The collective of basque political refugee have said that they "are prepared to talk with states (french and spanish)" to continue making steps towards solution.
They have also said, that they are not going to accept an stop in the process and have shown their intention to "end with the exile forever". They support the next national demonstration in favour of basque political prisoners that have been called in Baiona (Lapurdi north basque country).
According to them, two are the challenges: "Advance in the process that is going to achieve international recognition" and "overcome the harsh consequences of the conflict".
Beñat Atorrasagasti (borned in Lesaka Nafarroa south basque country), is a basque militant that is imprisoned in Scotland. He was arrested on July of 2012 by scotish police. According to spanish media, he was member of ETA and helped ETA members to move between borders. On 2001, "guardia civil" (spanish military police) tried to arrest him but he escaped.
A group of solidarity have supported him in Edinburgh (scotland).
Santi Brouard or Santiago Brouard (1919-1984) was one of the leaders of "Herri Batasuna" (a coalition of pro-independence and socialist political parties).
He was born in Lekeitio (Bizkaia south basque country) and he studied medicine in spain (he was doctor). He specialized in pediatrics and married with Teresa Aldamiz (they had 3 children).
He participated in the creation of first "ikastolak" (schools where children can study in basque). On 1974 he fled to iparralde (north basque country) after helping a militant of ETA who was injured in a gunfire by spanish police. In iparralde, he was related with important militants of ETA like "Argala". After Francisco Franco's death, he participated in the creation of "KAS alternative" (where most of basque movement insurgency was united) and EHAS (a revolutionary and pro-independence basque political party).
2. Legalisation of all basque pro-independence political parties.
3. Expulsion of all spanish forces from south basque country
4. Improvement of basic living conditions of working classes
5. Self-determination right
6. Provisional autonomy for south basque country
EHAS participated in the foundation of "Herri Batasuna" and Santi Brouard joined also the coalition. After returning from iparralde, he continued in politicy and working as pediatrician in Bilbo (bizkaia south basque country). On 1983, he was imprisoned after singing with other parliamentarians "Eusko Gudariak" (basque soldier anthem) in front of spanish king.
On 1984, when he was working in his pediatrics office, was killed by spanish mercenaries members of GAL (a armed organization created by spanish state to kill basque militants). He was killed the same day (20 of November) that Primo de Rivera and Francico Franco's death.
In protest of his death, there was a general strike in all south basque country, spanish police forces repressed the general strike and there were important riots.
Some days ago, a prison officer of North Ireland was killed, supposedly by members of Irish Republican Army (we do not know which is the faction of the ambush).
Padraic Wilson, member of Sinn Fein, have been arrested by north ireland police (PSNI).He is accused of being member of IRA and organizing meetings.
Abertzale left (the political party and no the movement), have denounced this arrest that according to them is an attack against irish peace process. Besides, Padraic Wilson have supported basque "peace process". In their opinion, his arrest have political charateristic and is promoted by the PSNI strategy.
Hundreds of people have supported Aurore Martin in iparralde (north basque country). In Maule (Zuberoa north basque country), 300 people supported the demonstration against the extradion of basque militants between Spanish state and french state. There have been also protests in Baiona (Lapurdi north basque country) and Donibane Garazi (Nafarroa Behera north basque country).
"Audencia Nacional" (spanish special tribunal to fight against basque struggle) have decided to imprison Aurore.
All the political parties of north basque country (pro-independence and french) have supportes Aurore Martin and rejected the last police operation: UMP, Batasuna, EA, Modem, PCF etc.
Some trade unions like ELA, LAB, CGT or Solidaries have rejected also her arrest.
On 14 of November, .spanish main trade unions (UGT and CCOO) have called a general strike in all spanish state. According to them, spanish goverment in destroying the welfare state and with that general strike they want to protect it. In south basque country, some little pro-independence trade unions (ESK for example) and anarchists (CGT and CNT) have also called for general strike. Other social organizations also support the general strike.
LAB (pro-independence and socialist trade union) have refused to support that general strike. In their opinion, UGT and CCOO do not respect Basque Country reality ("here we work, here we decide") and they are defending a dead system. For LAB, all the capitalist system must be changed and replaced for a new economical and social system (not only doing renovations). The other main basque trade union, ELA, have not supported the general strike but neither rejected it.
Aurore Martin
Aurore Martin (militant of Batasuna in north basque country and arrested yesterday), is now in "Audencia Nacional" (the spanish special court created to fight against basque struggle). Her arrest have been very critized in north basque country. For "Batasuna" (Abertzale left), french president (Hollande) is supporting spanish repression policity against basque country. They have also rejected the theory that she has been arrested in a "rutinary police control". In fact, french police two false convoys in the extradition of Aurore Martin to spanish state. Some members of UMP (Nicolas Sarkozy political party) and PSF (Hollande political party) are worried with that police operation. The interior ministers of spain and france have congratulated each other.
The main newspapers of french state have expressed their suprise with the police operation.
It is the first time that french state arrest and extradite a basque militant (and no member of ETA) with french nationality to spanish state. Aurore Martin is accused of participating in public acts of "Batasuna" (pro-independence and socialist political party). Batasuna is outlawed in spanish state but not in french state.
Aurore Martin is militant of "Batasuna" (pro-indepence and socialist political party). She has been arrested near of Maule (Zuberoa north basque country). According to media information, she has been arrested in a french police rutinary control. After the arrest, french police have delivered to guardia civil (spanish military police). It is the first time that french government deliver a basque militant (and not member of ETA) with french nationality to spanish authorities. So it is a dangerous precedent.
On 2010, Audencia Nacional (a spanish special tribunal created to fight against basque struggle) declared her wanted. After that, she went underground and on 2011 reappeared again publicy. French anti-terrorist special police tried to arrest her in Baiona (Lapurdi north basque country), but dozens of supporters achieved her freedom after tension moments.
Spanish police accuse her of participating in political acts of Batasuna. Batasuna is outlawed in spanish state but not in french state.
Images of 2011 with french police trying to arrest aurore:
Yolanda Barcina (president of Nafarroa), said yesterday that putting banners and cartels on public buildings is going to be a crime. Yolanda is member of UPN, a right-wing unionist political party. According to trade unions and Bildu, this decision is very serious and limits freedom of expression.
In the last 2 years, there have been strong social cuts in education, social services and health system in Nafarroa (south basque country). A lot of students (organized in "Ikasle Abertzaleak" pro-independence and leftist association) and workers (mainly member of LAB/ELA pro-independence trade unions) have led differents protests. UPN always have answered with more repression (arrests, police violence, selective firings and social cuts).
Gorbeia
Spanish government delegation in Nafarroa, have ordered to some municipalities the placement of spanish flag. If they disobey (most of that municipalities are governed by pro-independence political parties) spanish government will denounce them.
On Gorbeia (a mountain of Bizkaia south basque country), a unionist spanish association have placed a spanish flag in a new provocation to the basque pro-independence people. They have made that "action" to call people for a demonstration next 6 of December in madrid against "separatism".
