All evidence heard in leftwing nationalist groups' macro-trial

All the evidence in the 18/98 macro-trial against 52 members of leftwing nationalist groups has been heard. Those accused left court shouting "Up with a free Basque Country!"

In the morning, court president Angela Murillo let the 52 charged pronounce their last statements. Nevertheless, Murillo interrupted the session for six hours after those accused applauded the last words by their lawyer, Iñigo Iruin, voicing his solidarity with the 52 accused in the name of all defence lawyers.

Furthermore, the court rejected to admit the 15,000 self-incriminating signatures gathered by the groups in support of the 18/98. In turn, Spanish Police stopped a bus carrying supporters of those on the bench and took pictures of all of them.

Last day of long trial

The last session of this process that started one year and a half ago was held Wednesday, March 14. The theory "everything is ETA" ( diferent social and political organization as well as media are part of ETA) has been seriously questioned throughout the trial.

After 16 months of trial, those accused had the chance to defend themselves for the last time from the accusations for which the prosecutor requests almost 500 years in prison.

All the accused said they made their own the words pronounced by already deceased freeedom fighter Jokin Gorostidi. His words were "Yesterday like today, I'm kidnapped by the war strategy of the Spanish State. The Basque Country needs the word and the decision. They won't silence us until that is won. Let the Basque Country in peace, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Up with a free Basque Country!"

There have been all kinds of incidents and controversies in the trial: incomplete documents, lost evidence or out of place, biasing accusations to court members, and contradictory statements in which has been described as a "political trial."

Nevertheless, the Public Prosecution's Office and the Association of Terrorism Victims have maintained their accusations that such leftwing nationalist groups as KAS, EKIN and Xaki or the Josemi Zumalabe Foundation are part or collaborate with the armed band ETA.

Most Basque unions and parties have supported those accused in the case and demonstrated against it in several occasions voicing their solidarity, the last time on Saturday, March 10 when thousands of people march against the case.

FACING FASCISM

Towards independence and socialism
EUSKAL HERRIA, STEP BY STEP,
ASKAPENA Information Service N. 169



In Spain there is no right wing party, or at least there is no evidence of it. The only organised expression is the PP political party, a feature of which is its closeness to the radical ultra right. As the elections are getting closer, and taking advantage of the lack of perspective by PSOE, the PP is intensifying its campaign against the PSOE. A campaign which is closer and closer to fascism.

Cheers for repression!

Physical or political elimination of the enemy is one of the most widespread strategies by fascism. In spain this strategy has turned into law: thanks to the cooperation between PSOE and PP the Law About Political Parties was passed. This law makes possible to eradicate politically thousands of citizens close to the Basque Patriotic Left Wing. Thanks to a more liberal interpretation of this very same law, a citizens' group had the chance of taking part in the Basque Parliament under the name of Communist Party of the Basque Territories.

The PP has never accepted this lighter interpretation of a law nowadays being in force. As the municipal elections are getting closer the PP is trying once again one of its old strategies: repression. One of its efforts consists in illegalising the Communist Party of the Basque Territories, nowadays the only political expression of the Basque Patriotic Left Wing. On the 20th of February this proposal was presented in the Parliament. For the first time the members of the Parliament did face fascism. The rest of the Parliament voted against the proposal giving no chance for its discussion. As a result, the ones introducing the proposal were left in a delicate situation, but even if so, they did not renounced their proposal.

On the 23rd of February, the anniversary of the unsuccessful 1981 coup d'etat, the PP presented that law proposal in the Basque Parliament. It was just the very same as in previous occasions: the rest of the political parties save for the PP rejected the proposal not even making use of their chance for argumentation. It was about time for both parliaments to reject ultra right.




Cheers for death!


Nobody can feel safe when fascism is furious. For a long time the Spanish law system has been a field used by the right wing as stronghold. As it was to be supposed, the resolutions taken by the judicature have been very well considered by the extreme right, which considered itself to be defender of the distinction and separation of the three power branches: legislative, executive and judicial. It is a mere mirage. Justice itself has to suffer fascism's wrath when it does not fulfil fascists' bigger and wider demands. Iñaki de Juana, Basque political prisoner by making a 115 day hunger strike has unmasked cruelty of the Spanish right wing.

As a preventive prisoner, he was condemned to 96 year imprisonment because he published two opinion articles. After revising his penalty, the previous 96 years were reduced to 12, later the Spanish High Court's penalty was equally revised and in the end, the 12 year penalty became a 3 year penalty. That was far too much for a vindictive Spanish right wing which wanted that the prisoner should die in Spanish prisons. One of the branches of the Spanish Popular Party, the Terrorism caused Victims' Association (AVT) took the streets to claim that the Spanish High Court was an accessory to the penalty reduction, something considered scandalous. On the 24th of February they organised a crowded demonstration in Madrid against the Spanish High Court's resolution and the Spanish High Court itself.

On the 1st of March, the Spanish Government obtained for Iñaki a second degree sentence and decides to move to Donosti granting to him a lighter degree of imprisonment. The evaluation of the decision was considered from different points of view. For the government it has been somehow a humanitarian decision. For Basque Patriotic Left Wing the PSOE has solved a problem that it originated, being forced by the people's pressure. For the PP, the Estate has been blackmailed by the terrorists. There have been not few people feeling more comfortable with the final decision, since the death of Iñaki, a political prisoner unjustly sentenced two times, was imminent. For the Spanish right wing it has been a catastrophe. A secure political victim they had, has escaped to them. They have not been able to materialise the death sentence they wanted for Iñaki. The right wing's reaction has been furious: violent demonstrations along the Spanish state, the announcement of a national demonstration, disqualifications for anybody who does not agree with them... The fascists' nature is more and more obvious.


"Ready to show their teeth"
The Basque bourgeoisie in government in the Basque Autonomic Region is also behaving in a fascist way. They do denounce the abuses by Spain, but they do take advantage of the situation and they do fulfil any order made by the Spanish government.
The Basque bourgeoisie rejects in theory the political apartheid, but they use it in order to get more political power than its share; in the same way they do in theory reject the Law About Political Parties, but they use it in order to repress the Basque Patriotic Left Wing. Last midst January "El País" newspaper informed of the strategy designed by the right wing Basque PNV to be carried out along with the PSOE in the Basque Country: to show the teeth to the Basque Patriotic Left Wing in order to deprive it of its freedom.

