Zapatero and ETA reached an agreement with commitments

07/10/2006

According to the Basque newspaper Gara, Zapatero's executive and the armed organisation reached an agreement with commitments. Conservative PP demanded"urgent" explanations from the Spanish prime minister.

Guarantees and commitments.

Gara reported quoting "sources who know about the process," that the Spanish government and ETA reached last February an agreement aiming at both sides'commitments and guarantees. Thus, the government would not carry out arrests and would respect decisions about their own future made by citizens from the four south Basque provinces under Spanish rule (the so called right to decide). On its part, ETA committed itself not to implementing acts of weapon supply once the permanent ceasefire was announced.

PP demands explanations.

On his part, the secretary-general of the conservative PP, Angel Acebes, demanded urgent explanations from Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on the "commitments and agreements" reached between the Spanish government and the armed organisation. In his opinion, these pieces of information prove the presence of a "trap process" and "negotiations with ETA outside the law." Justice Minister, Juan Fernando Lopez AguilarJusticeMinister, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, assured today in the evening that the Spanish government"completely" denies information published in the Basque left wing nationalist newspaper Gara over an agreement between the central government and theBasque armed band ETA.

Dylan to sing for peace 10/07/2006 12:59 - (SA) San Sebastian, Basque Country. Bob Dylan, the 1960s peace movement icon, willheadline a free concert on Tuesday in the Basque cityof San Sebastian lending support to the peace processin the country. The concert at Zurriola Beach will be a "happening that will be remembered as a milestone in the path of peace", according to the event's organisers, who expect 50 000 people to attend. "We are living days of hope when at last peace is possible. The gathering of thousands of people united by the music and over political ideas of any kind looks like the best way to symbolise this moment," a statement said. US-born Dylan, 65, author of peace anthems such asBlowing in the Wind and Masters of War, will come onstage at around 19:00 GMT, after Mikel Laboa, a "living legend of Basque music", according to the organisers.

SPANISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES DIALOGUE WITH ETA AND RESPECT TO BASQUES DECISIONS

An unprecedented move was made by the Spanish government last Thursday as the Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapatero announced the start of official talks with ETA within the next weeks. It was an expected statement but still very important. What it wasn't so expected was the second part of the statement where he declared that the Spanish government will respect the freely taken decisions by the Basque citizens. He added that it's upon the Basque political parties, trade unions and social organizations to reach an agreement through dialogue without exclusion and equal opportunities for all the different political options.

Batasuna welcomed the announcement as very important and positive and claimed that it is the Basque Country's democratic victory after years of conflict that the Spanish government admits that the resolution will come through negotiation and acceptance of the Basque people's will. They celebrated as well the beginning of talks with ETA and highlighted that this way is the way suggested by Batasuna in November 2004 when was launched their peace proposal Orain Herria, Orain Bakea (Now the People, Now the Peace)where to different negotiation tables where proposed, one between ETA and the Spanish and French governments and the other one among all Basque political organizations.

Batasuna congratulated the pro-independence left wing movement's activists for the determination and courage showed specially during the last few years of illegalitation and brutal repression and their restless defense of the Basque Political Prisoners' rights.

Therefore Batasuna called all Basque political organizations to set as soon as possible a negotiations table and gave great importance to the fundamental role to be played by all Basque people as main protagonists of the process to achieve peace, freedom, democracy and justice.

Despite the important statement made by Zapatero Batasuna asked him to call off all the repression machinery and special laws like the so called Political Parties Law which banned Batasuna and undermined political and civil rights in the Basque Country.

Batasuna called the French government as well to play their own role in the conflict resolution as one of the parts involved and to stop all repression. The French government is actually acting as mere spectator as if it was a Spanish internal problem. Three of the seven Basque provinces are under French administration and their peaceful claims of own institutions, officialness of the Basque language and repatriation of the Basque Political Prisoners have got nothing but contempt.

DESPITE THE BORDER'S CLOSING THOUSANDS SUPPORTED PRISONERS' RIGHTS

More than 3,500 people claimed in the Baiona's streets for the Basque Political Prisoners's rights. One hundred different political, social and union organizations supported the march and well known faces were behind the banner where "Basque Prisoners with all their rights to the Basque Country" slogan could be read.

