This file is a mirror of EUSKAL HERRIA JOURNAL by Basque Red Net.

Communique of Euskadi Ta Askatasuna
August 29, 1999

Note: Published by the Basque daily Gara on August 29, 1999

Translation from Euskera into English by Olatz Arkauz for Euskal Herria Journal

Euskal Herria, August 1999

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, a revolutionary and socialist Basque organization for national liberation, wants to tell the Basque people its opinion about the current situation in the Basque Country.

Soon there will be a year since Euskadi Ta Askatasuna declared an indefinite ceasefire. The situation (in the Basque Country) was then a factor which influenced ETA to make that decision: the struggle maintained by the Abertzale Left (Patriotic Left), which has always defended the rights of the Basque people even in the most difficult circumstances.

Therefore, thanks to this resistance, we exhausted the politico-juridical framework that attempts to bury the future of the Basque people. This politico-juridical framework is still in effect: the French and Spanish constitutions, the statutes of La Moncloa and Navarre, which are draining the Basque people and its social, cultural and economic forces.

During the last 20 years, the Moncloa statute fulfilled the aspirations of some Basque nationalists, either as an alternative between the bad and the worse, or as an instrument to deceive many sincere abertzales (patriotic people). But those times are gone. Different social and political forces acknowlege it. The Basque people need something different. In fact, they needed it since long time ago but it seems that, even among those who until last year wanted for the Basque people to live confortable under the franco-spanish status quo, there are people who realized that that road was taking the Basque people to destruction. And, here's the novelty, there is another option that, by uniting forces, the Basque people could, after 20 years, move forward to another politico-juridical framework.

ETA sticked firmly to that hope and political analysis, with the intention of shaking the beat of the social and political agents of the Basque people. Convinced that the conditions for a new political situation were given. The desire for a global political solution, along with the national desire, is a priority of the Basque people who want to overcome the useless pacification plan designed by the UCD, PSOE, EE and PNV and promoted by the media. This desire was expressed by the agreement signed first in Lizarra and later in Garazi to overcome the dark period of (the regional government) Ardanza.

The year in review

The main characteristic of the process initiated last year, is the hope it has generated. A hope that was generated long before our initiative (cesefire) and the strength of the Basque people. That strength has manifested clearly, spread and flourished in our society, with the idea that freedom can be achieved.

Along with hope during the first months, the main preoccupation of many Basque citizens and grassroots groups was how they can participate in the process that has started, and their wish to give the process a push. The Basque people were no longer waiting for the señoritos (small gentlemen) in the Cortes of Madrid and Paris to change their mood, but measuring its own forces; observing, analyzing and accepting its own plurality, and considering the steps to be taken in order to build the Basque nation.

Unfortunately, the process sank, undefined, despite of ETA having clearly stated the reasons behind its initiative (ceasefire) and the road to be taken. The professional politicians threw ice water to the happiness sprouting among the Basque people, with the doubts, indifference and incapacity (or lack of interest?) they demonstrated to lead the process.

There have been many attempts to return to the (political) situation prior to September 18, to leave aside the construction of the Basque nation, and to replace it with a useless pseudo peace process, precisely by certain sectors in the PNV which supposedly are abertzales justifying their indifference and cowardice by (blaming) the log jam on France and Spain and on the (kale borroka) actions of many Basque citizens showing their impatience. The issue is not what the (ruling party) PP and the (opposition party) PSOE do or don't do. The key to the process open on September 18 is not about what our enemies are doing. We knew that from the beginning, although we would welcome any surprises in the process. The issue is how much those who have until now defended the current Basque politico-juridical framework are willing to change their attitude.

The French and Spanish states have done the only thing those who lack the will for peace could do: maintain the same situation, without moving a finger, given that a step in any direction could bring down the walls built centuries ago around the Basque Country. Therefore, the crackdown, the repression and the confusion have been maintained throughout this year.

Throughout this year that is just passing, two different periods can be identified: a first one that gave birth to the National Basque Municipal Assemby, which with hope and happiness, laid down the political foundation and the methodology to overcome the conflict, and open the road to nation-building. That was the challege faced during those first months; to answer to the expectations which emerged and lead to the direction taken. And that was precisely what the abertzales were asking for; a clear political bet in support of the Basque Country. The birth of the National Basque Municipal Assembly brought with it a qualitative change: for the first time in recent history a national institution was born. However, what was a point of departure froze on February 7.

Afterwards, in spite of some responses given to the attacks by France and Spain, the political process remained subject to the electoral race. And after the elections on June 13, much worse, because rather than giving the process a push with a fresh strength, some sectors were backing out. At present, the state leadership and its lazarillos (beggars), are afraid of the wide support achieved by the Abertzale Left.

