Call Of Support For Basque Prisoners

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Wednesday December 07, 2005 00:09 by prisoner solidarity

29 social organisations call demo in support of prisoners

Groups, movements and trade unions from different spheres agree on manifesto backing transfer of prisoners back to the Basque Country

Unity In Support Of Basque Prisoners

Ainhoa Sarasola – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Euskal presoak Euskal Herrira, dagozkien eskubideen jabe (Basque prisoners to the Basque Country, in possession of their corresponding rights) is the slogan for the national demonstration called by 29 social players from different spheres in the Basque Country. The march has been arranged for January 7 in Bilbo (Bilbao) and is scheduled to set out from the Aita Donostia square. But the call to protest about the situation of Basque prisoners is not the only joint initiative agreed on by the players. In a press briefing in Donostia (San Sebastian) yesterday they presented a manifesto that they had all signed.

In view of the “seriousness” of the prison policy the players have decided to draw up a joint manifesto claiming Basque prisoners’ rights. The document has the signatures of seven trade unions (ELA, LAB, ESK, EILAS, Hiru, EHNE and the ELB) and numerous groups, organisations and movements from different social spheres (AEK, Eguzki- environmental group, Herria 2000 Eliza-church group, Segi-Basque nationalist left youth, Duina, Bilgune Feminista, Etxerat, EHE-group supporting the Basque language , IA-Basque nationalist students, ESAIT, TAT, Iratzarri, Internationalist Committees plus another ten). The Pro-Amnesty Movement (AAM-Amnistiaren Aldeko Mugimendiak) held a meeting with some of them at the weekend and many others later pledged their support for what had been agreed.

The document, read out at yesterday’s press conference by Jabi Garnika of LAB and Ramon Irazu of ELA, says there are 700 Basque prisoners, “because of the implementing of emergency rules in line with the so-called ‘fight against terrorism’”. The manifesto says 98% of Basque prisoners are outside the Basque Country and in general are enduring harsh conditions of existence. The players feel that their sentences are also affecting their relatives and provide figures to support this claim: the Basque prisoners are on average 724 km from home, their relatives spend 13,812 euros a year travelling to visit them, 16 people have died in car accidents while travelling to and from the prisons and this year 28 have suffered road accidents. In the manifesto all kinds of organisations have called on the Spanish and French Governments to uphold the rights that correspond to them.

But the document is calling not only on the two States but on members of the public as well. People are being asked to take part in the initiatives in favour of the prisoners “on the last Friday of every month especially”, to publicise the symbol in support of getting Basque prisoners transferred back to the Basque Country, to identify with the demands in favour of the prisoners and to take a pro-active stance, in general.

Source:Berria.info