The political movement in favour of political amnesty, backing the struggle by the political prisoners collective, called a demonstration for the 24th of February under the slogan: "Amnesty and self-determination". As it has happened in the previous occasions the Spanish High Court forbid the event. There were various attempts in order to change the messages and identity of the organisers of the call. It was futile the Inner Department of the Basque Autonomic Government prohibited every attempt. Not only that. The 24th of February two hours before the demonstration, Bilbao was a city occupied by the police forces. Even if so, thousands of people of different ages met at the city centre, despite the police display. As the crowd congregates, the police units begin to surround ready for attacking. Nobody runs away, on the contrary, the crowd begins walking.

The police answer is sudden and devastating. The demonstrators sit on the road and the "Basque" police charges against them originating a big amount of casualties. The crowd undergoes police brutality. The crowd changes its route and as irrepressible as water itself, they continue along any streets in order to keep going. The Basque Autonomic Government has not assumed any responsibilities of what happened. As it does usually happen, it does transfer the responsibility to the repressed citizens. Paradigmatic.


Euskal Herria, 7th of March 2007

Basque police charged on demonstrators in Bilbao's banned rally

DENYING POLITICAL RIGHTS. POLICE CHARGE AGAINST DEMO

The rally organized Saturday afternoon in Bilbao to demand "self-determination" and "amnesty" turned into a pitched battle. Basque Police charged with force on demonstrators, while several of them clashed with the police.

At least 22 demonstratorS were injured. Several of them were seen at the Basurto Hospital. An 81-aged woman fractured her pelvis. One of Batasuna's leaders, Pernando Barrena was moved to the hospital, while Eusebio Lasa had to pass the night in the hospital as consequence of a hard blow received to the head.

Two demonstrators were arrested, among whom the Outlawed Batasuna's member Joseba Permach. He was released before midnight.

Great tension

Just before the beginning of the rally, Basque police authorities said demonstrators they could not hold the rally, as banned by Spain's High Court. The rally was organized under the slogan "Hitza eta erabakia, lurraldetasuna eta aministia" ("Word and decision, territoriality and amnesty").

Seven police vans of the Basque Police and a helicopter blocked the beginning of the rally, in which participated outlawed Batasuna's spokesman Arnaldo Otegi and former spokesman of Gestoras Pro Amnistia Juan Mari Olano among others.

In front of the police cordon, demonstrators were shouting slogans such as "Bakerik ez, amnistiarik gabe" (No peace without aministy), "Euskal presoak, etxera" (Basque prisoners home) and slogans supporting the Basque prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos. A group of demonstrators were carrying a banner with the slogan "Self-determination. Amnesty."

Basque police deployed a cordon to prevent the rally and finally charged on the demonstrators. Several demonstrators, journalists and policemen were injured. Ambulances came to see them.

Pernando Barrena, spokesman of Basque outlawed party Batasuna, said today the brutal charge of the Basque Police during Saturday's banned rally in Bilbao was "the great contribution" of the Basque nationalist party PNV and its leader Imaz to make feasible the process towards a solution.

During a statement on Radio Euskadi, Barrena considered Josu Jon Imaz, leader of the Basque nationalist party PNV, as "political responsible" of what happened during the banned rally in Bilbao.

According to him, PNV leader Imaz "send a clear message to the socialist government in Madrid" about "how to deal with the Basque nationalist movement."


more photos at:
http://www.gaztesarea.net/info/galeria.php?galeria=7533&id=7533

Iñaki de Juana Chaos ends hunger strike arriving to Basque Country as he said, after an heroic struggle and national and international solidarity and

Iñaki de Juana Chaos, an ETA prisoner on hunger strike for the past 114 days to protest his continuing imprisonment on a new, recent conviction for writing articles deemed as terrorist threats, decided Thursday to put an end to the hunger strike.
Juan Maria Olano, spokesman for Askatasuna, announced de Juana's decision some minutes before the Basque prisoner got the Donostia hospital.

"The main concern of Askatasuna .... now is that Inaki gets his health back and doesn't suffer any ill-effects from this dramatic hunger strike," said the spokesman for the Basque prisoners' association Askatasuna.

Spanish authorities moved de Juana from a Madrid hospital to one in the Basque region Thursday as a first step toward allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence at home under custody.

SOLIDARITY WEEKEND PROTESTS WITH INAKI IN IRELAND

Protests were organized by the Irish Basque Committees in Belfast and Dublin on the 17th and 18th of February.

Dozens of people gathered in Dublin outside the GPO and in West Belfast's Falls Road to send their solidarity to the Basque hunger striker Inaki de Juana who is been already fasting for 113 days. Seven supporters fasted for 24 hours outside the Spanish embassy taking by surprise and obviously disturbing the Spanish ambassador. The public's response was hugely positive as dozens of signatures were collected during the weekend.

Recently he's been force fed once again and as he refused it actively he was tied to his bed. This torture is being held by the Spanish authorities while international concern is growing. Breaking news say that his situation is extremely bad.

22 YOUNG ACTIVISTS IMPRISONED

On the 19th of January the Spanish Supreme Court sentenced 22 members of the Basque pro-independence youth movement to 6 years in prison for their political activities. this decision was widely criticized by Basque political parties, trade unions and social movements. Yet another example of the "Spanish democracy". Most of them went on the run that very day (4 were arrested immediately) and turned up on the 4th of February at a political rally in "La Esperanza (The Hope)" Basque ball court in Bilbao.

There they were supported by hundreds of people, among them the outlawed party Batasuna's leadership and dozens of journalists. A deep emotion filled the Basque ball courted. They waited for the autonomous police to be arrested while they held a banner where could be read: "Give way to independence. Basque youth onwards!"

Then dozens of heavily armed policemen showed up and one by one and among the cheers and tears of relatives, friends and pro-independence supporters.

It was a brave and audacious action which coped the newspapers frontlines and TV news next day even in both the Basque Country and Spain. Another terrible picture of the historical conflict between the Basque Country and the Spanish and French states.

After being arrested they were disappeared for more than a week as nobody had information of where they had been taken to. When the first news broke out the worst fears were confirmed as they suffer beatens at the Spanish police hands and were imprisoned in 20 different jails all around Spain at hundreds of miles from their country.

For more pictures and video: http://www.gaztesarea.net/info/berria.php?id=7380

SPANISH CRUDELTY EXPOSED IN "THE TIMES" AS INAKI REACHES HIS 94TH DAY ON HUNGER STRIKE

Basque prisoner on hunger strike backs negotiation in 'The Times'
02/05/2007

Including a horrific photograph, the online edition of the British paper published the first interview with the prisoner, on hunger strike for over three months.

