IRSP: Banning of Basque Party an Outrage

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday September 02, 2002 15:00 by Peadar Baile, Co-International Secretary of the IRSP - Irish Republican Socialist Party irsp at netwizards dot net 392 Falls Road Belfast BT12 6DH, Ireland 028 90 321024

IRSP: Banning of Basque Party an Outrage The International Department of the Irish Republican Socialist Party reacted with outrage today at the news that the Spanish state had outlawed the Basque nationalist party Herri Batasuna. Though Herri Batasuna is known for its sympathy with Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, it is a political party, not a guerilla movement, with the demonstrated support of a significant section of the Basque people. In fact, Herri Batasuna is the second largest party in the Basque lands.

Irish Republican Socialist Party

IRSP: Banning of Basque Party an Outrage

The International Department of the Irish Republican Socialist Party reacted with outrage today at the news that the Spanish state had outlawed the Basque nationalist party Herri Batasuna. Though Herri Batasuna is known
for its sympathy with Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, it is a political party, not a guerilla movement, with the demonstrated support of a significant section of the Basque people. In fact, Herri Batasuna is the second largest party
in the Basque lands.

Since the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) was elected to power and Felipe Gonzalez became Prime Minister, the Spanish state has waged an
unwavering campaign against Herri Batasuna. It was revealed in 1994 that Gonzalez and leading figures in the Spanish Army had been involved in the establishment of a secret paramilitary force known as the GAL, who had carried out illegal harassment, kidnapping, torture, and murder of Basque nationalist activists, killing a total of 28, between 1983 and 1987. Since that time over 200 cases of torture have been documented against Basque activists and the are at present 550 political prisoners in Spanish jails,
most them Basque.

In 1996, when the ETA declared a unilateral cease-fire, Herri Batasuna attempted to circulate a video tape explaining the ETA's proposal for
negotiating a settlement to the long standing conflict throughout Spain. In response, Gonzalez declared the tape illegal and had Herri Batasuna leader Jon Idigoras arrested for distributing the video on the charge of 'collaborating with an armed band'. At that time the Spanish government
began seeking ways to have Herri Batasuna declared illegal, which have no been realised.

Peadar Baile, Co-International Secretary of the IRSP, commented on the action of the Spanish state:

"We in the IRSP are outraged by this assault on not only the Basque community who support the national liberation of Euskadi, but on the very existence of democracy in Spain by the Spanish state. It is clear that the ruling class of Spain had no arguments with which to challenge the advocacy by Herri Batasuna of a free, united and socialist Euskadi, so instead they have sought to silence this voice of Basque militancy through banning the political party and moving to arrest many of its members.

"The IRSP believe that this action by the Spanish government is in violation of the European Union's charter on human rights and an affront to
those throughout the world who support social justice and civil liberty.

The IRSP call upon the Spanish government to restore legality to Herri Batasuna, release its members who have just been arrested, and respect the just aspirations of the Basque people for national liberation. Further, we
call upon the Irish government to recall its Ambassador from Spain to protest this assault on democracy in Spain.

"The recent actions against Herri Batasuna, and by extension against the Basque people, leads us to question aloud whether we are dealing with a
post-Falangist Spain, or whether the spirit of fascist dictator Francisco Franco continues to permeate the Spanish ruling class. Certainly Franco's long war on the national indepence and political organisations of the Basque lands appears to be continuing unabated."

In closing, the IRSP spokesperson said:

"The IRSP reiterate their deepest solidarity with Herri Batasuna and all those struggling for national liberation and socialism in the Basque lands
and condemn the Spanish government for their recent actions in depriving Herri Batasuna of its legal status and its baseless arrests of the leadership of the party. We urge all organisations and individuals around
the globe who oppose imperialism and support the struggle for social justice, human rights, and political freedom to join us in the defense of
Herri Batasuna."

ENDS