Greetings readers,
It saddens me to announce that I close the blog for personal reasons. If someone is interested in continuing with it, contact with my email.
basque1976@hotmail.com
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
6 members of ETA arrested in French state
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| Demonstration in support of one of the arrested |
According to naiz,six members of ETA were arrested yesterday in different places of french state. The "Guardia Civil" (spanish military police) have collaborated with french forces in the arrests. The arrested are:
Raul Aduna, Andoni Goikoetxea, Igor Uriarte, Ekhiñe Eizagirre, Julen Mendizabal and Kepa Arkauz.
The french interior minister, Manuel Valls, was delighted with the policial operation. According to Manuel Valls, the north basque country is not more a logistics and military base for ETA members. He also said that the collaboration between french and spanish police will continue until the dissolution of ETA.
The spanish interior minister, Jorge Fernandez Diez, said that they have dismantled the main logistic structure of ETA. He also threatened ETA "Or ETA dissolves, or we will reduce them to an acronym like GRAPO".
Monday, May 6, 2013
Ernai new website
After being closed by Spanish authorities, Ernai has created a new blog: http://www.keinubat.blogspot.com.es/
Xabier Atristain, Eider Zuriarrain and Juan Mari Maizkurrena arrested
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| Eider Zuriarrain |
Ertzaintza (basque regional police) arrested on Saturday in Gipuzkoa (south basque country) to Xabier Atristain and Juan Mari Maizkurrena. They are accused of collaborating with ETA. Atristain was sentenced to 17 years of prison for being member of an ETA command. Maizkurrena was sentenced to 7 years of prison for collaborating with ETA.
On Friday, Eider Zuriarrain was arrested in Sondika (Bizkaia south basque country). She is accused of collaborating with ETA and sentenced to 7 year of prison. She was also arrested by Ertzaintza.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Two person judged in Lizarra
There are going to be mobilizations in protest in Lizarra. Dozens of people are being judged for their participation in the last general strikes of south basque country.
A website in danger of being closed by spanish authorities
According to the local members of Abertzale left, this is "an attack against freedom expression". "an attack against free information, an attempt to criminalize solidarity with repressed and an attempt to silence a space where leftists and basque people of Burlata can talk".
M18Plazara
The next 18 of May, Herrira (the main organization that fights in favour of basque political prisoners) has called basque people to fill the squares to empty the prisons. The official promo video in english:
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Welcome to Naia Lacroix
The basque militant Naia Lacroix was received in Senpere (Lapurdi north basque country) by her relatives, friends and sympathizants. She was arrested and jailed on 2012 by french police accused of participating in some direct actions against capitalists interests in north basque country. She was militant of Segi, during the policial operation her sister was also arrested (and released on 2012).
ETA statement (May of 2013)
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| Stock photo |
ETA sent a new statement to the Basque Country, Spanish government and French government this week. According to ETA, spanish and french governments are responsible for the recent deaths of Angel Figueroa and Xabier Lopez Peña: "are expression of the extreme policies of revenge". Displays also condolences to the friends and family.
"Enough of playing with the lives and rights" of basque political prisoners, ETA also denounces that "causes suffering". In their opinion, spanish/french states and different basque politics are creating excuses to maintain the block and attacking Abertzale Left.
According to them, the attitude of PNV/EAJ (basque autonomist political party) have not been compromised for helping basque prisoners situation. For ETA, the basque prisoners situations and the block can be faced with "the people's steps".
Tens of thousands of people were mobilized on May 1
According to Gara, tens of thousands protested along the streets of all basque country yesterday. Nowadays, there are more than 230.000 of people without employment. In the different protests that LAB (pro-independence and socialist trade union) organized, participated more than 30.000 of people. The protests were organized in local areas (spanish trade unions called protests in the main cities of Basque Country). The speechs called for a new social model in Basque Country, away from Madrid and Paris capitalists interests. There were also critics for local burguesy and callings for the next general strike on 30th of May.
In north basque country, french trade unions and basque trade unions also were divided. Besides, one of the main french trade unions (CGT) has recently agreed with the French government a labor refor.
In the demonstrations, groups of unemployed people, picketers who are being judged for their work in the other general strikes and youth movement (Ernai, GK etc.) went with own messages.
Support of LAB mobilizations in different villages and cities of Basque Country:
Baiona (north basque country): 200
Ziburu (north basque country): 250
Maule (north basque country): 160
Donostia (south basque country): 5.000
Oarsoaldea (south basque country): 2.000
Ordizia (south basque country): 1.200
Hernani (south basque country): 1.000
Bilbo (south basque country). 7.000
Ezkerraldea (south basque country): 1.700
Gasteiz (south basque country): 3.000
Iruña (south basque country): 6.000
Lizarra (south basque country): 600
Durango (south basque country): 1.000
Etc...