Previously the French police set heavy check points at the imposed border and closed it acting against the Schengen Agreement and attacking European citizens'rights to move freely within the EU borders.

Several hundreds of people were retained at the check points and as they couldn't transit even through their own country they decided to gather in the close town of Irun where another demonstration was held.

ETA SAYS REPRESSION IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH PEACE PROCESS

ETA launched last week the second statement in the last few days. The first one was addressed to the French government and its citizens and the second one to the Spanish government and the Spanish people.

ETA pointed that the PSOE's Spanish government have a historical opportunity to resolve the conflict through dialogue and negotiation and to accept the Basque people's wills but in order to achieve this all the repression machinery and strategies must finish.

We have to remember that since the ceasefire declared by ETA three months ago there have been one person arrested every three days, one political event prohibited every five days, three police check points per day and one road accident caused by the dispersal policy of Basque Political Prisoners every nine days. Repression has clearly increased.

Last Friday thousands of people gathered in more than 60 towns and cities all around the Basque Country to protest against the last police razzia (pictured is the Irunea's one).

FRANCE AND SPAIN ATTACK AGAIN: 13 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN GIPUZKOA AND LAPURDI

13 people have been arrested in a Spanish and French police operation in the early hours of the morning today. The police accuse them of being part of the revolutionary tax net of ETA. The arrested are: Angel Iturbe Abasolo (53 years old), Julen Madariaga Agirre (73), José Antonio Cau Aldalur (62), Cristina Larrañaga Arando (51), Eloy Uriarte Díaz de Gereñu (64), Izaskun Gantxegi Arruti (61), José Ramón Badiola Zabaleta (48), Joseba Elosua Urbieta (71), José Carmelo Lukin Bergara (31), Ramon Sagarzazu Olazagirre (69), Jean Pierre Harocarene Kamio (42) and Iñaki Aristizabal Iriarte (59).

Batasuna denounced that this is a clear and direct attack against the process and the peace hope. Otegi in a press conference this morning said this operation is been politically motivated and asked the Spanish prime minister Zapatero how does this police operation help the process. Otegi added that the Spanish government has a problem not with the Left Abertzale but with a whole nation and these kind of political-police operations can't hide it.

ETA addresses the French government for negotiation

ETA launched a new statement showing their will of a democratic resolution to the political conflict with the French state. ETA denounces that the French state is being oppressing Basques specially since the 1789 Revolution and that still nowadays the Basque Country and the Basque language are not recognized by France. ETA points that the French state keeps the three Basque provinces of Lapurdi, Baxe Nafarroa and Zuberoa prisoners by force but states that thanks to the Basque people's struggle the will for freedom is still alive and getting stronger from year to year.

ETA says that it's time now to end with the traditional French contempt towards Basques and give the word and the decision about their future to Basque people.

The French snub was once again showed as they answered to ETA's statement through their Foreign Office as this was a foreign affair. The French state is killing the North of the Basque Country by turning it into a holidays resort for retired French rich people, denying and attacking the Basque language, forcing youth to emigrate to get a job or education, repressing peaceful protests and people created own institutions...

The French state is as involved in the political conflict as the Spanish state so both must be involved in the political resolution by giving the Basque people on its whole the right to decide their future.

LAST WEEK'S NEWS

-Last Tuesday Gerry Adams visited the Basque Country invited by Batasuna and expressed the total support of Sinn Fein to the Left Abertzale. He praised the commitment of Batasuna and ETA activists to achieve this historical momentum. He traveled to Madrid and Barcelona aswell to support and defend the Basque process. Martin McGuinness is expected to do the same this week.

-Rajoi, Spanish conservative PP's leader broke relations with Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero because of his aims to meet Batasuna.

-On Wednesday an incredible situation happened when the Spanish police stopped and banned a Batasuna's press conference in Irunea (Pamplona) where they were launching a campaign to boost the process in Nafarroa (Navarre). Barrena, Batasuna's spokeman said that it is difficult to understand such situations. Previously 300 Left Abertzale Navarrese councilors gathered to state their position on Nafarroa's importance in the democratic process and showed the commitment to accept whatever the people in Nafarroa will decide about their future and asked the unionist parties to do the same.

