Ahotsak, Basque Women's Voices for Peace
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
EUSKADITIK ORBELL C ARLOS K © Ahotsak, Basque women’s voices for peace Following the ETA ceasefire, on Mertxe Aizpurua and Béatrice April 8 in San Sebastián two Molle. Before reading the hundred women representing all of document, they recalled other the political and trade union initiatives led by women in other organizations in Euskal Herria, countries in conflict: Colombia, with the exception of the PP and Northern Ireland and Israel. the UPN, presented a declaration The text made three points. advocating peace and Firstly, that peace «is not only a reconciliation, in which they question of the absence of any kind demanded respect for «the Ahotsak blog. of violence», but is «linked to decision» of Basque men and democracy, social justice, to a women regarding «the legal- Two hundred women process of change permitting political framework». The women, representing all of the citizens to consider historical who signed the document in their conflicts as closed and turn the own names, formed the platform political and trade union page in terms of rights and Ahotsak with the purpose, as organizations in Euskal freedoms». indicated by its name in Basque, of Secondly, that «we have to seek contributing «voices» to fostering Herria call for respect of a scenario permitting and progression of the peace process the decision taken by guaranteeing the development and and converting women into «active materialization of all projects agents». Directly behind a banner Basque citizens regarding through political and democratic bearing the platform anagram, the legal-political channels in conditions of equality». were Gemma Zabaleta (PSE-EE), framework And thirdly, that if Basque society Jone Goirizelaia (Batasuna), «wishes to transform, change or Gemma González de Txabarri maintain its currently existing (PNV), Begoña Errazti (EA), the French Socialist Colette legal-political framework, all men Kontxi Bilbao (EB), Aintzane Capdevielle and Mertxe Colina, and women» should respect the Ezenarro (Aralar) and Nekane from the independence supporters’ guarantees and political procedures Erauskin (EHAK). Alongside them movement, Abertzaleen Batasuna. agreed upon so that «the decision at the function held in the Palacio The declaration was read out in of Basque society is respected and, de Miramar, was Aihnoa Aznarez, Basque, Spanish and French by the if necessary, mirrored by from the Navarre Socialist Party, journalists Maddalen Iriarte, legislation». 24 CURRENT EVENTS Issue 73. Year 2006.