Controversy at 'Korrika': ETA Victims and Vox Denounce Terrorism Apology

The 'Korrika', a race in favor of the Basque language that ran through the Basque Country, Navarre, and the French Basque Country, has ended up in court due to the controversies generated. The race, in its latest editions, has displayed images of ETA prisoners and has had the participation of former members of the terrorist group. This has caused deep rejection among victims' associations.

The Basque Country Victims of Terrorism Collective (Covite) and the Fernando Buesa Foundation have denounced that the initiative is used to whitewash terrorism and humiliate its victims. These organizations have documented the exhibition of up to 38 images of ETA prisoners during the last edition of the 'Korrika'.

Vox has taken the race to the National Court for a possible crime of glorifying terrorism and humiliating victims. The complaint is directed against AEK (Euskaraz Kooperatiba Sozietatea), an entity dedicated to teaching Basque to adults. The political party argues that the promoters of 'Korrika' would have incurred a crime typified in articles 578 and 580 bis of the Penal Code. Vox requests the opening of an investigation to clarify the facts and determine responsibilities.

Covite and the Fernando Buesa Foundation have described the 26th edition of the race as an obscene showcase for the legitimization of terrorism. They recall that, in a stage of the race in San Sebastián, three ETA prisoners carried the 'lekuko', a symbol of the race.

The participation of former ETA members in the race and the display of images of prisoners have been recurring elements in the 'Korrika'. In Pamplona, a child carried the image of Patxi Ruiz, an ETA member. In the last stage, the son of the last ETA chief, David Pla, read the final manifesto. AEK, the organizing entity, did not prevent these actions and justified its inaction by claiming that it could not control everything the participants did.

Covite and the Fernando Buesa Foundation argue that the entity does not act on its own will, remembering that it did veto CCOO for considering its participation incompatible due to the conditions of the requirement of Basque that they incorporate.

Victims' associations are asking public administrations to stop funding 'Korrika' and cut off their economic, institutional, and political support. It is recalled that many city councils, regional councils, and the Basque Government participate in the financing of the race. The lehendakari himself, Imanol Pradales, carried the 'lekuko' in the last stage in Bilbao.

The organizations point out that it is necessary to move from words to action and that each public institution that continues to finance 'Korrika' contributes to legitimizing this moral perversion.

The report prepared by Covite and the Fernando Buesa Foundation details the use of ETA prisoners in 'Korrika'. 35 images of prisoners were identified in 19 municipalities, including Javier García Gaztelu, alias 'Txapote', the Gallastegui brothers, and Patxi Ruiz. Slogans were heard such as: 'They are going to hear us from Martutene, Zaballa and Lannemezan!', 'we want the prisoners with us' or 'A hug to everyone inside!'.

In addition, 32 kilometers of the race were purchased by support groups for ETA prisoners such as Sare, Etxerat and Harrera Elkartea.