-On Friday Batasuna made public that they already sent a calendar and scheme to achieve a pre-agreement to set the parties' table of negotiations.

-Thousands of people gathered in Donostia, Irunea, Gasteiz and Bilbo to demand the the resolution table's setting.

-The 60 political, social and union activists being judged in the 18/98 show trial in Madrid denounced that after seven months the consequences are terrible and demanded once again the end of this process. During these sevem months they had to travel to Madrid 23 times, did 23.000 kilometers and had three road accidents. One of them died during the trial of heart attack and three fell very ill.They have already done 30 years in prison among all of them and everyone has to confront every month expenses of 3,000 euro plus th 4,393,000 euro they paid on bails. They thanked the Basque people who through different fundraising events collected 210,000 euro to support them.

-On Saturday hundreds of people protested in Gasteiz against the 18/98 show trial.

-Thousands of people signed a petition to demand a referendum on a Basque Institution in the North. This demand is been rejected by French governments once and again despite the majority position of northern Basques to have their own province and recognition of the existence of the Basque Country. This new campaign aims to collect 46,000 signatures and call the referendum. This would be a first step for re-unification of the Basque Country.

-Hundreds of councilors gathered in Lizarra despite the check points set by more than 100 of the Spanish Guardia Civil (military police body)commemorateate the 75th anniversary of the historic 1931's Basque Councils Assembly that demanded an autonomy statute for the four provinces in the south. This event was called by Udalbiltza (the only national Basque Institution)as part of the campaign to relaunch it.

SUCCESSFUL TOUR FOR BERRI TXARRAK AND THE IRISH BASQUE COMMITTEES

The Irish Basque Committees organized during the last week Berri Txarrak's first Irish Tour. The Basque band, awarded as the Best live, best album and best group 2005, were delighted with the warm welcome given by the Irish public. More than 500 people gathered in the Dublin, Derry, Belfast, Galway and Cork gigs. This is just a first step for Basque rock bands in Ireland as themselves and the Committees pointed out.

This is just another campaign lunched by the Irish Basque Committees in a bid to highlight the struggle for freedom in the Basque Country and the great answer and acceptance received seems to be a huge boost for another tour in coming years.

Thank you very much to everybody involved in this Tour and specially go raibh mile maith agaibh go Berri Txarrak (see them "striking" in Cork at the picture).

You can have more information on Berri Txarrak at www.berritxarrak.net. They'll be touring Europe in August and September with famous hardcore Chicago rockers Rise Against. Unfortunately they won't be in Ireland. We are looking to seeing them next year.

BEST BASQUE BAND TOURING IRELAND

The Irish Basque Committees present Berri Txarrak Irish Tour’06.


Considered by music press as one of the best alternative rock bands, with amazing vocal melodies next to emo, metal strokes and hardcore attitude, Berri Txarrak (www.berritxarrak.net) is a band going through a non-stop evolution. Their lyrics show their political commitment on the Basque struggle and social issues not just in the Basque Country but as well around the world. All of it with a poetic unique style. It’s not a coincidence that the singer won recently the most important Poetry Award in Basque language in his province.

” The music is a mixture of alternative rock, punk, hardcore, metal and some amazing melodies. Band-wise, I think a mixture of Burning Heads and Helmet would be a good description. It has easier melodic parts mixed with full-throttle metal guitars, and very fast drumming and a distinctive European-only edge.” www.Punknews.org

Berri Txarrak won three “Gazte sariak” 2006 awards when the most important Basque radio station Euskadi Gaztea made a review of the best Basque music bands of the year.

Berri Txarrak was nominated in three categories and they won all of them;

“Best band of the year”, “Best album of the year” for “Musika. Jaio.Hil” and “Best live show of the year”.

They won the same three categories in the Spanish magazine Rockzone (www.zona-zero.net) 2005 awards and in Rock Estatal’s 2005’s review the Spanish rock specialized press….. (http://www.rockestatal.com/reportajes/premios_rock_estatal_2005_premios_de_la_critica.htm) …..awarded them as the best rock album but in these two cases now as the best rock band in the whole Spanish State.

Their fifth and last album at the moment, “Musika.Jaio.Hil”,was recorded last August and was produced by famous Ed Rose producer as well of Kurt Cobain, The Get Up Kids or Motion City Soundtrack in the USA.

