- The Basque prisoners Ion Parot and Jakes Esnal are scheduled to hold judicial sessions in the Basque Autonomous Community in May. In line with the dates of the court sessions, Bake Bidea and Bakegile have convened concentrations on 13 May in Baiona, and on 19 May in San Juan de Luz. On 11 June, for its part, a demonstration will be held in Baiona against the reform. In the event that the judicial sessions do not improve the situation of the prisoners, in summer "an action to block the whole of Euskal Herria" is planned.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Bake Bidea and Bakegile announced further mobilisations in relation to the situation of Basque political prisoners Ion Parot and Jakes Esnal, among others. These mobilizations are part of the new phase begun at the beginning of the year. In fact, Bakebidea reported in November that by 2022 they would start a “more offensive and determined” dynamic. The reason is that no significant progress has been made in the last year with regard to the situation of Basque prisoners and refugees.
Parot and ESNAL have judicial sessions in May, the first on 13 May and the second on 19 May. During those two days concentrations will be held, on the 13th in Baiona and on the 19th in San Juan de Luz, with a clear objective: "To demonstrate that we are aware of this and to claim the application of these conditional freedoms," he added.
On 11 June, on the contrary, a mobilisation has been called in Baiona to reclaim police burdens. The expectation is that by then the decisions of the judicial sessions have already been taken or are prepared to receive them. According to Bake Bidea's president, Anaiz Funosas, "an appropriate criminal policy" must allow "the conditional release of Ion and Jakes." However, they have warned that, if the decisions do not favour the prisoners, this summer they will carry out "a blockade action on the whole of the Basque Country".
In addition to those announced, they have anticipated that in the coming weeks more disobedient actions will be carried out in the Basque Country.
Message to the electorate
In their hearing before the media on the second round to elect the new President of France, they took the opportunity to address the authorities as well: "Those who are to be elected must take the measure of the urgency of the progress of the peace process and enter their agenda with priority. They must clearly express their commitment to the democratic values of civil society in the Basque Country. We are not going to allow the next government to adopt the same attitude of indifference."
The candidates for the June legislative elections have also been questioned, and they will be publicly invited to "make known the necessity and commitment of the peace process".