NABO's Basque Region

Thanks to the blog Ant's Meat and the post "To Basque Amerika", I found out about the strangest thing, NABO (North American Basque Organizations) has issued a declaration regarding the now inexistent referendum initiative called by Juan Jose Ibarretxe, the statement is in support of the initiative, if you want to read it follow this link:

Declaration Proposal

Until now NABO had been suspiciously silent about the political situation in Euskal Herria, that is why I agree with the comment by Jon, specially this part:

If NABO’s role if going to be political from now on, we cannot reduce our perspective to only one side of the spectrum. So, when is NABO going to sign a declaration in favor of the repatriation of Basque political prisoners and exiles? When is NABO going to sign a declaration against banning Basque political parties? When is NABO going to sign a declaration against the practice of torture in Spain?

And how about this map posted by NABO?

Not even the anti-Basque crowd would dare to post a map of Euskal Herria that shows but a sliver of the entire territory.

After the Idaho Memorial, Basques around the world had always been hopeful that the Basque community in the USA would finally wake up and start applying some pressure to their government in behalf of the right of Euskal Herria to its independence. When they finally say something through NABO is to support an initiative that amounts to a revamped political status between Gazteiz and Madrid that ensures the PNV members will continue to milk the cow.

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Eusko Flickr : Basque Country

HM 098 Basque Country
Originally uploaded by ocngrl03

Little Has Changed

I found this article of opinion by a Professor Will Fowler at News Scotsman:

Healing wounds of Spain's past

Published Date: 28 September 2008

WITH reference to Gerald Warner's column about Spain's law of historical memory ('Digging up a history of murder and propaganda', Comment, September 21), the Spanish Civil War and the Franco era – a period of history that spans nearly four decades – was to prove deeply traumatic for the people of Spain. It resulted in a death toll estimated at between 500,000 and one million people and the exile of approximately 700,000 Spaniards.

Under Franco, and between 1939 and 1950, a further 875,000 Spaniards were imprisoned and, in many cases, disappeared, in concentration camps that, until recently, had been a "secreto a voces" (a secret that was known about but only uttered in private). There were no elections, the press was censored, the "other" languages of Spain (Basque, Catalan and Galician) were banned; Masons, Jews and Communists were officially persecuted, and the repression meted out by the Guardia Civil was brutal and systematic.

Franco was not overthrown. Once he died of natural causes on November 20, 1975, it was the members of his own regime who, in liaison with the formerly banned opposition parties, negotiated Spain's transition to democracy. It was to prove an extremely successful transition. However, the success of the Spanish Transition was in great part due to the pact of silence that enveloped the entire process. Spaniards were not given a say on whether the crimes committed against humanity under the Franco regime should go unpunished. They were not even allowed to find out what had happened to their disappeared relatives.

It was with a view to face up to the past that the Spanish parliament started to discuss the possibility of passing a Law of Historical Memory in 2006.

It is a law that aims to "contribute to close the wounds that are still open", recognise the rights of those who suffered under the Franco regime, award moral and financial compensation and facilitate the search for missing relatives.

Most Spaniards hope this law does precisely that. So that never again are people imprisoned, tortured or killed for political reasons. Readers would do well to bear in mind this perspective and to question the credibility of a commentator like Mr Warner who justified the bombing of Guernica, described Picasso's Guernica as "grisly daub", called the democratically-elected Second Republic an "obscenity", its defenders a "gang of butchers", and referred to the agreed exhumation of Federico García Lorca's body as a "stupidity".

Professor Will Fowler, Department of Spanish, University of St Andrews

Although he is right in 99% of what he says I would like to ask what is the measure of success that he uses for Spain experiencing a transition not from an era (as he calls Franco's murderous regime) to a democracy but from a dictatorship to a monarchy.

Gladly enough someone by the name of Rafa Tarrat commenting from Euskal Herria wrote this:

Er... well. Spain does not seem having changed so much from Franco's time. Spain now bans political parties not because they do something forbidden, but because they do not declare what Spanish (ultranationalist) authorities want them to declare. Four have been banned, all them being Basque nationalist parties. Elections called under such conditions are far from being democratic. Spanish government closes newspapers and radios for political reasons. We have seen two dailies, one radio and several magazines die in that way. Basque, Catalan and Galician tongues, despite their apparent officiality, cannot been used in statal instances, even if they are located territorially on Basque, Catalan or Galician ground. The Civil Guard continues torturing Basque arrested suspects, or even not suspects, it is enough to be Basque and young. Several arrested have died under Civil Guards sophisticated methods, the responsibles being condecorated. Do not think all that happened only in Franco's days. Suarez, Gonzalez, Aznar and Zapatero have done nothing to stop that; in fact, they have been the best impulsors. Spanish constitution orders to the army to repress any secession, even if that secession has come after a democratic process. Judge Garzon has done nothing to stop torture inside Spain's borders.

