General strike

LAB (pro-independence and socialist worker union)

Worker unions said that the general strike of this thursday will be one of the most succesful general strike of Basque Country. Hundreds of worker assemblys, dozens of social movement and organization, leftist political parties etc. are going to support this general strike.

Direct actions, demonstrations and movilizations  are happening in all basque country. Police is using violence to stop all this movement. According to youth movement information, in Lizarra (Nafarroa South Basque Country) guardia civil (spanish militar police) have evicted the main square this night when it was occupied by young. More than 40 "guardia civil" have threatened and used violence to evict 20 young camped in the main square of Lizarra (they have also stole some of their properties). In Bilbo (capital of Bizkaia South Basque Counrty) youth movement have occupied the employ service "lanbide".

Young militants

Another 4 youth accusated of being militants of Segi will get free next days. Dozens of basque young militants have been arrested, tortured and imprisoned last years in iparralde (north basque country opressed by french state) and hegoalde (south basque country opressed by spanish state).

Youth demonstration and court repression

Protest in Iruña

After been evicted, youth movement have done more demonstrations in Iruña. Hundreds of young people protagonized a new demonstration along the streets of Iruña. After that, they sat in front of the town hall of Iruña.

Two people of Laudio have been sentenced to a year of prison. They protested against the ilegalization of Batasuna (pro-independence and leftist political party) in their town hall. Spanish bodyguards provoqued the incidents. Another people have been sentenced to pay fines of 200 and 900 euros.

Another court have confirmed the sentence against Tasio Erkizia (one of the spokesman of Batasuna) of 1 year of prison. He had participated in a tribute to "Argala", a historic militant of ETA that was killed in 1978 by BVE ("Batallón Vasco Español" a parapolicial group financed and controled by Spanish state).

Occupied square evicted

Taking advantage of the night, spanish police in colaboration with local police have evicted youth camping in the main square of Iruña (Pamplona in spanish, south basque country). All participants have been identified by spanish police and some of them have been threatened.

Youth movement is calling people for more demonstrations to this afternoon.

Demonstrations, direct actions and camping

Camping in Iruña

This morning youth movement have occupied the main square of Iruña ("Pamplona" in spanish, south basque country). They are going to camp in this square some days to protest against the capitalist system.According to the latest information, there have been some "problems" with police.

In Donosti (capital of Gipuzkoa South basque country) some banks have been attacked with paint. In Bilbo (capital of Bizkaia South basque country) some banks have been attacked with hammers and then some roads have been cuted with dumpsters. Another bank have been also attacked in Bilbo with petrol bombs.

Youth protests continues all along basque country. Iruña.

More images of students protests in Iruña.

Students protests and "San Fermin"

Ikasle Abertzaleak (union of pro-independence and leftist students) called a strike today. More than 20 20 schools have supported it. In the public university of Nafarroa has also been protests. Thousands of students and young people have protested along Iruña (capital of Nafarroa "pamplona" in spanish) streets.

A road occupied by students

There have been incidents in some schools and neighborhoods. 3 students have been detained. Some roads have been cut protesting for the arrests. Painting and firecrackers have been used along the protests. Police have charged against students in some streets. This afternoon will be more demonstrations.

13 young will be judged in "Audencia Nacional" (a court created to fight against basque struggle). They are accused of some incidents caused by local police in Iruña in San Fermines.

Incidents video:

Demonstrations and repression continues

One of the demonstrations

ELA-LAB-STEE/EILAS with the support of CCOO and UGT (spanish workers union) have done demonstrations in 20 localities of Nafarroa (south basque country). They have dennounced that Nafarroa's goverment (controled by UPN (spanish right political party) and PSOE) is destroying the public system of protection.

Today Ertzaintza have arrested 2 young in Amurrio (Araba-South Basque country). They are accused of attacking three banks with stones and paint. According with the police version, one of them was arrested after the direct-action. They are of 18 and 19 years old.

Repression against workers and actions

During the last basque general strike (in January of 2011) some workers (18) were identified by "Ertzaintza" when they were informing people about the General Strike. Goverment now is asking 72 years of prison and a fine of 108.000 euros.

ELA-LAB-ESK-STEE/EILAS-EHNE (basque workers unions) have denounced that goverment wants to scare working class. According to their opinion, spanish goverment with this accusation wants to stop basque worker class movilization capacity.

In the last days demonstrations, direct actions etc. continues in all basque country. 

Here is a direct action against CEN (Confederation of Nafarroa's businessman) and occupation of Nafarroa's employment Service.

Guards and sabotage

Spanish goverment have reduced by %55 bodyguards in Basque Country. 425 bodyguards will not continue working. Bodyguards asociation asked spanish goverment moving these bodyguards to other areas: Militar barracks, prisons, protection of public buildings etc.

