Basque Hunger Striker Force Fed

by Irish Basque Committees Thu Sep 21, 2006 16:58

Inaki De Juana is being supported by former hunger strikers Laurence McKeown and Jackie McMullan, who ask the Irish people to do the same.

by Titiritero Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:49

I'm sorry but I seem to find an important error in the previous post. De Juana is not a political prisoner, but a terrorist that killed people. A political prisoner is somebody that goes to jail for his/her ideas. De Juana went to jail because he killed people (regardless of any reasoning behind the actions).

About the comment asking for support for De Juana from the Irish people, I'm sure the Irish have much better things to do than to worry about a killer that is annoyed because he's been forced to pay for his crimes.

I'm sure many victims from De Juana and his terrorist colleagues would have been happy of being given an opportunity to live, and now are dead or with permanent injuries, while he is "suffering" because the Government doesn't let him die. As far as I'm concerned, I would let him die and save the prison resources for the prisoners that wish to rehabilitate and go back to society in peace...

by Con Carroll Fri Sep 22, 2006 17:58

I find Titiritero comments obscene
she/he is entiteled to their opinion

by pat c Fri Sep 22, 2006 18:05

Inaki is a POW. He was arrested under special laws, tried in a special court by special judges under special legislation. he was given a special sentence and was confined in special prison.

If Inaki is just a criminal then why wasnt he treated like one under ordinary laws?

by Basque Solidarity Fri Sep 22, 2006 18:33

Agree with Pat C.

solidarity to Basque political prisoners hope people will realise the similarities with the struggle here.

by Michael Fri Sep 22, 2006 19:43

Why are you so obsessed with helping to break up Spain. Its pure hypocracy! On one side you want a united ireland and the other a divided Spain. Oh God, I hate nationalism, the most irrational of all isms.

by pat c Fri Sep 22, 2006 19:56

Think of the Spanish State as being a United Kingdom. Parts of that United Kingdom which never had a choice about joining wish to leave.

by Michael Fri Sep 22, 2006 20:09

Then let us break up every single country on earth. Why not create 45 countries out of china, 56 out of russia, 3 out of south africa, 78 out India, 24 out of indonesia, lets call corsica and sardinia independent republics. The list is endless. People are divided by class not by birth right, race etc.

by Chris Murray - . Sat Sep 23, 2006 13:09

The people of the Basque have a very strong union through their language.
Their choice of expression- I reffered to it before as a mother tongue.

The poem included with the comment was deleted (C+P)
so won't attempt it again. Google Gabriel Aresti, the Basque poet.

The people of Ireland have a very strong relationship with their
Mother -tongue which is bastardised by gloablisation and centralised
control be it through the Centralised control of the Roman church or the hegemony
of the neo-liberal agenda.
Hence, the argument of cultural debasement and attacks
by the multis on Places like Tara- wherein the legends and oral history of peoples
are cherished and disseminated.
One of the casualties of US/UK wars is always the museums, the cultural centres,
the imposition of western democratic ideals on indigenious peoples.

Aresti refers to Poetry as a hammer.
Lorca- the poet of Spain, murdered during the Spainish Civil War had been working very hard
on the gypsy ballads, the oral tales and folk music of his region when
he was murdered. His body was never found.

The fight of a people to retain their expression against vast hegemonies
and neo-liberal interests is a character of many wars in this and the last century
including in Ireland, where Yeats and Synge and Gregory re-invigorated
the oral history of a colonised people.

by Michael Sat Sep 23, 2006 14:47

The state of the world is pretty bleak, changing climate, land erosions, natural disasters, mass poverty and migration of people, wars are on the rise, depletion of natural resources etc.

I don't think mankind should waste time and energy on the revival of ancient borders, customs and languages. Its a nice and fine thing to do if the world were in a healthy state. But its 5 to 12 and I am worried that some people on the left are wasting their time by being occupied with nationalism.

