The Korrika is a popular race held in Navarra and the Basque Country with the aim of promoting and reclaiming the Basque language. During this race, participants travel through different locations carrying a token (called “txupin”) that contains a message in favor of Basque. However, in recent years, Korrika has been involved in controversy due to the display of posters with images of ETA terrorists. These posters have generated strong reactions and debates in society.
Despite its initial objective of promoting the Basque language, Korrika has become a stage where linguistic demands are mixed with the painful memory of the victims of terrorism. Navarrese society continues to debate how to maintain the spirit of the Korrika without offending sensitivities or promoting the apology of violence.
Covite, the group of victims of Terrorism, has denounced this. Through his social networks he confirms that “photos of ETA members García Gaztelu ‘Txapote’, Jon Bienzobas, Cruchaga Elezcano and Iosune Oña” have been exhibited. With the exception of Oña, Covite says “they are all convicted of murder” and has criticized that in Sortu “they are proud of these serial killers.”
According to Covite, this has already happened in other Basque municipalities. In Berango, in Ondarroa, in Lekeitio or in Hernani where “the images of ETA members Joanes Larretxea, Asier Eceiza, Beñat Aguinagalde and Imanol Miner, all of them convicted of murder, were carried in the front row.” “How long is AEK going to continue allowing this public display of images of the worst serial killers that have ever been in the Basque Country without saying absolutely anything about it? Why does no institution, no public representative say anything about this aberration?” in Covite. They regret that “all this display of legitimization of ETA’s terrorism and support for its terrorists” occurs in the face of the “total passivity of the institutions and of a part of Basque and Navarrese society.”
Vox has asked to suppress funding for the race: “The organizers of the korrika say that their objective only has to do with the promotion of knowledge and use of Basque, but their spokesperson, as we have seen in the videos, does something else: “praises ETA murderers. So don’t tell us that those who repeatedly display photographs of murderers and banners asking for prisoners to be brought closer are private individuals, because the same AEK spokesperson, without any shame, is the first to pay tribute to the murderers.” . Otegi, meanwhile, a few days ago, retweeted a message from Bildu in which he celebrated the race: “Race in the municipal square, along with hundreds of wonderful crazy people! Let’s continue advancing kilometers through our language, until we achieve a BASQUE NATION!”, he said in Basque.
2024-03-21 19:50:34
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