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Political trials against Basque political activists 17. October 2013 | basquepeaceprocess.info
Two trials against 76 Basque political activists have begun this week in Madrid.
In the 26/11 summary which begins October 14th, 40 Basque youths will be tried for their political activity in the youth organization SEGI. 34 of these young people were arrested in a large raid in 2009. Many of those arrested in that raid denounced having suffered torture during the 5 days that they were held in isolation. A great part of the accusations against them are based on testimony received then.
In the 35/02 summary, which begins October 17th, 36 well-known Abertzale activists are going to be tried who, in the majority of the cases, have held at certain times elected offices in different institutions. Others have carried out public political activities in legal political parties. Together with them 110 cultural associations (Herriko Tabernas) throughout the Basque Country are accused of civil responsibility so that those responsible also have to declare in this trial.
Both summaries pursue political objectives, in both they are going to try people whose only crime is political militancy. Also these procedures have already had serious personal consequences for those accused: almost all of them have suffered preventive custody and they have been forced to deposit high bails. The very celebration of these trials also means an additional punishment; given that for a period that could take up to 5 months, all of the accused are obliged to come to the Spanish National Court various days of the week.
The enemies of that our people achieve a democratic scenario pretend with these trials to continue putting obstacles on the path to peace, towards the resolution and towards the political normalization of the Basque Country.
These have never made any sense, much less in the new scenario begun in the Basque Country. Two years have passed since the Declaration of Aiete, a milestone that marked, together with the definitive cessation of armed activity by ETA, a beginning and after in the Basque Conflict. A new scenario has opened in our country.
In these moments in which the Basque Country is taking steps towards peace, the Spanish government insists on lengthening the conflict and the suffering that is a consequence of it. These trials suppose an attack on the will of the society of the Basque Country that has expressed opening up to the new time, a clear attempt to block a peaceful solution.
The majority of Basque society is clearly committed to a democratic resolution of the conflict, to advance to a future in peace where the rights of everyone are respected, the right of everyone to participate in politics, precisely what these nearly 80 citizens are going to be tried for in these two summaries.
These trials try to make us remember times already overcome in the minds of the citizens of the Basque Country. The state demonstrates a lack of will to advance towards peace, but among all of us we will achieve that the state sees that we aren’t willing for them to continue torpedoing the path towards a new democratic scenario in our country.
These political trials make no sense, the state has to leave aside their warlike attitude and it has to commit itself to peace and a democratic resolution.
While thousands of citizens in the Basque Country commit to the defence of democracy and peace, we must continue articulating and adding efforts in favour of the resolution and the restitution of all the rights for all the people, putting an end to all types of violence and the violations of rights which these political trials demonstrate that they continue today.
Foto:
Marta JARA/ARGAZKI PRESS
Joint press conference of the defendants of the summary 35/02 with the young people from summary 26/11.
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Provides a reliable insight on the opinion and initiatives developed by Abertzale Left in order to overcome the ongoing political conflict. We will also pay special attention to different international initiatives promoted in relation to the peace process.