We mentioned that the current politico-juridical framework is exhausted; the decline of the administrative structure which maintains the division of the Basque Country. Yes, they are exhausted but still in effect as an instrument to block the wishes and needs of the Basque people and prolong the conflict. And because they fear the attacks from the Spanish state, or because they give priority to their political and personal interests, some of these people prefer to adjust and upgrade this framework which during 20 years has prevented the construction of the Basque nation: those who live confortable in Spain and France, and the so-called "nostalgic" abertzales to whom national liberation seems just a "dream."

The Abertzale Left has done what it was possible to do and more in order to advance the process. It did it with great humility and satisfaction. It did it while still in distress and, especially, with a generous attitude toward consensus. However, some (nationalist) sectors have attempted to reciprocate these efforts by renovating and reinforcing the current rotten politico-juridical framework.

It is easy for them to go against those who struggle in favor of the Basque Country. How easy is to deliver the Basque prisoners into the hands of their tormentors, to leave their relatives at the mercy of the "accidents" caused by (the policy of) dispersion and moving away (the prisoners), all this with the excuse that the government of the (ruling) PP doesn't want to do anything, they attempt to adopt a "central" policy.

To pressure the Abertzale Left because of certain forms of struggle by the Basque people, is an insult and a shame. Although the violence of the Spanish and the French states continue, no one - except the Abertzale Left, of course - says anything about this violence exercised since many centuries ago. Enough excuses! The situation we lived through prior to last September 18 was also the result of the dirty game played by the politicians who are condemning the (street war) actions which do nothing but to show the impatience of many Basque citizens. That's the way some (politicians) still want to continue; throwing gasoline into a fire that still is alive.

Where we are and where to we are going

As in any other struggle, not everything is black or white. The Basque people has made a progress in one year; shaking the political situation and taking the road toward the end of the conflict is not small gain, although more could have been done if some of our comrades in this trip would have not hesitated.

We are now facing a critical moment: or we continue moving ahead taking the process to its consecution, or watch how the process rots without doing anything thus, bringing to nothing the road we already walked.

The Basque people have enough strength to advance the process, to clarify and direct the political project. Besides the will and the desire, there is a truly opportunity to achieve our goals. In order to do it, it is required to put aside the ambiguity that has made so much damage already this year and undertake the project with new strength, keeping the Basque people posted on the next steps to be taken and where to.

But the Basque nation cannot be built under the current conditions; the obstacles are too big. Under other conditions, democratic conditions, there is no doubt there will be enough political strength and knowledge to build the Basque nation. In order to reach these democratic requirements, decisive steps ought to be taken as soon as possible.

Therefore, we all should be aware of the critical situation and act with the required coherence. The current "impasse" cannot be prolonged, and without wasting any time proposals must be made to overcome the current politico-juridical framework and put them to work. It will be a lack of responsibility to throw away the hope of the Basque people because of personal interests.

But goals and opportunities are not enough. The projects ought to be precise. The Abertzale Left made its political project known long time ago: to give the Basque people the possibility to express its will, and provide the means so that its decision is respected. However, this proposal is not a patrimony of the Abertzale Left, but something offered to the Basque people so that they make it its own. Because it is a concept no one can deny, despite the attempts to to impose the oppressive reality of Spain and France.

We are talking about Basque democracy, and as in all democracies the Basque people will need its own constitution to regulate such democratic situation. But a constitution is not just a collection of rules in a document, but a political and institutional structure built and experienced.

In order to advance the process, to build a Basque democracy, the Basque Country requires its own institutional representation. A nuclei and institutional representation that is national and sovereign. The Basque Country needs its own national parliament. And in order to achieve this, the required democratic means ought to be put to work before it's too late. This is an important and decisive step that will place us on the road to overcome the conflict, and would push for a constitutional process with the participation of all.

Therefore we call on all Basque citizens to face the challenge before us with spirit and to undertake with a fresh strength the struggle for the liberation of the Basque Country. The future belongs to the Basque people.

The original text in the Euskera language:

Euskadi Ta Askatasunak, nazio askapenerako euskal erakunde sozialista iraultzaileak, agiri honen bidez Euskal Herriak bizi duen egoerari buruz egiten duen hausnarketaren berri eman nahi dio euskal gizarteari.

