Evident Bias and Censorship in Reporting of the Basque Country

Barry McNally
International Officer
Cuige Uladh Ógra Shinn Féin

I was disappointed at the one sided reporting of the conflict in the Basque country in Wednesdays Irish News. (26th Nov)

Having visited the Basque country on many occasions the reality is somewhat different than was portrayed in the two page spread.

Firstly the pro independence movement in the Basque country are under constant oppression by the Spanish and French authorities-something that escapes the mainstream media. It seems like a blatant bias and censorship that the only time the main stream media report on the Basque Country, is when they are attacking the liberation movement.

In 2007, I attended march in support of Basque Prisoners and their families in Donastia (San Sebastian). There was a large number of Basque police in riot gear and armed present to disperse the crowd.

The march was in support of the over 700 Basque political prisoners and was declared illegal by the Spanish. When the parade reached the police lines, the police opened fire at point blank range.

The Basque police continued to fire indiscriminately into the crowd. The firing by the Basque police continued unopposed for a number of hours in the small streets of Donastia.

I use the above situation as an illustration of the very basic and daily intimidation of the pro independence movement in the Basque country. Needless to say none of this made media headlines or even a brief mention. It seems like a throw back to the 1980s in the north of Ireland.

Having visited the Basque country in more recent times it became clear that these situations were an everyday occurrence in the Basque country.

Yet none of this is reported. Neither is it reported that there are legitimate political parties being banned on a constant basis, youth organisations are declared ‘terrorist organisations’, trade unions are being dissolved, Basque prisoners are being tortured (which have been highlighted in amnesty international reports) and yet the world turns away.

The situation in the Basque country can only be resolved through political engagement. In order for this to evolve, ETA called a cessation of its military campaign in 2006 to allow a peace process to emerge.

However the Spanish were not willing even to facilitate talks towards peace and weren’t interested in negotiation, infact increased repression and arrests. The resumption of the armed campaign by ETA was made inevitable and was not a surprise to anyone even loosely following the Basque conflict.

The draconian measures introduced by the Spanish and French authorities are doomed to fail in the Basque country.







Opening up meaningful talks, developing a democratic process, and respecting the Basque right in working towards national self determination is the only way forward and the Spanish and French should acknowledge this.

We learned in Ireland, that this is the only way to ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict.