The truth is that, in this respect, something historic has happened this Saturday – in the real sense of the word – because in this demonstration there was for the first time the representation of a party in the Spanish Government. The motto of the demonstration was “now the prisoners”, but taking into account the requests of the social representatives, it could also be “now the Government of Spain”.

Josetxo Arrieta, by Elkarrekin Podemos, spoke on behalf of the left-wing coalition at a press conference prior to the start of the demonstration at the Hotel Silken: “We are here from the perspective of human rights,” he stressed. He pointed out that the rights of prisoners are being violated and that this situation must be put to an end. He has also asked the prisoners to recognize the damage caused and also to acknowledge that ETA’s violence was unfair.” The representative of the party, who has five ministers in the Spanish Government, has said so. How can this help ensure that significant steps are taken once and for all in the area of prisoners' rights? After so many laps into the world in all the demonstrations and trips to prisons, pessimism is tenderly imposed on any other feeling... but the one who is “condemned to hope” has to leave a loophole in optimism.

EH Bildu Coordinator, Arnaldo Otegi, ELA Secretary General, Mitxel Lakuntza, LAB Secretary General Garbiñe Aranburu, Steilas Ana Pérez Representative, ERC Parliamentarian Nuria Pica, JxCat Parliamentarian Eduardo Pujol and Albert Cup Deputy have also made statements. Nuances and nuances, the words of all have been very similar, showing solidarity to the prisoners and their families and demanding that the Spanish Government take steps once and for all.

The demonstration, supported by a broad representation of Basque society, has, as in recent years, been supported by CCOO and UGT. In fact, as far as delegations are concerned, it is easier to say who has not supported: PNV, PSOE, Forces de Suma de Navarra and Vox.

Rosa Rodero and Asun Lasa

The demonstration started at 17:20 hours from La Box, and the whole Autonomy street was already full of people. The applause has been constant as the head of the demonstration, which has taken place in Bilbao, has progressed. Representatives of ETXERAT and Sare participated in the banner, and in the centre were Rosa Rodero, wife of the ertzaina killed by ETA Joseba Goikoetxea, and Asun Lasa, sister of Josean Lasa killed by the GAL. The banner had to open the street between applause and "Euskal Presoak Euskal Herrira". It has already become customary, especially when there are a lot of people, but most people are no longer behind the head of the demonstration; in the Box there are a few thousand, but most people make a demonstration before the banner, taking almost all the road and sidewalk to the City Hall. Good weather always accompanies and since the first hour of the morning there has been a great influx of people, especially in the Casco Viejo de Bilbao. Without going into concrete accounts, it is clear that tens of thousands of people have participated in the demonstration, according to Gara, which has had more than 70,000 people. In Baiona, according to the organization, the death toll is 10,000.

The head has hardly come to Zabalburu, where representatives of the Network have expressed themselves to respect the rights of the Basque prisoners, to bring the prisoners of Euskal Herria closer together, to promote changes of degree, both for human rights and for the process of coexistence in Basque society. And again I appeal to the Spanish Government: now is the time, “if not now, when will it be? ", concluded Joseba Azkarraga.

The Gaita group has taken its head in Zabalburu, forcibly dismissing Mikel Laboa’s “first notes of a march.” Despite the banners, a delegation from Madrid was approaching, saying: “Madrid is with the Basque Country,” they shouted in Spanish. We know that is not true, but how do people appreciate such courageous solidarity! The march is a magnificent showcase and several groups use the route to show their demands, including delegations from the same Moroccan groups that have shown photographs of their prisoners. The Mirentxin vans were in the center of Hurtado Amezaga: Clairveaux 945 kilometers, Almería 1040... and above the vehicles have deployed a giant banner announcing that in August of this year, leaving the road to the sea, they will leave Baiona to Bilbao.

The demonstration ended in the City Hall of Bilbao with a manifesto read by Rosa Rodero and Asun Lasa in Spanish and in Basque: applauding the new time, they have sent a message to the multitude of human rights and coexistence that want to leave their sons and daughters a better situation than they have had. They have gradually underlined that Basque society is making progress in the processes of reconciliation and empathy, but it is not enough, and they have appealed to the Government of Spain to take steps in this direction. They brought to the conference the situation of the sick prisoners and mentioned Angel Ochoa of Eribe, who died last year, who died four months after being released, when long before he had to be on the street.

Annual validity

We just ended up writing the chronicle and we've climbed by Hurtado Amezaga against the demonstration. About to reach Zabalburu we met the last demonstrators at the junction of Euskalduna Street. Once the central event was over, thousands of people continued to descend through the city streets to concentrate on the City Hall.

More than 700 Basque prisoners have passed through the prisons of the Spanish and French states at some point in time when 565 beats were heard and today 250 dreams of freedom are concentrated in other cells. The demonstration in Bilbao has ended with the protests of the demonstrators. One more, to see if it's the last one, again, to see if next year we don't see ourselves here -- which is repeated over and over again among the people who are here every year. Or, among other things, as you sometimes hear, "What is the purpose of this annual procession? ". I am not going to add the chronicle, but today at least I have stayed with the words of ETXERAT spokesman Urtzi Errazkin, to the media. He pointed out that this weekend is the only one who does not make visits, “but we have taken the strength we need for the whole year since today.”

As in recent years, following the massive mobilization called by Sare, the Pro Amnesty and Anti-Repression Movement manifested itself in the Old Town of Bilbao under the motto "Fight is legitimate. Total amnesty."

"Fighting is legitimate. Under the motto "Amnesty Total", the demonstration called by the Pro Amnesty and Anti-Repression Movement started from the Plaza de los Hermanos Etxebarrieta de Bilbao #U1Bilbao pic.twitter.com/M8757QGXZO

— Amaia Lekunberri (@amaialekunberri) January 11, 2020