31.7.1997. Analysis of July 1997 in Euskal Herria.

THE "JULIAZO". IN JULY 1997 THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT ORGANISED AGAINST THE BASQUE LEFT NATIONALIST MOVEMENT THE BIGGEST FASCIST MOBILISATION KNOWN IN EUROPE SINCE THE EXTINCTION OF NAZI GERMANY.

8. The audience of 25 million viewers that followed by television the weekend programs about the town councillor was the trigger to the mobilisations.

Sixteen special programs with more than twenty hours. Spaniards increased significantly their usual television consumption. At a summer weekend, rivalling with beaches, television held the Spaniards AN AVERAGE OF FOUR HOURS AND 41 MINUTES in front of it. At 15,59 all channels kept silent for 60 seconds and screens displayed only the image of a blue ribbon. There were TWELVE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE in from of them, including those of the Canary Islands, which are at a different time zone (TV1 4,6 million, A3 2,2, T5 1,9, channels of the autonomous communities 1,6, TV2 880.000, Canal Plus 421.000 and local channels 272.000). At 17,25 that Saturday, when it was known that the PP town councillor had appeared wounded, a special news-bulletin began on TV1 lasting 224 minutes and was the most seen program that day with more than five million viewers. The second most watched program was "Informe Semanal" on TV1 with 4,6 million viewers.

A research by Zenit Media (13) about facts from Sofres estimates that up to 25 million viewers followed at weekend the broadcasting and programs devoted by different televisions to the topic. On Sunday Spaniards spent an average of FOUR HOURS and 29 MINUTES in front of TV. Warning: The accuracy of these amounts depends on the poll method used. But I don’t think they have been distorted like the demonstrations. Because of the fact that audience estimates affect really serious things for the Capital: hundreds of thousands of millions of pesetas invested on publicity.

It was televisions, therefore, who mobilised people. And who made them neurotic and hysteric. And who showed the masses what to do and how to behave. What to yell (the exemplary yell "Sons of a bitch!!!" for instance) and what to do (the fascist salute the palm open and upwards, now both hands, the rhythmic swinging of the arms with a threatening fist, etc., etc.). The ritual faces that helped to SYMPATHISE with the UNITY of the PEOPLE, Spanish of course. ONE people, ONE salute, ONE enemy, ONE motto-insult (sons of a bitch). Spain ONE and BIG. Long live Spain!

9. Objectives of the mobilisation: to create a scapegoat, to crush dissidence (present and future), to attack the Basque Country and to strengthen Spain as mother country (always sinking and vanishing).