Freedom of expression in conflict in Sopela
- In addition to paying the fine, on 15 January, the nine defendants of the murals that have been made on the beach of Sopela will be tried at the Getxo Palace of Justice. A motion will be tabled at the November plenary and a repulsive concentration will take place before the meeting.
There are years of the meeting of political murals held in Sopela; the last, on May 5, under the slogan Many silent gray walls full of claims and colors. However, one of the members of the groups participating in the march stated that "the day had a salty taste". The Ertzaintza identified nine people and applied the Moorish law and the Basque Autonomous Police. As a result, each participant had to pay a fine of EUR 100.
But, in addition to the fines, all these people will be tried at the Getxo Palace of Justice on 15 January by the complaint lodged by the Sopela City Council. "What happens is that the first thing they did was to remove the posters and, in their opinion, it is the nine identified who are responsible for it. On that basis, we should pay the cleaning costs. However, our lawyer is optimistic and says that this is not the case, that we will not have to pay," said the reported neighbor. The nine defendants are charged with a crime of attempted damages, although they appear not to be among the offences listed in the Penal Code that were committed by them. "If they had denounced us for malograting the facade, I guess the procedure would have been another one. We have been accused of this kind in order to be held accountable," the opposition to censorship explained. According to the City Hall, cleaning costs exceeded 2,000 euros. Fines of this kind are replaced by social work.
"Censorship is the big news."
The organizers have reported that the Sopela Local Police identified another youth by murals held on September 29, International Tax Day, to report fines and trial. Judicial summons has also been received. However, they do not yet know what is being accused of. Meanwhile, after talking about the municipal groups, the nine people identified on May 5 will present a motion at the November municipal assembly. Before the beginning of the plenary session, they will concentrate in front of the City Hall, where the session is scheduled to end.
City Hall has it "clean"
According to the mayor of Sopela, Gontzal Hermosilla, "the painted ones were carried out at the municipal level without any authorization. The cleaning of these painted ones has a cost and the Ertzaintza identified the authors of them. Therefore, it makes no sense for all sopeloztarras to bear the cost of these cleaning tasks, which is up to those responsible." The president added that "we will not give an opinion on the content of the painting, which is in the hands of the Ertzaintza".
Steilas considers out of place the effort of the Rectorate of the UPV/EHU to prevent the participation of a person through a communication at the congress on Sovereignty(s) held recently in our university. We do not understand the attempt to obstruct the academic activity of a... [+]