Some photos:
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| Hernani |
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
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.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Lander Fernandez extradited to Spain
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| 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
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| 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.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
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."
Friday, April 26, 2013
LAB mobilizations
The next 1 of May LAB (pro-independence and socialist worker union) is going to call different protests, demonstrations and events in different regions. They said that "in this manner we hope to call up more people". According to the communication secretary of LAB, Sonia Gonzalez, the regions are the "natural socioeconomic contexts" and they have called 24 mobilizations in that regions. Besides, is "more easier" for them to collaborate with other organizations with that kind of mobilizations. The slogan: "Fight, uprise and change it"
ELA (the main worker union of south basque country) is going to call their mobilizations apart. Spanish worker unions are going to call demonstrations in the main cities of south basque country.
Sentence against members of ETA in French state
| French police after the shooting |
According to naiz, some members of ETA were sentenced yesterday to long years in prison. On 2007, some ETA members identified two men as members of counter-terrorism group of "Guardia Civil" in Capbreton (french state). They were collaborating with french police in their struggle against ETA. After a shooting, the "Guardia Civil" were killed by ETA members who fled after killing them.
Asier Bengoa Lopez was sentenced to 15 years of prison (according to french authorities he did not participate in the shooting). Garikoitz Aspiazu was sentenced to 9 years (despite the fact that the court did not accuse him directly). Ibon Goieaskoetxea (he is not also accused directly) was sentenced to 7 years, Eider Uruburu (she had a sentence of 6 years yet) was sentenced to 5 years and Iratxe Sorzabal was sentenced to 5 years (she has not been captured by french or spanish forces).
Mikel Carrera was sentenced to life imprisonment and Saioa Santxez to 28 years. They are accused of participating directly in the shooting.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Right to marriage in north basque country
According to Berria, hundreds of people celebrated yesterday in Baiona (Lapurdi north basque country) the right to get married between people of the same sex. Different people met in Baiona, feminist militants, CGT (french worker union), LAB (pro-independence and socialist trade union), EHBai members (coalition of pro-independence and leftist political parties in north basque country), PCF militants (french communists) etc. There were also members of "Les Bascos" (an association that fights in favour of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual rights). In front of them, there was a group of people that showed their rejection to that right.
Despite the celebration, the groups in favour of equality said that the right to marriage is a victory, but there are still a lot of struggles.
Unemployment continues to rise in Basque Country
The other one of the Eight of Donostia will be imprisoned
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| Imanol Vicente |
One of the Eight of Donostia (Gipuzkoa south basque country) will be imprisoned. Imanol Vicente is accused of being member of Segi (a pro-independence and socialist basque young's organization), spanish authorities sentenced him (and the others 7) to 6 years of prison. During the policial operation against the "Aske-Gunea" (free space) 6 youth were arrested. Nahikari said yesterday that she will also surrender to the police. They could not be in the "Aske-Gunea" for personal reasons.
There are still hundreds of trials against basque youth militants for their militance in Segi or other basque young's organizations.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
General Strike
"For that reasons, we ask a radical change on public policy priorities". "We ask to the institutions (basque institutions) to not apply state imposed measures".
They have also asked universal public services, decent employment, social services etc. They are writting a document called "Letter of Social Rights of Basque Country". According to them, the general strike is the first step to join forces of basque people and creating a new model for Basque Counstry based on the respect of social rights, social justice and labor rights.
Workers unions:
ELA (the biggest worker union of south basque country), LAB (pro-independence and socialist), CNT (anarchists), ESK (split of spanish CCOO), STEE-EILAS (teachers of south basque country), EHNE (farmers and ranchers of basque country) and HIRU (transporters).
Social organizations:
Ikasle Abertaleak (students union, pro-independence and leftist), Bilgune Feminista (feminists), Askapena (internalionalist organization), assembly of unemployed of Bizkaia/Gipuzkoa, Renta Basica Universal taldea, Sare Antifaxista (antifascist of basque country), SOS Racismo-SOS Arrazakeria (association against racism), assembly of unemployed of Iruña, AHT Gelditu etc.
Offense against a dead militant
According to GazteIraultza, in Urbina (Araba south basque country) a commemorative plate was painted. A spanish flag was also painted on the wall and a flag requiring the amnisty of basque political prisoners also dissapeared.
The commemorative plate is in tribute of Iñaki Ormaetxea Antepara. Iñaki Ormaetxea was a militant of ETA who (according to spanish authorities) was killed after a shooting on 1991 against special agents of "Guardia Civil" (spanish military police).
