It was not the intention of the ETA campaign to end dissent, as some claimed. It had a different objective: to attack the consciousness of the Basque Working People itself, which was what it was, and there is still the element that poses the greatest danger and importance for both the Spanish and French states and the Basque-Spanish bourgeoisie, that is, to raise awareness to act as subjects and engines of the national and social liberation of the Basque Country.

Therefore, once the ETA is finished, it is necessary to turn against another, even if it does not exist. To this end, they must reject certain things, such as any form of dissent for the system, everything that smells of disobedience and confusion, as well as attitudes towards revolution, class, solidarity, a free and socialist future. This is what prepares public opinion for this. They also look for and identify subjects, dynamics and collectives to be criminalized. First they intimidate those around them and those far away, then they make arrests and then they start the democratic persecution against the violence and terror that exist only in the minds of the Democrats of Good Will and in the police stations financed by our money. The system behaves with such crudeness. While the houses of activists in occupied Palestine are being destroyed, we are being beaten, or even more, in our funded police stations.

In this sense, as has often happened lately, it has been a fruitful weekend for the system, for the lovers of order, for the traditional rightists, for those who are politically correct, for those who hide the real problems of the street people, for those who manipulate the data of unemployment, poverty and crisis rates, for those who prevent the search for solutions to the current situation.

Following the question of finding the culprits, today we had the opportunity to listen to the statements of Jesús Egiguren, a member of the PSOE who spoke about the Movement for Amnesty and Against Repression “ATA”, who says: “I’m afraid it’s not a small group, but in any case, in my opinion, Sortu will do everything possible to reduce the expression to a minimum.” According to the democracy of the Spanish and French occupiers, it is undemocratic, manipulative and illegal. The law of the Basques who want to be free, on the other hand, would use much harsher words.

He will try and do two, of course. Because Sorrento or Arnaldo Otegi have done it, like an expandable chewing gum spread far away. I am not in inventions, here is what Arnaldo Otegi said: “The ATA (Movement for Amnesty and Against Repression) is a division of the Patriotic Left that refuses to abandon the armed struggle.” This type of criminalization implies the possibility of arrests and imprisonment, something we know a little about in the Basque Country. We also know that it is a political scourge to the powers, a political scourge that calls for the infamous defense of the positions of Sortu himself and, today and in the Basque Country itself, a political “cypayism”. In the same way, the person who does something like this is known locally as a whistleblower, not because it is true or false, but because he is aware that it will serve to criminalize.

As a continuation, today has brought us more, especially considering that those of us who do not fully agree with the line of the Official Patriotic Left are almost on the verge of extinction. Look where and José Antonio Zarzalejos not only denounces the “ATA” and Robust Jurado, a militant of the Movement for Amnesty and Against Repression, but also puts them in the crosshairs of all repressive forces. The Movement for Amnesty considers the Real IRA and represents the Strong Jurado in a perfect target.

It is not surprising that this right-wing politician and police journalist shows their disdain for a transparent and voluntary popular movement that is an example of dedication and that operates without receiving anything in return. It is not surprising, then, that it is the antithesis of what is politically correct, and that it is in the hands of the real powers. The Strong Jurado, on the other hand, is only a militant with an exemplary trajectory, on the other hand, the Strong may not agree with the opinion of the Jurado, but everyone who has been and is in contact with him will not target him in any way, unless he is a greedy person without ethics, because of the coherence shown by the Strong and in favor of amnesty, in the full sense, although taking into account his daily work against repression. Therefore, in view of the actions, let one make the definition of Zarzalejos.

To conclude, in the interview published in the newspaper DEIA on the 26th of the march, Estefania Beltran de Heredia Arroniz, Minister of the Interior of the Basque and Spanish Government, states, among others:

– “Some members of the ATA have publicly proclaimed the use of violence in a special way” “Basque society has renounced violence, so it must strive to isolate such violent elements as circus or zart”.

“Are you worried about ATA?”“we consider as a daily responsibility any issue that disturbs the security of the Basque population”.

According to Mrs. Beltran de Heredia, who is in charge of the order in the PNV, the members of the “ATA” praise the violence. According to the Spanish National Court, to give an opinion is to praise, and the counselor obeys it perfectly. After all, that is why he is the Minister of the Interior of the Basque and Spanish Government. Beltran de Heredia, like other pillars of the system, is trying to criminalize the Movement for Amnesty and Against Repression, everything around him and everyone outside the Official Patriotic Left. Because that lady knows very well that there are so many of them.

As if it were not enough, it warns the Basque society of these violent elements. That is, the members of the movement that he knows or considers ATA as “ATA” are violent because the security chief of the moment says so. All right, let's go. Society needs to isolate them. And then we talk about the Zionists! What does this lady preach: Let’s organize the “ATA”.I'm fucking with you! Who opens him up for spreading hate?

In addition, since it is concerned with the security of the population, it is concerned with the Movement for Amnesty and Against Repression. That's so funny! In fact, it is the activity of the movement, the line of intervention and its functioning that really concerns it, as well as the lack of control and influence with respect to the movement. What he claims, however, concerns him and many other people.

Finally, I will leave aside, in the aforementioned interview, my opinion about all the subjects of repression and criminalization by the counselor. I will simply say that I find the comments in the article scandalous, such as calls to demonize students and militants who express their own mentality, and calls to apartheid and hatred. I want to show my solidarity with everyone.

As is well known, the Basque Country is not a free country, but since we are determined to be free, as many of us are, we will act in this way, no matter what the cost.

Jon IurrebasoAtutxa, former Basque political prisoner of ETA