Borders and cultural difference become secondary once mankind will fight over water and clean air.

by Totti Sat Sep 23, 2006 14:57

Nationalism is a failed ideology of the last century.

by Chris Murray - . Sat Sep 23, 2006 16:00

The fight for water and air, clean landscape is something that has to be fought on a globalised level, because of the interests of those who would have us sacrifice democratic ideals Including Universal suffrage are not necessarily vested in planetary protection.

Determinism , such as the Basque struggle is a re-claim of oral language
against a visible dilution of Planetary resources by a monied corporate agenda
driven solely by Greed.

Globalised empowerment of socieities abused by interests which advance
war for Oil and genocidal politics for geo-political purposes are reactions to erosions
of democratic rights that we take for granted. Localised opposition to western hegemony
is violently suppressed-witness Lebanon. The placing of the Israeli satellite which is
sympathetic to the Bush/Blair axis has been a war, is a war fought on an environmental
level and in the suppression of a race-be it through the building of the wall in Palestine
or the recent 'incursion to secure borders'.

People at local level who are fighting for political rights, especially in the Americas
and the fights are small communities versus the capitalist interests in water and
mining rights are doing so because they are on the front-line.

Cultural debasement and the imposition of made-up democracy which is a
facsimile of what the people in Spain/Ireland/Guatemala fought for is being
offered in exchange for the reality of real rights- those of assembly/expression/
religious freedom. This is happening right now in Ireland in Pallaskenry, Tara
and Rossport. it happened in the Coombe Hospital and it is happening to
the prisoner in the Basque. we are blithely allowing serious human rights
abuses by our governments in exchange for an ideology of freedom based
on greed and centralised power.

The fights you mention for environment , water and clean air cannot be
accomplished by a centralised non-democratic set of institutions on a global
scale if their interests( which are perfectly transparent) are vested in the abuse
of these resources. They can only be accomplished through local empowerment
which is not nationalism , as you would translate it.

by Michael Sat Sep 23, 2006 19:03

I do agree on most points and do understand your argument for the need of true local self governance in order to counterbalance the current uni-lateral threat of a neo-liberal agenda driven by the US and their EU satellite states.

But more states and autonomos regions will bring more buerocracy and divisions among people, as we can see in the most recent break up of serbia-montenegro. At the end, all these tiny little states, regions and provinces will be capitalist in nature anyway. It will become much harder to co-ordinate environmental and social actions, as every state will defend their own national interest.

I do believe in the need of a centralised government but one that acts with reason and serving the needs of all people and the environment. Ideally a UN government, that rationally and without the drive for profit organises and controls the use of resources. It sound very much un-democratric but I do not see another way out of the planet's crisis.

Just out of interest, what would an independent Basque state look like? If its just another capitalist state within the EU, than might leave Spain better as it is.

by réabhlóid Sat Sep 23, 2006 19:41

Arguing that someone is breaking up Spain is ridiculous. In fact Spain and France break the Basque Country in two (south and north). Spain has been for 500 years an artificial state created in the interests of early capitalism and nowadays is nothing more than a nations massive jail. The right of Basques to reunification is just as logical a right as the right of the Irish is. Would you defend then that the 26 counties state should still be part of Great Britain? and so the USA should? How happy would all the capitalists and pro-american empire globalization ones be with just a single culture, single language, one-way thinking...etc. to make all their business much more easy and profitable.
It's the duty of all oppresed to end all injustices both national and social.
And to "Titiritero" (very good nickname "puppet master or clown") by the way, Inaki De Juana did his full sentence and under Spanish laws he should have been released. There are another 8 prisoners in the same situation and another 108 should have been released under parole as the Spanish laws say. The majority of Basque people have asked for the repatriation of all Basque prisoners hundreds of times and by hundreds of different means but nowadays, even when there is a unilateral cease-fire from ETA the Spanish state remain deaf.
Reading is the best medicine against fascism.
Basques and Irish we shared many things in the past, we share in the present and for sure we'll share in the future because we are in the same side of the barricade fighting for a better world free of all oppression. The best thing we can do to contribute to this goal is fighting for our countries' social and national liberation as cubans did before, south africans, palestinians, brazilians, argentinians, iraqis...and strengthening all solidarity links.