Laster beteko da urtea Euskadi Ta Askatasunak ekintza armatuen etenaldi orokor eta mugagabearen bidez bideratutako ekimena abiatu zuenetik. Ekimen horri emateko garai hartan bizi zen egoeran azpimarratzen genituen faktoreen artean garrantzitsuena Ezker Abertzaleak erakutsitako kemena zen: urtetako borrokari esker, herria eraikitzen eta defendatzen jakin izan baitu, egoerarik zailenetan ere.

Erresistentzia lan horri esker beraz, Euskal Herriaren etorkizuna behin betirako lurperatu nahi zuen marko juridiko-politikoa agortarazi dugu. Oraindik indarrean dirauen marko juridiko-politikoek (Frantzia eta Espainako Konstituzioak eta Moncloako Estatutuak eta Nafarroako Foru Hobekuntzak osatzen dutenak) Euskal Herria ito egiten dute, Euskal Herrian dauden indar ekonomiko, sozial eta kulturalak ito egiten dituzte.

Azken hogei urteotan Moncloako Estatutuak abertzale epel batzuen nahia asetzeko edota txarra eta okerragoaren arteko ezinbesteko hautaketa bezala, edota are zinezko abertzale askoren engainurako tresna gisa ere balio izan dute. Baina garai horiek gaindituak dira. Eragile politiko eta sozial desberdinek onartzen dute hori. Beste zerbait behar du Euskal Herriak. Izan ere, behar aspaldian behar zuen; baina itxuraz, iazko udara inguruan ordura arte "status quo" franko-espainarrean euskal herritarrak eroso bizitzera eraman nahi zituztenak berak ere ohartu bide ziren bide horretatik Euskal Herriaren galbidea zetorrela. Eta, horra berrikuntza, bazegoela aukerarik, hogei urteren buruan Euskal Herri bertako indarrak bilduz beste marko juridiko-politiko batetara igarotzeko.

Esperantza, ilusio eta azterketa politiko horri eutsiz ekin zion ETAk bere bideari. Euskal Herriko beste eragile politiko eta sozialen uzkurkeria astindu asmoz. Egoera politiko berri batetarako baldintzak gauzatzen ari zirelakoan. Gizartean, oro har, abertzaletasunetik landa, konponbide politiko orokor eta behin betikorako baten aldeko gogoa eta jarrera ere nagusi zirelako, bulego politikoetan (UCD, PSOE, EE, PNVren garaietan) diseinatu eta komunikabide masiboen bidez txertatutako mamigabeko bake-nahi mediatikoa gaindituz. Horren adierazgarri nagusia Lizarran lehenik eta Garazin gero sinatutako Hitzarmen garrantzitsua, Ajuria Eneko Ardanzaren garai ilunak gaindituz.

Zertan joan den urtea

Iaz abiatu prozesuaren lehenengo ezaugarria sortutako ilusio eta esperantza da. Euskal Herrian (ber)piztu ilusioak baieztatu zuen ekimenaren aurretik eginiko irakurketa politikoa eta euskal gizarteak bere baitan duen indarra. Indar hori azaleratu egin da eta oso aspaldian ez bezala euskal gizartean askatasuna lor daitekeenaren ustea hedatu eta nagusitu da.

Eta ilusioarekin batera, lehenengo hilabetetan, euskal herritar eta gizarte talde anitzen kezka nagusia, abian zegoen prozesuan parte-hartzea izan da, prozesua bultzatu nahia. Euskal Herria ez zegoen jada Madril edo Pariseko Gorteetako jauntxoen gogo-aldaketaren beha, baizik eta bere baitako indarrak neurtzen, bere baitako aniztasuna ikusten, azter- tzen, onartzen eta aniztasun horretatik abiatuz Euskal Herria eraikitzeko urratsak nondik norakoak izan behar ote zuten... zai.

Hain zuzen ere, edo hain oker esan beharko genuke, abiatutako prozesua indefinizio batean murgildu da, ETAk ekimenaren arrazoiak eta norabidea argiro planteatu arren. Prozesu politikoa desitxuratzeko eta mantsotzeko egin diren saioak eta mahai gainean jarritako aitzakiak ugariak izan dira. Gizartean piztutako pozari, bizi pozari ur izoztua bota diote behin eta berriro, beren zalantza, motelkeria eta prozesua gidatzeko ezjakintasuna (edo gogo eza esan beharko genuke?) erakutsi duten politikari profesionalek.

