Franco Shows No Mercy

"WE HOPE A PARDON WILL NOT BE GRANTED US. WE ARE REVOLUTIONARIES. WE WANT TO DIE FOR THE DIGNITY OF MAN AND THE LIBERTY OF OUR BASQUE COUNTRY." WITH THESE WORDS THE E.T.A. PRISONERS AWAITED THEIR DEATH. THE WORLD PRESS® VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS AND CHURCHES HAVE ALL BEEN CLAMOURING FOR "CLEMENCY". THROUGHOUT EUROPE DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN MOUNTED AGAINST SPANISH EMBASSIES, AND IN SPAIN THE MOST WIDESPREAD STRIKES AND DEMONSTRATIONS SINCE THE CIVIL-WAR HAVE OCCURRED, "CLEMENCY" ALTHOUGH THE SENILE DELINQUENT FRANCO HAS REMITTED SENTENCES OF DEATH THE ACCUSED WILL HAVE TO SERVE AT LEAST 30 YEARS -- IN FRANCO'S JAILS THIS IS A DEATH SENTENCE. THERE TODAY, PRISONERS ARE TORTURED, KEPT IN FREEZING CONDITIONS WITH MINIMAL FOOD, DENIED MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM EITHER THE RED CROSS OR THE BLACK CROSS, AND, UNDER SPANISH LAW EVEN WHEN THEY SERVE THEIR LENGTHY SENTENCES -- FOR EXAMPLE 20 YEARS -- THEY ARE NOT RELEASED UNLESS THE CAUDILLO FRANCO WILLS IT. If not, theyjust rot in jail although th they have served their time. Sentences of up to 750 years are not uncommon, making a mockery of any i idea of "clemency" or parole.

But what of the Basques? For hundreds of years the Basques have been demanding their autonomy and inuependence,. A distinct people with their own language and customs their mountainous land has been divided between France and Spain. The Basques were amongst the most courageous fighters against Franco and the Fascists ‘during the Civil War and the dictator has never forgiven them. Their language has been outlawed and they have been subjected to the most horrendous tortures. Chief of the torturers was Inspector Meliton Mazanas, chief of the San Sebastian secret police. In August 1968 this thug was killed in reprisal for his personally torturing to death five Basques. Now 15 Basque militants have been tried -- there were 16, but one, a pregnant woman, has gone mad after "interogation " Even after the so-called act of clemency to those initially sentence: sentenced to death, these 15 will have to serve over 700 years of imprisonment.

Even the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Spain, whose alliance with the fascists has been a scandal for so long, were forced to protest at the proposed executions (two of the accused were in fact priests). Now that these militants have merely been sentenced to living death it will be interesting to see whether the Catholic Church in Spain will continue its protest. Spanish big business has always been in league with reactionary Catholic organisations like "Opus Dei" and Franco's fascist party the Falange have always relied on the continuing support of the bishops.

Already liberals the world over, who were shocked at the death penalty are joyfully accepting the sentence of living death for the Basques -- thus we have the B.B.C, talking of Franco as the man who by his decision has "united all 33 million Spaniards."

Mario Onaindia Eduardo Uriarte Gorostidi Jose Dorronsoro Fransisco Larena Many of those 33 million are ready to fight fascism in Spain. We say victory to the Spanish workers, We say victory to the Spanish workers, and an end to hypocrisy about ''clemency''. Demonstrations of solidarity and boycotts of Spain are being organised all round the world. Ireland will not be excluded.

—- MEETING — Belfast P.D. will be holding a meeting against the sentencing of Basque Nationalists and the repression of Polish workers next Saturday at the City Hall at 3.15. Other groups interested in protest ng against these twin evils are invited to participate.

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