De Juana Chaos (Photo: The Times On Line)
The online version of the daily The Times published Monday an interview with Iñaki de Juana Chaos, Basque prisoner on hunger strike for 91 days.

"A convicted key member of ETA, the Basque separatist group, who is close to death after three months without eating, has called on the Spanish Government to resume talks to reach a peace deal," the first paragraph of the Times On Line article reads.

In his first interview since he started his second hunger strike (the first lasted 63 days), Iñaki de Juana affirmed he "strongly supports the peace process." "I am completely in agreement with the democratic process of dialogue and negotiation . . . to resolve the political conflict between the Basque region and the French and Spanish states," de Juana told The Times.

"After the event at Barajas . . . resolution of the conflict is more necessary than ever," he said in written answers to Times reporter in Madrid Thomas Catan.

For the Spanish Government, De Juana's protest "is a growing political nightmare," according to Times On Line. Highlighting that the prisoner could die in a few days or weeks, the reporter affirms that this could be the worst crisis Zapatero's Government undergoes since he took office in 2004.

After comparing De Juana's case with Bobby Sands', IRA member who died in 1981 as a consequence of a hunger strike, Times reflects on the dilemma of the Spanish Government: "If he dies, de Juana will become a martyr to the Basque independence movement. Some fear that ETA could use his death to justify a renewed bombing campaign ... But if the Government allows him to serve out a reduced sentence at home, as some judges advocate, it will provoke an outcry on the Right."

"I would not have abandoned the hunger strike in exchange for a reduced sentence. The only acceptable alternative is complete liberty and an end to the brutal attacks on freedom of expression that this legal process implies," he said.


FREE IÑAKI DE JUANA RIGHT NOW !!
MOBILIZE IN SOLIDARITY !!!

(SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT)



Supreme Court to consider hunger striker's appeal on Feb. 12
02/05/2007

In turn, penitentiary institutions launched an investigation to know who took the picture of the Basque prisoner published in The times.



Basque prisoner on hunger strike Iñaki de Juana Chaos
The Spanish Supreme Court will consider the appeal lodged by the defence of the Basque prisoner on hunger strike Iñaki de Juana Chaos on February 12. He was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison for terrorist threats in two opinion articles he published in the daily Gara in December 2004.

The 13 judges that make up the jury decided to give the appeal priority due to De Juana's health condition after 92 days on hunger strike.

In fact, the National Court recently studied the possibility to release him on parole, but eventually didn't do so.

Investigation for photo published in The Times

In turn, the penitentiary system launched an investigation to know how the interview with De Juana was made and who took his pictures.

Sources of penitentiary institutions explained that his partner, his lawyers and a group of Basque writers and musicians have only visited the prisoner.

The latest visit took place on January 31, when writer Laura Mintegi and other representatives of Basque culture visited De Juana.

The source affirmed that De Juana's photo, tied to his bed and fitted with a catheter to feed him, is "authentic" and "very recent."

It also added that no doctor authorised any media to interview the prisoner, who affirmed he wouldn't put an end to his hunger strike if it were not in exchange for his unconditional release.

SPANISH COURT REFUSES TO RELEASE INAKI ON HIS 80TH DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE

The Basque prisoner will continue in custody and in hospital, although the Public Prosecutor had asked a reduction of the prison terms. The decision came with a vote, agreed by 12 votes to 4.

The Public Prosecutor asked on Febr. 24 the Spanish National Court to reduce the prison terms of ETA prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos, due to the deterioration of his health and the death risk after 79 days of hunger strike. The measure would include a permanent police surveillance.

Iñaki de Juana Chaos, on hunger strike for 79 days, is in the Madrid-based hospital Doce de Octubre, where he is being force-fed.

The National Court received recently a report written by two doctors that examined De Juana at the Madrid-based hospital Doce de Octubre. The report warns about the deterioration of his health and the death risk.

As it received the report, the National Court asked the sides implied in the case - the Public Prosecution's Office, the Association of Terrorism Victims (AVT) and the Defense of De Juana - to say if they deem it legitimate to take some measures for the health condition of the Basque prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos.

The Defense of De Juana asked to release the Basque prisoner on bail for humanitarian reaons, whereas the Association of Terrorism Victims (AVT) didn't want any change.

THE MOBILIZATIONS THAT THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT DID NEED

Towards Independence and Socialism.
EUSKAL HERRIA-BASQUE COUNTRY. STEP BY STEP ASKAPENA's Informative Service, N. 161

The Spanish government had been carefully preparing a process to eradicate ETA: secret meetings, bilateral agreements, the non-fulfilment of the points previously agreed, non-stop repression of the negotiators in order to subdue them, trying to make the citizens believe that process is on the right path. The aim of this strategy was clearly to make impossible any answer from ETA and even to get that the solution of the process should be for the pro-independence faction at a high political cost.

In the same way, the Spanish government had already designed a campaign of social agitation which should be activated as soon as ETA would announce its intention of continuing with armed activity.

The government's initial calculations went wrong: ETA did not announce in advance its plan of attacking Barajas, against all odds. The government from Madrid which 24 hours before had declared that the peace process was in good shape found itself in a very weak and difficult situation. A weakness used from the very beginning by the right wing in order to attack the government, a government overwhelmed by the critical situation. The PSOE needed some sort of way out in order to accuse the Basque pro independence left wing of the attack against Barajas, trying at the same time to get the citizens backing to its policy during the nine months of cease of fire by ETA.

The fact that there were two victims, two dead immigrants as a result of the attack, was an excellent opportunity for the government to make the environment tense and to attract the immigrants towards the social net against the Basque armed organization.

The demonstration in Madrid

What had happened supposed a critical situation for the Spanish right as well. For nine months without any victims the Spanish right wing had asked the Spanish government once and again to stop any contacts with ETA. As soon as the attack on Barajas happened and two victims occur, the PSOE started the campaign that had previously designed.

Which one was the Spanish right wing's positioning? The PP's initial reaction consisted in attacking the PSOE, going from political confrontation to physical confrontation. In fact, some leaders of the Spanish PSOE party that were taking part in a demonstration in front of the Town Hall in Madrid had to escape and take refuge, since extreme right wing activists attacked them.

