(Castellano) (Euskara)
The 7 activists who participated in the peaceful initiative against the pelotazo (property speculation strike) and the Aroztegia mega-development project are accused of being a criminal group. For this, these people are to be sentenced to 20 years in prison and a fine of 56,000 euros. From here our solidarity. From Aroztegia NO PASARÁN (they won’t pass)!
(Words and video: Ahötsa)
When in the spring of 2021 construction work began in the Baztan town of Lekaroz for the construction of a gigantic housing estate and golf course, several local people stopped the work and obstructed workers and the machines, always in a peaceful manner. An encampment was also carried out with the aim of stopping the works and defending the threatened natural spaces.
‘The black ghosts of speculation with their machines, without respecting the laws expressly made for them and going over the decisions of neighbours and local institutions of Baztan, came to crumble our land. As soon as they appeared, from all corners of Euskal Herria (Basque Country), we citizens approached Aroztegia and with a colourful and disobedient camp, placing our bodies in front of the machines, we managed to stop that work, which was barbaric’, they recalled in their appearance today. Palacio de Arozteguia SL, TEX and QUEIPO SL companies abandoned the project, but along the way they identified 7 activists and summoned them to court.
Now, it has been revealed that they are to be sentenced to 20 years in prison and fines of 56,000 euros. They are accused of being an organised criminal group and of the crimes of coercion and coercion for participating in the Aroztegi camp. ‘Shameful’, supporters stress.
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«That happened thanks to the support of multiple agents, individuals and movements in the Basque Country, with our commitment to stand up to the capitalist, heteropatriarchal, colonial and ecocidal model that has already been exhausted. We achieved this by all of us holding hand»’, and although there are 7 people they want to judge, they are clear that “it is a punishment for an entire people”.
«We are clear that in this political trial they want to punish the commitment and capacity of the citizens to defend themselves and their land. They want to silence us and they are not going to succeed». Moreover, they remind that the struggle is not over yet. In fact, despite the fact that the project has now been rejected, they demand the abandonment of the PGOU and the return of the land taken from the farmers and the General Council of Baztan, which is the responsibility of the Government of Navarre.
They have also called for solidarity to show their opposition to the criminalisation of civil disobedience and to collaborate economically. To this end, they have set up the address aroztegia_elkartasuna@ni.eus to channel solidarity.
