The Ertzaintza empties Berango Otxantegi Public Land and arrests a friend
- On Tuesday the Ertzaintza made a third attempt to evict Otxantegi Herri Lurra by court order. Dozens of people have gone to defend the land and the police have expelled all those who were in resistance on the roof, on the ground and in the tower. Three people are injured in the emptying, according to Otxantegi members.
On 7 May the eviction of Otxantegi Herri Lurra was ordered and since 08:00 dozens of people have gathered in the area of Berango (Bizkaia) at the popular breakfast. On two other occasions, the Ertzaintza has tried to evict the communal lands, but they have managed to stop it, saying that they did not have “sufficient resources” to the people gathered in response to the call of resistance, in November and April they abandoned it.
However, on Tuesday morning the Ertzaintza has appeared with twelve vans and a lot of resources, according to Otxantegi members. First of all, the members who went to take refuge have been expelled from the entrance and the land defenders and the tower house have also been shot down. They have been the last to evict the roof and the members that climbed the wooden structure of the entrance. Members who were preventing emptying have been identified. One person has been arrested and treated by two other health workers, according to the Hiruka media, who has been taken to the hospital. Otxantegi members warn that the detainee is also injured.
Hirukua journalists say the Ertzaintza has refused to inform them internally about the eviction: “Journalists have not allowed us to enter to do our work. But they have forced us to follow up from the outside.” However, they have made a direct follow-up and told throughout the morning that entrepreneurs have continued to do resistance, with phrases and shouts "Otxantegi aurrera".
Collective agro-ecological project
These lands of Otxantegi have been cultivated collectively for two years, but the court issued an order against the agri-ecological project, which first called for it to be emptied in November. The Aguirre Lipperheide family wants to sell eight hectares of agricultural land from Otxantegi for the company Amenabar to build them.
Berango City Hall and the Aguirre Lipperheide family have been speculating for years on what should be public land. That is why we started the popular project Otxantegi Herri Lurra to claim land maintenance for agriculture. Since then, we have been a clear obstacle to the rich minority. Without shame or commitment, speculators claim their interests as 'rights', even if their intentions are contrary to the interests of the citizens. That is why they want to drive us out of soils that measure only in euros."
