Thousands have marched in the Basque cities of Bilbo (Bilbao) and Bayona (Bayonne, in the French Basque country) to demand right for political prisoners.

The main demands of the march were that the prisoners are brought to jails in the Basque country and the release of ill prisoners.

Some 76,000 people marched in Bilbao city centre, for the traditional march for prisoners held every year in January. The march was supported by EH-Bildu (Independent left), Podemos Basque country, and all the region’s trade unions.

Likewise, in the small city of Bayona some 9,000 people took to the streets for the march which was supported by 65% of the French Basque country’s mayors.

There are still 265 prisoners jailed for their link to the already dissolved ETA organisation, 46 are jailed in French prisons, and one in Portugal.

The special regime for those prisoners includes their isolation and dispersion in jails also very far from the Basque country. In addition, political prisoners have no access to normal prison benefits.

The spokespersons of the promoters underlined that despite the promises by the new Government in Madrid, after four months of activity, just two dozen prisoners have been transferred to jails in the Basque country, while ill prisoners (some of them in very serious condition) have not been released, not even on parole as they are entitled to. 

The spokesperson of Artisans for Peace, promoters of the march in Bayona, Mixel Behakoirigoin, said that the “process did not end with the dissolution of ETA. We have to push further and solve the political prisoners issue, ending the exceptional regime they are subjected to.”

The marches supported the demand to free the Catalan political prisoners and social leaders in jail to have proclaimed the Catalan Republic.