Basque Murals: Independence

The case against Laura Mintegi filed

Laura Mintegi (main representative of EH Bildu in Euskadi) started to be investigated on March. She was being investigated by spanish authorities for a phrase that she said the parliament: "all the victims that have dead for a politic cause are a tragedy" and that deaths "are avoidable". She was accused of "glorifying terrorism".

Finally, the case has been filed. That kind of investigations are common in south basque country.

The "gaztetxe" of Bakio evicted

According to Topatu, the gaztetxe (a squated building self-managed by an assembly of youth people with different ideologies: anarchists, socialists, pro-independence etc.) of Bakio (Bizkaia south basque country) was evicted the past week.

On 26 of April, Ertzaintza (basque regional police) appeared with the lawyers. Despite they initially had an arrogant attitude, finally they quieted. The next day, Ertzaintza appeared again to evict the "gaztetxe". There were not incidents and after a negotiation with the "owner" (who had a new project for the place) youth assembly take all their things. According to the youth assembly, they are going to continue with their struggle.

Lander Fernandez extradited to Spain

A group of people protecting Lander

According to naiz, the basque militant Lander Fernandez was finally extradited to Spain the last weekend.

On the morning, Italian police tried to arrest Lander in Rome. A group of 20 police appeared in the house where he was protected by dozens of people (including two lawyers and two parliamentarians). After a negotiation, Lander decided to leave the house with his lawyer. Despite the negotiation (it seems that the Italian minister had not signed the extradition), Italian police extradited him to Spanish state.

Day of Nafarroa: Baigorri

Day of Nafarroa in Baigorri

Thousands of people participated in the day of Nafarroa in Baigorri (Behe Nafarroa north basque country). Music, dances, people's sports and different events were celebrated in Baigorri. People of different ages and of all basque country approached to Baigorri. The day was organized by the basque association "Basaizea", it was celebrated as a cultural event and as a vindication of Basque identity. According to the member of Basaizea, Mikel, there are not borders between south and north basque country. 

1.200 of people participated in the official meal (more people carried their own meal or in pubs). On the morning, the dance groups of Iruña (Nafarroa south basque country), Baigorri and Beasain (Gipuzkoa north basque country) made their demo. On the afternoon, the dance groups of Lizarra (Nafarroa), Otsagabia (Nafarroa) and  Urretxu (Gipuzkoa). There were music groups of Iruña, Sakana (Nafarroa), Tutera (Nafarroa), Baztan (Nafarroa) and Leitza (Nafarroa). There were also traditional carnival groups of all basque country, with basque mythological creatures: Mari, Tartalo, Basajaun etc.

Trial against Fernando Sota

Demonstration in Support of Ines del Rio

According to Ateak Ireki,  on 2011, during the "Nafarroa Oinez" (a festival to finance "Ikastolak") in Tafalla (Nafarroa south basque country) a group of people put some flags with the faces of Ines del Rio and Josu Bravo (they are Tafalla's basque political prisoners).

The cameras of the town hall record the people who were putting the flags. According to the authorities, Fernando Sota is one of the people who were putting flags. He is accused of "glorying terrorism" for that flags. The prosecutor require form him 18 months of prison and 10 years of disqualification.

The website of Ernai closed

According to naiz, the website of Ernai is going to be closed soon. The "Audencia Nacional" (a special court created to fight against basque struggle) ordered yesterday the closing of the website. According to spanish authorities, the website made a tribute to Xabier Lopez (a basque political prisoner who died in french state) and that tribute could be "glorying of terrorism". The court ordered yesterday to spanish police of Nafarroa (south basque country) to investigate the website and close it.

Ernai is the new basque young revolutionary organization. It defines itself as: "Ernai is a Basque pro-independence, socialist, feminist and revolutionary youth organization within the Abertzale Left movement which is organized in the Basque Country."

 

According to their website, their goals are: 

 

"Ernai will be a tool for the youth in order to fight for our strategical goal: the Basque Socialist and Feminist State."

"Our contribution will be to build Gazte Herria (literally Youth’s Land), to fight for a situation in which young people would be free and self-sufficient. Also, by building Gazte Herria we will be taking steps forward regarding feminism and socialism."

"Ernai gathers young people from Navarre, Araba, Biscay and Gipuzkoa eventhough the perspective and strategy are national. However, we will constantly keep in touch with the revolutionary youth from the provinces of Soule, Lowe Navarre and Labour."

"AskeGunea" summary video