argia.eus
INPRIMATU
International Day of Political Prisoners calls for the freedom of Basque prisoners
  • Demonstrations were held in the capitals of Hego Euskal Herria during the International Day of Political Prisoners. Sortu has made the appeal and thousands of people have taken to the streets under the slogan 'Askatasuna' to call for the freedom of the prisoners.
Oihane Arretxea Bereziartua @oihane_arretxea 2021eko apirilaren 19a
Sortuk deitutako Iruñako mobilizazioa Preso Politikoen Nazioarteko Egunean. Argazkia: Ekinklik Argazkiak.

Sortu has organized demonstrations in the capitals of Hego Euskal Herria on the occasion of the International Day of Political Prisoners. Thousands of people took to the streets to demand the release of imprisoned prisoners. In Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastián the mobilizations were held at noon and in Pamplona and Vitoria-Gasteiz in the afternoon.

The member of the Sortu National Council, Haimar Altuna, made statements at the end of the mobilization in Donostia-San Sebastián and first sent a "more sensitive hug" to all Basque political prisoners, exiled and deported, "we need you at home and with us, we have a people and we release ourselves together". He also sent encouragement to "political prisoners imprisoned for their work for the freedom of other oppressed nations and peoples" in prison. The mayor of Bilbao stressed that in the streets of Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pamplona and Donostia-San Sebastián not only the freedom of Basque political prisoners, refugees and deportees has been claimed, but also the freedom of Euskal Herria.

In his opinion, there is basically "a political conflict" that has led to "9,000 Basque citizens in jail and that has not yet been resolved". "Political prisoners are imprisoned because the states continue to deny Euskal Herria and because for decades they have not wanted to give a democratic solution to this political problem," he added.

"A decade after the cessation of ETA's armed activity, how is it possible that there are still political prisoners, fled and deported? How is it still possible for all of them to implement emergency policy measures? ". Altuna said the answer is clear: "Each of them for states, because it is an important asset in the struggle for independence." He added that states "have learned enough" because they are captivated by being an effective way of harming the independence project and have therefore learned it.

"Provoke a major crack"

However, Altuna added that "the fight from prisons, from the street, from the institutions, has borne fruit and has succeeded in breaking the blockade". "In recent months, penitentiary policy has been humanized a little through approximations, the end of isolation or the increase of second degrees."

"We cannot relax in any way, what we have to do is multiply the effort made so far," he said, adding that the goal was clear: "Now, this anteater needs to be clearer if we want to put the prisoners home. So that all prisoners, escapes and political deportees can be released sooner than later from state claws."

In this regard, he warned that the political conflict that Euskal Herria has with the states will remain "intact" after the return of prisoners, fled and deported. "Do not doubt that by returning home we will be able to accelerate the road to the freedom of Euskal Herria and that they will be with us in the struggle for the freedom of Euskal Herria, for the independence of Euskal Herria," he concluded.