Please, help us!

I agree with Rafa.

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TVE to Finance Basque Film

This is strange, TVE will "sistematically" endorse Euskara-spoken movies according to this note published at Variety:

Duo to cook up Basque 'Kitchen'

Spain's TVE, EITB team on culinary film

By John Hopewell

MADRID -- Spanish pubcaster TVE and Basque state TV network EITB are teaming to finance Basque-language "Sukalde kontuak" (Kitchen Stories) with industry vet Angel Amigo producing for Juan Luis Ezkurra's San Sebastian-based Zurriola Group.

Directed by Basque dramatist-TV director Aizpea Goenaga, "Kitchen" stars Basque actors Isidoro Fernandez and Ramon Aguirre.

Pic is set at a Basque school for young chefs and gently satirizes the region's pride and devotion to its local gastronomy. One central irony is that none of the students really want to be a chef.

"Instead of churches, we have gastronomic clubs, and instead of priests, chefs," Amigo told Daily Variety at the San Sebastian Festival, which wrapped on Saturday.

Further financing looks set to come from Spain's Ministry of Culture. TVE will take international rights to "Kitchen."

Pic is one of the first features made under TVE's new drive into regional-language production. TVE has financed Basque-language films before but this is the first time it will do so systematically.

TVE head of cinema, Gustavo Ferrada, said that the pubcaster would also co-finance Marc Recha's Catalan-language "Petit Indi" and Angel de la Cruz's "Los muertos van deprisa," partly shot in Galician.

And Catalan and Galizan films too, I say those guys in TVE are up to something.

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Basque-phobe of the Week : Louise Lemelin

The doubtful honor of "Basque-phobe of the week" goes to a pro-torture Canadian judge by the name of Louise Lemelin.

She has decided to deny the right to habeas corpus to Basque political prisoner Ivan Apaolaza, by doing so Lemelin tells the world that the law in Canada is not for everyone, just like in South Africa back during the Apartheid regime.

Here you have the note from The Canadian Press:

5 hours ago

MONTREAL — A Quebec judge has denied a bid for freedom by an alleged Basque terror suspect who faces deportation.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Louise Lemelin ruled Tuesday she would not hear a motion for a writ of habeas corpus from Ivan Apaolaza Sancho's lawyers. Lemelin would not hear the motion because Sancho is not a Canadian citizen.

His lawyers say that means their client is denied his only recourse to fight what they call an unlawful 15-month detention based on evidence obtained through torture.

Lead lawyer William Sloan said in an interview he'll appeal Lemelin's decision.

"When it says everyone in the charter with respect to rights to habeas corpus, it means everyone except immigrants," Sloan said sarcastically.

"We have two different legal systems, one for human beings and one for immigrants who don't quite make it because they don't have the right to habeas corpus."

Sloan has argued the government's case against Sancho is based on evidence obtained through torture and should be thrown out.

Sancho is wanted by Spanish authorities in connection with a series of car bombings linked to ETA, a Basque separatist group.

Sancho admits to being part of the Basque nationalist movement, but denies having any ties to the group.

He faces deportation to Spain where, his supporters say, he faces the risk of being tortured. Canadian immigration officials ordered Sancho deported in May.

"Once again, Canada's courts are legitimizing evidence obtained by torture," Sancho said in a statement.

"I can only hope that Canadians of good conscience continue to speak out against this continued injustice, in my case, and in the case of others.

He has been in detention since June 2007 after the RCMP arrested him while aboard a ferry near Quebec City.

While an Immigration and Refugee Board commissioner rejected some federal evidence that appeared to be obtained through torture, he ruled there was more than enough additional evidence, including police warrants and affidavits, showing Sancho had ties to ETA.

Sloan has argued much of this evidence should be stricken.

A pre-removal risk assessment must still be performed before Sancho can be deported.

Sloan says he plans to revive his argument about evidence obtained through torture at that point.

"(The Immigration and Refugee Board) is just looking at the consequences of the deportation, so its position is going to be whether or not the evidence was obtained through torture.

"The only thing that counts is whether he'll be tortured or killed when he gets back."

Sancho had lived under a number of aliases using forged documents since arriving in Canada in 2001.

