Police charges against everybody at Donostia fiestas

In a yet another crazy repressive attempt, the Western Basque police corps, Ertzaintza, charged wildly against a demonstration in solidarity with Basque prisoners, subject to exceptional punishment measures, and then against everybody at the fiestas of Donostia (San Sebastian).

Two injured, one of them an 85 years old man who was watching a dance exhibition.

The demonstration was held in total silence, with hundreds carrying the photos of Basque prisioners, who are scattered through the Spanish imperial geography, forcing their relatives and friends to go on lengthy journeys to be able to visit them even if only now and then. The march was opened by a banner reading "Basque prisoners and refugees back home".

After being identified by the policemen and when they were already packing their stuff as it was obvious they would not be allowed to go on, police charged forcing everybody to run away and search refuge wherever possible. But policemen were in the mood of wreaking havoc and charged indiscriminately against everyone, shooting rubber bullets at short distance, causing two injured.

After this craze, a group of younger people (the original demonstration was mostly held by relatives, often of advanced age) grabbed the photos and attempted again to held the demonstration, also suffering a charge.

Today there will be another larger demonstration with the same goal.

In spite of the recent prohibition by the controversial inquisitorial super-judge Baltasar Garzón, dozens of such "illegal" demonstrations have happened throughout the Basque geography. For instance, a similar demo in Tafalla, Navarre, happened without problems thanks to the police not bothering showing up. Other places where such demos have taken place are: Arbizu, Etxarri-Aranatz, Bilbao, Lekeitio, Mundaka, Lazkao, Pamplona, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Hernani, Bera and Orereta. All without problems.

This new unprecedented prohibition has also caused the suppression of the traditional fiestas opening discourse in Gernika, because it was explicitly forbidden for being Etxerat (back home) one of the popular organisms in charge of it, along with the local rugby team, that has also been criminalized by the Spanish Neoinquisition because photos of prisioners are often shown at their matches. In protest the first part of the inaugural parade was held without music and among cries of solidarity with the Basque prisoners.

Source: Gara.
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