The second strategy by the PP consisted in avoiding by any ways that the PSOE should be the centre of attention in the demonstration organised by the trade unions close to the government and the Federation of Ecuadorian immigrants. In order to achieve this, the PP asked that the slogan of the demonstration should include ideas and concepts close to the ultra right wing. The UGT trade union -an organization within PSOE's structure- opposed itself fiercely to this approach, since it did not want to give the Spanish right any chance of becoming the centre of attention. In the end after a huge pressure UGT accepted the slogans proposed by the right wing.

But even if so, the Spanish right wing did not join the demonstration, furthermore, it asked that the demonstration should be called off. This attitude has been hardly criticised even by organizations close to the PP. This is the reason why, soon after it announced another exhibition of street ultra exhibition on the 3rd of March.

The demonstrations in Euskal Herria

The demonstration in Iruñea: Fissures and links.

The PP's attitude by rejecting participation left, an appendix of the PP within Nafarroa, in an uncomfortable situation; what could Unión del Pueblo Navarro do? UPN did not want to back PSOE, but it did not want either not to take part in a demonstration that presumably was going to be pretty successful. Unión del Pueblo Navarro made clear to PP that they were not very happy about the whole matter and in the end there were a few representatives of the Spanish right wing, the very few needed to figure.

The traditional Basque right wing had no problems in participating in the event along with the party they do often unconditionally support: the PSOE. Thanks to this support PSOE's repressive policy was undoubtedly strengthened. There were some other individuals along with the Ecuadorians, but there were anyway divisions.

Their representatives asked that "ETA's terrorism" should not be underlined. Even if so, during the gathering, some ultra-right movements appeared with banners making reference to "ETA's terrorism".

The demonstration in Bilbo: Thirst for confrontation

When the process was blocked, the president of the South-West Basque Country, Ibarretxe had made some sort of comments about the need of mobilising the citizens in order to reactivate the process. This idea was not compatible with the strategy designed by the PSOE, a strategy that until that moment had been closely followed by the Basque right wing, this is: "do not do anything and let the situation get blocked, since everything is under control".

After the attack against Barajas, the situation did change. Following the strategy from Madrid they had to mobilise society but, which slogan use for that aim? The PNV had no doubt about it: they would accuse ETA. The President of the PNV, being no so dependant on the PSOE, considered that they had to reassure the validity of peace and dialogue. Ibarretxe, the Basque Government President and the PNV chairman on the 5th of January discussed on the proposal and on the slogan for the demonstration.

The Basque Government President on that same day in the afternoon announced a demonstration under the maxim: "Peace and Dialogue" for the 13th of January. This proposal was badly accepted in his own party and much worse in the PSE. Even if so, on the 7th of January, the president of the pro Spain socialist party's maxim representative confirmed their presence in the demonstration.

But soon after, a new subject appeared. The Basque pro independence left wing, for months had been asking for peace and dialogue; it felt itself part of the society summoned for the demonstration, it had also made clear that they were prepared to lose all the prominence if doing so the peace process would get reinforced. But what would happen if the Basque left wing decided to go to the demonstration? The alarms went off!

The PSE in a not very democratic tone, made very clear that if Batasuna was also going, they would stay at home. The PNV, affected by some sort of hysterical and collective crisis, increased its demands so that "the bad boys and girls" should not go to Bilbo. The sectors close to Ibarretxe recommended keeping the slogan, but this strategy failed when Batasuna announced its participation. Ibarretxe, the Basque Government President, being under a huge pressure by the political parties and especially by its own party, decided to change the slogan "so that the violent ones could not go to a demonstration in favour of peace".

The PP rejected all the time any possibilities of going to Bilbo, the Basque pro independence left wing decided not to go since they had adulterated the initial project. The PSOE achieved to impose its scheme. In the PNV the party structure, very inclined towards any pacts with Madrid, was imposed. The most nationalist sector within the PNV that agreed with the initial slogan of the demonstration was defeated. The Basque bourgeoisie has once again bet on collaborationism supporting the Spanish governments' aggressive strategy.

Euskal Herria, January 2007. www.askapena.orginfo@askapena.org

ETA-GOVERNMENT MEETING

Government admitted the importance of a Basque political agreement

01/18/2007 The Basque newspaper Gara unveiled that during the last meeting between the Spanish Government and ETA, both made clear that the peace talks were freezing and that the solution would be a political agreement.

The Basque armed group ETA and the Spanish Government talked during their last meeting in December about "a political agreement between the Basque parties" as a"key-solution" to unfreeze the peace talks, the Basquenewspaper Gara assured today. The Spanish Government "promised not to block the negotiations between Basque political parties so that they could reach an agreement", informed the newspaper. The newspaper assures that both manifested their desire to continue peace talks, but made clear that a political agreement between the Basque political parties would be fundamental.

ETA's proposal.

The Basque newspaper also assured that ETA presented to the Spanish Government a global proposal to develop the peace process when a political agreement would be reached to resolve the Basque conflict. This proposal and the Spanish Government's one should be analyzed by both, at least if the Spanish President didn't put an end to the dialogue. The meeting also treated the Basque prisoners issue. The Basque armed group asked, according to the newspaper, to respect the Basque prisoners' rights and to stop the use of exceptional measures. The group also asked the Government "to respect all the guarantees linked to the agreements that gave place to the cease-fire". They warned that "policial and judicial attacks" and the situation of Basque prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos (nowadays in 76th day on hunger strike) could "blow up the process".

SPANISH STATE ATTACKS BASQUE YOUTH ONCE AGAIN

Last Friday the Spanish Supreme Court launched his defenitive sentence against the Basque Youth Movement. The court brands it as "terrorist", asks for the arrest of 23 young people and charges them with 6 years on prison each. Four of them have been already arrested and put in jail.

Many Basque political parties, trade unions and social movements criticized the sentence and said it's purely political and attacks directly the process to resolve the conflict.

The protests rapidly spread all around the country and met brutal police response. Dozens have been badly injured and arrested.

On a press conference held at Gasteiz's main square by 100 youth under police surveillance they said that this attack won't stop their fight for independence and socialism.

20TH OF JANUARY: BASQUE PROCESS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT DAY

As a consequence of the difficulties that the Basque process is finding on its way an International Day of support is been called and in Ireland the Irish Basque Committees have organised some picket lines in Belfast (2pm outside Cultúrlann), Dublin (12pm at GPO) and Cork.

Last Wednesday a press conference was hold by the Belfast Basque Committee to launch their support campaign and along with them were the first ten Belfast signatories to the support petition, all of them well known people in the community, councillors, community workers, journalists...(you can read the petition and signatories below; press conference is in the picture above). Basque political prisoner Inaki de Juana who is on his 72nd day on hunger strike ws remembered as well.

