Euskaldunon Egunkaria, the only basque language newspaper closed by the Spanis

Indymedia Euskal Herria , 20.02.2003 15:15

5 years after the closure of the basque leftwing pro independence Egin newspaper, the Guardia Civil, following an order by spanish judge Juan del Olmo from the National audience, has closed "Euskaldunon Egunkaria" the only daily newspaper issuing news in basque language. 10 people were arrested, and their offices in Bilbao, Gasteiz-Vitoria, and Iruñea - Pamplona have been shut. Their central building, in the city of Andoain has also been shut down.

The houses of those arrested have also been registered by spanish police. The spanish police has also visited the Basque School federation office in Saint Sebastian, the magazines Jakin and Argia. These have not been shut.

Those arrested are, Xabier Oleaga, former worker for the newspaper, and at this moment in charge of the communication office for the basque schools' federation. The Guardia Civil has also visited his office. Martxelo Otamendi, director of the newspaper. Pello Zubiria, director of basque language political magazine "Argia" and first director of "Euskaldunon Egunkaria". Iñaki Uria, Councillor of the "Egunkaria". Joan Mari Torrealdai, director of the editorial, Xabier Alegria, Fermin Lazkano, Luis Goya, Txema Auzmendi, subirector of "Herri Irratia" radio station and finally Inma Gomila who is been arrested this morning in Oiartzun. This last arrest may be due to the fact that Inma Gomila had been working for the newspaper.

After these arrests perpetrated during the night, the Guardia Civil has proceed to the registry of the different buildings and offices of "Euskaldunon Egunkaria". In the central building, in the Martin Ugalde Park, is been under inspection for 6 hours with more than 300 members of the Guardia Civil.

They are accused of collaborating and forming part of an armed group with their three companies "Egunkaria S.A.", "Egunkaria Sortzen S.A." and "Egunkaria Sortzen S.L."

The workers of "Euskaldunon Egunkaria" have organised an assembly in front of the central offices in Andoain. After this assembly, the workers have confirmed their intention to issue a news print every day in basque language.

Their web page www.egunkaria.com has been also closed.

It is not the first time an organisation working for the promotion of basque culture. Three years ago the editorial "Zabaltzen" was shut down following an order by Judge Garzon, later, it was decided by the supreme court that this there was no relationship between Zabaltzen and any armed group.