There were 789 bodyguards and now there will be 364. These bodyguards have participated actively in the repression against Basque Country.

There are not damages

An explosive artefact composed of petrol and a firecracker had exploted in front of Lanbide (Euskadis employ service) headquarters.

Repression and news from Iparralde

Ertzaintza arresting

In 2011 the assembly of young ("gazte asanblada" in basque) in Gasteiz decided to occupy an empty building.

Soon, the government of Euskadi (dominated by PSOE-PP) sent Ertzaintza to the new Gaztetxe ("young home" in basque). After identify and hit, Ertzaintza arrested them. In May they will be judged.

EA-Batasuna-AB

Batasuna, AB and EA said this week that French/Spanish states must finish with the causes of basque conflict.

They have also called to all political parties of North Basque Country ("iparralde") to support a new institution (autonomous) that should control more areas. They also asked french state to formalize basque language (Euskara).

Jalgi Hadi

Jalgi Hadi Garaipenera (join to the victory) is organizing a march for 6-7-8 of April Sara-Lesaka-Iruña (North basque country and South Country).

Jalgi Hadi Garaipenera members

Jalgi Hadi Garaipenera is a Youth Basque movement that claims other point of view about Nafarroa's Kingdom history. Spanish and French states promotes that Nafarroa's Kingdom had not been conquisted.

One of the most symbolic battles of this conquist occurred in the castle of Amaiur. In 1522 (spanish army first attack was in 1512 after that there were a lot of rebellions) 200 soldiers loyal to Nafarroa's king  recaptured the castle. More than 10.000 spanish soldiers attacked the castle. After the battle, some of the rebel leaders were executed with poison and the castle destroyed.

Monument to the defenders of Amaiur

Amnesty International, general strike and Etxerat

Amnesty International dennounced serius police misconduct in their fight against Basque insurgency. Salil Shetty had talked with the main political partys of Spain (PSOE-PP-IU) and he dennounced that spanish state is banning political partys that refuses using violence: Sortu (new left-abertzale (pro-independence) linked with Herri Batasuna). He also had criticized spanish goverment inmobility with the new situation in the Basque Country.

Etxerat (Basque political prisoners families association) had talked for first time in Nafarroa's parlament about basque prisoners situation. UPN and PP (spanish right-wing) had not been in the parlament. IU and PSOE said that political prisoners do not exist in the basque country.

Action of worker in front of BBVA (Basque bank)

Basque organizations are preparing for the general strike. In this weeks, workers union are making actions and protests. In Nafarroa they are occuping strategic places for example.

Ikasle Abertzaleak (union of basque pro-independence and leftist students) had cut some roads in Iruña. "Policia Foral" (Nafarroa's autonnomous police) had attacked them.

Student's protesting

2 Young basque militants more will get free today

In total 8 basque militants will get free today. Their family protest all mondays in front of PSOE and PP headquarters in Iruña (6 of militants are from Iruña and around cities).

This video shows some reactions of their families after the good news.

Collectives

General Strike continues receiving more support. Today, social collectives and organizations had announced their accession to strike.

Six basque militants gets free tomorrow

Six youth basque militants accused of being part of Segi, will get free tomorrow. They had been imprisoned since 2010 "prevently". Their judgment have not yet been held.

They were arrested in one of the operations against "Segi". They denounced torture and some of them were trasladated to the hospital (one of them was pissing blood).

A video made in support of this youth basque militants.

News and demonstrations

Five policemen of Iruña (Nafarroa) have been considered not guilty of an agression in 2009.

They are part of Iruña's local police ("policia municipal"). In the latest years, this local police has been militarized: Anti-riot material, police linked with  extreme-right-wing ideas, expulsions of local police that resists this process etc.

Simon Santamaria (men in black) and Yolanda Barcina (Nafarroa's right-spanish-wing president)

Local police is an spanish ex-militar borned in Marocco: Simon Santamaria.









Important demonstrations along South Basque Country against new labour law. Some demonstrations were organized by CCOO and UGT (spanish trade unions that recently had also called a general strike on March 29) and other by ELA and LAB.

In Baiona ("Iparralde" or North Basque Country) 500 people protested against nuclear power stations.

Tribute to Angel Berrueta

Yesterday, in Iruña (capital of Nafarroa) Angel Berrueta was honored in an event where hundreds of people attended.

Angel Berrueta was killed in 2004 by a police and his son. After islamist bombings in Madrid, where more than people 190 die, PPs goverment insisted that ETA was who made that bombings.

Angel Berrueta was a baker and member of Gurasoak (association of basque political prisoners parents). Policeman wife's entered in his bakery and tried to put a poster where was written "No ETA".

