- Since 8 January, the French Government has been keeping the ports of Larraine and the Stone of San Martin closed. Both are passages between Salazar and Roncal in Navarra and Zuberoa. On Sunday, November 14, about 80 people gathered at the Larraine Hill to ask for the border to be opened. Subsequently, a meal was held at the Irati-Abodi Mountain Centre, in which musicians from the area participated.
When the prefect of Pau ordered earlier this year that checks be carried out on these passageways, he mentioned as reasons for closing the borders "Islamic terrorism, drugs and illegal immigration". Since then, the neighbours of the two valleys of Zuberoa and Navarra have repeatedly called for the opening of borders. This is indicated in the document submitted to ARGIA:
“We have been conditioned by cultural and economic relations between the citizens of the three areas of life, and, above all, family relations have been trampled underfoot. The prefect of Pau, who represents the French State, despises witnesses and institutions. We do not accept the decision that conditions and hinders relations between Basque citizenship.”
As explained by the promoters of the mobilisation, last July the local authorities of Salazar and Roncal sent a letter to the Government of Navarra to make the requests for the opening of borders to the French authorities. The Foral Government replied that they would study it, but, they claim, the borders of the Foral Community of Navarra are still closed.
At a meeting held in the port of Larraine or in the port of Iturzaeta, it was pointed out that the fact that these ports cannot move freely violates the fundamental rights of citizenship and will not respect the prohibition. They have claimed "the right to travel through Euskal Herria" and have also taken advantage of the initiative to reclaim "the network between the citizens, agents and institutions of Roncal, Salazar and Zuberoa". We are committed to creating networks of relationships and to fostering collaboration.”