Support dialogue and negotiation in the Basque Country.

The process for the resolution of the political conflict between the
Basque Country and the Spanish and French States is today much more
necessary than ever. The aim of this process must be to create strong
democratic grounds to overcome the present confrontation at two negotiating tables including all the political options existing inside the Basque society,

- At one table the political parties, social organisations and
trade-unions of the Basque Country seeking to achieve a common agreement about the key elements of the conflict. These include the Basque Country’s right to decide its future and the internal relationships among the Basque territories.

- At the other table, the Spanish and French states and E.T.A. need to negotiate and promote the demilitarization of the country and resolve the situation of the Basque political prisoners, exiles and all victims.


A resolution to this historical conflict is possible. For the negotiations to progress it is necessary to set basic democratic conditions enabling the participation of every sector in the struggle for a democratic solution to the rights of the Basque Country.



We, the signatories below, call on all sides involved in the conflict to fully commit themselves, despite any difficulties, in the talks process and political negotiations, accepting that Basque citizens will determine their own future.



We call on you also to show your support to the Basque people at this crucial time by coming along to the picket line that the Belfast Basque Committee is organising on Saturday 20th of January, International Day of support for the Basque process, at 2pm outside Cultúrlann.



First ten Belfast signatories to the “Basque process support campaign Petition”:



Michael Culbert

Tomaí O Conghaile

Fergus O'Hare

Paul Maskey

Chrissie Mhic Giolla Mhín

Jennifer McCann

Fra McCann

Pat Rice

Caoimhín Mac Giolla Mhín

Glen Phillips

STEP BY STEP,ASKAPENA's Informative Service N. 161

(In www.askapena.org you can see more information about Iñaki De Juana's letter, the FRIENDSHIP GROUP's Open Letter to the European Union "TOWARDS THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY", and about the demostration in Donostia with images of the violent police repression)

THE CRASH

For the last three months there have been crossed declarations between the Spanish government and Batasuna, being both completely different. From August the Basque left separatist party has been continuously declaring that the process was in crisis. On that very same month ETA itself had made clear that the agreements that had made possible the cease of fire were not being respected, and as a result of this situation the agreements were not being fulfilled.

In the same way ETA declared that it would answer any aggression made by the Spanish state. This speech did not coincide with the messages of the Spanish government and its partners, the Basque right wing. These last ones repeated once and again that the process was on the right path. It is not possible to consolidate a peace process when one of its parts respects the cease of fire, while the other one is doing just the opposite, by pursuing its interlocutors.

At the beginning of December, it was obvious that something very serious had happened: even the Basque right wing did accept that there was a crisis going on. The pro independence Basque left wing was more explicit: in a tone of great preoccupation, warned once and again that the process was failing, or had already failed. Being so close to a clash, new initiatives and voices started to ask loudly that the dialogue should be restablished.

The Government answered making use of its usual repressive ways. ETA answered with the aggression in Madrid to the multiple aggressions that an wide sector of the Basque society was suffering. On the 30th December, a high power bomb made explosion destroying the Terminus number 4 at the airport of Barajas in Madrid.

Even if the ETA activists informed once and again of the situation one hour before the explosion, in order to avoid unnecessary victims, two Ecuadorian immigrants died as a result of the explosion.The armed action by ETA originated a miscalculation on the plans by the Spanish government, since 24 hours before, Zapatero had explained that there had been some kind of contact with ETA, and he officially commented that things were going all right and that after one year everything should be much better. It was evident that the pretended optimism did not coincide with the previous confrontation that had happened at the back stage. The kind of the action has also put an end to the modus operandis by the armed band itself, since ETA has usually communicated the end of the cease of fire.

The first reactions.

First time political reactions were both confusing and contradictory. From Spain the right wingers were asking to stop any sort of contacts and to go back to the Anti-terrorist deal between the Spanish PSOE and PP. The government from Madrid changed its speech: at a first moment showed its intention of cancelling the contacts with ETA. The Spanish right wing understood this reaction as a defeat of the government, since it meant that there was a chance for the continuation of the negotiation process.

In the Basque Country the message was not so catastrophist. The Basque pro-independence left wing made very clear that the process was not broken and that it was more indispensable than never before. Some other open minded sectors within the Basque society were of the same opinion and asked to take action immediately in order to active the process.

Change of strategies.

The Spanish right wing reassured itself in its appeal for a "crusade" against the pro independence Basque left wing, in the meantime the Basque left wing asked to behave with responsibility, establishing new and solid bases in order to re-establish the dialogue.

The PSOE has once again been influenced by the pressure made by PP. As the time went on PSOE's initial strategy: it did start to declare that the process was not valid any longer. The Basque right wing, as it has been doing for these last months aligned itself with the belligerent speech of PSOE. A sector within the Basque right wing PNV presumed that there was nothing to be talked to Batasuna, and even less to ETA.The PSOE had designed a mass media campaign in order to spread a message that could not launch earlier, because ETA had not announced the end of the cease of fire. This strategy has meant that the PSOE has been overshadowed by the circumstances and the image of control of the situation. In the same way PSOE has suffered an electoral setback in relation to PP.

The bases of this mass media campaign are the following ones: the peace process has been definitely broken off and ETA is the only responsible for this situation. The time for dialogue has come to an end and repression and isolation have to be reactivated. The methods for this mass media campaign are the usual ones: the using of the deaths caused by the attack against Barajas in the media in order to call for people's demonstrations in order to condemn those ones making use of violence, to take advantage of the fact that both victims were immigrants in order to discredit the Basque left wing at a national and international level by making influence on the immigrant federations asking them to position themselves against the Basque left wing, to group all the political parties so that they should agree the aggression that they are planning, to demand that Batasuna and the Basque pro independence left wing should be illegal as long as they do not condemn violence.

They are ready for anything, but not to reflect calmly on the situation, trying to change its direction. The PSOE has clearly shown its intentions: as it has been impossible for it to seduce "the beast" now it wants to use violence against it, in this way PSOE wants to let clear to all the Basque citizens what kind of future they may expect if they do not follow the path for surrender.

It has been shown that PSOE has no political will in order to find a solution for the conflict, on the contrary, it has mere political interests, since its only aim is to win the next elections, even if they have to forget peace and democracy.

A crusade full of disagreements.