"Solidarity is the tenderness of the peoples". Ernesto "Ché" Gebara de la Serna Lynch. (good example of a Basque-Irish mixture, Gebara and Lynch)

by Gonzales Sat Sep 23, 2006 20:45

ETA's actions are sickening

by Michael Sat Sep 23, 2006 20:51

Leave Che Guevara out of it. Never would Che have supported these attrocities on the spanish civilian population.

ETA = NSDAP

by BobGreen Sun Sep 24, 2006 02:22

That murderous terrorist can call himself lucky to be fed at all. People killed by his actions were not so lucky.

by Séamus Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:47

So once again the violence of the oppressed is condemned while there is silence on the violence of the powerful.

by Totti Sun Sep 24, 2006 13:57

I can understand the psychological motivation of a female palestinian succicide bomber, as their is absolute no hope in the occupied lands , extrem poverty, daily killings and humiliations by the israeli army.

What I can't understand is with what cold and calculated motivation ETA has struck at defensless spanish civilians. The basque country is not even near the palestinian situation. Yes the basque people have a right to self government, achieved with the blood of innocent women and children???

And then some people on this forum decorate themselves with Che Guevara. That man would never ever have used tactics like killing innocent people. Che was an internationalist and a friend of all working class people be it castillian, american, basque, cuban etc.

The ETA prisoners, for the sake of peace should be let out of prison.

by Gonzales Sun Sep 24, 2006 14:13

Totti, what you mean by "for the sake of peace"? They should stay in prison until the end of their lives.

Seamus, can you list some bloody attrocities committed by the spanish state (post franco era) against civilians please?

by liv tyler the elfin wonder says "God bless Cymru" Sun Sep 24, 2006 14:50

If the Spanish "political party" law is adjusted to allow HB to stand for election (& not the current EHAK fudge) then the coalition deals between the political parties of the Basque (& Navarra) which took up the "vacuum" during the previous "illegalisation" are affected.

Votes translate into political representation & power which in turn translate into jobs & money. I note that the northern Ireland peace process has for the most part got well beyond burning buses & releasing prisoners (who declared themselves in support of the process of "democratisiation, normality, blaa blaa") but still haven't got an assembly..... yet are collecting their wages.

the bottom line in some politics really is :- "m-o-n-e-y".

the last vote was reported in detail by me here, you will note that the Basques vote nationalist & left. Yes they do. They choose between a myriad of left of centre & nationalist options. a Very odd electorate :-

http://indymedia.ie/article/69442

by Michael Sun Sep 24, 2006 14:53

Just listenend to an interview with the Batsuna (ETA's political wing) leader Arnaldo Otegi. He wants to not only break up Spain but also France. Its going a step to far now. There are minorities in every country on earth and the basque people are not more special than others.

What have the french ever done to them? Nothing, quite the opposite. The french were great supporters of the basque struggle especially against Franco. Without France, that fascist Franco would have taken the whole of the basque country.

Are they going to bomb Paris now? That's what you get for helping others.

Nationlism is defo one of mankind's diseases.

by French Jacobite - Guillotine Mon Sep 25, 2006 00:54

Check out this link about spanish state terror:

www.ehj-navarre.org/navarre/navarre_torture.html

but I doubt you interested in the truth.

by Titiritero Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:03

So according to French Jacobite, just giving a random website is finding the TRUTH. Well, if state terrorism and torture are so widespread as it says on that link, why there's not a single line about it on the Amnesty International website? Or maybe they're suspicious as well. Or why the U.N. has De Juana and his friends in their list of Terrorist organisations?

Responding to PAt C, De Juana is judged under special provisions because he's a terrorist, not because he's a basque. If you belong to a terrorist organisation, no matter ETA, IRA, Al-Queda or whatever, you'll be judged in the highest tribunal, that's why. Calling him and his colleagues political prisoners is an insult to all his victims, their families, and the Spanish people in general.

