Scotland and Basque Country: Two nations, one struggle!

Basque brigadists speak at a public meeting in Glasgow

This a long awaited report from one of the Basque comrades who visited SSY and back in August. A comrade from Askapena (the Basque internationalist and solidarity group), tells us a bit about how they found Scotland:

“Last august, 4 of Askapena’s brigadists were in Scotland.

After many years of organising similar trips to Ireland, Chiapas or Venezuela, it was the first time that Askapena organised a brigade to Scotland. Maybe because of the history that unites us with Eire, maybe cause of the peace process and the similarity we have with it, we have forgotten this is another stateless nation that is a few miles away.

After hearing the claim that there would be a referendum next St. Andrew’s day, it was decided to send a brigade over there; to see the fight they are having for an independent and socialist Scotland and learn from it, and to start or strengthen the links between Scotland and Euskal Herria.

And you hardly could improve the response we received. They organized everything: meetings, talks with party’s people, where to sleep… We received incredible hospitality, understanding with the problems we told them, the warmth of the people and the solidarity with the Basque Country… a very pleasant and enriching 12 days experience.

Perhaps for living closer from the monster of capitalism (London is their “official” capital), they bear this influence in a wilder way: cameras everywhere (the “Big Brother” there is a reality by now), a lot of supermarkets opened 24h (even weekends and holidays), take away restaurants, total commodification of leisure… But at the same time, very sympathetic, friendly and welcoming people with very similar concerns, enthusiasm and passion from us’.

Being invited by the young people there, we were in SSY’s summer camp: the Camp Secret Squirrel, for 4 days in Galloway. A really nice place. The wilder Scotland, a corner not destroyed by civilization… With weather in our side, a special place where you can see all the sky’s stars at night.

At the workshops, we were able to heard about their ideas and opinions about different themes/topics: economy, structure of society, racism, climate change, football (it’s a religion in Scotland), independence, relations between man-woman, the food industry, fascism…

Highlighting a couple of themes/topics, because they surprised us, they are the fascism and the rapes. In fact, by statistics, one in four scottish girl will be raped during her life. It’s an issue that goes farther from the problem they have with the alcohol… because it is the respect with people that is implicated.

Moreover, the issue of fascism is remarkable. The fascists, more and more, are visible on the street. They dare to do demostrations, with racist slogans. Even it’s a silliness, we received a brushstroke of that racism too. In fact, perhaps for listening to our bad English, we had to heared “immigrants!” (with all the contempt) from the door of a pub.

Ultraright-wing parties like the BNP are taking better and better results in elections, and groups like the SDL are on the street… a really disturbing picture. In addition, it is not easy to know the best way to fight it. Face to face, on streets, going to their demostrations and trying to stop them, it’s bad propaganda in the mass-media: riots, violence, “the two sides of the same coin”… and another phrases that keeps people away from antifascism. By the other hand, pretend not to hear, having to hear their fascist propaganda on streets… What to do then?… They don’t know either.

We had our time too, to speak about the Basque Country: a bit of history, some general information (geographical, basque language…), Askapena’s work and some brushstroke notes and significant information about the actual situation (repression, status, situation of prisioners, the new strategy “Stand up Basque Country”)… They listened to us in disbelief what we were talking about, and that shivered them. We realized about that when we finished our speech and opened the workshop to all the people and tried to answer their questions. Some of them were about how can it happen inside the EU, or what could they do from Scotland to change this situation.

After the camp, we had another meeting in Glasgow. Our speech was similar this time too.

The people that came to that meeting, on the contrary, had more idea and knowledge about the Basque Country. People from different places and organizations approached, wich gave as a great opportunity for making contacts. Some good ideas emerged also.

Next day, we had a meeting with the SNP (Scottish National Party). After getting most of votes in the elections of 2007, it’s the party in the power, even if it’s in minority. Even they say they are “social democratics”, people from SSP said us that their approches are quite “populist”, so they receive votes from different ideologies (from left to right). We were mainly interested in the referendum.

We had the appointment with Bill Wilson, MSP. It was the first direct contact between the basque pro-independence left and the SNP. Even if we’re scared cause we’re thinking that meeting will be quite formal, finally it’s was natural and homely. We appeared with our best appearances, timely… for see how they joined some tables while they were making some photocopies. “The SNP has a reputation for not beeing very punctual”. It reassured us, to be honest. Finally, there were quite people (7-8 persons), including some council members and people with importart positions.

We spoke about different topics. There were questions in both directions. We realized they have not much idea about the Basque Country, even they are with Eusko Alkartasuna [a different, social democrat party from the Basque pro-independence left] in the European Parliament. They were left open-mouthed also while listening to the repression numbers. It was a very important chance to speak abour Basque struggle in an international level. They showed interest in Askapena’s work. Apart from giving them a CD with the “Stand up Basque Country”, we presented them the new strategy. We have not to say how important is to show the project in Europe.

About the referendum, they clarified some questions we had. Firstly, it’s not for sure they will do it. As commented, they are in minority, and they need some votes from other parties to carry out.

Nevertheless, they were optimistic even the Liberals and Labour have spoken out against it (the greatest defenders of democracy against a referendum there too…). As it seems, the Greens are for it, and with the Tories, they may fix it in the budgets. Asking for the result, they said jointly that could be on one hand or the other depending on the question asked. From getting more power from London (it requires changes in Westmister’s agreement) to the independence. They estimate the percentage of Scottish independentism near the 50%. As a curiosity, they recognized there’s people that vote for the SNP even being against the independence.

In front of a so important challenge, they have worked hard to give reasons to people to support the independence. The ownership of oil, that would pull them out of poverty, for example. Taking the troops out of Afganistan or, like it had been done in Ireland, lowering the corporate tax, which would facilitate the arrival of Scottish companies.

We were surprised by the ease with which they talk about independence. That is, the non-criminalization of it. They have earned the self-determination right. They can make a referendum, and if the result is “yes”, become a new independent country. So that, their headaches go in another direction: Is Scotland large enough to be an independent country? Is it economically profitable?… Questions that in our country are very remote, indeed.

Arran - Euskal Herria: one struggle!

After leaving the meeting, we take the train to Edinburgh. There, for two days, we stayed with people from Edinburgh’s SSP, having several interviews. Like in Glasgow, we had the chance to learn about the radical history of Edinburgh, in a fantastic tour guided by SSP people.

After pass the weekend in Arran, an isle at the west, with the people of the SSY, we had some time on monday for staying with the leaders of the SSP (for example, with Kevin McVey, that is SSP National Secretary). The links became stronger there. After clarifing some different questions, we raised some collaborations and kind of actions we can do… as sending a brigade from Scotland to Basque Country next year, protest in front of the spanish embassy in case of new arrests, some information pamphlets and protest for the football match it’s going to celebrate next 12th october, and so…

When we returned and at the time to take stock, we had the idea that in general it was a very useful and helpful brigade. We made good few of contacts, with different organizations. The links with the SSP became stronger, and we started a relation with the SNP that could be nearest in the future. Anyway, we saw and decided that it’s not necesary to do another brigade next year. It could be quite more useful a brigade from Scotland to Basque Country. They need more organization and militancy. They have not a stable structure, or some places to have meetings or whatever… In this regard they have somethings to learn, and maybe we can teach what we have learned in so many years…

Thinking that we have started a long and productive relationship, we are very happy with the work we have done.

Scotland and Basque Country: Two nations, one struggle!

Eskozia eta Euskal Herria: Bi herri, borroka bakarra!”