BASQUE COUNTRY: TWO DEMONSTRATORS IMPRISONED FOR DEMANDING THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS

Two persons that were arrested in Saturday’s demonstration in Bilbao have been imprisoned under the accusation of “acts against the authority, public disorders, apology of terrorism, and taking part in an illegal demonstration”. The demonstrators have a broken rib, various blows and abrasions

The demonstration that congregated around 50,000 persons of all ages and backgrounds was called under the slogan “Gora Euskal Herria” (Up with the Basque Country”) in favour of civil and political rights in the Basque Country.

The Department of the Interior of the Basque Autonomous Community did not forbid this demonstration although it was said to be illegal by a judicial decree of Judge Baltasar Garzon, saying that it was organised by the so called “terrorist conspiracy” of ETA-Ekin-Joxemi Zumalabe. In his decree, Judge Baltasar Garzon affirmed, “the demonstration has not as an aim to protest against a lack of freedom of expression, of gathering or to demonstrate. The demonstration is an activity of the terrorist organization that has as aim to give cover to persons related to its structure that is being investigated”. But Judge Baltasar Garzon has not the ability to ban a manifestation under Spanish law and no communication was forwarded to the organizers declaring that the demonstration was banned.

Since Judge Baltasar Garzon forbade Batasuna (left wing independentist political party) of pursuing any political activities for three years, a de facto illegalisation of the political party, tens of demonstrations organised in solidarity with Batasuna or demanding the right of speech and to demonstrate have been banned.

The demonstration that began at half past five in the afternoon went through Autonomia boulevard silently, a silence that was only broken by waves of applauses and cries for the right of free speech. When the demonstration arrived close to Zabalburu Square, a large police operative of the Ertzaintza (police forces of the Basque Autonomous Community) blocked the way.

Before any mediation could be establish with the commanding officer of the police operative, they began charging against the demonstrators using plastic bullets, water cannons and other antiriot equipment in an illegal and premeditated manner: shooting plastic bullets at the torso and aiming water cannons directly to the demonstrators.

The charge against the demonstrators resulted in more than 40 persons injured and around 25 persons hospitalised. Between the injured a person has lost sight of an eye (as happened two weeks before in Donostia) due to the impact of a plastic bullet. The number of persons injured could had been higher, but the reaction of demonstrators that instead of panicking and running decided to seat down prevented a worse scenario.

The two demonstrators imprisoned, Pablo Giron and Oier Gorosabel, members of the association “Diaspora Vasca” (an association of Basques living overseas), got naked after the first charge of the police to denounce the brutality of the charge and to show the peaceful character of the manifestation. In the following charge they were arrested, beaten and dragged on the pavement by the police forces.

Both demonstrators have been imprisoned at the Prison of Basauri, at the request of Judge Baltasar Garzon, that wanted to set an “example” to the other persons that participated at the demonstration. Their case has been transferred to the Audiencia Nacional, a court specialising in cases of “terrorism”.


Please send your telegrams and messages of solidarity to Pablo Giron and Oier Gorosabel at:

Centro Penitenciario de Bilbao
Lehendakari Agirre, 92,
48870-Basauri (Bizkaia)

and to

Euskal Diaspora Elkartea / Asociación Diáspora Vasca

 vascosdiaspora@gruposyahoo.com.ar
 dcbilbao@cpenet.com.ar
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vascosdiaspora

For more information:
 http://euskalherria.indymedia.org/