5 October 2007
In the context of the Basque conflict around self-determination, a factor of dangerous political polarization in the Spanish and Basque societies and their political representatives, two Batasuna members, Joseba Alvarez, Head of Batasuna´s International Department and Ohiana Agirre a member of political prisoners support group, were detained on Tuesday 2nd October 2007 for apparently participation in an illegalized rally and for calling for the release of political prisoners.
In the past the SACP had the opportunity to host and widely discuss the Basque conflict including with the detained Cde Joseba, who visited South Africa in 2007, gathering experience on our negotiated transition to democracy, with a particular focus on the problematic on how to foster dialogue and conflict resolution including the subject of constitutional development processes.
In the aftermath of the unilateral ceasefire declaration by armed groups, our party also had several contacts with the representatives of the Spanish authorities through our leadership and young communist league structures on a similar subject entailing the potentials and dangers posed by the scenarios in which a path of escalation or dialogued solution to the Basque conflict are pursued.
In all our discussions, we highlighted the need to recognise that in the context of contemporary Basque and Spanish realities, whatever the views on the opposing sides, self-determination does not constitute an illegal and illegitimate demand and violent confrontation is prohibitive to a mutual consensus and peaceful settlement.
The SACP is fully convinced about this framework and the need to respect the principle that accords the pro-independence movements of the Basque an opportunity to materialize their views on the national agenda, without confrontation.
We call for the immediate release of comrades Joseba and Ohiana including all political prisoners, the reopening of dialogue and political negotiation. We reaffirm that only a peaceful negotiated solution and a genuine commitment to guaranteed basic democratic rights of all the people of Basque and Spain as the best framework and the most viable scenario in which a resolution to the conflict can be attained.
Our party will continue to engage all sides on this peaceful approach.
Issued by the SACP.
Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802