The 1979 Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua must be taken into account when analysing the internationalist movement of Euskal Herria, no, Liberation. “The Nicaraguan process stirred up the consciences of Basque citizens. Thus, we were curious about what was beyond the border,” says Juan José Peciña, a former member of Askapena.

The concern for external conflicts led a sector of society to organize itself, creating local internationalist groups. To guarantee its relationship, the Coordinator of Solidarity Committees of the Basque Country was born, a meeting in which a wide range of people can be found who joined the internationalist organizations of the Basque Country. “It was a plural institution. Therefore, when we began to delve into internationalism, very different strategies appeared,” says Peciña.

Among other issues, the coordinator questioned the role of Euskal Herria in international solidarity. “Most of us thought it was time to deepen the internationalism designed in the Basque Country, because we were also a people in conflict. In this way, round-trip solidarity would be at the centre,” Peciña said. Until then, the coordinator only delved into solidarity with other peoples: “We just gave, we didn’t receive anything.”

In this way, the demand for a change in the strategy of the internationalist organizations was consolidating, which affected the practice of internationalism in the coming years. This was demonstrated at the meeting held on 7 October 1987 in Zarautz, in which the Coordinator of Solidarity Committees of the Basque Country was divided into two groups: On that day, agents Askapena and Komite Internazionalistak emerged. Therefore, Askapena's trajectory began in 1987.

Askapena has had to adapt the presence of European struggles
to the situation in Garai, changing direction on every occasion to strategies. In this regard, at the end of the 1990s, particularly after the 1994 Zapatista uprising, it decided to deepen solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Europe, without marginalizing their activity. “We realized that we needed to deepen solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Europe as a battlefield,” Goienetxea explained. Thus, they extended their activity to countries such as Corsica, Brittany and Scotland.

In recent years, Askapena has been strengthening cooperation with the peoples of Europe. “Imperialism is hard in Europe. It creates oppressive instruments, and we have to fight against it. Other European institutions are also in the same struggle, so it helps us to exchange strategies with them,” said Goienetxea. The fight against NATO, for example, is about that task.

The brigades, as a source
of formation within Askapena's strategy, attach great importance to the formation, organizing brigades on their way. The brigade project was born before the foundation of Askapena: In 1984, the first brigade of Euskal Herria was organized, following the international meeting to deepen solidarity with Nicaragua, mainly with the Sandinista Revolution. At that time, the members of the brigade mainly assisted the cultivation cooperatives or the construction. “We learned a lot from those brigades,” says Peciña.

In this sense, over the years, and especially after the change of strategy of 1987, Askapena has given great importance to the formation of militants and members of the brigade, which who participates in the project of the brigades does not have to be a militant of the internationalist organization. “If we do not know the situation of other peoples, it is impossible to show solidarity with them. The system aims to build a society that is ignorant of the injustices of the environment. Therefore, we must oppose it,” explained Peciña.

In short, it is the members of the brigade themselves who act as a bridge between Euskal Herria and other peoples. Once at the destination, the brigade members are in charge of reporting on the situation of Euskal Herria. In addition, they have the opposite path, i.e. to provide information on these cross-border peoples through conferences, workshops and other initiatives similares.Como has been said, the internationalist organisation maintains a round-trip relationship with other countries. The Friends of the Basque Country (EHL) network is the clearest indicator of the relationship to be given.

On the other hand, the Askapena brigade project is now well received. About 65 people will participate in this year’s brigades. They have already started with pre-processing. “In addition to receiving the minimum training sessions, it is important that members of the brigade get to know each other, as they will then have to spend a lot of time together,” explains Goienetxea. This year, the Askapena brigades will visit Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Palestine, Catalan countries, Brittany, ZAD and Italy.

In general terms, Askapena has made a "positive reading" of the campaign of the Gipuzkoa Municipal Brigade for 2017. “The brigades continue to awaken the interest of the people and, in addition, show great predisposition to those who sign up,” Goienetxea explained. However, Askapena also has a merit in the success of the project: in three months they have offered over 70 talks on the brigades.

30 years without being celebrated It
is advisable to spend leisure time and working time. The members of Askapena work on this road, immersed in the organization of the 30th anniversary. They are now and there: they will meet on 7 October in Berriozar. An all-day programme is being prepared, with political events, food and concerts, among others, to bring together the members of the three decades brigades.

They have also made known the motto chosen to celebrate the anniversary: Compaginating the struggles, sovereign peoples! “In these 30 years we have known many struggles, we have made many friends along the way. So, we are balancing the struggles, because alliances will ensure a certain sovereignty,” says Goienetxea.