He lived mainly in the Vancouver area, rooming initially with Victor Tejedor Bilbao, another alleged Basque terrorist living illegally in Canada who was deported in June.

Sancho moved to Montreal in late 2006.

Has anyone in Canada inquired in Spain about what ever happened to Victor Tejedor, has he been charged? Remember, many Basques that have been extradited to Spain are now free without ever being charged, but only after spending at least four years in jail. Such totalitarian behaviour is the one that Louise Lemelin is endorsing with her decision.

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Eskubideak : Defence and Special Courts and Laws

We just received this announcement via email:

Dear colleagues,

The next 24th and 25th of October will take place at the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados del Señorío de Bizkaia (Bizkaia Bar Association), in Bilbao, the Conference "The right to a defence vs. Special Courts and Laws", organized by AED-EDL, Eskubideak and the Basque Council of Lawyers.

The ojectives and aims to discuss will be: To identify exceptional measures in an international context and their impact on human rights and fundamental freedoms. The position of the legal community on this situation. Assessment of a specific situation in relation to the Basque context. To identify exceptional measures and their implementation in relation to civil and political rights. Academic assessment. A lawyer’s professional activity, faced with exceptionality. The role of lawyers, who must demand a justice system that respects human rights as the only framework in which it is possible to exercise the Right to a Defence. Criminalization of lawyers’ professional activity. Mechanisms for the protection of lawyers in their professional activity –defending the defence counsel.

Through this message we would like to invite you to this Conference and to spread the invitation to any lawyer, jurist and person that could be interested in the matter.

There will be simultaneus translation to Basque, Spanish, French and English.

Best regards,

Communication office of Eskubideak

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Energy Forum at BEC

This note comes to us via EITb:

Bilbao Exhibition Centre to host European Future Energy Forum

09/29/2008

The Centre has been chosen by organizer 'Turret Middle East' to host a meeting which is scheduled to take place next year from the 9th to the 11th of June.

As from 2009, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre is to add another international event to its calendar: the Centre has been chosen by organizer Turret Middle East to host the European Future Energy Forum, the first edition of which is scheduled to take place next year. In the final stage of the selection process, Bilbao completed with Copenhagen, Reykjavik and Frankfurt for the honour of staging the European edition of what has become a strategic event following on from the first World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) in January this year.

The candidature of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre was part of a package which included support from the Basque government, the Department of Innovation and Economic Promotion of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, Bilbao City Hall, Bilbao Convention Bureau and Destino Bilbao. The city's selection is made all the more significant by the standard of the other candidates short listed: Germany is Europe’s leading player for renewable energy sources in terms of consumption, output and technological advances, Denmark is the world's leading producer of wind power and Iceland boasts exceptional geological and geothermal resources.

The balance was tipped in favour of Bilbao by the level of investment in the country, the extraordinary recent growth in renewable energy sources, the prominent position of the Basque Country in the field, with strong support from business and institutions, and the success of Gastech 2005, an event which broke records at the Exhibition Centre.

World Future Energy Summit

The first ever World Future Energy Summit featured 220 exhibitors and attracted over 11,000 visitors from 77 countries, including royalty, heads of state, energy and environment ministers, top entrepreneurs and other high-ranking personalities.

In the wake of the success of the summit, and seeking to provide a global benchmark event for policies on energy, investment development and alternative, renewable infrastructures, organising firm Turret Middle East decided to organise a forum outside the Near East every two years, so as to extend the brand to a broader geographical area.

As a result, the Bilbao Exhibition Centre will host a biennial blend of commercial exhibitions and technical seminars on renewable energy sources and their application. This is an area which is undergoing spectacular growth, involving specialists from the fields of energy, architecture and finance.

Organizers with proven prestige

Turret is an English-based firm with broad experience as an event organizer in many different sectors all over the world. It has also maintained links with RAI, DMG and Reed Exhibitions among others, so its representatives work at the highest possible levels. Around 18 months ago it established a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi (to cover the Middle East market), where it has already organised five fairs in the fields of recycling, foodstuffs and renewable energy sources, all of them highly successful. The firm's prestige and track record in organising specialist events means that expectations are high for the success of this fair at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, aimed at the energy market.

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Protest in Baiona

Basque activists and Xabi Larralde, spokesman for pro-Basque independence party Batasuna, walk behind a banner which reads, "Recognize and Respect the Basque country" as they demonstrate in the centre of Baiona, Euskal Herria, September 27, 2008.

The demonstration was organized to protest the operation against members of Batasuna where 12 people were arrested.

