- One of the last offensives of the rulings against the Basque Country has been that which has called into question a Gipuzkoan public entity, Kabia, with a ruling contrary to the established linguistic profiles. The ruling considers that the requirements in Euskera established in the process of stabilizing the workforce intend to "maximize" the normalization of Euskera, which is wrong. Kabia is an autonomous agency dedicated to the care of the elderly and in situations of dependency, based in 16 localities of Gipuzkoa, attached to the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. Several Basque associations in these localities have today published a manifesto under the motto "We have the right to be cared for in Euskera".
On Monday, a number of concentrations were held on this Kabia affair convened by the Governing Council. And on Tuesday there are some others, for example in Irun (poster, for illustration, of the local call).
The following associations have today published the following document: The most prominent matches are Aitzondo (Irun), Dobera (Hernani), Eta Kitto (Eibar), Galtzaundi (Tolosa) and Aritz (Bergara).
We have the right to be treated in Euskera
In the call for employment for the consolidation of jobs in nursing homes for the elderly and/or dependent on our peoples, we have been aware of a ruling contrary to linguistic profiles. The associations of Euskera are concerned, time and again, with the package of judgments we have received from the courts against the measures aimed at the normalization of Euskera. The final judgment, once again, seeks to hinder the revitalization of the Basque Country and is contrary to the linguistic rights of the citizens.
Public services must guarantee the linguistic rights of citizens and this judgment is in the opposite direction. The requirement of the knowledge of the Basque Country in jobs that are directly related to citizenship, ensures the guarantee of the linguistic rights of all citizens. If we are not guaranteed care in Euskera, Euskaldunes are prevented from using Euskera.
In this case, moreover, the sentence affects nursing homes, violating the rights of one of the most vulnerable sectors of our peoples. It is the elderly or those in a situation of dependency who receive the service directly and, moreover, in these situations, language is truly determinant to receive adequate care. It is a condition and guarantee for the care of the most vulnerable people, with dignity and using their own language, that all candidates are able to provide services and care in Basque. Because public services cannot prevent us from using our language. The ruling obtained, however, removes the guarantee to citizens to be attended in Basque at the headquarters of the Kabia organization.
In the same direction we are collecting one sentence after another, and it is clear that these are not specific cases: what we have before us is a strategy and an aggression against the Basque people. In recent years, courts are multiplying sentences against measures based on a broad consensus aimed at revitalizing Euskera. Therefore, beyond the process of revitalization of the Basque Country, seeing that equality, justice and social cohesion are at stake, we ask the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa to resort to the final ruling. On the other hand, we ask the other competent institutions to develop the legal regulations, each from their competences, to take the necessary steps to ensure strong legal support for the process of revitalizing the Basque Country.
In the judgments given in the context of the judicial offensive, it is constant that the Basque Country is an instrument of exclusion. We, on the other hand, are clear that Euskera has a very different driving force in our society: Euskera is an essential element for social cohesion, equality and social justice. It is time to stop the attacks on Euskera, to take steps in the normalization of our language and to strengthen the use of Euskera by all.
28 October 2024.