Irailaren 18az aurretiko egoerara itzultzeko saio ugari egin da, herri eraikuntza, Euskal Herriaren eraikuntza, Euskal Herriaren eraikuntza alde batera utzi eta mamirik gabeko bake prozesu ustela bideratu nahi izan dute, nortzuk eta ustez prozesu horretan burubelarri eta gidari ibili beharko zuketen PNVko batzuk. Eta horretarako ustezko abertzale horiek Espainia eta Frantziaren "inmobilismoan" eta euskal herritar askoren ezinegonaren adierazle diren ekintzetan babestu dute lotsagarriki beren epelkeria eta txepelkeria. Galdera ez baitzen PPk eta PSOEk zer eginen zuten. Irailaren 18an abiarazitako prozesuaren gakoa ez zen gure betiko etsaiek zer egingo ote zuten . Hori jakina zen hasieratik (ustegabekoak ongi etorriak izanen baziren ere!). Gakoa, ordurarte zegoen Euskal Herriaren aurkako marko juridiko-politiko horren alde aritu izan direnen jarrera aldaketa zenbaterainokoa izanen zen ikustea baitzen.

Estatu espainiar eta frantsesak bake-borondaterik ez duenak egin dezakeen gauza bakarra egin baitute: bere horretan jarraitu, mugitu gabe, alde batera ala bestera emaniko ezein urratsek mendetan Euskal Herriaren inguruan ehundu duten kartzelaren ormak bertan behera jar zitzakeelakoan. Beraz, atxiloketak, orain arteko errepresioa berdin mantendu eta nahasmena eragin izan da beste urtebetez eskaini diguten elikagai aldagabe, sekularra.

Hala ere iragan urte honetan bi aldi desberdin antzematen dira: Euskal Herriko Udal Ordezkarien Biltzarraren sorrera artekoa lehena, non hastapeneko ilusio eta pozak gidaturik euskal gizartearen gehiengo zabalak gatazka gainditzeko oinarri politikoak eta metodologia adosteaz gain, eraikuntza nazionalaren bideari ekin zitzaion. Gizartean sortutako espektatibei erantzun eta norabidea argitzean zetzan hilabete horietako erronka. Abertzale orok horixe eskatzen baitzuten, Euskal Herriaren aldeko apustu politiko argia egitea. EHUOB-ren sorrerak aldaketa kualitatiboa erakarri zuen: Historia hurbilean lehenengo aldiz nazio mailako instituzio bat sortu baitzen. Alta, abiapuntu besterik ez zena Otsailaren 7rako izozturik zegoen.

Ondoren, Estatu espainiar eta frantsesen eraso batzuei erantzun zabala eman arren, hauteskunde-lehiaren menpe geratu da prozesu politikoa. Eta Ekainaren 13ko hauteskundeen ondoren okerrago, prozesua indar berriz abiarazi beharrean, jarrera kezkagarriak oso agertu dira, atzera egiteko keinu nabarmenak, alegia. Oraingoan Ezker abertzaleak erakutsitako babes zabalak izua eragin die Estatuburuei eta beren itsumutilei.

Aipatu dugu egungo marko juridiko-politikoaren agorpena, Euskal Herriaren askatasun bidean oztopo gisa asmatutako egitura administratibo zatikatzaileen higatzea. Agortua bai, baina indarrean dago euskal herritarren nahi eta beharrei muzin egin eta gatazka luzatzeko tresna gisa. Eta Estatu espainiarraren erasoen beldur edota interes pertsonal-partidistei lehentasuna emateagatik, hogei urtez Euskal Herriaren eraikuntza oztopatu duen marko hori egokitu eta berritu nahiko lukete batzuk: Espainian eta Frantzian eroso bizi direnek eta Euskal Herria askatzea "ameskeriatzat" duten ustezko abertzale "nostalgikoak" ororen buru.

Ezker abertzaleak bereak eta bost gehiago jarri ditu prozesu honetan. Umiltasun osoz gainera, gustuz, jarri dituela esan behar. Sufrimendua gainetik kendu ez eta hala ere kontsentsuzko jarrerak bihotz-zabal bilatu ditu. Horren ordaina ustelduta dagoen marko juridiko hori indartzen saiatzea izan da batzuen aldetik.

Euskal Herriaren aldeko gudarien aurka aritzea erraza zaie oraindik ere. Zein erraza den euskal presoak beren borreroen eskuetara bidaltzea, senideak sakabanaketa eta urruntzearen gurpilak ekan ditzakeen "istripuen" mesedetan uztea eta PPko Gobernuak deus egin nahi ez duelako aitzakiatan posizio politiko "zentrala" bereganatu nahi izatea!

