Ógra Shinn Féin complete tour of the Basque Country

Ógra Shinn Féin has completed a tour of the Basque country from the 15-22 October. The 16 person delegation from the republican youth organisation was there at the invitation of left independence organisation Segi.

The week long tour included visits to both French and Spanish occupied territory in the Basque country. Ógra took part in talks and university lectures on the issue of the Irish peace process. Throughout the week they were also variously interviews by print media and on Basque left radio stations. They also attended demonstrations and marches and witnessed at first hand the very direct oppression suffered by the Basque people on a regular basis. They were also involved in meetings with a number of student, trade union and political bodies whilst in Euskal Herria.

Speaking upon their return national organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin, Barry McColgan said

“The week long tour of the Basque country was a huge success and showed to the delegation the degree of repression suffered by the Basques on a daily basis. The role of international solidarity is of huge importance to freedom movements throughout the world.

“We were in the Basque country to update the Basque on the Irish peace process, to get an update on the current situation in the Basque country and also to learn from the organisational skills of the Basque independence movement.

“The mobilisation follows a visit in May of Basques to Ireland where they toured Ireland and learned about the current Irish peace process. All mobilisations are part of an ongoing fraternal relationship with freedom loving nations the world over with the ultimate aim of helping to establish national self determination for small nations.