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Update On Raid In Iparralde

Just a couple of days ago the mean stream media (news corporations key to the propaganda effort by Spain against the Basque people) was calling those arrested in the pre-dawn raids by French police by labels like "militants", "separatists", "leftists" and such.

Now that they are free without charges, they are just "people".

All 14 arrested in French Basque sweep freed without charge

Sat Sep 27, 2:49 AM ET

French authorities said Saturday 14 people arrested this week in a major operation within the Basque separatist movement in southwest France have been released after no charges were brought against them.

The 14 people -- not 12 as originally reported -- were released from custody "in stages starting Friday night into the early hours of Saturday," said the Paris prosecutor's office, which is in charge of anti-terrorism throughout France.

Seven of the arrests were in connection with the 2006 attack on the hotel in the southern French town of Bidarry and five others were part of a probe into the financing of Basque groups, a legal source in Paris had said on Wednesday.
The detainees had been held since Wednesday in several cities in the southwestern Basque region such as Bayonne and Pau and included two senior figures of the separatist political party Batasuna.

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Fascists Against Euskal Herria

It is not the first time Euskal Herria experiences the combined threat of fascist minded European "leaders". Back in 1936, Hitler and Mussolini in support of Franco attacked the Basque Country. Today a "democratically elected" minister by the name of Zapatero (in reality no more than the messenger boy for Juan Carlos Borbon, true successor to the afore mentioned Franco) is relying on France's Nicolas Sarkozy (the French version of George W. Bush) to clamp down on Euskal Herria's political rights.

This note you are about to read was published at France 24:

Spain looks to France for help against Basque separatists

Friday 26 September 2008

Spain is increasingly seeking France's help against the Basque nationalist groups ETA and Batasuna, which Spain considers the political arm of the terrorist ETA and which has been barred in Spain from taking part in elections since 2003.

By Adeline Percept, France 24 correspondent in Spain

Considered by the Spanish government to be the political branch of the terrorist organisation ETA, the Batasuna, Unity in the Basque language, party is in the cross-hairs of Spain's justice system and the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government.

The crackdown against the organisation intensified after June 2006, when the ceasefire agreement between the government and ETA was broken.

After the arrests on Wednesday, September 24, of 11 alleged members of Batasuna in the French Basque Country, Zapatero, said yesterday, while in New York for the UN General assembly, that he does "not exclude the possibility of asking France to ban Batasuna".

In a press release a couple of hours later, Javier Zaragoza, Spain's attorney general, is urging "unconditional collaboration in order to establish a penal process enabling the banning of Batasuna in France".

These statements come in the midst of violent retaliatory actions in Spain's Basque Country, where a police officer was killed in Santona (Cantabria) on September 22 in one of several attacks to take place over recent days.

The French-Spanish collaboration has proved to be the cornerstone in the fight against radical separatism.

"In the 80s, France viewed ETA as a Spanish problem." Antonio Elorza, a political expert at Madrid's Complutense University, told France 24. "In those days, members of ETA travelled to and fro between the two countries completely at their ease. Since his arrival in power, Nicolas Sarkozy has made a huge contribution to Spain's struggle against ETA."

Even if the French branch of Batasuna does play an important role in the organisation, it is less active than its Spanish counterpart.

"There's a big difference between Batasuna in France and in Spain," said Elorza. "Batasuna in Spain is clearly the political arm of ETA, like Sinn Fein and the IRA in Ireland. ETA is active in Spain and until now, 15% of the Basque population has supported the terrorist organisation. That's why ETA has a special rapport with Batasuna, a rapport which couldn't exist in France – popular support there is much more limited. So Batasuna's strategies are different on the two sides of the Pyrennees, but they are complementary."

Two relevant issues come out of this situation.

1) Spain and France are accepting that the so called "Basque conflict" is of an international nature since it involves two countries (with statehood) and one nation (without statehood). Therefore, according to the international treaties, the international community has the obligation to stop making up excuses for Spain's violent campaign of repression against the Basque people and activelly take part in the resolution of the conflict.

2) The Spaniards recognize that they are not willing to truly involve themselves in a peace process for Euskal Herria like England did in regards of Northern Ireland when they included Sinn Fein. Instead, Spain has banned Batasuna and many other political parties and electoral lists, choosing to incarcerate as many Basque activists as they can. They refuse to follow the path shown by England and instead they put all their chips on the support by a fascist minded individual like Nicolas Sarkozy. Just like in 1936, Spain resorts to Europe's worst characters to "solve" its political disagreement with Euskal Herria.

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