Canadian Twist

This note was published today at Yahoo News Canada:

Canada says accused Basque terrorist arrested in B.C. a national security threat

Fri Sep 14, 4:47 PM

VANCOUVER (CP) - The Canadian government says a man suspected of terrorism in Spain is a national security threat here.

Victor Tejedor Bilbao is appearing today before for an admissibility hearing of the Immigration and Refugee Board.

The board will decide whether Bilbao, an alleged member of the Basque separatist group ETA, will be deported to Spain to face charges stemming from a 1981 murder.

Bilbao was arrested in Vancouver in June and is accused of taking part in the killing of a Madrid newspaper journalist on orders from ETA, which means Basque Fatherland and Freedom.

Fifty-one-year-old Bilbao denies membership in the terrorist group, which has been fighting for an independent state in Spain.

Jesse Davidson, a lawyer for the Canada Border Services Agency, told the hearing that Bilbao confessed to the crime in 1988 but later recanted, saying he was tortured.

By the note's header one can say that in Canada a person is guilty until proven innocent. One doesn't have to think too hard to see why is Canada playing by Madrid rules, after all, Canada is dealing with Quebec.

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Surf Tournament in Zarautz

Playa de Zarautz
Originally uploaded by 1000fotos

When one hears "surf" and "Basque Country" one usually thinks immediately of Mundaka, well, this note published by Global Surf News comes to us from Zarautz. Here you have it:

Zarautz Pro Surf

ASP WQS 3 Star Mens Event
Zarautz Basque Country
13 - 16 September 2007

JAMES ATHORN (AUS) DOMINATES DAY 1 OF ZARAUTZ PRO SURF!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 14 September, 2007 : - - It wasn’t a typical summer day for the kick off of the Zarautz Surf Pro, clouds and light winds greeting the first competitors of the 3 Star WQS event. With 2 ft contestable waves on offer, the first heat got underway at 9.15 AM in the beautiful Basque village of Zarautz, an hour drive from both the French border and world famous wave of Mundaka.

Twenty-one heats were ran today in the tough small conditions, the 3 Star WQS event kicking off with all round 1 and a few heats of round 2. The man of the day was undoubtly 21-year-old James Athorn (AUS) when he opened his basque campaign in heat 3 of round 2.

With his light weight and speed surfing, Athorn waited for the best scoring potential waves and remained focused throughout his 20-minute decider against Jeremy Massières (FRA), morning’s highscorer Lawson Hayles (AUS) and Omer Levin (ISR).

Looking more and more confident throughout the heat, Athorn scored a solid 8.67 on his thirs ride before reaching an impressive 9.17 score out of possible 10 to total a two wave combined total of 17.84 points and easily qualify for round 3.

“The waves got better with the tide and I’m glad I surfed at this time of the day. I knew there were a few righthanders breaking giving the opportunity to link up to the shore so I just waited for the set and those two strong rides. Stoked to get the chance at the right time of the day, and I hope everything will be better,” said James Athorn (AUS).

Scoring the highest wave score of the day in heat 2 of round 2 with a 9.33 out of possible 10, former Foster’s ASP World Tour surfer Chris Davidson (AUS) dominated his battle in style, showing tomorrow’s best seeded surfers his intentions for his return to the Basque country.

“It was good to have this break during low tide and we restarted in better waves. I waited for this good wave and it came to me, and I surfed it well. Hope the expected increase in the swell comes tomorrow and we can end up in pretty good conditions,” confessed Davidson aka Davo.

Ready to give the best for the only Basque event of the year apart from the Foster’s ASP World Tour Billabong Pro Mundaka, longtime pro juniorcompetitor Txaber Trojaola (EUK) opened round 2 in top form when he stuck to the right option of the competition area, leaving his three opponents fighting for the same waves.

Getting a convincing 7.77 out of possible 10 on his second ride before backing it up with a 7.17, Trojaola got an impressive 14.94 points out of possible 20, for the third best total of the day. Trojaola will face defending European Pro Surf Tour champion Michel Bourez (PYF) when competition resumes tomorrow.

