The youth organisation of the left Abertzale Ernai has denounced at a press conference in Vitoria what is behind the arrest process of Aitor Zelaia and Galder Barbado. Members of the organization note that there has been no “isolated” process against two young people: “Behind this is a process of humiliation and paralysis of an entire people.” However, they recognize that they have been able to transform rabies into ambition to liberate Euskal Herria and that they will firmly address their challenges in the coming months.

“We’ve closed a 4-year process that had never begun, proud of all the work done,” they said at a press conference. Ernai has denounced that this process has been a “reflection of the cruelty” of both the Spanish State and the PNV and the Ertzaintza, and has been accused of showing its “willingness to everything” against the young independentists. On the other hand, the youth organization has stressed that the priority of the PNV is to continue investing in repressive forces.

They state that the issue of Zelaia and Galder has “marked” Ernai as an organization: “He has taken part in the collective memory.” However, young people have claimed that they are “more convinced than ever” of the potential and necessity of youth organization: “The future is ours.” They wanted to make it clear that for Euskal Herria to move forward it was "because Basque youth has never stayed behind".

Keeping the challenges firmly

Among the main challenges they have announced is the adoption of the first line of the General Feminist Strike on 30 November: “We have sufficient capacity to face the challenges that the Basque Country can find and to act in the construction of the Basque Country.” However, they point out that this requires the organization of youth. “More and more young people want to fight for a Basque country without oppression.”