Fermanagh Ógra Hold Basque Information Stall

Fermanagh Ógra Shinn Féin were on the streets of Enniskillen at the weekend. They held an information stall and leaflet drop in the town centre to mark international solidarity week with the Basque country. Various actions nationwide were drawing attention to the Basque struggle and Fermanagh were no different.

The Ógra activists were accompanied by senior party activists from the town including Debbie Coyle. Throughout the day the Ógra activists engaged with members of the public on the issue of the current repression in the Basque country.

According to Fermanagh Ógra activist Chris Conwell the activists got a good response from the local people they spoke to:

“We are here today to highlight and call for an end to the repressive measures in the Basque country. The response from the public has been very good. Many were shocked to hear of what is happening currently in the Basque country.

“Such an increase in repression is counter productive and flies in the face of recent moves by the left independence movement. In recent months we have seen the pro independence movement set out their vision for the future of the Basque country.

“In it, the pro-Independence Left declares without reservations "support for a peaceful, political and democratic process in order to achieve an inclusive democracy, where the Basque people, freely and without any intimidation of any kind, will be able to decide their future.” They have highlighted the need to initiate a democratic solution to the Basque conflict. However in the following days the pro independence movement was given the answer to their endeavors to bring forward a democratic process when over 30 youth activists were arrested in dawn raids throughout the Basque country.

“The ‘crime’ of these young people was to organise and promote political ideals of Basque independence and socialism.

“We support the fundamental human, civil and political rights of the Basque people as laid out in the UN declaration of human rights and call upon the Spanish and indeed the French to end their repressive measures in the Basque country.