Herri borrokaren espresio batzuk Ezker abertzaleari presio egiteko erabiltzea iraingarri eta lotsagarria da. Estatu frantziar eta espainiarren biolentziarako tresnak bere horretan zutik dirautenean, aktibo dirautenean, aktibo dirautenean, inork gutxik ­ezker abertzaletik kanpo ulertu behar da, noski­ erran du deus hamarkada eta are mendetako biolentzia horri buruz. Aski da aitzakiak erabiltzeaz, euskal herritar asko eta askoren ezinegonaren adierazle diren ekintzen aurrean mikrofonoarekin beren burua eta barrenak lasaitzen dituzten politikarien jokabide zekenaren ondorio ere bazen eta Irailaren 18ra arte bizi izan genuen egoera. Horrexetan ari dira gaur egun batzuk, itzali gabeko sutara olio beroa jaurtikiz.

Non gauden eta nora goazen.

Edozein borroketan bezala, ez da dena zuri eta ez da dena beltz. Euskal Herriak urte honen buruan aurreratu duena asko da, egoera politikoa astindu eta gatazka gainditzeko norabidean kokatu izana ez da gutxi, nahiz eta gehiago aurrera zitekeen, bide horretan kide izan ditugun batzuk arrakasta eta gogo txarrez abiatu ez balira.

Orain une kritiko batetan gaude: aurrera egin eta prozesua bururaino eraman ala egoera nola usteltzen den ikusi ezer egin gabe, egindako bidea erabat zapuztuz.

Euskal gizartean badago aski indar abiatutako prozesuan aurrera egiteko, proiektu politikoa argitu eta bideratzen joateko. Gogo eta grina edukitzeaz gain zinezko aukera dago hainbeste desio ditugun helburuak lortzeko. Horretarako urte honetan zehar kaltegarri izan den indefinizioa alde batera utzi eta indar berriz ekin behar zaio prozesuari, gizartea jakinaren gainean jarriz nondik nora joanen diren hurrengo urratsak.

Baina Euskal Herri ezin da eraiki gaur egungo baldintzetan, oztopoak handiegiak dira. Beste baldintza batzutan, baldintza demokratiko batzutan, zalantzarik ez da egin behar aski indar eta jakinduria politiko egonen dela Euskal Herria eraikitzeko. Baldintza demokratiko horiek lortzeko urrats eraginkorrak egin behar dira ahalik eta lasterren.

Beraz, egoeraren larritasunez jabetu behar gara guztiok eta ondorioz egoera honek eskatzen duen koherentzia guziaz aritu. Dagoeneko somatzen den "impasse" egoera hori ezin da luzatu, eta denbora galdu gabe gaur egungo egoera juridiko-politikoa gaindituko duen proposamena egin eta martxan jarri behar da. Arduragabekeria galanta litzateke euskal gizartean sortu den ilusio guztia zakarrontzira botatzea norberak bere interesak aurrean jartzen dituelako.

Berriz, gogoak eta aukerak ez dira aski. Proiektu zehatzak behar dira ere. Ezker Abertzaleak aspaldidanik agertu du bere proposamen politikoa, Euskal Herriaren hitza adierazteko aukera eman eta errespetatua izan dadin baliabideak jartzea hain zuzen ere. Halere proposamen hori ez da Ezker Abertzalearen patrimonioa, euskal gizarteari eskaini eta honek berea egin duena baizik. Gaur egun, Espainia eta Frantziaren errealitate zanpatzailea inposatu nahi dituztenez gain inork gutxik ukatu dezakeen kontzeptua baita.

Euskal demokraziaz ari gara, eta demokrazia guztietan bezala Euskal Herriak bere konstituzio propioa beharko du. Egoera demokratiko hori arautuko duena alegia. Baina konstituzio bat ez da bakarrik dokumentu batean biltzen den arautegi bat, praktikan eraiki eta aritzen den egitura instituzional eta politikoa baizik.

Prozesu hori aurrera eramateko, euskal demokrazia eraikitzeko Euskal Herriak bere ordezkaritza instituzionala behar du. Nazional eta subiranoa izanen den gune eta ordezkaritza instituzionala. Euskal Herriak bere parlamentu nazionala behar du. Eta horretarako ezinbesteko baliabideak eta prozedura demokratikoak martxan jarri beharko dira berandu baino lehen. Urrats garrantzitsua eta eraginkorra litzateke, gatazka gainditze bidean jarri eta gizarte osoaren parte hartzearekin prozesu kostituientea abiaraziko lukeena.

Dei egiten diegu beraz euskal herritarroi aurrean dugun erronkari gogoz heldu eta indar berriz Euskal Herria askatzeko borrokan aritu daitezen. Etorkizuna Euskal Herriarena da.

EUSKAL HERRIAN, 1999KO ABUZTUAN