Earlier in round 1, all favourites had passed their test battle, using their knowledge of competition tactics to get the best waves and find their way out. Dealing with the tricky small conditions, Lawson Hayles (AUS) found the second best heat score of the day with an impressive 15.34 pts out of possible 20. Facing former European Pro Surf Tour champion Didier Piter (FRA), Hayles left his followers in the need of a combination of two scores to catch up.

“It wasn’t looking easy but I found two good waves that gave me some potential and I surfed them well. We’ve had average waves in a few events till now and I hope the expected clean consistent waves will come soon.” He was eliminated in round 2 despite his performance, overtaken by an onfire Chris Davidson (AUS)

Amongst the few performers of the day was moroccan Yassine Ramdaini (MAR) who posted the fifth highest tally of the day after finding some vertical sections to total 14.00 pts out of possible 20. Beating ASP Europe junior campaigner Antonin De Soultrait, Ramdaini showed his skills and definitely rises as one of the most promissing moroccan surfers.

Surfing against other local Indar Unanue (EUK) and Heimoana Zaveroni (PYF), Oier Illaramendi (EUK) was much awaited for his start in his home town. Cheered by his friends and family in heat 14, Illaramendi opened his campaign with a solid 7 pts ride that gave him his qualification twenty minutes later.

“It’s a pleasure to be at home and surf in an event. I have been travelling a lot to as much events as I could this year and this 3 Star WQS means a lot to all of us here in Zarautz. I hope I can keep going and that the swell increases soon.”

The Zarautz Pro Surf 3 Star WQS will restart tomorrow at 9 AM and will go all the way through to round 4, the big names of the event including local star and current WQS #11 Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and European Pro Surf Tour championship contender Eneko Acero (EUK).

European Pro Surf Tour Current Top 5

1. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
2. Tim Boal (FRA)
3. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
4. Miky Picon (FRA)
5. Eneko Acero (EUK)

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ETA Speaks Out

This note appeared at the International Herald Tribune, it talks about how Zapatero forgot all about a peace process to bring a political solution to the so called "Basque conflict" and instead applied all the resources of its government to obtain a total victory over ETA, forgetting about his promises and his alleged compromise with his own people.

Here you have the note:

Basque separatist group ETA says it will continue militancy in Spain

The Associated Press
Published: September 9, 2007

Madrid, Spain: The Basque separatist group ETA plans to continue its militant campaign against the Spanish state to promote its political aims, it said in a statement published Sunday.

"ETA will continue to hit against the structures of the Spanish state on all fronts until it can achieve democratic conditions which would allow for the defense of all political projects in the Basque Country," the statement said.

It appeared in the early edition of the Basque newspaper Gara — a publication often used as a conduit for communication by the group — and in the online version of Basque newspaper Berria.

ETA is considered a terrorist organization by Spain, the European Union and the United States.

In the statement, the group claimed responsibility for recent explosions in the town of Belagoa and at the Tour de France cycle race in July and a police station in Durango in August, as well as for a blown-up van in a field in Castellon. It also said its efforts to broker an end to the conflict had failed.

"All of ETA's efforts at the negotiating table to drive forward a resolution process which could answer the rights of the Basque Country have failed," the statement said.

In its first statement since it called off its self-imposed cease-fire, ETA blamed the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for the breakdown in negotiations, saying the ruling Socialist party was "seeking to deactivate the Basque independence movement."

ETA declared a cease-fire in March 2006 and — despite blowing up a five-story car park at Madrid airport in December — maintained it was still in force until June when it called off the truce.

The statement said Zapatero's approach to Basque separatism had been "devoid of political content, aiming in the end just at defeat."

The Basque Nationalist Party, which rules the region, also faced ETA's anger for trying to "rupture" the nationalist movement.

ETA has often railed against the party, accusing it of not being interested in independence and of giving in to the government.

In June, when the cease-fire was formally called off, ETA blamed the party and the government, for the end of the truce.

In San Sebastian, a northern port city in the Basque Country, regional police on Sunday broke up a rally in support of ETA prisoners and detained several protesters, including Juan Maria Olano, spokesman for the Pro Amnesty movement Askatasuna. Protesters had been warned before the rally that the Interior Ministry had outlawed the demonstration, officials said. One policeman was seriously injured during the arrests, official said.

