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| Europe |
| Thousands march in Spain's Basque region for independence |
| 2008-08-10 |
| Thousands of people marched through the streets of the seaside city of San Sebastian in Spain's northeastern Basque Country on Saturday to demand self-determination for the wealthy region. "Stop the state of emergency. Self-determination for Euskal Herria," read a banner carried by participants at the head of the peaceful march, using the Basque language name for the Basque Country. Dozens of people waved the red, white and green Basque flag while others chanted slogans in favour of independence for the region as a police helicopter flew overhead, Spanish media reported. Police offered no estimate for the number of participants but the Basque newspaper Gara said in its online edition that some 5,000 people had taken part in the demonstration which was organised by left-wing Basque nationalists. The Basque Country already enjoys considerable autonomy and polls show most Basques do not want to secede from Spain. But a vocal minority is pushing for an independent Basque homeland. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Why be a petty regional leader when you can be a head of state or a minister? You get the red carpet treatment everywhere. You can loot the treasury at will. You have total control over the police and armed forces. You get to go to the EU meetings. You have a share of the EU jobs to dole out. And if you're just a follower, some of that largesse will be coming your way as well. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-08-10 09:50 |
| #1 Something I don't get... Now that the EU is getting power and the states are devolving... and EU regions don't match current states... Why are they demanding Independence within the EU? What does it mean? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-08-10 03:07 |