In light of illegalization of the Basque organizations Herri Batasuna, Euskal Herritarrok and Batasuna by the Spanish government, a new coalition called Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea (AuB) has been formed. The banned organizations which have been the political representatives of the national and social liberation movement in the Basque Country for the past 25 years are now unable to run candidates in elections. In the 1999 municipal elections, 1,000 Batasuna members were elected as councillors. The AuB will be running candidates in the next municipal election. Shunpiking/Mac-talla is posting below an interview conducted in April, 2003 with one of its representatives Josˇ Ramon Etxeberria who explains why the AuB was formed and its political program.

Question: Why was Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea (AuB) created and what is its objectives?

Josˇ Ramon Etxeberria: For a start, because we saw that we needed a new political tool to work for the future of the Basque Country. Our people have known a lot of social and political changes these last years, and we think that we have reached a historical crossroads again. We think that this special situation deserves reflection and new efforts from all of us, mainly because we see that the political moment of the majority of Basque society situated around leftist values and self-determination has come. Autodeterminazioaren Bilgunea is here in order to gather and organize this social majority, overcoming the present political mixture and division. We are born with the objective of being the political reference of this new age that is spreading in the Basque Country. The name itself explains it: Self-determination is what unites us. Our target is to stimulate the popular dynamics so as to achieve the recognition of self-determination and to make it definitive. This is precisely the most important duty for this new era, and we will face all the different challenges keeping this objective inmind, in the most suitable way each time.

In addition to this, we think we also have something to do with the uniforming and globalizing model which neo-liberalism imposes on us, as people and as committed individuals in Europe and throughout the world. On the one hand, it is our duty to achieve the economic, social, cultural and institutional means that the Basque Country needs so that it has its own place in that globalization, which we dislike and is imposed on us, and on the other hand, it is our duty to root out economic imbalances, injustices and impositions, inside our societies and between the peoples, in the Basque Country and internationally. This is also going to be one of the main targets of Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea.

Q: What is the political balance achieved by Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea-AuB?

JRE: For centuries, the Basque Country has been refused its collective rights as a people, either by force of weapons or by foreign laws. The different political regimes have been unable to change the hard situation our people are suffering. In Spain and in France, in a dictatorship or in a democracy, the Basques have had no rights. In either situation, all have been refused to us. The assimilation process which the Spanish state started 25 years ago in South Basque Country and autonomism has not fulfilled its objectives, and we think that the phase of servitude to the state is over forever.

We must praise all the efforts made by Basque society for years and years, centuries, in one way or another, to keep the Basque Country alive, and specially those made by the most committed part of Basque society, the Independentist Left. Thanks to the position of the Independentist Left, and under the influence of the work done with the other sectors, the popular majority in favour of the Basque Country has been completed now, the social conditions to self-determination are settled. Unfortunately, there is in our country some who despise the ability and courage of our society and who have turned their back on the political elaboration in favour of the recognition of self-determination. These sectors, after having supported autonomism for 25 years, still nowadays reject the new model that a real political change can be brought into the Basque Country and are working in opposition to the popular sectors which are struggling for it. Their aim is to get a new state pact, in order to achieve their political stability and to continue managing their economic, cultural and political interests. They place their projectabove the project of society once and again.

Q: What is the basis and aims of Autodeterminazioaren Bilgunea-AuB's proposal?

JRE: First, commitment in favour of self-determination: Self-determination is the axis of the political change that the Basque Country needs, as it is what will bring into this country the guarantee for all civil and political rights. As time for self-determination has arrived for the Basque Country, we want to promote a real and dynamic process aiming at its recognition, planningdifferent dynamics, collaborating with all the individuals and movements that are working for it. Here, we want to emphasize the contribution of Udalbiltza, which gathers town councillors from all the Basque Country, both for its defence of the rights of our people and for the exemplary steps they have taken. Everybody can get, for example, the "Charter of the political and civil rights of the Basques" published by them for the International Conference held in the Basque Country in December 2002. a qualitative contribution, without a doubt.

