AFTER EIGHT years absence - all but a day Andoni Arrizabalaga has gone home.
Home is Ondarron, a fishing village built into a small ledge of rock jutting out from the steep Basque Lullside, On an early April day the narrow, casernons streets. sutrounded oy water on enree sides, might seem more suited to an Easter pageant than a political WHAT'S ON Fates: ap per word excape lo Salurday belore pu rained in advance by send Tel: 0273-202792 ed Weekly May Do are Anchor. Emerstal y Southampton Anti-Apartherd Groi imbabar MURRAYS Marle Mus meering Small Hall Corway Hall Dofence CODS The Ondarroa fishermen have been on strike for more than three months, a hard struggle which is no nearer victory now than at the beginning of Jamary. Much of the town has been reduced to poverty SIDER SEMILIE Andoni was born there 36 years April 1969, he was a member of ETA, the radical Hascue national. ist organisation. He was the first mem ner of ErA to be sentenced to death — for alleged terrorist actiVilies. Strikes and demonstrations KETOLUTIUMART CURMUNIS!
full discuasion Campaign.
Caxton House. disco. Admissian Et.
MANCHESTER Incornational Forums Wed 21 April, Perry Anderson on The Westem Communat Partes Bpmanthe Santa union, Adm 200 London Teachers manetiate CARDIFF May Day. Marah in Solidarit with Spanish Werners BIRMINGHAM Cay Socialist Group meels feet Monday in each month a Dovelopment Centre, B'ham.
Centro. C21-543 0080.
ISLINGTON Bus Comeans Baran savod his life.
I same workers who nau defended Andoni in 1969 were out to greet him on 3 April He came our of his Madrid cell a member of the EKI — the new name for the I.CR in the Basque country. was not expected but three thouLK Ongi Etorri Guresk - Welcome Comrade.
AN Eis in the evening the car from Madrid arrived in the Plaza Zabalhurt. Five militants of the LI stepped out, thin and weakened by hunger chaired to the platform. Containt Arrizabalaga were Joso Tbargurxi. Iraki Garcia Biar and Andoni Bedinlaneta.
crowd went ikurrina, the Basque flag, was everywhere. But it was outnum bered by the red flags of the LKI and the Fourth International youth movement, the Iraaltza Takeak, As wagonicads looked an impotently, the workers shouted political prisoners, for the legaliSTOR OR MOELLS SAHE and the dissolition of the repres sive forces.
BETRAYALS
Of the working class parties cals the PSOE, the social democrais, did not greet the comrades. Lopez Inasesi spoke for the ElA, the orga 3A0I00 S01 Basem y1. He, like a number of the L KI comrades, at the Burgos trial in 1970. He wel cored the comrades of the former ETArY: Denite our lterences we are convinced that we will be on Rosa Olivares MCE. a Macist organisation: 9 am very asored to salute the com rades of the LI. Thank you for your struggle. Thank you for vour example.
The palise got dawn from their jeeps to clear the square. mosed. When the comrades were arressed the far lett was unider Thair Say the noc controlled a wide red banner of the had fought hard for this day.
one was strikes, 10 be Arambarri, Innki STIC riat police send represencatives to The ET.
was condemned spoke for the No-one demonstratian, bullets and A year ago if had been the workers who had thrown around Vitoria an who entered an lell. On Easter Saturday. the sensible course.
Josu bargurxi ser off for Eihar. balcontest The ocher three Joined a long cara van of cars on the hilly road to tears The entire town and many thau the square.
meet them. No-one could move through the streets and the square.
The hill around the town wore the fishermen's idle boars filled, every balcony strain ing under the weight. An ikurrinu or a red flag hung from every window. The people of Ondarrou The tiny Citreen with the three comrades on the roof could hardly move through the crowds. Ever josding to shake their hands. Is not Day the youne wha still there. are militants in the Basque coun try. Old women chanted from the repsated baton charges broke the people managed 1o regroup and hold a short demonstra tion until, for once, discretion held to be the most "Andoni, Andoni!
Everyone's eyes were filled with Ar last the little car made it to STORESIVE banner of the Fourth International the dancing and singing went on lare into the night. The comrades spoke. Aguin they called for the legalisation of all political parties and piece user suppor so tac struggle of tie Ondarroa fisher Ahose al they culled for a total amnesty, for the release of our comrades still inside.
Inaki Sarasketa, a clerk, was arrested in 1968 and condemned 1o death. Working class action saved him bur he was serleood to spend the rest of bis lile in prison. He is Lucio Solaguren, an electrician, was sentenced to 18 years in 1968
'STRIKE
In ather Basque towns and villages our comrades got a similar greeting as they left the prisons -eleven of them in all Andon: Arrizabalaga went with Sobit Arann when he returned lo Bilbao. Sabin had spent many months of his nine years inside on hunger strike, apparently ablivious which has dogged him all that time repealed. Theasands came with red Dam and kurritas to hea the LKI call for sikes and demonstrations on Aberri Eguna the Hasque national day. Again there were those, nationalists and reformists, who objecled. Aberri Eguna, they said, should be a peaceful pratest under a single banner, the ikurrina. The mass of red flags and hammers and sickles gave them licle encouragement.
Sabin Arana could hardly speak He wept. I only ask one thing That is to take my nace aiDdi you to consinue the scuggie for TECATTTIESH From Special Correspondents of Red Waekly and Rouge in Bilban IMG Notes A1 Nailon:
lational Student Fraction 23/24 Ap suring of Higher and Further Eoscals Thase travelling a lon cance should arrange to arrive on Frida March, Further cetails to fellow Nelional NALGO Fraction. Saturday 2:
More details to follow next week. Con detalls to follow. 'Labour Focus on Eastem Europe' CP
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