Have you always lived in Lekaroz?

Yes, there I was born, raised and raised, in the beautiful corners of here and in the local community. I have a very close link, both with the citizens and with the people. We have drunk from the fresh water of Telleri, we have been lost in the hiding place through the streets and neighborhoods of the town, our ancestors have taught us what auzolan is, they have taught us about the burning of Lekaroz from the mouth of the old people… That is Lekaroz, and that is Baztan. The greatness of smallness.

What is your view of the project you want to do in Aroztegia?

This destructive macro-project that has imposed upon us is a huge barbarity. We cannot believe that this absurd project of private interest is still under way, with irregular procedures and going beyond opinion and the land of citizenship, without compassion and with total impunity. It looks like a horror movie. The project would suffer serious damage to the people, to the valley and to nature: an unsustainable model, an ecological, linguistic impact, a tourism model that does not fit the valley and a long time and so on.

In any case, the damage is not only from the future, it has already done a lot of damage to this nightmare of about 15 years of history; worries, stomach pains, headaches, fear… the people have been upside down for a long time. A few of you fill your pockets, it doesn't matter if you go past who, you ask who, you see nothing but your own gain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grasslands that have been included in the project ' s land are available. How has your experience with the company been?

Our family has a total of four plots within the project, about 20,000 square meters that want to take us away without shame. Let us not forget that this is a project of private interest. The process is being extremely long and painful. We have been walking with this for many years and Aroztegia SL. Faced with the irregular efforts made by the company on the road, the citizens concerned have been left with less and less support. How did they manage to recalify 45 hectares of agricultural land? How did they manage to convert a private interest project into PSIS or UGPS? When it took five days for UPN to complete its term of office in the Government of Navarra, to everyone’s surprise, it was the government itself that processed this project as UGPS, withdrawing competition from the Baztan City Hall and giving voice to the citizens.

This was a tremendous blow to the citizens; since then, with the support of the government, the promoter calmly took the lands of the citizens who opposed it in the project. Not only land, but also citizenship. Those affected, contrary to our will, included us in a Compensation Board, and the company intends to involve those affected in it, including profit and costs. I mean, when you want to make a sanitation network, you want to tell us to pay it.

People may not know, but at present, about 20 plots within the project are from the citizenry and from the communities, they are not theirs. There are many families in Lekaroz who have their land in the area, and we have not seen a penny. What is more, the company told the people affected that we would be reassured, that it would not mix us with the project and that everything would go well. The family that leads the project gave us their word in 2013, praising their honors and values as a guarantee.

And now?

Time reveals everything. At present, the situation is as follows: not a penny, the injured entering a compensation board against the will, with the threat of accurate costs and subtracting the land. In recent weeks, when the works began illegally, without permission or warning, they entered our lands, cut down the trees of our lands, ripped off the centenary slabs… As if it were not enough, in recent weeks we had to live the suffocating police presence, identified when we were going to see how our candles were. It is shameful and terrible.

What is the general view of the lekaroztarras on the project?

In the local consultations and assemblies it has become clear that Lekaroz says no to the project. There are a few supporters of the project, but the opinion of the majority is clear. When we talked, they didn't want to hear us. It seems that the voice of all citizens is not worth the same thing.

And the answer given by some citizens?

Only the people can save the people. It is clear and we are clear. The company Aroztegia S.L. He has achieved a great deal with power; he has put those who were in the City Hall at the time, and in his favour the Government of Navarra. But the dignity of the people is not on sale and we will not be fooled. That is what remains: the fight for citizenship.

To do so, there may be several roads, and the ones that have been put in place (platforms, camping, mobilizations…) have come very strongly, and have reinforced them lately. Everything is welcome and everything is necessary. We citizens have welcomed this type of initiative with gratitude and hope and each has decided how to participate and show our solidarity. For example, the strength, courage, time and coherence of the camp are essential and has been an initiative that has received a huge response, both from those who have been inside and from those who have collaborated from outside.

In this sense, the citizens identified a need: to offer channels of solidarity and disagreement with the project. We are aware that there are thousands of citizens who are opposed to the project, but we do not all dare to stand in front of a machine. We have therefore begun to organise a number of cultural activities by lekaroztarras. For the time being, the answer has been very positive and emotional. The objective is the same: to paralyse the project, not to let our people and the valley die, to denounce injustices and to raise awareness. This struggle is still long and all force is welcome and necessary.

What would be the impact of further progress on the project?

First of all, the emotional and psychological consequences are undeniable. Those who have already lived and those who come: anger, worry, helplessness, fear, sadness, anger, disgust… It is clear that, personally and as a people, we are very entangled. From there, I have already mentioned the negative effects of the implementation of the project: nature, simple life, language, culture, tranquility… all would lose out.

Do you want to add something to exhaust?

Thank you wholeheartedly to all the people who have contributed to the defence of our lands and our way of life. If we succeed, we will succeed together. I therefore urge everyone to approach Elizondo Square on 15 May at 17:30. They have to hear us, even if they don't want us! On one occasion, Mikel Laboa sang: In the land of Baztan, inside Baztan, I went to Baztan. Baztan of the Ancestors. Ours. How do we want for the next ones?