FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 96 - ENGLISH

42 FERNANDO BUESA BLANCO FOUNDATION ASSOCIATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS The local festivals held every summer in the Basque Country and Navarre have once again raised an issue that persists years after ETA’s terrorist violence en- ded: banners, posters and messages supporting the terrorist organisation’s prisoners in festive spaces. In this con- text, the Fernando Buesa Foundation has denounced what occurred during Vitoria-Gasteiz’s La Blanca festivities. Last August, our Foundation shared images of banners and posters placed “SO MUCH EMPATHY FOR ETA PRISONERS and so much forgetfulness towards their victims!” around the txosnas festival stalls in Vi- toria, denouncing the fact that “once again” numerous messages supporting ETA prisoners, including calls for am- nesty, had appeared. We emphasised both the banners’ content and their presence in public festive spaces shared by the whole community, particularly young people. Our Foundation’s position rests on a fundamental principle: defending vic- tims’ memory and delegitimising terro- rism are essential to building democra- tic coexistence. We therefore consider it especially concerning that people convicted of offences related to ETA violence are presented solely as priso- ners, without directly questioning the crimes for which they are serving or have served sentences. In our view, a fully democratic society is incompatible with festive spaces “filled” with banners supporting those who for decades mur- dered, kidnapped, injured, extorted and threatened in ETA’s name.