and has been submitted to the European Council in Strasbourg.

Xabier Mendiguren, the General Secretary of Kontseilua, and Juan Inazio Hartsuaga, Behatokia’s director, made an announcement yesterday concerning the report. Xabier Mendiguren said: “The Spanish State made a number of undertakings when it ratified the European Charter, and as far as the Basque language is concerned, it has not honoured them. The Spanish State is in an embarrassing position, because it has not met these commitments.” Mendiguren went on to stress that the commitment to bring about the normalisation of the language was everyone’s: “We have recently launched a campaign under the slogan “Hizkuntza eskubideak denon konpromisoa” (Language Rights are Everyone’s Commitment). When we say ‘commitment’, we mean taking real steps, and not just pretending, which has happened in this case. We are convinced that the normalisation of the Basque language will be achieved, if each sector of society acknowledges its commitments and honours them,” added Xabier Mendiguren, Kontseilua’s General Secretary.

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The Rights of a Language

Today at Berria Englsih:

Call for commitment in favour of citizens’ language rights

Yesterday the “Kontseilua” of the Basque language presented the initiative: “Language rights. Everyone’s commitment”

Amagoia Iban – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Six years ago “Kontseilua”, the Council of Social Groups in Favour of the Basque Language, launched the “Bai Euskarari” (Yes to the Basque Language) campaign in favour of the normalisation of the Basque language. The closing event took place on December 26, 1998 when five sports stadiums filled with people who defended their position with respect to the language. Yesterday, “Kontseilua” members recalled that event and said that in recent times many “serious” attacks had been carried out on the Basque language; they highlighted the “weakening” of the Basque language normalisation process.

As a result of the 1998 campaign many social organisations signed the “Bai Euskarari” agreement and the initiative begun at that time is still ongoing. Xabier Mendiguren Bereziartu, the organisation’s general secretary, pointed out yesterday, “Through the ‘Bai Euskarari’ agreement many social organisations have said ‘yes’ to the Basque language, they have made a commitment and implemented steps to bring about the normalisation of the language. What ‘Kontseilua’ aims to do now is to intensify those commitments.” This is why they have launched the campaign: “Hizkuntza eskubideak! Denon konpromisoa” (Language rights. Everyone’s commitment).

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Massive Response

Today at Berria:

A massive response once again

In a superb response to Kontseilua’s call, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Donostia to denounce the latest attack on Basque cultural activity and to demand freedom for the detainees

Eider Goenaga – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

For the second time in eight months thousands of Basque citizens heeded the call made by Kontseilua and expressed their anger in the streets of Donostia (San Sebastian) in a fitting response to the attack. They filled the streets to bursting yesterday by joining together under the banner of “Gora Euskal Herrri euskalduna. Bai euskarari!” (Long live the Basque-speaking Basque Country. Yes, to Euskara, the Basque language!) and pledging their allegiance to Basque cultural activity. They condemned the assault carried out on the Martin Ugalde Kultur Parkea just as they did so eight months ago to denounce the closing of Egunkaria . A request to support the Basque language and the organisations involved in Basque cultural activity was expressed by one and all.

Lined up behind the banner were four of the people detained in the previous operation: Joan Mari Torrealdai, Txema Auzmendi, Martxelo Otamendi and Fermin Lazkano. They were accompanied by the representatives of Kontseilua: Xabier Mendiguren, its secretary-general; Imanol Lazkano of the Bertsozale Elkartea (Extempore Basque verse-making enthusiasts’ association); Joxe Leon Otano of AEK (adult Basque teaching organisation); Ttitto Velvedere of the Euskal Konfederazioa (association working for the standardisation of Basque in the Northern Basque Country –under French jurisdiction); Gabi Basanez of the EHE (association demanding the Basque language in the Basque Country); Joxean Lizarribar and Ane Agirregomezkorta of the board of directors of EKT (the company that runs BERRIA), among others. The father of Mikel Sorozabal, the former managing director of Egunkaria, also held the banner on behalf of the relatives of the detainees.

The detainees were the main protagonists of the demonstration along with the call in favour of the Basque language. Behind the first banner, workers from the Martin Ugalde Kultur Parkea companies carried a second one demanding the release of the detainees: “Atxilotuak askatu. Euskalgintza aurrera!” (Free the detainees. Come on Basque cultural activity!). Behind them photos were carried of the detained colleagues along with those of Inaki Uria, Xabier Oleaga and Xabier Alegria, the people being held in prison in the wake of the February 20th operation.

