Broad Basque front appeals for world solidarity
The appeal below was published in the September 17 issue of Zutik, the newspaper of the Liga Komunista the Fourth International organization in the part of the
Basque country that is in the Spanish state. Zutik's introduction follows
The "Letter to the Peoples and Countries of the World" reprinted below appeared in various publications in the Basque Country in the middle of August. It was initiated by various cultural associations, religious groups, and groups linked to social movements - Christian Base Communities, the Instituto de Promocion de Estudios
Sociales, the Colectivo Herria-2000, Eliza, the Priests Coordinating Committee, the cultural association Euskal-
Garra, SALHAKETA (Association to Aid Social Prisoners), the Committee for a Nuclear-Free Coast and the
A large number of intellectuals and prominent personalities have publicly expressed their support for this
And now a big campaign of collecting signatures is going on in the Basque Country with tables set up in the neighborhoods and in the annual fiestas. Recently this campaign has been extended to the factories and other workplaces, in particular the Bilbao docks. It is estimated, although this is already an old figure, that 50,000 signatures have been collected. It is hoped that this can be multiplied by ten times.
Although this letter is not backed explictly by political organizations, in practice it represents collaboration among diverse Basque political forces, from the radical left to the Basque Nationalist Party. Thus, among the first endorsers was the mayor of San Sebastian, Ramon Labayen.
It should be remembered that the Basque government has come out clearly against the extraditions. The significance of this is clear. For the first time since the 1977 amnesty, now far in the past, the possiblity has appeared for a very broad front, much broader than the sector that has traditionally mobilized in recent years, against certain aspects of the repression to which we are being subjected, such as the extraditions or torture.
Outside Euskadi it is necessary to disseminate this letter and build support. To contact the sponsors of this letter, call 94-424-60-07 or 94-469-43-98 in Bilbao.
SPANISH STATE Iraultzailea (Revolutionary Communist League), Anti-Militarist Group of Bilbao. statement.
In Euskadi, we are involved in this work.
The signatory associations and organizations wish to make the following statement for the information of public opinion and all people of good will:
1. We express our appreciation to all individuals and nations, especially those in Central and South America and throughout Europe for the welcome they have provided, the interest they have shown, and the asylum they have offered for thousands upon thousands of Basque nationals who have gone into exile for strictly political reasons, in particular since the Spanish civil war.
From all our various points of view in analyzing Basque society, independent of all political tendencies, and standing on the UN Declaration of Human Rights, we wish to make it absolutely clear that the so-called Basque Question remains a real political problem today in the summer of 1984.
To demonstrate this, we offer the following evidence:
- Amnesty Internationa
- The Asociacion Pro Derechos Humanos Human Rights Association)
- The Basque deputies in the Spanish parliament.
- Many municipal governments throughout Euskadi.
- The Young Lawyers Committee of Madrid.
- The Lawyers Committees of Bilbao and San Sebastian.
- -The Coordinadora de Curas de Euskal-Herria (Coordinating Committee of Priests of the Basque People).
5. We express our solidarity with the representatives of our people who have again and again stressed the need for a sincere dialogue and for real negotiations, which implies recognition of the inalienable rights of the Basque pople, as the essential means and conditions for solving the political problem.
Such statements have been made, for example, by the presi-
Some 60% of the Basque population voted against or dent of the Basque government, the members of the National abstained on the present [Spanish-state] constitution.
All the political parties that operate exclusively in a Basque framework, which represent 70% of the Basque population, are either opposed to the Autonomy Statute or to the way it is being applied by the central goverment.
c) More than 700 persons from the Basque country are presently confined in prisons in the Spanish state.
Thousands of Basque citizens remain in exile in various countries throughout the world.
The educational systems imposed by successive Spanish governments have consigned the Basque language to extreme
Unfortunately, we have to point out that the Spanish police continue to wage a severe and discriminatory repression against the Basque people. At this time, there is one policeman for every 125 inhabitants of the Basque country.
In just the first six months of 1984, at least 743 persons were arrested for political reasons, of whom no less than 70 have been imprisoned.
4. We note with sorrow that torture continues to be standard practice in the police facilities. 3,500 cases of torture and ill-treatment in Euskadi between January 1, 1981 and July 30, 1984. This situation has been exposed by the following organizations and per-
Executive of Herri Batasuna [the People United, the principa militant nationalist political organization, which offers support to ETA], the chairperson and members of the Executive of the Basque Nationalist Party, and the general secretary of Euskadiko Eskerra [Basque Left, a moderate party of militant nation-
In this spirit of interest in a genuine peace for the Spanish people and the Spanish state, with justice and liberty, we appeal urgently to the French people and government and to all the countries affected to accept the following principles:
1) Our neighbor France must remain, as it has been up till now, the traditional land of asylum. As such it has held the affection of the entire Basque community and all freedomloving people throughout history.
Never should the mistake be made of comparing Basque militants, whether we agree with their strategy or not, those who commit other types of social offenses. comparison would be a grave affront to the cultural and national minorities in Europe that are struggling for liberation.
various countries in Europe and throughout the world must understand how to apply, with all their implications, basic human rights to the Basque political exiles.
"In the event of persecution, any person has the right to seek and to enjoy asylum in any country." (Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.)