Thursday, March 14, 2013

Interview to Paul Rios (member of Lokarri)


Do you expect the Court of Strasbourg to definitively repeal the “Parot Doctrine”?

For me this doctrine is a retroactive application and an aggravation of the sentences that doesn’t belong in the European system of human rights. I hope the European Court ratifies the first decision about Ines del Rio and that the Government doesn’t later try to find excuses to dilate the sentence.

Does the Irish model work in the Basque Country?

No, not the Irish or the South African. Each society makes its own journey towards peace. We can receive clues in the good and the bad. A couple of examples. In South Africa 20 years have passed and they now see a deficit in the recognition of victims such as the wounded. Here, I think, we have a good system. And in Ireland it has been very positive the collaboration among parties to reach agreements, but at the same time it is an example of how coexistence doesn’t just come from political agreements but that work has to be done with society.

Is it sufficient for ETA to lament “collateral damages”?

This declaration perhaps is good for those who enter in that which they call the “not implicated”, but it can be offensive for those who don’t identify themselves in this group. They have talked a lot about how this is a copy of a communiqué made by the IRA, but the text of the IRA was much more extensive and had a part in which it expressed empathy towards all of the victims and recognition of the suffering. This is what is lacking.

For reconciliation, will it be necessary to ask for forgiveness?

There has to be recognition of the damage caused and to show empathy for the victims. To recognize empathy towards your victims is simple, the difficult part is recognizing that of the others. We have been covered in a kind of fog around this suffering and ETA must, at least, express this closeness and recognition of the others who have suffered due to their actions.

Do you truly think that they will end up making this gesture?

I don’t know. Things have also occurred in these two years that five years ago would have been unthinkable. I’m an optimist.

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