The militant Basque separatist group was arrested by France and handed over to the Spanish
authorities. The two states do not grant any respite and peaceful political struggle of
the Basque people. ---- Former Interior Minister Claude Gueant had dreamed, but had left
before the mobilization and support of Basques Aurore Martin. Manuel Valls, Socialist
successor, did. French nationality, this activist was followed by the Spanish State have
participated in public meetings Batasuna, banned separatist political organization there,
but quite authorized in France. While the pressure seemed relaxed about it, she was
arrested near Pau on November 1st in a real trap. It was delivered to Spain by the French
and risk twelve years of incarceration.
If Dawn Martin is a perfect example of how states can use the European Arrest Warrant to
suppress any kind of dissent. For legal activities in a country of the European Union but
illegal in others, each is liable to be extradited by his own government, yet is supposed
to protect its citizens. Under the Franco era is Valls itself was given to Spanish
fascists, the Socialist Party at the time was banned in Spain! In the same vein, why not
extradite doctors who practice abortion, legal in France but banned in Poland or Portugal?
Violated the truce
On a purely political level, the arrest of Dawn Martin puts oil on the fire in the
relationship between Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) and the French and Spanish. The Basque
separatist organization, driven to it by Batasuna and declared a unilateral truce holds
for more than two years, so that is put in place a democratic process to resolve the
conflict in the Basque Country. This is the moment chosen by the French government to ally
with the Spanish government in the accentuation of repression. It seems to want to scuttle
the peaceful solution!
In the Basque Country, but also in France and Spain, solidarity with Aurore Martin
unabated. After an event that brought together more than fifteen thousand people in
Bayonne on November 10, a large demonstration in support of Basque political prisoners
will be held January 12, 2013 in Bilbao.
Max Hoelz (AL Saint-Denis)
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» France, Alternative Libertaire #223 - Warrant Europea: After Aurore Martin, who's next? (fr)