At the time of punishing the Basque left wing there are important disagreements between "the crusades". The government's intention is to reach an agreement between al the so called "democratic" parties, but PP does not accept any other consensus that is not within The Deal against Terrorism, according to its point of view any political party interested should sign on that deal.

On the other hand PSOE wants to reach a new agreement previously agreed by the rest of the parliamentary forces. Those political parties do happily agree to take part in the crusade. In the former days the demonstrations called to reject ETA have clearly shown this internal confrontation.

Between the political parties in Euskal Herria the internal division is pretty evident. Within the PNV, the sector under the control of President Ibarretxe has decided to organise a demonstration in support of "peace and dialogue". The Basque PP has declined the invitation to go to that demonstration. The Basque PSOE has criticised the way and the content of this call but it has confirmed its presence. The sector within the PNV closer to PSOE has finally but reluctantly accepted the proposal, since this sector would have preferred more explicit condemnations. The so called democratic parties want to change the motto of the demonstration including a repudiation of ETA, in order to avoid that Batasuna itself should assume and take part in the demonstration.

In this complicated context, on the 8th January Batasuna asked ETA to fulfil the cease of fire. ETA in a press release on 9th January accepts the invitation by Batasuna, criticises the attitude of PSOE and of part of PNV and makes clear that it does not give up its right to answer any aggressions against Euskal Herria.If this all had happened in Ireland it may have been said that the Sinn Fein had an influence on the armed organisation. Here, since we are pretty special, it has been understood just the opposite, this is that Batasuna is under the control of ETA.

Euskal Herria, 10th January 2007. info@askapena.org // www.askapena.org

Spaniards Want Government to Negotiate with ETA

January 15, 2007


(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Spain believe their administration should seek new talks with the country's most notorious armed group, according to a poll by Instituto Opina released by Cadena Ser. 55.2 per cent of respondents think the government should keep trying to negotiate the end of terrorism.

On Mar. 22, 2006, Basque Motherland and Liberty (ETA) announced a "permanent ceasefire" and urged the "authorities in Spain and France" to "approach the issue in a positive manner, and leave repression aside.". 66.2 per cent of respondents think the government was right to initiate a peace process with ETA.

On Dec. 30, a car bomb exploded inside Madrid's Barajas International Airport. While ETA had telephoned authorities three times to report the attack, two people who were not evacuated from the T4 terminal lost their lives. On Jan. 11, Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero confirmed that his government's talks with ETA are over. 64.2 per cent of respondents are hopeful about the eventual return of the peace process.

Also on Jan. 11, Zapatero discussed the situation at a meeting with regional politicians, saying, "Given that just a few days ago we had a tragic accident, a tragic terrorist attack at Barajas, I wanted to propose that we show our energetic condemnation and also our profound solidarity to the victims."

Spain's Association of Terrorism Victims (AVT) issued a statement, expressing dismay at Zapatero's use of the word "accident", adding, "The president has adopted ETA's discourse, and although he tries to mislead Spanish society, his subconscious has betrayed him in a most revealing fashion."

Polling Data

Despite the attack, do you think the government should keep trying to negotiate the end of terrorism?


Yes
55.2%

No
38.3%


Despite the attack, do you think the government was right to initiate a peace process with Basque Motherland and Liberty (ETA)?


Yes
66.2%

No
22.9%


Are you hopeful on the eventual return of the peace process?


Yes
64.2%

No
26.1%

Batasuna spokeperson says no other choice but to resume peace process

Batasuna leader said he is totally convinced this time next year we will be better than we are today if we all face up to our responsibilities.



Spokeperson of Batasuna Arnaldo Otegi said that ETA's statement was "sufficient" for resuming a peace process, after a car bomb last December destroyed a five-story parking garage at Madrid airport.

ETA claimed responsibility for the bombing Tuesday, but insisted the truce it called in March and described as permanent is still in force. It was the first deadly attack by ETA since May 2003.

In Donostia-San Sebastian on Wednesday, Otegi said that ETA's statement was a "constructive answer" by ETA after Batasuna called on the armed group to return to a nine-month ceasefire on Monday. This makes him be totally convinced this time next year "we will be better" than we are today if "we all face up to our responsibilities," he added.

Otegi also pointed out that the commitments ETA made declaring the permanent ceasefire must "give rise to" work in the reconstruction of the conditions that can start again the process because "there is no other choice."


Spanish Deputy PM sees no way for Batasuna to run for elections
01/10/2007

According to Fernandez de la Vega, ETA's statement ratified the rupture of the truce. Furthermore, she assured the Antiterrorist Pact is a "small paper" containing "no valid" elements "because time has passed."
Spanish Deputy Prime Minister, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, assured today that Batasuna is "certainly" an illegal party, and, thus, she sees no way for the party to run for elections.

During an informative breakfast with journalists dealing with ETA's latest statement, De la Vega assured that it "ratified that ETA has broken the truce clearly" and that the armed band itself "admitted the Spanish Constitution and the law are the limits imposed by the Government."

Likewise, she referred to the Pact for Liberties and Against Terrorism and noted that there are "very valid" elements in the pact, but some others "are not, because time has passed," De la Vega said, and added that the agreement is a "small paper." "It's a series of issues that are there, that worked very well, but today is not like the year 2000 (when it was defined)," she affirmed.

POLICE OPERATION
Two arrested in Lapurdi
01/09/2007

The detainees are Asier Larrinaga and Garikoitz Etxebarria Goikoetxea. Larrinaga is linked to an arms cache discovered in Amorebieta and to explosives found last week in the same area, the Ministry said in a statement.


Site where alleged ETA members where arrested in Azkaine

Two suspected members of the Basque armed group ETA were arrested Tuesday in the Basque province of Lapurdi (Labourd), in North basque Country under french rule. The detainees were identified as Asier Larrinaga and Garikoitz Etxebarria Goikoetxea. Police links Larrinaga to an arms cache discovered Dec. 23 in the Basque town of Amorebieta-Etxano and to explosives found last week in the same area, in the Valley of Atxondo, the Ministry said in a statement.

The arrests were made near the town of Azkaine (Ascain). "The arrests were made early this morning near Ascain and police seized at least one pistol," the Interior Ministry reported.

ETA AFFIRMS 24-MARCH CEASE-FIRE STILL HOLDS

In the statement the Basque daily Gara received, ETA claimed responsibility for the Madrid airport attack, but added that its March declaration of a permanent ceasefire still stood.

Basque armed group ETA insisted yesterday that a cease-fire it declared on March still stands, even as it claimed responsibility for a Dec. 30 armed attack in Madrid Airport.