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Protesting the Assault on Basque Culture

Today at Berria:

Thousands protest against the assault on Basque cultural activity

Thousands of people in towns and cities responded to the call made by “Kontseilua” to call for the release of the detainees and demand that the Basque language be left in peace

Editorial Staff

Protests were held yesterday inside the Basque Country to condemn Thursday’s police operation and the attack on Basque cultural activity. For example, about one hundred teachers and students involved in the “Irale” study programme got together for a quarter of an hour in the Larratxo square of Donostia [San Sebastian] with the banner: “Euskalgintzaren aurkako erasorik ez” (No to the attack on Basque Cultural Activity). Between 14.00 and 15.00 hours workers from the Zabaltzen distribution company and the Euskalgintza Elkarlanean publishing house met together in front of the Zabaltzen premises in the Donostia suburb of Igaro. About fifty people lined up behind a banner that read “Atxilotuak askatu Euskal Herria aurrera” (Free the Detainees. Come on Basque Country!). They included Iñaki Sors, the brother of Jose Mari Sors, who is one of the detainees. Martxelo Otamendi [BERRIA’s Chief Editor] and Joxean Lizarribar, on behalf of the “Euskarazko Komunikazio Taldea” [the company that runs BERRIA], also took part.

One of the first protests in front of city and town halls called by “Kontseilua” was held in Baiona (Bayonne). Leading about 150 people Gexan Alfaro of the Elkarlanean publishing house denounced the operation as “state terrorism” and added that “the time has come for all Basque nationalists to unite and dispense with party politics”. Maixan Merkapide, chairman of the “Euskal Konfederazioa” called on the politicians to do something “to stop this.”

In Donostia over 1,000 people got together outside the city hall; Xabier Mendiguren, Kontseilua’s General Secretary, and Joan Mari Torrealdai, the Editor of the journal “Jakin”, were there along with the wives of the detainees Joxe Mari Sors, Mikel Arrizabalaga and Mikel Sorozabal. Representatives of political parties were also there: Luis Mari Bandres of the EAJ (Basque Nationalist Party), Josetxo Ibazeta of Batasuna, Iñaki Irazabalbeitia of Aralar. The ELA and LAB Basque trade unions were also represented, and Joxe Leon Otaño was there on behalf of the AEK (adult Basque teaching organisation).

About 2,000 people staged a protest in Bilbo, and approximately 1,000 in Gasteiz (Vitoria).

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Social Initiatives in Support of Egunkaria

This just in:

Several social initiatives on behalf of Egunkaria

Several social initiatives are taken place in the Basque Country on behalf of Egunkaria

Among them we can mentioned the one led by the university students of the UPV - EHU who after a long tradition of occupation to raise different issues, also squatted some university premises twice. The occupation started on the 4-3-03: loads of posters were made and put all over the campus of Leioa (Bilbo) and a free euskaltegi (Basque language school) operated during the day. On 5th March the infamous and feared Beltzas (The Black Ones- Basque regional anti-riot police) evicted the students locked -up in one of the university premises. They were evicted in the same way and for second time on the 7th March.

The Basque parliament has decide with the support of EA, PNV and IU to demand the reopening of the paper Egunkaria. Sozialista Abertzaleak (former Euskal Herritarrok) on the other hand demanded this, plus the end of exception state in Euskal Herria (Basque Country). The municipality representatives of EA and PNV are waiting for judge Del Olmo's decision to see how they help economically and technically Egunkaria to reopen.

Meanwhile the unions, Kontseilua (council of Basque language organizations: EHE, Emun, AEK, Elkar and Hika) and the workers of former Egunkaria have call to stop working for an hour on the 13th March. Among those unions: ELA-STV, LAB, EHNE, STEILAS, ESK-CUIS, ELB, HIRU and EGAS. Apart from the parties mentioned before, other parties like Aralar are backing this initiative. Sortzen-Ikasbatuaz is planning to launch support initiatives in all the schools of the basque Country too. University teachers have presented a communiqué too. A demo has been called for the 15th march on behalf of the self-determination.

On the 27th February, more than 300 solicitors from Bilbao positioned themselves against the closure of Egunkaria.

Outside the Basque Country , in Catalunya a platform has been created in support of Egunkaria (Plataforma per Egunkaria ). They have organised several acts like demos and talk with Martxelo Otamendi. The Catalonian regional government (Generalitat) decided to advertise itself in Egunkaria (now Egunero). The leader of the Catalonian socialists paqual Maragall has been scapegoat of the PP governemnt for asking that the tortures against Egunkaria's editor martxelo Otamendi should be investigated. This was also supported by the Catalonian union leader Joan Coscubiela and the basque socialist Odon Elorza.

Otherwise, the day before yesterday the workers of Egunkaria joined the dole office as staff sacked from a company. The paper's staff was 149, though the number of contributors, collumnists and freelance who'll be affected by this situation will be 300.

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