Basque rally against violence

Demonstrators rally in the Basque country against separatist violence

OIARTZUN, Spain -- Thousands of people have protested in the Basque city of Vitoria against separatist violence.

The demonstration on Saturday was organised by Basta Ya -- a movement started by Basque intellectuals and politicians opposed to Basque nationalism.

Elsewhere thousands of young Basques have gathered at a campsite for a two-day rally in support of independence for the region.

ALSO Haika: The new Basque separatists

Police checked car registration and identity papers at roadblocks around the site where the Haika youth group is celebrating its one-year anniversary.

The rally came hours after a small bomb exploded outside the house of two Basque town councillors in an attack believed to be linked to the separatist group ETA, Spanish police said.

IN-DEPTH Basque conflict: Violence in Spain   • Overview   • Living in fear   • Standing vigil   • ETA background   • Q&A on ETA   • ETA timeline   • Map: Violence   • Video archive   • Recent stories

Haika -- which means to rise up in the Basque language -- is believed to be ETA's youth wing and a source for members from Basque regions of France and Spain.

In recent months, 19 suspected Haika members have been arrested on charges relating to membership of an illegal organisation and subversion of the Spanish state.

Organisers were expecting 15,000 participants at the two-day event in Oiartzun, 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the coastal city of San Sebastian.

Haika spokesman Araitz Zubimendi said the rallies were meant to "denounce the linguistic, cultural and political oppression of the Basque country."

ETA has killed about 800 people since 1968 in its drive for an independent Basque homeland straddling the border between northern Spain and southwestern France.

The separatists have claimed responsibility for 29 murders since January last year.

The protests came ahead of the May 13 Basque region elections when Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar is hoping his Popular Party will oust Basque nationalist parties.

The elections are shaping up as a close race between non-violent Basque nationalists in favour of greater autonomy and Spanish parties insisting the Basque country remain part of Spain.

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The Basque Country
Association for Peace in the Basque Country
Spanish Interior Ministry

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