Angel Berrueta did not let her put that poster. After that, the woman talked with her husband and son. They entered the bakery. Son stabbed him and father shot him.

Angel Berrueta was not recognized as a victim of the basque political conflict. In this event Kontxi Sanchiz was also honored. She died  (heart attack) after a police charge in Hernani (Gipuzkoa) when they were protesting against Angel Berrueta's death.

Repression news

Etxerat (asociation of basque political prisoners families) denounced that Xabier Arina suffered an assault from an officer of the prison. Xabier Arina was also attacked on February by more officers and Guardia Civil.

As a result of Spanish and French policy of disperssion
some familiars suffered a traffic accident this week. Etxerat asked French and Spanish goverments to end with this policy.

Jon Aldana gets freedom after being imprisoned 28 years. Since 1998 he had been more than 1000 km far away from Basque Country.

Spanish army had also insult again basque country camping in one of the main squares of Iruña (capital of Nafarroa).

This insult coincides with the 500 anniversary of Nafarroa's kingdom conquest. On 1512 thousands of spanish soldiers attacked the remaining independent basque kingdom (colaborating with traitors). Thousands of basques died, almost castles were destroyed etc.

ETA ask France to enter into "direct dialogue" and huge demonstrations in women's day

ETA has asked French goverment to enter "direct dialogue". In basque armed organization statement, ETA said that French goverment has always avoided direct dialogue to resolve the basque conflict. But french goverment maintains a repressive policy (arresting basque militants, supporting "dirty war" etc.). French state refuses the existence of basque country and do not respect the right of self-determination. There are more than 150 basque militants in French prisons.


Batasuna have also asked French and Spanish goverment to enter in a dialogue.In Baiona, Batasuna have proposed three points to Sarkozy: Dialogue with ETA, stop repression policy and give the steps towards the reconocition of Basque Country.


French goverment has answered that ETA must disarm and that they will continue colaborating with Spain.

Image of Iruña demonstration

Thousands of people marched yesterday along basque city's, protesting against patriarchal system.  

They required for a social change in society: Division of labor care, a new economic model that will not promote gender inequalities etc.

Feminist slogan: "destroy patriarchal, today demonstration"

International Women's Day

Basque trade unions and feminist movements today will come out to the street. The effects of the capitalist system on women work conditions are going to be the main theme. The new labour law increases gender inequalities.

Bilgune feminista have also claimed women voice in basque peace process.

Repression and student's movilizations

A basque militant refugee in north basque country (Manu Azkarate) have been detained by french police. Manu Azkarate was arrested in 1986 and he got free in 1993 (he has a cronic ilness).

Guardia Civil (spanish militar police) have sabotaged the TV antenna that enables watching basque TV in Nafarroa (south basque country).

Ikasle Abertzaleak (union of basque students) is preparing a general strike in education on March 22 (only south basque country) for facing against the new measures that is preparing spanish government. They have also added to the general strike of 29 March.

Firefighters enjuiced

A group of firefighters have been enjuiced for a video in which they show their solidarity with basque political prisoners.

General Strike on March 29

Basque trade unions (LAB, ELA, EHNE, STEE-EILAS, CGT, ESK and Hiru) have called a general strike on March 29 in south basque country. This general strike is a response to the new labour law promoted by spanish right-wing government.

More organizations are adding to this call: Ikasle Abertzaleak (union of basque pro-independence students), SOS racismo (a organization that fight's against racism), Eguzki (ecologist), Bilgune feminista (feminist), Asamblea de parados/as de Bizkaia y Gipuzkoa (assembly of unemployed in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) etc.

Basque trade unions require the shutdown of the reform and a new social politics.

Demonstration in solidarity with Basque Country in Milan

More than 3000 people have marched in Milan (Italy) in favour of Basque Country. International organizations (Palestine, Colombia, Kurdistan etc.) added to the demonstration.

This demonstration has been organized by Askapena: http://www.askapena.org/?q=es

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOIK1U8luF8&feature=player_embedded

Hundreds of people cut roads in North Basque Country

Hundreds of people have marched in the north basque country (Iparralde) asking for a common institution and the legal recognition of basque idiom in french state. Some roads have been cut all around north basque country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqlEZenzrls&feature=email

Ertzaintza attacked demonstrators in Vitoria-Gasteiz

On march of 1976 (in Vitoria-Gasteiz), spanish police attacked workers enclosed in a church with bullets and tear gas. They were protesting to improve their working conditions. 5 persons died as a result of this attack.

Anually, a demonstration remember this event. This year, Ertzaintza arrested 4 persons when some youngs protested in front of PP headquarters. Another 15 have been injured.

 http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20120304/326273/es/La-Ertzaintza-ensombrece-ultimo-acto-una-emotiva-jornada-Gasteiz