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Naia Lacroix released
According to french authorities, Naia Lacroix was linked with some direct actions against capitalist interests in North basque country. The campaign of attacks were signed with "Euskal Herria Ez da Salgai-The Basque Country is not on sale". During her imprisonment, she started a hunger striker to denounce the situation of isolation in which she was.
New basque organization: Eleka
A new basque organization was founded the past week in Portugalete (Bizkaia south basque country): Eleka.
They are inside of "Abertzale Left" and they have the aim of promoting communist culture in Basque Country. They have "the aim of promoting critical consciousness, political militancy and the power to organize of workers". Their priority is going to be the
ideological preparation. So they are preparing "popular schools", speechs, activities etc. The first activities are going to be made in Donostia (Gipuzkoa south basque country) and Bilbo (Bizkaia south basque country).
ideological preparation. So they are preparing "popular schools", speechs, activities etc. The first activities are going to be made in Donostia (Gipuzkoa south basque country) and Bilbo (Bizkaia south basque country).
They support the independence and socialism. They have also talked about other basque militants that were inside of that political tradition: Txabi Etxebarrieta (ETA militant killed by Guardia Civil), Jose Miguel Beñaran Argala (ETA militant killed by spanish secret services) etc.
During the presentation of the organization there were members of Sortu (pro-independence and socialist), LAB (pro-independence and socialist workers union) and Askapena (basque internationalists).
Michel Dominguez, former member of GAL arrested
According to Sare Antifaxista, Michel Dominguez, former member of GAL (a parapolicial group created by spanish secret services in their struggle against basque movement), was arrested in Barcelona (Paisos Catalans). According to police, he was going to make a delivery of cocaine when he was arrested by police accused of being a drug dealer.
In the past, Michel Domingues was a spanish police and member of GAL. He participated in different attacks against basque militants using bombs and guns. GAL was a parapolicial group very active in the 80's. They killed dozens of basque militants using bombs and shootings.
One of the Eight of Donostia will surrender to the police this week
According to Topatu, one of the youth militants persecuted by spanish authorities in Donostia (Gipuzkoa south basque country) will surrender to the police this week. During the police operation the past week, dozens of people were injured and attacked by Ertzaintza (basque regional police) while they were resisting the agressions peacefully. In that operation, 6 of the 8 sentenced youth were arrested.
Nahikari Otaegi has decided to surrender to the police this week. She decided to not be in the "Aske Gune" (free-space) of Donostia for personal reasons. She has a son of 3 years and a daughter of 7 months. She sais that she will enter in the prison "proudly" of her political work.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Aske Gunea: Videos
A journalist attacked by Ertzaintza (basque regional police) during the arrests:
People resisting
Fine for not serving policemen in a pub
| Stock photo: An ertzaina |
According to Sare Antifaxista, the owner of a pub in Gernika (Bizkaia south basque country) must pay a fine of 155 euros for not serving policemen.
The past 18 of March, an agent of Ertzaintza (basque regional police) appeared in the pub. The owner said that he does not serve "to uniformed with guns". According to the court, it is not the first time that similar events occur in the pub, so it can be (always according to the court) "a campaign against the agents".
The owner of the pub said that "guns" will produce a nervousness that prevent him from working.
Different protests after the arrests of Donostia
In Donostia (Gipuzkoa south basque country), four basque militants were arrested by Ertzaintza (basque regional police) when they put chains in one of the streets for cut the traffic. In other neighbourhood of Donostia, Ertzaintza removed different banners and chains that were cutting the traffic.
In Erriberabeitia (Araba south basque country) another group sabotaged the train service cutting the material. Besided, they throwed pamphlets against Ertzaintza.
In different towns of Basque Country, "Batzokis" were painted by groups of people, protesting against the violent actuation of Ertzaintza during the arrests.
There were also demonstrations in Iruña, Donostia, Lizarra, Martutene (the prison were the youth were moved after the arrests) etc.
Homophobic attack in Iruña
According to Kattalingorri (an association that fights in favour of gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual etc. rights in Nafarroa), two youth suffered an homophobic attack in Iruña (Nafarroa south basque country) the past 6 of April.
The two youth (18 years old) were kissing in the main square of Iruña. Another 3 young appeared (between 16-19 years old) and attacked them. They also insulted them. Because of the beating, they were moved to the health care.
Solidarity from Madrid attacked by spanish police
According to Sare Antifaxista, a protest in favour of the release of the youth arrested the past week in Donostia (Gipuzkoa south basque country) was made in Vallecas (Madrid). They showed flags in favour of basque political prisoners, Ikurrinas (basque flags) and red castilian flags. Spanish police attacked the protest and arrested another two youth.
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