ETA, whose name stands for Basque Homeland and Freedom, has been waging a violent and explosion-marred campaign that has killed more that 800 people since the late 1960s. Its aim is to carve out an independent Basque state in parts of northern Spain and southwestern France.

Well, I can see that the "800 paragraph" has been reworked to look even more ominous.

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Madrid's Puppet Resignation

Diada 2007 Jon Imaz
Originally uploaded by mjosegu83

One of Madrid's main operators in the Basque Country called it quits and there is a little bit of hope that the technocrats within the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) are losing the control they exercised with an iron fist for the last couple of years.

Now that Imaz is out maybe Ibarretxe will finally fire Balza and this way continue to eradicate all those who use the present situation to engage in human rights violations against the Basque people, let us remember here what just took place in Donostia a couple of days ago.

Here you have the note by Reuters that openly states that Zapatero needed Imaz to boycott any move by the Basque nationalism towards the self determination of Euskal Herria. Here it is:

Basque upheaval a headache for Spain's Zapatero
13 Sep 2007 12:47:58 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Jason Webb

MADRID, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The resignation of a senior politician in the Basque Country could stir separatist sentiment there, causing a serious problem for Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as he seeks reelection.

Josu Jon Imaz said on Wednesday that he would leave his position as president of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which has run the region's government since the 1980s.

The decision by Imaz, a moderate in Basque politics, was widely interpreted as a capitulation to a pro-independence wing within the PNV, which is proposing a referendum to ask Basques whether they want to be consulted about independence from Spain.

It could hardly have come at a worse time for Zapatero, a Socialist who had been hoping the Basque issue would not take centre stage in general elections next March.

"If (the call for a Basque referendum) were to come to the fore in the next couple of months, I think that could do Zapatero a certain amount of damage," said Charles Powell, a professor at Madrid's San Pablo-CEU University.

"It would show that both his Basque policy and his Catalan policy are unravelling."

Zapatero has tried to reach a compromise with nationalist sentiment in the Basque Country and also in Catalonia, by holding out the possibility of more autonomy on top of the significant powers already held by regional governments.

SPANISH UNITY

Spanish national unity is a traditional rallying cry of the conservative opposition Popular Party (PP), which fiercely criticised the Zapatero government's failed attempt to negotiate a peace deal with Basque separatist rebels ETA.

The prime minister's decision to call the talks off after ETA killed two people with a bomb at Madrid airport in December had deprived the PP of one of its main electioneering themes. But Imaz's decision means that the Basque question could become a major issue again.

"The moderate, pragmatic, deal-making figure is departing the PNV, and that could leave the party in hands of the radicals," wrote former PNV official Joseba Arregi in Thursday's El Mundo.

The Socialists have an opinion poll lead of three or four percentage points over the PP, which lost power at the last elections here in 2004. But, with Spain's economy showing signs of slowing after a decade-long boom and fears that younger left-wing Spaniards might not bother to vote, the Socialists know they have no room for complacency.

The PNV has long been the accepted face of Basque nationalism, whose violent extreme is represented by ETA, which has killed more than 800 people in four decades of armed struggle for independence.

Polls show most Basques do not want full independence and the regional government does not technically even have the power under Spanish law to call the referendum it is proposing. But this has not stopped it making plans, even though it has set not date for a vote.

"The thing is, who's going to have the guts in Madrid to call their bluff?" said Powell.

Notice how Basque-phobe Jason Webb peppers its note with a couple of misconceptions about the political situation in Euskal Herria. First he dishes out Madrid's mantra that not all Basques want independence. If they are so sure why then do they refuse to allow a referendum on the issue?

Which brings us to Jason's second attempt to manipulate things. Referendums are considered within Spain's legal frame, but even if that was not the case, referendums are considered one of the basic human rights covered by the UN's Charter.

So there you have it, now you know in who's payroll Jason Webb is.

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A Festival For Kids Too

Kursaal
Originally uploaded by fc_urola

EITB published a note regarding the chance that children will have to join in the events of the upcoming Zinemaldi in Donostia:

San Sebastian Film Festival

Children will enjoy three films in Basque at the Zinemaldi

09/13/2007

Over 20,000 children will attend the morning screenings of ‘Ice Age’ on the giant Velodrome screen. ‘Piccolo & Saxo’ and ‘Vinnare Och Förlorare’ will be displayed at the Take Your Parents to the Cinema screenings.