You can listen to some of the last album’s tracks at: http://www.myspace.com/berritxarrak

Berri Txarrak have been playing in different countries around the world such as USA, Mexico, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Spain supporting bands like Deftones with great succes.

This summer they’re being touted to tour Europe as support band for the Chicago based hardcore rockers Rise Against.

Before this we are delighted to have Berri Txarrak playing in Ireland for the first time ever!


Wednesday 7th of June: Dublin
(Voodoo Lounge)

Thursday 8th of June: Derry
(Sandino’s Bar)

Friday 9th of June: Belfast
(Black Box) Support bands:
Decoy 47 / RSI / The Hypocrates

Saturday 10th of June: Galway
(Richardson’s)

Sunday 11th of June: Cork
(Fred Zeppelin)

All gigs supported by local bands. Doors open @8.30pm. Fee: 6€ / £5.

SPANISH AND FRENCH ATTACKS PUT THE PROCESS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION

The political situation in the Basque Country at the moment is really difficult as the Spanish and French states continue their attacks against the Left Abertzale (pro-independence movement) and the democratic process.

Last week, as a bid to push the process forward, Batasuna presented publicly their negotiations team (see in the picture above). Almost at the same time the Spanish Special Court charged eight members of Batasuna's leadership with terrorism because of a press conference held to analyze the new political situation after ETA's ceasefire.

The previous week Batasuna was already warning of the dangers surrounding the democratic process: lack of interest of the main parties to set a negotiations table, Spanish government's bid to present the process as a technical process between themselves and ETA and the continuous attacks against the Left Abertzale.

Batasuna made clear that is urgent to set the negotiations table among all Basque political parties where a transition to a democratic situation (acceptance of the Basque Country as a seven provinces nation and self-determination right) will be agreed. Batasuna see as a big contradiction keeping them as an illegal party in this historical opportunity for peace.

Just last week Segi, the pro-independence and revolutionary youth organization, called protests all around the country bringing thousands of young people to the streets for independence. Those protests met big repression which caused wounded and arrested people.

Yesterday the French police arrested three young people in the province of Lapurdi and it's been seen as a provocation and deliberated attack against the process.

As we were saying before today and tomorrow eight members of Batasuna's leadership will have to appear in the Spanish Special Court and could be sent to prison.

Askatasuna, the anti-repression movement has called protests against all the attacks for this Friday with the slogan: "No to the political repression. Democratic minimums now!"

BASQUE WEEK IN GALWAY

The Galway Basque committee is organising a Basque week and on saturday the 27th it'll take place the II.Basque Day which was a huge success last year. Everybody is more than wellcome. Ádh mór.
Seachtain na mBascach, Gaillimh 2006

Basque Week, Galway

22 – 27 Bealtaine / May


Day / Time Events Venue
Monday 7pm Video Presentation on Basque Culture and Politics Richardsons #1 Eyre Square
Tuesday 7pm Basque Language Lessons Richardsons #1 Eyre Square
Wednesday 7pm Talk by representative of the Basque left-nationalist movement about recent ETA peace initiative Richardsons #1 Eyre Square
Thursday 7pm Basque Traditional Dance Lessons Richardsons #1 Eyre Square
Friday 9pm Concert, featuring the legendary Basque singer,JONU

Saturday is the 2nd Annual Galway Basque Day

Events run throughout the day

· 12 noon: Traditional Basque Games, including a Basque v. Ireland tug-of war, will be on display in the newly refurbished Eyre Square, along with Basque music, food, drink, fun and competitions.

· 3pm: Pub crawl! All are welcome to join with Basque and Irish friends on a tour of Galway’s many many pubs. Drink and eat more Basque specialities with some of Euskal Herria’s finest musicians, and enjoy the fusion Irish and Euskerri music.

· 8pm: Club Áras na nGael, More food and drink, ceol agus craic, and prizes and fun to be had in one of the city’s most intimate locations.

ETA:"THE PROCESS' KEY IS THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY."

In an exclusive eight pages interview with GARA newspaper (www.gara.net) ETA says that the time to put in practice all the commitments in the democratic process is arrived.