Second, commitment to give the conflict a political solution: In this moment when the states only offer this people a situation of exception, a violation of their rights and the permanence of the conflict, we want to raise the peace flag and claim for itsnecessity. We need a peace based on freedom and justice, because it is vital that the pain suffered by this people during centuries end. That is the reason why we make ours what was said by the Lizarra Garazi Agreement, signed by the political, trade union and social majority of the Basque Country in 1998, during ETA's cease-fire: the Basque people must be given the right to speak and its decisions respected, demanding the way in favour of the dialogue between us all.

Third, commitment to confront fascism: When the winds of fascism are shaking our country from side to side, it is becoming more necessary than ever to give a strong and firm answer as a people. They want to destroy the heart and the future of the Basque Country, sentencing Basque society to living in a situation of exception. Thus, the police, judicial and political attacks have become the only axis of the State's policy. Autodeterminaziorako Bilgune-AuB is going to confront this situation, defeating the fascist strategy in our country, providing Basque society with the necessary means, supplying anybody in this country willing to work in favour of democracy.

Fourth, commitment in favour of change and equality: Just as we want a free Basque Country, we favour a new model of society, based on social justice and equality. We want to improve the living conditions of all the people who live in the Basque Country, and this is not only necessary but also possible provided that the wealth generated in our countryis shared in a suitable way and that we make a balanced exploitation of the resources of our country. We want to work in favour of equality, which is the first pillar of justice, in order to eradicate all discrimination of origin, gender or ideas forever.Solidarity among the different nations and peoples is our symbol.

Fifth, commitment in favour of the Basque language and culture: Like in the other areas, the pupils must have their own educational system, from the age of zero to university, so that in addition to being Basque all new generations own the Basque culture,a complete preparation and progressive social values. It is necessary to guarantee from now on the right of our people to live in Basque, starting from education but spreading to all social areas. Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea-AuB will therefore submerge itself, speaking Basque, in the development of Basque culture, because this is the richest contribution we can make to universal culture.

In light of illegalization of the Basque organizations Herri Batasuna, Euskal Herritarrok and Batasuna by the Spanish government, a new coalition called Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea (AuB) has been formed. The banned organizations which have been the political representatives of the national and social liberation movement in the Basque Country for the past 25 years are now unable to run candidates in elections. In the 1999 municipal elections, 1,000 Batasuna members were elected as councillors. The AuB will be running candidates in the next municipal election. Shunpiking/Mac-talla is posting below an interview conducted in April, 2003 with one of its representatives Josˇ Ramon Etxeberria who explains why the AuB was formed and its political program.

Question: Why was Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea (AuB) created and what is its objectives?

Josˇ Ramon Etxeberria: For a start, because we saw that we needed a new political tool to work for the future of the Basque Country. Our people have known a lot of social and political changes these last years, and we think that we have reached a historical crossroads again. We think that this special situation deserves reflection and new efforts from all of us, mainly because we see that the political moment of the majority of Basque society situated around leftist values and self-determination has come. Autodeterminazioaren Bilgunea is here in order to gather and organize this social majority, overcoming the present political mixture and division. We are born with the objective of being the political reference of this new age that is spreading in the Basque Country. The name itself explains it: Self-determination is what unites us. Our target is to stimulate the popular dynamics so as to achieve the recognition of self-determination and to make it definitive. This is precisely the most important duty for this new era, and we will face all the different challenges keeping this objective inmind, in the most suitable way each time.

In addition to this, we think we also have something to do with the uniforming and globalizing model which neo-liberalism imposes on us, as people and as committed individuals in Europe and throughout the world. On the one hand, it is our duty to achieve the economic, social, cultural and institutional means that the Basque Country needs so that it has its own place in that globalization, which we dislike and is imposed on us, and on the other hand, it is our duty to root out economic imbalances, injustices and impositions, inside our societies and between the peoples, in the Basque Country and internationally. This is also going to be one of the main targets of Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea.

Q: What is the political balance achieved by Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea-AuB?

