- Some 500 international delegates have been quoted at the congress held in Caracas from 21 to 24 June. In particular, resolutions have been adopted in favour of self-determination and amnesty. At the closing ceremony, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, has described Euskal Herria as a “brave and rebellious” country.
The Congress of the Peoples of the World held these days in Caracas has joined the XIX Congress of Heads of State of ALBA TCP, the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of America, and therefore all the presidents of ALBA, including those of Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua or Dominica, have participated.
More than 500 representatives of political, social and trade union actors from all over the world have participated in the congress. One of the objectives has been the construction of a “common agenda” of the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial left in the world. Euskal Herria has also been represented.
After three days of debate and work, all the participants have agreed on a manifesto in which they are in favor of the right to self-determination of Euskal Herria. They have taken it up: “We wish to give our full support to the legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination of Puerto Rico, Galicia, the Basque Country, Catalonia and the Canary Islands.”
On behalf of the delegation of Euskal Herria, Asier Altuna de sortu welcomed the resolution on self-determination and stressed that “the acceptance of the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples is a necessary condition for building the world of peoples”.
20 Latin American heads of state, the "legitimate right to self-determination" of Euskal Herria, Catalunya and Galiza. https://t.co/TSTLwcLsDI
— Ibai Trebiño (@ibaitrebino) June 27, 2021
Political prisoners and amnesty
The situation of political prisoners and exiles in the world, especially Catalan political prisoners, has been the subject of debate during the World Congress of the Peoples of the World. Through a resolution, they expressed their solidarity with the Catalan political prisoners and demanded their "freedom and amnesty" from Catalan prisoners. This gesture of solidarity has been added to the pardons announced by the Spanish Government President, Pedro Sánchez. In statements to Argia, Maria Sirvent, representative of the Cup, has been "satisfied" by the resolution adopted by Congress. However, the former Cup Member reiterated his commitment to amnesty: “Pedro Sánchez’s gesture is a whitish face, we cannot forget that there are some 4,000 retaliations in Catalonia since October 1, 2017. Amnesty is the only way forward.”
Maduro: “Euskal Herria is a rebel and courageous people”
The congress closed with the ALBA-TCP session. Alberto Garro, mayor of the Vizcain town of Ziortza-Bolibar, had the opportunity to speak about the origin of Simón Bolívar.
In this context, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, referred to Euskal Herria: “In Euskal Herria, they love us, they respect us, and that is why we also love the Basques.” Maduro highlighted the Basque origin of the liberator Simon Bolibar and considered Euskal Herria a “rebellious and courageous people”. In addition, the Bolivarian President announced that he will visit Euskal Herria "very soon".