Many basques had had to emigrate to neighbouring regions because they just think different to De Juana, and for them, calling ETA basques is also an insult. They have their language, their culture, their traditions, but they have to move to Cantabria (Laredo and Castro Urdiales), Burgos (Miranda de Ebro), La Rioja (Logroño) because they can't live in peace at home, under risk of having their own businesses burned, cars attacked, etc. That's the saddest thing of all, not that they try to break up from Spain, but that they've splitted the basques and force many to emigrate to be able to live peacefully.

Seeing some Irish supporting them only saddens me. My only consolation is that they are either ignorant of the situation or they're terrorist like them.

by Caobhin Mon Sep 25, 2006 14:22

Glad that you’re saddened Irish people recognise the Basques right to freedom both from torture and from Madrid rule. Your pathetic mixture of lies and fantasy (Basque refugees from Baque nationalism/ no state torture or terrorism in Spain) have on the other hand given me a good laugh, thanks.

Gora Euskadi.

by Zorglub Mon Sep 25, 2006 15:17

What lies are you talking about? What fantasies? Have you ever been to the Basque country? Do you know any basques apart from De Juana's friends?

-Give me an example of torture in a Spanish prison published by a 3rd party with no interest on it. Exclude Spanish government or pro-ETA groups, and mention one with international reputation (i.e. Amnesty International as mentioned above) that has any records about this.

-In Burgos there're loads of ertxainas (Basque autonomic police) living, that commute every day to their workplaces in the basque country, because they are afraid of living in their home land, in case they or their families get killed by De Juana & Co, those poor "political" prisoners.

-If you pass by Castro Urdiales, you'll see all the big houses of Bilbao businessmen, that have to move out of their city because of the fear of ETA and their threatening letters looking for money or they and their families would be kidnapped.

There are basques that want to defend their ideas peacefully, not imposing them, and they rule the Basque government and have presence in the Spanish parliament (PNV, EA,...), and there're others (calling them Basques wouldn't be fair to the Basque people) that simply kill people. That is the difference.

The only thing I agree with you, Caobhin, is... Gora Euskadi!

by Rk Mon Sep 25, 2006 18:00

Finally, after many years-it seems that people who use this website realise what sheer and utter s*um ETA are. Not only have they terrorised people throughout the kingdom of Spain, they have saved the worst for their fellow Basques-bribery, extortion, arson, threats, terror murder-that is their only legacy.

Someday there will hopefully be peace within the Basque segment of the Spanish kingdom, but not while any sizeable percentage of the population cling to these sheer bloody terrorists as their standard bearers.

by French Jacobin Mon Sep 25, 2006 18:46

When the rulers of this world murder innocent civilians in their thousands as recentely seen in lebanon and iraq, then their call it collateral damage something to be accepted and lived with.

When the oppressed react on a smaller scale they call it barbarism, terrorism, tyranny, insurgency etc.

The world is full of lies and hypocracy. Another year of 1789, is what's needed here.

by Eamon Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:37

Watch this documentary by an Aussie channel

The Spanish Inquisition.

For years now, the Basque people of Spain have alleged that Spanish police have regularly tortured suspects, arrested for having connections with the Basque separatist group ETA. Recently, those allegations have been backed up by the UN Human Rights Commission. This disturbing story actually comes at an interesting time in the decades-long Basque conflict.

Source http://news.sbs.com.au/dateline/index.php?page=archive&...4-05#

Documentary (Real Player file)
http://203.15.102.143:8080/ramgen/media/4978dl_060404a.rm

by Eamon Tue Oct 10, 2006 13:12

of course Amnesty International reports about spanish torture, terrorism...there is no freedom of expresion and opinion and right of association in the Basque Country! if u haven't heard about them, it's cause the spanish papers that u read don't wanna mention it !

