Basque Info: The Bateragune Case: Arnaldo Otegi’s Speech from the dock

Chronicle by Ramón Sola published in GARA on the 08/07/2011

The major political trials usually end up with high-profile speeches from the dock and the "case Bateragune" was no exception. For sixteen minutes, Arnaldo Otegi explained again to the court, and to the Spanish State by extension, which are the bet and the commitment of the Abertzale Left. And he predicted that both for them and for the Basques the future will bring good news. A message that had an added value given the awkward position from which it was launched, with the threat of 45 years of imprisonment for five of the accused.

Otegi spoke for all, but the last was addressed to the activist of the Abertzale Left, "That no one leaves the road we have taken -he asked-. And smile, because we will win ", he reiterated, in an already usual phrase in his last interviews from jail.

Seconds earlier, he had told the court that “there are things that will happen for sure: there will be an increased involvement of the international community and us, the pro- independence ones, are going to be more and more."

Sitting on a chair before the three judges, Otegi said that "Only four or five of us started and we are now 313,000", referring to the initiative that he led after his last release from prison in 2008, and which has resulted in the current scenario . Speaking always in the plural form, he said they feel "proud" and "satisfied" for “making the ocean liner of the Abertzale Left turn. And to turn an ocean liner many meters are needed”, he said, regarding the attempt to condemn them putting the focus only on the initial movements of this process in 2009.

By the way, he put in value that "we are here face forward (ed: Spanish expression meaning truthfully), to tell the truth, there are things we could have refused and we have assumed." The clearest example is Rafa Diez’s, who, after assuming his involvement in promoting the change of strategy and the internal debate, has seen how the prosecutor attributes him the role of "leader."

"Irreversible and irrevocable"

The court and the journalists listened attentively how Otegi, once again stressed that his commitment to a peaceful political strategy exclusively is "irreversible" and "irrevocable."

Since the accusation and prosecutor keep placing them in a political-military structure and stategy, Otegi first noted the absurdity of this argument: "Albert Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

If the day of his declaration (ed: first day of the trial) he emphasized that it is absurd to think that the pro-sovereignty pole (ed: accumulation of forces) is driven by a simple "stop" by ETA, because in that case any attack would spoil all the work, yesterday he brought a new argument: "It isn’t credible that we try to convince anyone about the necessity to overcome

1/3 www.basquepeaceprocess.infothe military-political cycle starting from a political-military structure." In an educational tone and aimed at Spanish public opinion, he said such a thing would drive away their credibility and leave them in a situation as unlikely as the one the candidate of the PSOE for La Moncloa, (ed: the official residence of Spanish President) Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba is facing, when he claims to have solutions against unemployment and he doesn’t apply them now from the government.

It has already been said up front and out loud at the trial, but Otegi reiterated how things actually happened: "We formed a group and we self-imposed ourselves amission: to radically change the strategy of the Abertzale Left." Otegi did not specify names, but five people have admitted it directly in the court-room, giving all the details they have been asked for: besides Otegi and Díez, Miren Zabaleta, Sonia Rodriguez and Arkaitz Jacinto. And so, the prosecutor has requested ten, nine and eight years in prison.

Without hesitation and thanking the court for not interrupting him, Otegi added that the prosecutor's argument is unlikely, supported on the 19,242 police chief's report about a "M" (military) and a 'P' (policy) that make a tandem and they increase and decrease alternatively. "There is no organization that supports these changes of mind, not even a neighbourhood association," he satirised.

The M and "Argitzen"

This is where he wanted to explain to the prosecutor why the document that opened the debate –the so called “Argitzen”- didn’t make any allusion to ETA. "In fact M does not appear, because the M on our strategy is no needed and hinders," (ed: original ”sobra y estorba”) he said. It was a direct response to Vicente González Mota (ed: the prosecutor), who picked up that literal phrase from the ELA leaders called as witnesses, and accused the prosecuted of never speaking so clearly (ed: ELA Basque trade Union).

"As I said in my declaration, someone is desperately seeking the M -Arnaldo Otegi continued-. An M that is a great excuse for the government, for many media sectors ... because it is the excuse for not entering the bottom of the debate. It is the State who is interested in the P and M, " he said.

Accordingly, he referred to this trial as a large set-up with another parallelism understandable by the great public "Here happens as with the invasion of Iraq. It is justified on the grounds of weapons of mass destruction, and then those don’t appear, but it doesn’t matter. "

To stress his position very clearly, Otegi referred to the "landings" to which the main expert referred or the "ETA stops" in the terminology of the prosecutor, who argues that the defendants promote only a temporary interruption of armed action, so it is likely to have an end, as happened with previous truces. The pro-independence leader reiterated that they would reject it woul that happen and assured that "the only scenario we propose has to do with the termination of armed violence and the dismantling of the military structures."

The speech from the dock was long, but the judges only expressed some discomfort in the final stretch, President, Angela Murillo, asked him to stick to the facts of the trial and did not receive with great pleasure that pointed Otegi the "things that will happen with certainty.”

The accused have spoken, the government, through through the prosecutor, has spoken too, now it is up to the judges.

2/3 www.basquepeaceprocess.info

SAN FERMIN

Like every year, San Fermin started at 12.00 on July 6th in Iruñea with the launching of the chupinazo (pyrotechnical device) in the town square.

After the attacks of the municipal police against youth carrying an ikurriña in the year 2010 (for which several young people were taken to trial for assault on authority) this year a popular kalejira (demonstration) in favour of the ikurriña has overcame the municipal police barrier that tried to avoid the flag getting into the

square. Ateak Ireki has released a video showing images of 2010 and 2011.

This ban is an attempt to silence the claims of unity for the four Basque territories under Spanish rule and an act of political censorshipand given that it is illegal to ban the carrying of a legal flag into a public square and so it is justified as a safety measure.

Moreover, and as every year since 1978 the people of Pamplona have paid tribute to Germán Rodriguez, the Basque Communist assassinated by the spanish police on July 8, 1978. The association SanFermines 78 Gogoan (San Fermin 78 in our memory) has again asked for truth, justice and reparation in the homage and recalled the visit of the Bloody Sunday Trust as an example and support on their struggle.

Unfortunately, the municipal authorities have not changed their attitudes over previous editions and have again banned various events organised by the Peñas (Groups founded to provide a basic structure for its members during the San Fermines) and in an act of prejudice and despise have ordered city employees to withdraw the flowers left on the remembrance monument of Germán.

Briefs

Two alleged ETA members arrested:

• Daniel Dergi has been arrested in Cahors where he was living since 2008 (when he was released after serving his sentence for ETA membership). Mr Dergi has been arrested on the grounds of a European Arrest Warrant accused of events that took place in 1993 and 1994.

• Eneko Gogeaskoetxea has been arrested in Cambridge were he had been living with his family, at least, since 2005. (if somebody would like to write him please ask as for the address and prisoner number)