Irish republicans protest for release of Basque prisoners

DOZENS of Sinn Féin activists took to the streets of Belfast in a white-line solidarity picket on Saturday 10 January to call on the Spanish Government to release almost 400 Basque prisoners held in Spanish jails. 

The event was being held on the same day as 120,000 people rallied in Bilbao under the slogan “Stop dispersion [of political prisoners] now.” 

● Left: Saturday’s Bilbao rally

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD, who on behalf of Sinn Féin played a significant support role in the Basque peace process over the past three years, attended the protest, as did the party’s West Belfast MP Paul Maskey.

Other prominent party members and activists there included senior talks negotiator Seán Murray and Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane. Bik was the Officer Commanding republican POWS during the 1981 H-Blocks Hunger Strike.

Numerous members of the Belfast-based Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth Committee (including its newly-elected chairperson, Anto Lowry) were prominent in the protests, as they have been in many actions in support of Basque youth activists and the peace process.

Michael Culbert, Director of Coiste, the republican ex-prisoners’ organisation, and Seánna Walsh, also from  Coiste, attended. Coiste has been responsible in organising many meetings and information events in support of both the Basque peace process and supported calls for prisoners dispersed throughout Spain to be repatriated to the Basque Country pending eventual release.

Addressing the protesters, Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan reiterated the call for the release of prisoners as “a confidence building measure” and he highlighted the refusal of the Spanish Government to show compassion to seriously-ill prisoners.

He accused the Spanish Government of “making no moves to build on the three-year-old peace process, nor have they responded to the many initiatives shown by both ETA and the Basque political representatives”.

Release Arnaldo Otegi as first step

Sinn Fein Dáil Foreign Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD (pictured) also called on the Spanish Government to put aside its own party political difficulties and engage more proactively in the Basque Peace Process.

“On behalf of Sinn Féin I want to extend our solidarity wishes to all those who will be supporting Saturday’s hugely important political prisoner rally in Bilbao.  

“The Spanish Government needs to put aside its own party political difficulties to promote and support a meaningful process of dialogue to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Basque Country.”

The Sinn Féin member of Parliament said that the release of the General Secretary of SORTU, Arnaldo Otegi (pictured with Gerry Adams), would signal an important and symbolic first step in this process. 

“He has been a key player in the promotion and building of the fledgling peace process and his liberation would send an important message that the Spanish Government is serious about grasping this historic opportunity,” Seán Crowe said.

● Jailed Basque leader Arnaldo Otegi with Gerry Adams in the Basque Country peace process

Seán Crowe continued:

“Ireland’s own difficult peaceful transition highlighted the need for confidence-building measures and, more importantly, movement that would create more positive change in the peace process and overall society.

“The 370 Basque prisoners who have been dispersed far from their homes for supposedly security reasons in this new environment need to be transferred closer to their families and seriously-ill prisoners released immediately.

“The overall aim should be to release these politically-motivated prisoners and allowing them to be peace builders and drivers for change.

“Prison releases and many other peace-related measures would facilitate progress and enhance conditions in the peace process.

“The Spanish Government needs to resist the option of playing to a negative audience and instead proactively engage in working towards long-term peace and reconciliation.”

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