A collection of signatures is launched to demand the "liberation of the bargain by the artisan of peace"
- A collection of signatures has been launched on the network calling for the disarmament of ETA and the release of five individuals linked to the process of destroying a first group of weapons. The petition has received more than 6,000 signatures in a single day. "The craftsman of peace asks for it immediately," says the cry.
The text they have written requesting accessions reads as follows:
Let us ask for the release of the five artisans of peace
Five non-violent militants have been arrested for initiating the disarmament process of the ETA armed organization and initiating the destruction of a first set of weapons.
Txetx Etcheverry (a founder of Viva, Alternativa and ANV-COP21), Michel Berhocoirigoin (founder and former president of the Basque Country’s Chamber of Agriculture), Michel Bergouignan (cooperating winegrower of the Basque Appeal Irulegi), Béatrice Haran-Molle (journalist) and Stéphane Etchegay were arrested by the Basque Audiovisual Authority or Hussein on Friday 16th December when they were to be destroyed by the police.
They have taken this action because the French and Spanish States have not made a foothold in the disarmament process, when it is terribly necessary for the continuation of the peace process in the Basque Country.
Txetx Etcheverry, Michel Berhocoirigoin (former president of the Basque-People’s Chamber of Culture), as well as Michel Tubiana (honorary president of the Human Rights Association), determined their departure through letters that they sent to the press: "To position ourselves as intermediaries between an armed organization with which we have no ties, dependencies or ties and a State that we want to reflect on. (...) We have decided to regain our responsibility because we believe that it is useful for peace. That is why we have proposed to ETA that the political responsibility for the destruction of its arsenal be transferred to the civil society. We have chosen to do it in a public and educated way, like the engagements we carry. These engagements are public and transparent. They are characterized by personal involvement, by the discontent of democracy, by the choice of the unviolent."
The act of destruction of the arsenal carried out by the artisans of peace is the result of an unrelenting, transparent and energetic march to advance this peace process.
We ask that the French and Spanish governments engage in concrete peace processes and follow the recommendations of the International Peace Conference in Aiete.
We ask for the immediate release of the detained peace artisans Chetx Etcheverry, Michel Berhocoirigoin, Michel Bergougnian, Béatrice Haran-Molle, Stéphane Etchegaray.
Whoever wishes to adhere can do so at this link.
