Basques form 123-km human chain calling for independence vote
25 replies, posted
[img]http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140608&t=2&i=903880843&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=378&r=LYNXMPEA5707A[/img]
[quote=Reuters](Reuters) - [b]Tens of thousands of Basques held hands on Sunday to form a 123-km chain stretching across the northern Spanish region calling for the right to hold a vote on independence.[/b]
Organizing group "It's in Our Hands" estimated some 100,000 people joined the chain, which echoed a similar demonstration on Sept. 11 last year in Catalonia, another Spanish region with a large independence movement.
Demonstrators draped in red-white-and-green Basque flags raised their linked hands as helicopters flew over the line stretching from the city of Durango to Pamplona some 76 miles away, which is not in Basque Country but is in the neighboring Navarra region considered part of Basque cultural and linguistic territory.
In recent years Basque leaders negotiated more tax independence from Spain while separatist demonstrations have been muted. Violent separatist group ETA, weakened by arrests and dwindling popular support, declared an end to its armed struggle in 2011.
[b]But a democratic independence movement has gained force in recent months, partly inspired by massive demonstrations in Catalonia. Basque lawmakers on May 29 adopted a symbolic declaration of self-determination, stepping up a push for more powers.[/b]
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[url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/08/us-spain-basques-idUSKBN0EJ0GN20140608?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews]Source[/url]
Well spain has mismanaged its economy so hard that its no fucking wonder people have no confidence in it.
[QUOTE=Sprockethead;45036663]Well spain has mismanaged its economy so hard that its no fucking wonder people have no confidence in it.[/QUOTE]
I dunno, the Basques have been looking for indenpendence for a long time.
Eh, if they can deal with the economic pressures of being an independent nation then why not? Same thing as Scotland, really, apart from with even more misjustice against the native people.
It's interesting how our modern countries are fragmenting. We're becoming less and less centralised, and at the same time the European Union is forming a stronger bond between nations.
Politics and Economics aside, I think it's a pretty nice way to protest for independence.
I can imagine a situation where most of western europe splits up into smaller states all under the EU.
That could be interesting.
[QUOTE=Coffee;45036979]I can imagine a situation where most of western europe splits up into smaller states all under the EU.
That could be interesting.[/QUOTE]
What would be the point? You gain independence only to surrender it again to a centralized authority.
It's been quite some time since the last time I saw people protest this way
[QUOTE=Gwoodman;45037051]It's been quite some time since the last time I saw people protest this way[/QUOTE]
10 months?
Isn't the right to self determination in some European charter or something?
Us baltic people did it first
Seems like every man and his dog wants independence these days
[QUOTE=Complifused;45037161]Seems like every man and his dog wants independence these days[/QUOTE]
It's just the final stages of the large empires finally dying off.
RED ROVER RED ROVER WE CALL SPAIN OVER
They can protest as much as they want, Spain ain't the kind of country to let territories go.
[QUOTE=markedOne;45037146]Us baltic people did it first[/QUOTE]
and longer
fuck yeah
[QUOTE=ionuttzu;45038092]They can protest as much as they want, Spain ain't the kind of country to let territories go.[/QUOTE]
Right, just look at All of Latin America
[QUOTE=Native Hunter;45039529]Right, just look at All of Latin America[/QUOTE]
Spain didn't let Latin America go willingly.
[QUOTE=Native Hunter;45039529]Right, just look at All of Latin America[/QUOTE]
If Spain had the choice to be a medium tier corrupt and bankrupt nation, or go back to the 1600s and rule half the world, I think they would stay with the second option.
That ain't no chain! It's......... a kolo
[QUOTE=Srillo;45037014]What would be the point? You gain independence only to surrender it again to a centralized authority.[/QUOTE]
To remove an unneeded layer of government?
imo the more centralised the EU becomes, the less sense it make to have huge heterogeneous states inside of it.
Yup, those people at the top of this movement are the same people who 30 years ago were* going around all the region threatening businesses to pay an extra tax in the name of the basque movement (that didn't legally exist) or else they'd get beaten up, or their stores burnt, or killed if they showed opposition, basically THE basque mafia and I am not even talking about the E.T.A.
I don't think anyone wants such a government.
This large group of people is lead to believe that what they want is to preserve the culture and language of the region, which is a fair cause, but they are also motivated by fear and hate, now with the excuse that the Spanish government is corrupt as if they are going to do better if they go independent.
The reality of it is there's a few people at the very top of this movement and they are not any better than the scum on the Spanish government.
All these guys at the top want independence for is for political and economic control and as soon as they get it, you'll see its just the same as any government or worse.
Lets not forget they were so radical about their language and culture that they oppressed and murdered a ton of people for years, until recently they decided to go into politics instead.
Aside from that, all independence would do is just create segregation, hate, severe international development for culture, technologies, health that its currently producing and benefiting from [I]because [/I]of its international collaboration.
[QUOTE=DJrorok;45040684]If Spain had the choice to be a medium tier corrupt and bankrupt nation[/QUOTE]
Spain has the 13th highest GDP in the world you schmuck
Spain is going to split into dozens of little in-fighting states again and the Moors will invade a second time.
[QUOTE=Moustacheman;45044140]Spain is going to split into dozens of little in-fighting states again and the Moors will invade a second time.[/QUOTE]
[t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Umayyad750ADloc.png[/t]
OH BALLS ITS STARTING
if only the eastern ukrainians made a human chain
the idiots
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