Kids will also star in the Donostia-San Sebastian Festival with two initiatives encouraging a first approach to films the big way. While it is possible to watch films in an increasing number of manners turning their attention towards ever smaller portable formats, the magic of enjoying cinema on the big screen is also an unbeatable experience for the new generations, the viewers of the future, offering them their first contact with the Film Festival.

With Big Films for the Kids, over 20,000 children will enjoy the morning screenings at the Velodrome, where Ice Age will be shown on the giant screen installed for the event. Pupils from the Basque ikastolas and schools in Gipuzkoa therefore participate in a unique experience, that of watching a film in a theatre for 3,000 viewers, with extraordinary dimensions, an event which has now been a huge success for years at the Donostia-San Sebastian Festival.

Moreover, children also have the opportunity to do things their way: Take Your Parents to the Cinema is an initiative permitting the whole family to participate in screenings with tickets at the very special low price of €1, giving them the chance to discover European premieres. Piccolo, Saxo et Compagnie (Piccolo & Saxo) and Vinnare Och Förlorare are the two films to be screened under this initiative at the Principal Theatre on the 29th.

All three films will be screened dubbed into Basque especially for the occasion, thus permitting their distribution to other Gipuzkoan towns and villages in the future.

Similarly, the Velodrome will house the screening in a version dubbed into Basque of ARCTIC TALE, by Sarah Robertson and Adam Ravetch, a documentary for a family audience showing the effects of the climate change in the Arctic by following a family of polar bears and another of walruses.

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Farewell to Plazida Insausti

IMG_34302
Originally uploaded by xa2ertxo

You know how we humans seems to be hooked on world records. Well, EITb brings to us a note regarding the departure of a lady that apparently held the age record in Euskal Herria, here you have it:

Basque Country

The “Grandmother” of the Basque Country dies

09/13/2007

Plazida Insausti from Beasain would have 111 years next 5th of October. Though she said she was healthy throughout her all life, she died because of a cold.

She is the oldest person of Garin, Beasain, Goierri, Gipuzkoa and the whole Basque Country. Pazida Insausti died at the age of 110, due to a cold she caught 10 days ago.

Next month, the 5th of October, the “grandmother” of the Basque Country would have 111 years. Born in a neighbourhood of Beasain called Garin, she has always lived there. She became famous for being the oldest person in the Basque Country.

However, people around her won’t remember her for that reason. Her neighbours and friends will remember her because although the age, she was healthy mentally and physically.

She was born in the 19th century, she lived through the whole 20th century and she died in the 21th century due to a cold she caught the previous week.

*Note: I actually fixed a couple of errors from the original note.

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The Real Heroes

I just saw the next video for the first time. It is called "Working Class Hero" by Green Day:

The drama in Darfur, the events from last Sunday in Donostia and this video reminded me that there is a lot still to do in order for justice to prevail in our world.

If you liked the video, well, here you have the lyrics to the song:

Working Class Hero
Green Day

As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so ------- crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still ------- peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like all the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me

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International Pelota Tournament in the US

This note about the renown Basque sport appeared at Inside Bay Area:

Handball variant makes U.S. debut in South City

By Julia Scott, STAFF WRITER

Article Last Updated: 09/10/2007 02:36:38 AM PDT

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO

HAD IT BEEN televised, few Americans would have recognized the sport being played by men and women from Spain, France, Venezuela, Argentina and other countries at the Basque Cultural Center in South City on Sunday.

In a scene evocative of handball, participants of the World Pelota Championship competed to lob an oversized golf ball against the floor and sides of a two-walled court using either their hands or a paddle. But this court was longer than a handball court, and the cowhide-covered ball was so hard that players would sometimes have to use helmets to protect themselves.

The cheering crowd in the stands came to see pelota, a European-derived sport best known inside Spain's Basque region. Mostly sons and daughters of Basque immigrants, they grew up watching and playing pelota the way other Americans learn baseball.

Put on free by the Basque Pelota and Associated Sports World Council, the first-ever international pelota championship tournament held on U.S. soil will take place all week and culminate in a final match between finalist countries on Saturday.