JRE: For centuries, the Basque Country has been refused its collective rights as a people, either by force of weapons or by foreign laws. The different political regimes have been unable to change the hard situation our people are suffering. In Spain and in France, in a dictatorship or in a democracy, the Basques have had no rights. In either situation, all have been refused to us. The assimilation process which the Spanish state started 25 years ago in South Basque Country and autonomism has not fulfilled its objectives, and we think that the phase of servitude to the state is over forever.

We must praise all the efforts made by Basque society for years and years, centuries, in one way or another, to keep the Basque Country alive, and specially those made by the most committed part of Basque society, the Independentist Left. Thanks to the position of the Independentist Left, and under the influence of the work done with the other sectors, the popular majority in favour of the Basque Country has been completed now, the social conditions to self-determination are settled. Unfortunately, there is in our country some who despise the ability and courage of our society and who have turned their back on the political elaboration in favour of the recognition of self-determination. These sectors, after having supported autonomism for 25 years, still nowadays reject the new model that a real political change can be brought into the Basque Country and are working in opposition to the popular sectors which are struggling for it. Their aim is to get a new state pact, in order to achieve their political stability and to continue managing their economic, cultural and political interests. They place their projectabove the project of society once and again.

Q: What is the basis and aims of Autodeterminazioaren Bilgunea-AuB's proposal?

JRE: First, commitment in favour of self-determination: Self-determination is the axis of the political change that the Basque Country needs, as it is what will bring into this country the guarantee for all civil and political rights. As time for self-determination has arrived for the Basque Country, we want to promote a real and dynamic process aiming at its recognition, planningdifferent dynamics, collaborating with all the individuals and movements that are working for it. Here, we want to emphasize the contribution of Udalbiltza, which gathers town councillors from all the Basque Country, both for its defence of the rights of our people and for the exemplary steps they have taken. Everybody can get, for example, the "Charter of the political and civil rights of the Basques" published by them for the International Conference held in the Basque Country in December 2002. a qualitative contribution, without a doubt.

Second, commitment to give the conflict a political solution: In this moment when the states only offer this people a situation of exception, a violation of their rights and the permanence of the conflict, we want to raise the peace flag and claim for itsnecessity. We need a peace based on freedom and justice, because it is vital that the pain suffered by this people during centuries end. That is the reason why we make ours what was said by the Lizarra Garazi Agreement, signed by the political, trade union and social majority of the Basque Country in 1998, during ETA's cease-fire: the Basque people must be given the right to speak and its decisions respected, demanding the way in favour of the dialogue between us all.

Third, commitment to confront fascism: When the winds of fascism are shaking our country from side to side, it is becoming more necessary than ever to give a strong and firm answer as a people. They want to destroy the heart and the future of the Basque Country, sentencing Basque society to living in a situation of exception. Thus, the police, judicial and political attacks have become the only axis of the State's policy. Autodeterminaziorako Bilgune-AuB is going to confront this situation, defeating the fascist strategy in our country, providing Basque society with the necessary means, supplying anybody in this country willing to work in favour of democracy.

Fourth, commitment in favour of change and equality: Just as we want a free Basque Country, we favour a new model of society, based on social justice and equality. We want to improve the living conditions of all the people who live in the Basque Country, and this is not only necessary but also possible provided that the wealth generated in our countryis shared in a suitable way and that we make a balanced exploitation of the resources of our country. We want to work in favour of equality, which is the first pillar of justice, in order to eradicate all discrimination of origin, gender or ideas forever.Solidarity among the different nations and peoples is our symbol.

Fifth, commitment in favour of the Basque language and culture: Like in the other areas, the pupils must have their own educational system, from the age of zero to university, so that in addition to being Basque all new generations own the Basque culture,a complete preparation and progressive social values. It is necessary to guarantee from now on the right of our people to live in Basque, starting from education but spreading to all social areas. Autodeterminaziorako Bilgunea-AuB will therefore submerge itself, speaking Basque, in the development of Basque culture, because this is the richest contribution we can make to universal culture.