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Udalbiltza is to celebrate the Aberri Eguna in homage to Euskaltzaleen Elkartea

Udalbiltza - 2003/04/12

THE RESPECT AND OPINION AND WILL OF BASQUE CITIZENS, AT THE HEART OF OUR ACTIVITY.

A plaque which commemorates Euskaltzaleeen Biltzarra is located besides the current building of the town hall of Hendaia and on the walls of the former town hall. In that place, UDABILTZA will pay homage and commemorate those people and euskaltzales (Bascophiles) who set up this association. It was set up in 1901 and its Chairman was the canon (known as Zaldubi and the composer of numerous songs, among them the very well-known Zazpi Euskal Herriek bat egin dezagun (let us join the seven Basque territories as one). Arturo Kanpion and Sabino Arana Goiri were appointed as Vice-Chairmen. Other personages who took part in the association were R. M. Azkue, Guerra, Broussain, Guilbeau and Arbelbide.

The basic objective of Euskaltzaleen Biltzarra was to reflect on our language, Euskera, with the aim of guaranteeing its survival and future. However, this association put forward a point of the utmost interest: even though it was limited to culture and language, Euskaltzaleen Biltzarra constituted a reflection of the territoriality of Euskal Herria, given that for the first time euskaltzales and men of culture from Iparralde and Hegoalde (the North and South Basque Country) joined forces to work together. In its own way, this is exactly what UDALBILTZA is setting in motion with the aim of making a country by establishing relations among citizens, municipally-elected councillors and Basque municipalities. In other words: to be a testimony to the territoriality of Euskal Herria.

We wish to celebrate the Aberri Eguna in a festive atmosphere and by developing our awareness of belonging to a People who are free and democratic. However, logically, UDALBILTZA will make its reflection public as regards the political situation being experienced in Euskal Herria. A worrying situation, without doubt, although we do not abandon hope.


With new municipal and regional elections almost upon us in Hegoalde, we note that the two extremes of the political spectrum continue to act harshly in order to mar our coexistence. And what’s more, they help each other by both having a common strategy and an objective: to turn Euskal Herria and Basque society upside down with the aim of justifying each other in the measures they take and their activities. They continue to feed on a dynamic to which they do not wish to put an end. Some, threatening and putting the life and freedom of hundreds of people totally unfairly in jeopardy, because the latter do not think the same or have the same points of view as them. The others, banning and restricting basic political ideas and rights, are toughening their stance as regards the situation of Basque prisoners and their relatives and attacking Euskera or any other project which may focus on the standpoint of Euskal Herria as a whole.

And our response to such a dynamic is clear: no. In our opinion, because it is a malevolent dynamic, because it will not bring us peace and political normalization and, because – we are sure of this – an overwhelming majority of Basque citizens do not admit it or accept it. This dynamic put into practice by the two extremes – each with its methods and legitimacies – involves an attitude of clear political `despotism´ and `egoism´ and an unreserved contempt for Basque citizens. A people such as the People of Euskal Herria, in progress, modern, Europe and fully established in the 21st century, can be no other.


Faced with this dynamic, UDALBILTZA, faithful and loyal to its founding principles, contrasts two basic ideas: on the one hand, the need to respect the human rights of all people and, on the other, to respect the freely-expressed will of Basque citizens, if they still believe in democracy.

In order to achieve all this, what means can we use? An easing of tension, dialogue, agreement and, something which can be expressed in no other way, that the freely and democratically-expressed will of Basque citizens constitute the core activity of all.





Euskal Herria, on the 12th of April 2003