They highlight the importance of this democratic process to solve the conflict and achieve a democratic frame for the Basque Country where all the different political projects could be implemented including the pro-independence one. They place as crucial the democratic debate within the Basque Country and among all political parties, trade unions and social organizations. It's upon the Basque citizens of all the seven provinces to discuss and agree how to make this transition period from imposition to democracy.

According to ETA the Spanish and French states would have to respect whatever decision the Basques took. ETA warn that if the attacks against the Basque Country continue it will be impossible to complete this process.

BIG SUCCESS IN LAST EVENTS

Last Good Friday the Belfast Basque Committee organized the III. Irish Basque Night with a huge success. 200 people packed the Conway Mill Hall creating a fantastic atmosphere. Everybody enjoyed with Caoimhin Breag's acoustic covers and DJ's Rasta Revolution and Caveman. It was really difficult for the organizers to manage the party as dozens of people wanted to get into the party and the doors had to be closed because no more room was available and as the party was so great nobody wanted to leave. Even the DJ's didn't want to leave the stage!!

The highest and most emotional moment in the night was when Karmen Irizar, former Basque Political Prisoner and released just a couple of weeks ago, came up to the stage where a member of the Belfast Basque Committee presented her the Easter Lily and everybody started cheering and applauding.

Congratulations to everybody.


The last week of April the Basque Folk band Korrontzi toured Ireland invited by the Irish Basque Committees. Although no many people gathered in Cork, Dublin and Belfast everybody was amazed by the quality of the band and there are plans to bring them back next year. In Armagh they played for 300 people in a Hunger Strikers conmemoration function.

From the 22nd of May to the 27th the Galway Basque Committee is organising the first Basque week with lots of diferent events like talks, DVD screenings, folk gigs, etc. Saturday will be the big day when they'll organize the II. Basque Day with activities all along the day. Nobody should miss this great week. Last year's Basque Day was a huge success. for more details contact: basquegalway@hotmail.com.

And the events to highlight the Basque struggle in Ireland don't finish yet. The Irish Basque Committees are bringing to Ireland the best Basque rock band of the moment, Berri Txarrak from the 7th to the 11th of June and they'll be playing in Dublin, Derry, Belfast, Galway and Cork in this order. More information in next days.

69 YEARS SINCE THE GERNIKA BOMBING. PICTURE OF AN UNSOLVED CONFLICT.

A day like today, 69 years ago the Spanish fascists with the Nazis help bombed Gernika, the Basque liberties symbol town. Hundreds were killed and thousands wounded as a consequence of the first massive air bomb attack against civilians in Human history.

69 years later and despite ETA's cease fire the conflict is still very alive. This is the last couple of days' picture:

Two well known young political activists have been arrested and badly tortured, demonstrations attacked by the police, Spanish Guardia Civil (mixture of army and police) armed members threatened and provoked the population in bars in Leitza, the 18/98 show trial against 60 political activists is in its sixth month while one of the activists dies from a heart attack shortly before his appearance in court, the Basque autonomous police threatened and pointed with guns to two Segi activists, the Spanish Congress rejected a motion against the incommunicado period and protected torture, the Basque autonomous parliament rejected a motion in favor of Political Status for the political prisoners, Batasuna denounces Zapatero's government for taking the wrong way to solve the conflict and add that there are not democratic conditions to start with a conflict resolution process...

LEFT ABERTZALE HISTORICAL ACTIVIST DIES

Jokin Gorostidi (Deba 1944) died yesterday after a heart attack. His life is been an example of compromise, dignity and struggle for the Basque Country's freedom. He became involved in workers struggles as a trade unionist and soon joined ETA.

He got two death penalties in 1970 during the famous Burgos Trial. He spent years in prison and after Franco died he was deported to Brussels. He came back and along with others funded Herri Batasuna. In 1980 he survived an attack from the French Police while he was meeting ETA leadership members in a bid to open negotiations with the Spanish state. He would be part of the interlocutor of the Left Abertzale for years. In the 90's he helped Basque political refugees and deportees in Africa and America and when he cae back from one of this trips he fell sick and was in coma for 55 days.

In 2000 he was arrested once again accused of being member of Xaki, the pro-independence movement's international department. He was released with a 30.000 € bail. Therefore he was being judged within the 18/98 show-trial in Madrid along with another 60 activists and had appear in court last Monday. The prosecutor asked 15 years for him. In 2003 was arrested and charged with helping ETA with the revolutionary tax and released with a 18.000 € bail.

