50 Years Since the Executions of Txiki and Otaegi

Last September marked the 50th anniversary of the executions of Txiki and Otategi, two Basque militants executed by Franco's fascist regime two months before the dictator's death.

To mark this anniversary, several exhibitions and commemorative events have been held as well as a mass rally in Iruñea (Pamplona), attended by over 5,000 people.

Although some on the left in Spain have attempted to exploit the figures of Txiki and Otaegi by depicting them only as “anti-fascist fighters,” the people of the Basque country know full well that they not only fought against Franco's dictatorship but also for the independence of Euskal Herria, like all ETA members of their generation. Franco died in his bed 50 years ago, but Euskal Herria has yet to achieve its freedom.

On November 22, the Basque patriotic Left has organized a national demonstration in Bilbao with the slogan “Askatasunaren Haizea” (Wind of Freedom), to demand independence for the Basque Country and to remember Txiki and Otaegi as well as all of the Basque patriots executed by Franco's regime.

New Political Status for the Western Basque Country

There was an attempt in 2005 by the Basque government of that time, led by the Lehendakari (President) Ibarretxe, which aimed to reform the political status approved in 1979 for the Western Basque Country (Basque Autonomous Community). The political status did bring about certain freedoms and autonomy to this part of our country, but it has been systematically violated by the Spanish government since then.

In short, this reform proposed a confederation model for Spain in which the Western Basque Country would enjoy extensive political autonomy (economic and financial autonomy had already been achieved in 1979). It would have inaugurated a political relationship in which the Western Basque Country would have been on an equal footing with Spain. Although the Basque Parliament approved this political project in 2005, the Spanish government and judiciary struck it down.

After 20 years of waiting, the two main Basque nationalist parties in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (the nationalist right and the nationalist left) have resumed the project and are drafting a new political status in which the Basque PSOE, dependent on the Spanish Socialist Party, is also taking part.

PSOE's participation in this political project makes us fear that it will not go along with national ambitions. Although the Basque nationalist Left and Right argue that the text should include the right of the Basque people to decide their political future (a euphemism for the right to self-determination), it does not appear that the PSOE will embrace this point.

There is also talk of the status recognizing the national character of the Basque Country and establishing a political relationship in which the Basque and Spanish governments would be on an equal footing, so that the Spanish government would have no possibility of interfering – as it does now – in the political decisions taken in the Western Basque Country.

It is expected that a draft of the new political status will be presented in the coming weeks.

Josu Albero