Rafa Rivas / AFP - Getty Images
People March during a demonstration called by several Basque political parties, trade unions and social groups in the northern city of Bilbao Basque January 11, 2014.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Bilbao in the North of the Spanish Basque country, Saturday, in support of jailed members of the Basque ETA separatist group, defying a ban from the Court of Madrid.
A judge of the High Court had vetoed the market, originally organized by supporters of the prisoners to call for the detainees to be moved to jails closer to their homes.
But two of the main political parties in the region, the independence party Basque Bildu and moderate nationalist PNV (Partido Nacionalista Vasco) - have joined forces to reshape the rally on a market for "human rights, understanding and peace".
The treatment of prisoners of ETA is inconvenient for the Madrid government, which would be certain to anger the associations of victims if he makes concessions to prisoners.ETA - or Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, which means Basque homeland and freedom in Basque - is accused of killing more than 800 people over four decades, many with car bombs.
However, in 2011, the Group requested a cease-fire, and speculation has grown that he might soon announce a complete disarmament.
"This is a unique opportunity to show the world our desire for peace and the obstacles that the Spanish Government is getting started," said Jose Mari Agirre, 55, to the market.
Applications of ETA prisoners to see out their prison sentences in the Basque country could advance after they said last month that they would recognize the system of criminal justice of the Spain.
In a statement, the prisoners acknowledged the pain caused by decades of violence.
The Group has already greatly weakened by hundreds of arrests in Spain and France, but also a political and social support to the country Basque decrease.
Some 600 ETA members are in jail in Spain.
Reuters
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