Basques seek French leave
Published 25 October, 2008, 10:57
After the recent arrests of alleged activists in the French Basque Country, Spain is seeking France's assistance in the fight against Basque nationalist group ETA (“Basque Homeland and Freedom”) and its political wing, Batasuna. The Basque minority are calling for full recognition of a multitude of their rights, including self-determination and language.
Nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees is the village of Sare, a part of France that is distinctly un-French. There you know you are in the heart of the Basque region: Basque cuisine, flags and language – an ancient language, older than Anglo Saxon or Latin.
Abertzale is a Basque nationalist party, though it doesn’t like the negative connotations that brings. Peio Etcheverry-Ainchart, an Abertzaleen Batasuna party activist believes separation is not the main point.
“Abertzale means equal rights regarding the language and the right to call ourselves Basques in the global community and to be entitled to decide our future by ourselves,” he says.
So this party, the most popular of its kind amongst the electorate in this region, falls short of calling for full independence.
Meanwhile, this call has seen over 800 deaths since 1968 at the hands of the armed Basque separatist group, ETA, in its campaign for Basque independence. The organisation’s political wing, banned in Spain, is legal in France.
At first glance you might not think the town of Bayonne is anything other than beautiful. Basque flags are outnumbered by flags for the local rugby team – but the real battle for independence from France is being waged there.
It’s a refuge for political exiles from across the border, and from the French authorities who have pledged to help Spain clampdown against ETA following the end of a ceasefire in June 2007.
“Why do we want to separate? Because of police repression. We protect our language; we protect our land and our culture. Our rights are seven provinces, and it’s necessary that they unite,” says the man who has allegedly been in trouble with the police for separatist activities and was unwilling to show his face on camera.
He says the fight for the culture and language of the Basque Country will never stop.
Political parties averse to violence nonetheless claim to understand it, saying it’s born out of frustration with the current political stalemate.
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