ETA made its assertion in a statementsent to the pro-independence newspaper Gara. ETA said it did not mean to cause casualties in the attack, accusing the government of failing to evacuate the parking garage targeted at Madrid's airport despite three warning calls pointing out exactly where the car bomb was parked. The airport was largely evacuated, but both victims were sleeping in parked cars.

ETA blamed the Spanish Government and the governing Socialist Party for "placing obstacles endlessly in the democratic process," Gara said in a summary of what it called a long Basque-language statement.

Hours before ETA's statement, the government announced the arrest of two suspected ETA members in the North of the Basque Country linked to arms caches found in late December and last week in the Bizkaia. They were the first arrests since the Madrid car bombing.

Peace process, in danger.

ETA and other parties had been warning in recent months that continued arrests and trials of suspected ETA members were endangering the peace process, which was launched with its announcement March 22 of a "permanent" cease-fire. It had been demanding, and the government refusing, the transfer of ETA prisoners from jails around Spain to prisons in the Basque region. Spain's Government has responded to the bombing by scrapping plans for negotiations with ETA and declaring the once-promising peace process terminated.

Home Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said he had not immediately read ETA's statement, but his initial impression was that "ETA has only one path left to take, which is to end the violence."

Right to "respond".

In its statement, ETA reiterated a claim that the government had made,and was not keeping, commitments as part of the process that began with the truce. The group wants to promote the process, but reserves the right to "respond" if government aggression against the pro-independence movement continues, Gara reported. ETA insisted progress in the process must come from a "political agreement" that includes "the minimum democratic rights owed to the Basque Country,'' an allusion to Basques long-standing demands to be able to decide between their future.

Demand to halt fruitless "police formulas and policies."

It called on the government to halt "police formulas and failed policies that lead nowhere," said Gara.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ASK FOR DEMOCRACY

Thousands of people gathered outside the Donostia-San Sebastian's Cycle-Track last Saturday as the Basque autonomous police blocked the entrance to the political event organised by the pro-amnesty movement.

Due to this prohibition, one more among the one hundred banned demonstrations on 2006, the pro-independence supporters started a rally with a banner at the front with the slogan "Democratic conditions for the Basque Country".

At the end of it they sat on the ground and sang the "Basque soldier"'s song. It was then when the police charged against the crowd. Some people were arrested and some others injured and brought to the hospital.

Juan Mari Olano, spokesperson for the pro-amnesty movement, said at the beginning of the rally that they wanted to launch a proposal for the democratic resolution of the conflict. He added that it is impossible to sort the conflict while one of the parts is hands tied and that repression can't be the answer. He praised the thousands of people who gathered for their brave stand for self-determination right.

More than 50 internationalists came from all around the world including a member of the Belfast Basque Committee to support the Basque process. When they where on their way to the rally the Spanish Guardia Civil (militar police) stopped them and kept them for an hour. It was then when they arrested Sebastien Dadouret, journalist from Paris and member of the international group. After three days on their hands where he was tortured he was put in jail and charged with "helping an armed band". Askapena, the internationalist organitation denounced this arrest as an attempt to criminalise the solidarity with the Basque Country.

A Inaki de Juana's letter was to be read at the event but as it was banned it's been made public during the week. The political prisoners who is been already for 65 days on hunger strike sent his greetings and strength and made clear his commitment to continue on hunger strike to defend the Basque political prisoners' rights. He wrote amnesty is an essential concept to the resolution of the conflict as the prisoners are a consequence of it.

SOLIDARITY PROTESTS IN IRELAND WITH HUNGER STRIKER INAKI

Last Saturday 23rd two protests took place in Ireland to highlight the Basque political prisoner Inaki De Juana's situation on his 47th day on hunger strike. The protests were organised by the Irish Basque Committees branches in Cork and Belfast (see picture). You can read here the text of one of the couple of thousands of leaflets dropped at the protests:

On August 7, Basque Political Prisoner Iñaki de Juana began a hunger
strike to demand his right to be released. Iñaki de Juana should have been released on October 25, 2004, after serving his sentence in full and having spent 18 years in jail. However, the Spanish Special Court issued a decision dated October 22, attempting to contest the remission Iñaki was entitled to and to prevent his release .

In view of the impossibility to maintain this line of argument, the Court decreed his remand in custody for an alleged crime of membership of an armed group and terrorist threats.

The basis for the accusations were two opinion articles the prisoners sent to the daily Gara . It is impossible to find any rational basis in the articles to sustain such charges. Precisely, on June 14, 2006 the charges were dropped.

At that point a media campaign was unleashed against that decision.
The Minister for Justice stated “we shall build new charges so that they (Basque Political Prisoners) are not released!” The State General Prosecutor said "we shall continue to oppose his release insofar as it is legally possible" and appealed the decision.

Therefore there was a new request for a 96 year prison sentence.

His situation led him to go on a hunger strike for 63 days. He just went off when was told that he’d requested for 2 years. On October 26, the trial against him took place in the Spanish Special Court in Madrid.

Days later, the court decision was published; it sentenced Iñaki de Juana to 12 years and 7 months in prison. Therefore, it can be seen how in Spain, as in Guantanamo, there are situations which take us back to the time of the inquisition and which show what the criminal law for the enemy is, tailor-made, and based on hatred and revenge.

In this situation of absolute injustice, on November 7 Iñaki de Juana
began another hunger strike, which is adding to the 63 day strike he had ended only a few weeks earlier, after having lost 24 kilos (3st, 5lb).


This is a call to all groups and people in solidarity, to express their protest to Spanish consulates and embassies and to send their messages to the addresses of the following people, directly responsible for Iñaki de Juana's and the rest of 700 Basque Political Prisoners’ situation.

Help save Iñaki's life!

(Spanish Embassador in Ireland)
D. José de Carvajal Salido
Spanish Embassy in Ireland
17A, Merlyn Park, Ballsbridge Dublin
Tel: 269 16 40
Fax: 269 18 54
Email: embespie@mail.mae.es.