He had a heart attack when going home after meeting his lawyer discuss about last Monday's appearance in court. He was in coma since then. Forty years of struggle which, as Batasuna's leadership highlighted yesterday, brought the Basque Country to the current political situation of real freedom's hope.

AUSTRALIAN TV EXPOSES SPANISH TORTURE ON BASQUES

Excellent video from Australia's SBS TV which discusses the serious problem of torture inflicted on the Basque people by the Spanish government.

http://www.berria.info/multimedia/multimedia.php

BASQUE FOLK BAND TOUR IN IRELAND

The Irish Basque Committees present Korrontzi Irish Tour'06:

Korrontzi pays hommage to the life an traditional folk tunes of the trikitilari (Basque diatonic accordion player)of Bizkaia province.

The gig will be prefaced with a fifteen minutes english subtitled short film on these old trikitilaris’ life.

Korrontzi was an old trikitilari’s nickname and this performance is based on him and lots others’ life-style. The aim is to show new generations their heritage and remind the elder people of the past.

Korrontzi’s musicians are wellknown in the Basque Country because of their past projects and involment in Basque culture and traditional music.

Although trikitixa (small Basque diatonic acordeon) is the base of the band there are also drums, guitars, mandolins, whistles and other traditional Basque instruments.

Korrontzi’s first album will be launched on march and it will be distributed in Europe, USA and Japan.


Korrontzi’s Irish Tour 2006

26th of April at An Cruiscin Lan, Cork
27th of April at Cobblestone, Dublin
28th of April at Cultúrlann, Belfast
29th of April at Silver Bridge social club (road from Newry to Crossmaglen) South Armagh

THE BASQUE YOUTH MOVEMENT'S STRENGTH IN ETXARRI

More than 20.000 pro-independence and revolutionary young people took part in Gazte Topagunea'06 (Youth Encounter'06)in Etxarri during four days in Easter. A huge success which shows once again the strength of the Basque revolutionary youth movement. Topagunea is a unique political reivindicative youth festival in Europe and is been organized every two years since 1996.

This year's slogan was "Tipi-tapa independentzian topa!" (Step by step meet in independence!) meaning the importance of building independence from today. During four days Etxarri was a free Basque youth Country. Basque youth organized, debating, living together, struggling, enjoying, learning, getting stronger, feeling independence...

Work shops, seminars, debates, popular schools, gigs, excursions, markets...it would be impossible to resume what Topagunea was for four days.

Now is time to put in practice all this strength and lessons in all the country.

Congratulations Basque revolutionary youth!

THE BASQUE COUNTRY AS A NATION, MORE THAN EVER IN THE ABERRI EGUNA

Hundreds of celebrations and political meetings happened during this year's Aberri Eguna-Homeland Day. This National Day is been celebrated since 1931 and was inspired on the Easter Rising of Easter Sunday 1916 in Éire.

Udalbiltza, the Basque national institution, called the Basque people to gather at City and Town Halls to reivindicate the Basque national rights and meetings took place in more than one hundred towns in the seven provinces.

In Irunea, the historical Basque capital, this act was banned by the Spanish governor.

Celebrations were held in far places like Australia, Argentina or China for example by the Basque Diaspora.

THIRD IRISH BASQUE NIGHT IN BELFAST ON GOOD FRIDAY

After last year's big success the Belfast Basque Committee is organizing the third Irish Basque Night on Good Friday, 14th of April in Conway Mill, Falls Road.

There will be music, projections, T-shirts, raffles, food and patxaran and obviously a great craic.

Caoimhín Mac Giolla Catháin, famous Bréag Irish Reggae band leader and good friend of Basques will be playing acoustic covers.

DJ Caveman or Bigger Boss, well known in Belfast as Runnin Riotsdrummerr and DJ, will be playing the best of ska and reggae.

DJ One Shot,comingg from Derry, will be playing dub, drum and bass and chill out with his unique style and fun.

Everybody is more thanwelcomee to this solidarity event with the Basque Country. Now, more than ever economic solidarity is really needed as a good way to support the democratic process.