They will be sorry 20.02.2003 - 15:46 They bite too much this time, they will be sorry, when they find out it is not going to be that easy to swallow this one we put up with GARA, ARDI BELTZA, etc but this one is one too many. I ask the Spanish to do something before is too late or to hold on to their chairs because this is not going to end like this. The oportunity is there for you to take it if not put up with what we will come. Egunkaria is something nobody though they will go for; first they did not have a reason and second they should have known what the reaction was going to be like. They have left clear they need no reasons and obviously they have miscalculated the reaction. This is one too many. Angry man Dictatorship and Inquisition are back 20.02.2003 - 17:29 We thought our capacity for indignation and rage were unable to be beaten, but in the Basque Country we have to bear several things that only happen under dictatorships or those inquisitors back some centuries ago. Euskaldunon Egunkaria is the only newspaper written in Basque in the whole of it. They should know what that means and how much people is inside this movement. Being an ETA´s member is nowadays quite "easy" for some judges. Criteria for that are fewer and fewer. Anyone can be one, according to those who are supporting Bush´s war and then speak about Freedom and Peace. Mr.Aznar is learning too quick from that other fascist called George W. Bush. WE CANNOT BEAR THIS SITUATION AGAINST BASQUE CULTURE FOR ANY LONGER. WE´LL STAND UP IN FRONT OF'EM!! Lurra Freedom to discuss 20.02.2003 - 17:48 Close a journal is not the best way to solve a problem, in any case. Spanish government prosecuted them to be related with ETA, but they must show more proofs to declare these journalists guilty, and if they are not, they will have to be delivered. That means Fair judgement. But there other judges that are not so impartial, they are ETA gunmen, did they give to Jose Luis Lopez de Lacalle (another journalist) a Fair judgement?, no. They decided he was guilty without a trial (the same than other 900 people), and they aplicated the highest penalty, the death. No questions, no lawers, no witnesses. What would independentist people do with constitution-loyalist basque people if they would get their aims?. Surely, they would not close journals, they make them blow out, and the word Guetto would get in the European vocabulary. happy man Fascist man 20.02.2003 - 19:32 Euskaraz egingotsut, "happy man", ingelesez baino hobeto moldatzen nazelako. Eta esangotsut euskal independentista guztiok ez garela ETAren ekintzen aldekoak, espainiarzale guztiek Garzonen ekintzak, alderdi poltikoen ilegalizazioa edo Iraken gerra sustengatzen ez dituzten bezala. Zer esanik ez euskaldunoi (euskaradunoi) buruz berba eginez gero. Mundua da zuk uste izango dozun baino askoz zabalagoa, eta bagagoz asko ETAk egindako kazetarien aurkako atentatuak gaitzesten ditugunok, baina aldi berean bidegabekeria, inkisizinoa eta sasiepaile eta sasipolitikarien diktaduraren aurrean protestatzeko legitimitatea badeukogunak. Gazteleraz edo ingelesez idatz niezazukeen, baina ez dot uste Euskaldunon Egunkariaren eta euskaradunon erasoaren aurrean pozten dan "happy man" madarikatu batek merezi dauanik. Lurra We need international help 20.02.2003 - 22:53 We need help from all the world to dennounce this ashaming lack of freedom of speech. Spanish and French media will try to cover this violation, so demonstrations and protests in Basque Country are hidden. Thus, we should jump over them and get help from journalists from all the world to show the real face of Spanish government. Help please! Spread the news! e-maila:: txikillana@eibar.org Oier solidarieta' 21.02.2003 - 13:06 solidarieta' ai giornalisti e al popolo basco! contro il fascismo spagnolo: ORA E SEMPRE RESISTENZA! Homepage:: http://inventati.org/criticalmass toni Libertât par Euskal Herria 21.02.2003 - 13:31 Solidarietât ai gjornaliscj arestâts e a dut il popul basc dal Friûl. I nazionalitaris furlans a son al flanc di Euskal Herria denant di cheste gnove agression fassiste. Muart al fassisim, libertât ai popui. Cumò e simpri resistence. Gora Euskadi askatuta. Vive il Friûl libar. Carli English language info about Egunkaria's closing 21.02.2003 - 13:44 English language section opened at the Basque news weblog Sustatu about the closure of Egunkaria:  http://www.sustatu.com/english/egunkaria Homepage:: http://www.sustatu.com/english/egunkaria Sustatu.com new web 25.02.2003 - 17:00 there is a new web made by the people working for the closed newspaper: www.egunero.info hodei global vision in few words, from euskal herria 10.03.2003 - 14:11 euskal herria (basque country - europe) is divided between fr & sp under the power of their armies, we the people of the basque country are forced to be french or spanish depending on the province that we live. last year there were 127 cases of tortures of basque citizens. there is a public report about it. but no one of the torturers has been punished. it´s true that of the +800 people killed during the last 44 years, but also it´s true that during the last 20 years +6000 basque citizens have been tortured, more than -20000- detainees, and about 300 were killed by the armies mentioned on top, now there are +600 prisoners,-some jailed in 1980- and another 2000 escaped afraid of beeing tortured, euskal herria -meaning country that speaks the euskera or basque language- is fighting for its survival already for 2000 years, since the romans occuppied the south of europe. the last famous attack against euskal herria was the bombs over gernika, and after that, thousands of basques were killed under franco´s regimen. nowadays euskal herria has said "gerrarik_ez / no_war", let´s make a world in peace, freedom and justice for everyone, for every citizen, for every country, for us and for you, for our daughters and sons, and love the earth, who provides us with water, food and air. during the last seven years have been banned several basque political parties and social associations. now the spanish authorities have closed the media "euskaldunen egunkaria". paper&electronic last full-basis basque language editions + the english electronic edition. some of the detainees in the police raid against the newspaper, including chief editor, have been tortured. itsasadar