Basque Info

Headlines

-Media and police harassment against former Basque political prisoner.

-International Association of Democratic Lawyers against Spanish repression.

-Prisoners support continues despite harassment.

-Support for sentenced grandmother.

-Media and police harassment against former Basque political prisoner.

Last Tuesday former Basque political prisoner Maite Aranalde was extradited from France to Spain after doing 6 years in jail. On Wednesday Spanish judge Velasco decided to release her on a €12,000 bail. A huge media campaign was immediately organised against her.

200 neighbours and friends gathered at her home village of Ibarra late that night to welcome her. They weren’t alone. The Spanish TV cameras were anxious to film the show. Eight police vans were ready to charge against any display of joy or love. First they took down welcoming banners in the main square while supporters cheered Maite at the entrance of the village. It was then that the Basque-Spanish police attacked the former prisoner’s relatives. One of her uncles was arrested and another one had to be taken to the hospital.

Finally the cars bringing Maite back home arrived to the main square where more people kissed and hugged her. The police charged again. Once the cameras and journalists left the police also disappeared and peace came back to the village and Maite was able to receive her neighbours’ and friends’ love.

Last Saturday Maite Aranalde’s neighbours called a press conference and spoke against the media criminalization campaign and the police brutality that followed. As a result of it two of her uncles and a close friend have been charged with “glorifying terrorism”, 12 people were injured and 15 were identified by the police. They said the only thing they wanted was to hug Maite and that the village’s people was very angry and outraged at what happened.

On Sunday 500 people took part in a silent demonstration with the slogan “Leave Ibarra in peace”. Despite the strong police presence the protest went peacefully.

On Monday judge Garzon reversed judge Velasco’s decision and issued an arrest warrant against Maite Aranalde. The police couldn’t find her and are still looking for her.

-International Association of Democratic Lawyers against Spanish repression.

The General Assembly of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, at its 17^th Congress in Hanoi, Vietnam expressed its opposition to the repressive policies of the Spanish government towards Basque activists, including members of the IADL's European regional association, the ELDH.

The IADL recalled that Batasuna, the Basque pro-independence political party, was outlawed in 2003 and that, despite many violations of human rights, the UK government never sought to ban Sinn Fein, and that a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Northern Ireland was achieved when talks were held with democratically elected Sinn Fein members of the UK Parliament.

On their resolution the IADL reminded that Martin Scheinin, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism, said in his Report of 16 December 2008 that he was "troubled" by Spain's Law of Political Parties, which provides the legislative basis to ban political organisations. He said it defined "terrorism" so vaguely that it "might be interpreted to include any political party which through peaceful political means seeks similar political objectives" as those pursued by armed organisations.

Finally the General Assembly resolved:

(1) to condemn the practice of the Spanish government in banning all political parties which support Basque nationalism or socialism in the Basque Country;

(2) to condemn the extension of the definition of "terrorist" in Spain to include those who advocate any support for policies - for example Basque independence or socialism in the Basque country - shared by organisations such as ETA which engage in violence, even where those accused of such "terrorism" condemn the use of violent force;

(3) to express its solidarity with the many Basque activists and representatives against whom there is no evidence of use of or support for violence, but who are now prosecuted in Spain for terrorist offences;

(4) to support the Haldane Society and ELDH delegation to Spain to investigate these issues.

-Prisoners support continues despite harassment.

Around 60 towns and villages across the Basque Country saw vigils to support the Basque political prisoners with hundreds of participants. This summer has been characterised by police harassment, attacks and media and judiciary criminalization against all kinds of solidarity displays with the Basque prisoners. Even just carrying their pictures has been enough to charge hundreds of people with the “glorifying terrorism” offence. Despite it all sorts of events continue to be organised.

Meanwhile prisoners in Salamanca jail are carrying out protests against the worsening of their living conditions and new restrictions being imposed on them such as less hours being spent outside their cells at the yard. They have been prevented from attending courses and can now receive just two letters a week.

A Basque prisoner in Burgos jail lost consciousness in his cell and it wasn’t until long afterwards that the guards responded to his request for help. Basque political prisoners are usually denied appropriate medical care.

Prisoners in Valencia locked themselves up in their cells to protest against the disappearance of former prisoner Jon Anza in France four months ago.


-Support for sentenced grandmother.

250 of the 600 people who live in the Basque village of Lizartza gathered at a press conference last weekend to support their neighbour Kontsuelo Agirrebarrena. Konsuelo will have to spend four years in prison after being accused of attempting to hit the local mayor with a flag. The pro-Spanish conservative mayor was brought from another town and was elected with just 27 votes against the 187 pro-independence votes for parties which were banned by the Spanish authorities.

At another press conference this week tourists from Scotland, England, New Zealand and Germany who usually spend their holidays in the village showed their support to Konsuelo saying that she was a loving person and a great host for them. They also asked for the village’s people’s democratic will to be respected.

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Irish Basque Solidarity Committees
irishbsc@gmail.com
www.irishbasquecommittees.blogspot.com