This past weekend, Bilbao once again asked for the release of ETA prisoners. According to the Municipal Police of the Basque capital, some 20,000 people demonstrated in the streets under the slogan Konponbiderako Giltzak (Keys to resolution), led by the Sare group. This meeting had the support of the main Catalan political parties, the former Athletic player Endika Guarrotxena and the former leader of the Abertzale left José Luis Elkoro.
Among the crowd, different media outlets also distinguished actress Itziar Ituño, who starred in the film Loreak in 2014 and who has played a role in Money Heist as Lisbon. The different images of the interpreter appeared on Instagram profiles dedicated to her. The evening was enlivened throughout its journey by dulzaineros and a motto sung in unison at different times: “Euskal presoak etxera” (the Basque prisoners go home).
After the rally, Joseba Azkarraga, spokesperson for Sare, denounced those who “are using the togas with a desire for revenge and using the National Court as a platform for prevarication to prevent Basque prisoners from being subject to the application of a penitentiary policy.” of an ordinary nature. We will continue working to get them out on the streets, we have not brought them here to continue in jail, we have brought them to the Basque prisons so that they can be released.”
“Loud and clear, as long as imprisoned people do not see their rights recognized, we will continue to experience injustice and have an unresolved problem. To those who insist on drawing a scenario of ‘victors and losers’ we say that it is imaginary and, furthermore, alien to the desire for peace that the vast majority of Basque society has,” he insisted, also ensuring that the demonstration had been a resounding success in terms of follow-up.
“We must put an end to exceptional legislation, restrictive interpretations in distant courts and the intervention of deep State apparatuses to open new cases,” added the parliamentary member of EH Bildu, Julen Arzuaga, to the statements. Other statements that resonated this past weekend in Bilbao were those of Josep Rius, spokesperson and vice president of the Catalan group Junts.
Rius asked for the prisoners to return home and also for “an end once and for all to these exceptional laws that are in force today and that the State ruthlessly applies, in a clear example of what is known as Criminal Law.” of the enemy, who is absolutely illegitimate.” Another rejection of the measures came from Esquerra’s deputy spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies, Teresa Jordà, pointing out that “they make no sense.”
