International Days of Solidarity with the Basque Country

The international organisation of the Basque pro-independence movement have called for a week of solidarity and protest around the world, at the undemocratic nature of the Spanish state, and to call for self-determination for the Basque Country (Euskal Herria).

To coincide with this the Irish Basque solidarity committee have called a day of action for Saturday 14th February in Ireland. Locally there will be pickets held in both Strabane and Omagh, jointly organised by Ógra Shinn Féin, and the Irish/Basque committees.

The local branch of Ógra Shinn Féin launched their solidarity campaign last Friday 6th February in Strabane Sinn Féin offices, where a talk was given by Basque Nationalist Luixote Blanco.

(Leti Cid from Galicia, and Basque Nationalist Luixote Blanco with Ógra Shinn Féin members at the launch of Basque solidarity week.)

Speaking ahead of the planned protest in Strabane, spokesperson for the Tobias Molloy Ógra Shinn Féin cumann Ciaran McKenna said;

“The current situation in Euskal Herria is one of severe repression meted out on the pro-independence movement by the Spanish and French authorities. Political parties and cultural/youth organisations have been banned and their members given long jail terms.”

“Democracy is all but dead in the Basque country as the Spanish and French states seek to destroy the pro-independence left, rather than negotiate a viable solution to the conflict.”

“The Irish people know all too well, the harsh realities of life under the jackboot of oppression, which is why we, in Ógra Shinn Féin are calling on people to show support for the Basque people’s right to national self-determination. People are being urged to assemble for a solidarity picket at Abercorn Square on Saturday 14th Feb at 2;00pm. A picket has also been organised for Omagh, assembling outside the northern bank at 12:00 noon.”