(24 Feb 1996) Span/Eng/Nat
Thousands of people turned out in the Spanish city of San Sebastian Saturday for a rally in support of the political wing of the outlawed Basque separatist group, ETA .
The demonstration is the latest in a series of regional protests over the arrest, earlier this week, of John Ibigoras, leader of the Herri Batasuna coalition - the political force of the ETA guerillas.
At least 30-thousand people turned out for the protest rally at the football stadium in San Sebastian.
Masked members of the ETA were widely represented at the mass demonstration.
The aim --- to protest over the detention of Jorn Ibigoras by Spain's national government.
Ibigoras, leader of the Herri Batasuna coalition, has been in jail since Thursday night when he was arrested.
He's accused of encouraging terrorism by distributing an election video cassette made by ETA's terrorist organisation.
The controversial election video had an interview with a masked ETA gunman.
Speakers at the rally included Floran Aoez, a prominent member of Herri Batasuna, and guest-speaker Pat Rice from Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"The Sinn Fein here again is affirming it stands for its struggle for peace, unity and freedom of Ireland."
SUPER CAPTION: Pat Rice, Sinn Fein spokesman for education.
Pat Rice could relate to ETA's wish for independence.
SOUNDBITE: English)
"I make no comment on ETA, I just say that Sinn Fein is in favour of the freedom of all people's, the right of all people's for self-determination and among others we think that the Basques who were here in the first place, thousands of years before a Spanish state or a French state existed, that if at the end of the twentieth century they want a state of their own , they have as much right as to that as any state in the world.
SUPER CAPTION: Pat Rice, Sinn Fein's spokesman on education
ETA - which stands for Basque Homeland and freedom - has been responsible for a violent campaign in support of independence for Spain's four Northern Basque provinces since 1968.
SOUNDBITE:(Spanish):
"There is no terrorism in the Basque country, there's only a political struggle, and we Basques have no other option than pursue armed struggle."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Basque sympathizer
A masked member of ETA also addressed the crowd.
All the messages made at the rally called for independence for the Basque region and stressed the importance of elections.
The government has been under pressure, since the release of the controversial video, to ban ETA's political wing from participating in the election, which is set for March the third.
No violence was reported during the mass rally.
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