CLOSURE OF BASQUE LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER, EGUNKARIA

Motion Text

That this House expresses its surprise at the action taken by the Spanish Government to close the only daily Basque newspaper, Egunkaria, including its on-line English edition; notes that this newspaper has reported across the Basque political spectrum and that its closure has been condemned by the European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages; recalls the oppression of the Basque language and people under Franco's fascism; rejects the use of violence in pursuit of political ends in the Basque country and beyond, but asserts the right of free expression; and calls on the Government to express its disapproval of this action to the Spanish authorities.