Dear friends,

First of all, we would like to send you big congratulations, to all those who make up Jericho and to the people here today.

It is a pleasure to be able to send you a few words of greeting on this your 10th anniversary commemoration.

Perhaps some people will say there is little to be glad about when we commemorate the tenth anniversary of an organization working for political prisoners, because this means that there are still political prisoners held in jail. This is true in a sense. Nevertheless, we must understand that the continued existence of political prisoners is not a symptom of defeat, but a symptom of struggle.

Wherever there is injustice, people will rebel. Wherever there is oppression, people will fight back. And those at the forefront of the struggle will be targeted by the oppressor; they will be persecuted, killed or thrown in jail. This is the origin of political prisoners. In turn, wherever people are persecuted for their resistance to oppression, they will receive solidarity, help and support to overcome the consequences of repression. Indeed, wherever there is a struggle against oppression, there will be a movement in solidarity with those who struggle. This is Jericho, here, today, for the last ten years, and for the foreseeable future. Rejoice therefore, as the continued existence of Jericho is testimony to the continued will to resist oppression. It is a reminder of human dignity.

In the Basque Country, across the ocean, we know all of this well. The struggle for the Right to Decide Our Own Future continues, and the obstinacy of the French and Spanish states continues to deny our Rights and to insist on attempting to finish the Basque People by military means. We have record numbers of political prisoners, the organizations that work in solidarity have been banned and members of the movement sentenced to tens of years in prison, purely for working in solidarity with those who suffer persecution. We are living under dictatorial conditions in a so-called “modern democracy.”

The situation is tough, but we have been through tough situations before. This year, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the modern Amnesty Movement in the Basque Country. We are not going anywhere. While our fellow Basques continue to suffer exile, torture and prison, there will be a movement there to support them. The people will not be silenced.

As always, knowledge of each other's struggles and solidarity across continents must be always in our minds and in our hearts, because, despite the differences, this is what we have in common: the will to resist oppression and to work in solidarity. We are all moving in this direction, with activities such as today's, with the celebration of International Political Prisoners' day across the globe, on April 17 and with many other initiatives.

From Herrera de la Mancha to Lewisburg, from Chile to Palestine, and today, very specially, from the Basque Country to North America, the wind of freedom will not be stopped by walls or bars.

Gora Preso Politikoak!
Gora Elkartasun Mugimenduak!
Gora Jericho!
Long live Political Prisoners!
Long live the Solidarity Movement!
Long live Jericho !

The Basque Amnesty Movement, October 2008