(Spanish Prime Minister)
José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero
Presidente del Gobierno Español
Palacio de la Moncloa,
Avda. Puerta de Hierro, s/n.
28071 Madrid
España
jlrzapatero@presidencia.gob.es
Fax: 0034 913900217

(Spanish Special Court's President)
Carlos Divar Blanco
Presidente Audiencia Nacional
C/ García Gutiérrez, 1
28004 Madrid
España
Fax: 0034 913973381

(Spanish Prisons' Director)
Mercedes Gallizo Llamas
Directora General de Instituciones Penitenciarias
C/ Alcalá, 38-40
28014. Madrid
España
Fax: 91 335 40 52

CALLS TO SUPPORT THE BASQUE PROCESS

BATASUNA ON MADRID ATTACK

The leader of the banned political party Batasuna, Arnaldo Otegi, has assured that the attack on saturday in the Madrilenian airport of Barajas does not imply the rupture of the peace process. In fact, he has appealed to "serenity and responsibility". "The process is not broken", has insisted calmly, in fact, now it is more necessary that never to maintain it alife "because is what the Basque and Spanish majorities want" it is time to reinforce and estabilise it.

Just after that, Arnaldo Otegi remenbered that in the last few moths Batasuna has many times denounced that the process to overcome the conflict had structural problems. Also mentioned that in the past nine months no party's board has been formed, that there is no agreement and also, has not neared the prisoners and Iñaki de Juana Chaos, in hunger strike, is on the verge of dying "tied to the bed of a hospital". Has criticized that representatives of the socialist Executive "has been boasted to have done less than the others" in previous truces. All of these, Batasuna believes, clearly shows how fragil the process really was. Otegi has blame the spanish government of letting the cease fire reach to an end underlining that a process can not be built in such a situation.

Never the less the situation is not "Broken" believes the left pro-independence party, "the process is necessary and we must go on" underlining its compromise to go to the end.

Strong bases are needed, "Sadly, if there was anything agreed it has not been fulfilled and if there was none nothing has been build" said Otegi. "Todays attack must not bring us back to the situation before the 24th March" day of the cease-fire was called.

To re-start the process and go on with the talks some "basic conditions" must be ensured. All the differents sensbilities must take part in a process to build a new framework in the absence of violence based on respect. "All the parties involbed must take part on this compromise towards resolution, Batasuna will forward new ideas to make that dialogue posible"

In his intervention, the spokesman of Batasuna has expressed his "solidarity with the wounded" and their hope "so that it appears the body of the missing person"



ATTACK

Car bomb explodes at Madrid's Barajas airport
12/30/2006

Two police, who were looking for the suspect vehicle, and two more people were slightly injured in the blast.

A car bomb exploded in a parking lot at Madrid's Barajas airport on Saturday after an anonymous telephone warning, Spanish police said.

The blast came about 9:30 a.m. (0830GMT) at the airport's new Terminal Four, said Javier Ayuso, a spokesman for the emergency rescue services of the Madrid city government. A warning had been telephoned to motorway rescue services DYA in the Basque region of Gipuzkoa.

Barajas Airport's Terminal Four was evacuated after the warning, state radio reported. Two police officers who were looking for the suspect vehicle, a taxi driver and a fourth person were slightly injured and taken to hospital.

A huge column of thick, gray smoke rose from the blast site more than an hour after the explosion and the building housing the parking lot appeared to be on fire. The airport is not operative, said Iberia, the Spanish flagship carrier that runs most flights out of this terminal.

Three phone calls

According to the Basque radio station Euskadi Irratia the anonymous caller phoned three times. He first called the DYA at about 8:00 in the morning and warned of a bomb at Madrid's Barajas airport's new Terminal Four which was due to explode at 9:00.

Thirty minutes later, there was a second phone call, this time to the emergency coordination centre SOS Deiak, asking to take the warning seriously and claiming to speak in the name of the armed Basque group ETA. There was a third phone call to the Madrid firefighters.



REACTION TO THE ATTACK

Spanish Govt. suspends "all initiatives for dialogue with ETA"
12/30/2006

Spanish President José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said "today's attack is incompatible with a permanent cease-fire.''

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Saturday suspended dialogue with the armed Basque group ETA after a bomb wrecked a car park at Madrid's international airport being the first attack after nine months of unilateral ceasefire.

"As the conditions that we laid down have not come about, I have ordered the suspension of all initiatives to develop a dialogue," said Zapatero at Moncloa Palace in Madrid's outskirts.

Zapatero considers "that today's attack is incompatible with a permanent cease-fire'' and as a consequence he has decided to suspend all initiatives for dialogue with ETA."

NEW YEAR'S EVE'S MESSAGE

"I won't consider peace process or dialogue broken"- Basque PM
12/31/2006

The Basque Autonomus Region's (Three of the seven Basque provinces) president said after the attack in Madrid's airport "the right of the Basques to decide their future is not neither in the hands of ETA, nor of the Spanish Govt., but in the hands of the Basques themselves".

Basque premier Juan José Ibarretxe said Sunday the armed Basque group "ETA has spoiled us the New Year's Eve but it has not taken away our hope".

In his traditional New Year's Eve message, talking about the situation in the Basque Country after a bomb wrecked a car park at Madrid's international airport , Ibarretxe said neither the Basque Government nor the Basque President "will consider the peace process or the political dialogue broken." "We can not let our hope crumble," he added.

Ibarretxe expressed sympathy for the two people still missing and those hurt in the blast after the car bomb blast in Madrid's airport.

"Our aim and our responsibility is to work in order to achieve peace, as well as to reach political agreements to decide our future, among everybody, here, in the Basque Country", Ibarretxe said.

Ibarretxe added that "(we) will not move forward as we keep mistaking ETA's violence with the solution of a political conflict. It is necessary not to mistake or to make the end of ETA's violence conditional on our right to decide our own future or, on the contrary, to make our democratic right to decide conditional on the end of ETA's violence".

On this matter, the Basque president remarked "the right of the Basques to decide their future is not neither in the hands of ETA, nor of the Spanish Govt., but in the hands of the Basques themselves".


BOMB BLAST IN MADRID

Basque Socialists suspend dialogue with Batasuna
01/02/2007

Rodolfo Ares has underlined that "dialogue is incompatible with violence and it is impossible to continue our commitment to dialoguing with those who carry out violent attacks and show no will to change their attitude".

Rodolfo Ares
Secretary of Organisation of the Basque Socialist branch PSE-EE Rodolfo Ares announced on Monday that his party had suspended "its talks with the leftist Nationalists".

Ares stated that " dialogue is incompatible with violence and it is impossible to continue our commitment to dialoguing with those who carry out or excuse violent attacks and show no will to change their attitude".

At a press conference held in Bilbao, the Socialist leader assured that he considered "a mistake by the Basque government and the Basque Premier to continue dialogue" with banned Batasuna, "as if nothing has happened".