Amnesty International
...One of the organization’s main and longstanding concerns relates to the legislation permitting extended incommunicado detention following arrest, a concern confirmed by the number and consistency of complaints of torture and ill-treatment in such cases which have been studied by Amnesty International as well as other non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations. Other concerns that Amnesty International has brought to the attention of the Spanish authorities and which directly affect the Basque Country, but are clearly not exclusive to it, are those relating to the effective impunity of public officials charged with crimes relating to human rights violations such as torture and ill-treatment and the dispersal of prisoners far from their homes...

A few Amnesty International reports about spanish repression

-Press Release: closure of basque newspaper must be investigated promptly.
...The precautionary closure of Egunkaria follows the unrelated case of the closure of the Basque newspaper Egin by a National Court judge in 1998. Egin was suspected of printing coded messages to ETA and of being an instrument of "terrorism". The closure order was lifted a year later but a trial hearing has still not taken place...
...However, an action as serious as the closure of a newspaper, and the arrest of those involved in its production - has clearly injurious consequences for the fundamental right to freedom of expression", Amnesty International warned."It is, therefore, imperative that any judicial investigation is prompt and thorough".
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGEUR410022003

-Press Release: the right to peaceful protest must be upheld in Basque Country
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGEUR410112002

I just found all this in a minute , SOURCE Amnesty International's official web page !!!!

by iosaf Tue Oct 10, 2006 21:21

* His hunger strike ended & he is due to be transferred to a hospital in Madrid on the 12th of October (this Thursday) which is a Spanish state holiday to celebrate the constitution.

* The Judiciary have announced that his sentance will be reduced. He was convicted of 25 counts of murder, each of which carry 40 years in jail. Spanish law like many other legal systems sees those sentances run one after the other. Custodial sentances of many hundreds of years (even thousands) are quite common.

* Indications are the sentance left to run will be reduced to 6 years.

* Basque independence groups (meaning HB and AK) have reportedly told their grass-roots that he will be free (on the street) in 2 years.

* the Right wing press in the Spanish state is arguing that this reduction (a decision of the Judiciary) came immediately after contacts between the Zapatero executive branch of government and the still un-constitutional groupings of HB and ETA. & thus the "equal but different & always independent pillars of good government" have been undermined by ZP.

* Over ten young adults have appeared before the courts charged with kale borraka activity throughout the summer which saw buses, party political offices, magistrate offices & other representations of the Spanish state & its agents fire-bombed. They face custodial sentances of between 6 and 13 years.

by iosaf Wed Oct 25, 2006 21:38

(1) correction on death toll : it was not "over 1000" it was in fact 928. I provided an article which linked to a site which lists all those killed by political violence in the Spanish state since the formation of ETA till the latest ceasefire.
you may read it the article entitled "the Absent" here :- http://indymedia.ie/article/74873 or go directly to the list here http://www.testimoniosvictimasterrorismo.com/
Updates

(1) The Supreme Tribunal of the Spanish state has decided this week to implement a search of all the "Herroika tabernas" to ascertain funding links to ETA. These are pubs associated with HB, Batasuna or EH. Accordingly the "guardia civil" searched many of these pubs at gunpoint in both the Basque country and Navarra on Monday.

(2) ETA have been credited with robbing ammunitions & firearms (over 300 pistols) in France on Tuesday by security forces in both France & Spain.

(3) The Main parties of Spanish state representation at EU level brought their division on the "peace process" to the EU this week. the EU has declared support for the peace process (it made 3 such declarations in support of the Irish / British process). The PP are persistent in opposing the process & amidst congratulations to the Judiciary for seraching teh pubs declared that without disarmament and apologies to victims there can be no rendition / surrender to the terrorists.

(4) the RC church in Spain declared that no member of the Roman Catholic communion is engaged in discussions with ETA and would only do so in any case to demand violence be abandoned & pardon sought. This of course makes one wonder if Alex Reid the famed Belfast cleric who seven months ago told everyone he's talked to ETA is kathurlick enough for the Spanish church.