Choosing South San Francisco as the tournament location was not an accident, said Kepa Arroitajauregi, technical director for the Basque World Council. It's a key part of the World Council's new effort to promote pelota in countries where it's less well-known, especially the U.S., Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela. It didn't hurt that the Basque Cultural Center had a ready-made pelota court.

"It's not only about putting tournaments together, it's about improving the level of play around the world. It's about giving players the opportunity to play in tournaments like this to better themselves," Arroitajauregi said.

Versions of pelota have existed for centuries, reaching Mexico and Latin American countries as a form of European tennis called "Jeu de Pomme" popular with priests and aristocrats starting in the 1600s. Other versions of handball-oriented pelota are attributed to the Incas, Greeks, and other cultures.Following the Spanish Civil War, a Basque diaspora brought the sport to many new countries, where grandfathers and fathers taught their sons and daughters how to play. Today, some forms of pelota are played outdoors, against one wall; others are played with tennis balls or leather balls.

The International Federation of Basque Pelota has put on world pelota championships since the 1950s — primarily in Spain, Mexico and Cuba. The Basque World Council, founded in December 2006, was formed partly as a result of political differences with the International Federation, which would not allow Basque players to compete on their own (the self-governing region has long fought for autonomy from Spain).

Arroitajauregi said the International Federation had not done enough to promote pelota abroad. His organization's goal is to establish pelota coaches in countries with just a handful of players, and teach children the sport as well.

"First we need to bring people to the court and show them what the sport is," he said. "It's a beautiful sport."

Young Iker Urcelay, of Venezuela, was grateful for the rare opportunity to compete with pelota players from other countries. The 23-year-old, who learned pelota from his Basque grandfather when he was 10, says he only has three other players in all of Venezuela to practice with.

"It's a legacy. I love it. I like to watch games on TV," said Urcelay, whose small Venezuelan team has traveled abroad to compete three times this year. He waved aside congratulations on his team's trouncing of Argentina, 22-3, in a preliminary match on Sunday.

"It will happen the same to us on Thursday when we play the Basque country," he said.

The world pelota championships continue through Saturday at the Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco. Admission is free except for Saturday's games, when tickets are $15. For schedules, visit http://www.euskosare.org/blogak/pilota—2007/partiduak—wpc—2007—es.

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Another One From Garzón

The clown judge continues to do his dirty work in favor of Madrid's colonialist minded policy towards Euskal Herria.

For Garzón if you are Basque and you agree with the concept that every people has the basic right to its self determination then you're a terrorist. Nevermind that Garzón has never jailed a single member of the Francoist regime.

Garzón can care less about concepts like justice and human rights, he is an old school Spaniard who still gets a tingle in his groins knowing that although a sidekick show in the international stage Spain is still strong enough to deprive Basques, Catalans and Galizans from their right to be independent. What you will read in this note will show you how Garzón and a few other Spanish judges are willing to bend the law in order to continue the repression of the Basque people.

Here it is:

Spanish judge jails Basque separatists

The Associated Press

Published: September 11, 2007

Madrid, Spain: Spain's National Court anti-terror specialist judge Baltasar Garzon on Tuesday ordered a suspected Basque separatist jailed for allegedly belonging to a terrorist organization.

In a statement published by the court, Garzon said Juan Mari Olano would be jailed pending prosecution for belonging to the Basque separatist group ETA and inciting sabotage and public disorder.

Olano was one of nine demonstrators arrested in the Basque city of San Sebastian on Sunday during violent clashes with riot police. Olano and scores of protesters had tried to hold what was deemed an illegal rally in support of ETA prisoners.

In a separate case, the court condemned Jose Maria Arregi Erostarbe to 26 years, eight months in prison for the attempted murder of a world's fair official in 1990.

The court found that a parcel bomb mailed by Arregi Erostarbe to Manuel Olivencia, an official of Expo-92 world's fair in Seville, had exploded and injured two fair workers.

Continues...

But hear me here, Garzón couldn't get away with this if it was not for the silent complicity of the international community.

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Eusko Flickr : Eguzki Lore, Lekunberri

Eguzki lore, Lekunberri
Originally uploaded by Stefano Pizzetti