|
 Basque
institutions in the communities of the American West have generally
remained apolitical through the decades since their first waves
of immigration in the 1850s. The individual Basque Centers' charters
and by-laws or constitutions specifically state that the organization
will not participate or promote any certain political ideology or
party in the United States or in the Basque provinces. However,
individual citizens have maintained their own private political
interests and several have initiated significant movements that
have mobilized Basques in the United States as well as those in
the Basque Country. The State of Idaho legislative session of 2002
witnessed such a political initiative.
In the fall of 2001 a group of politically interested Basques met
at the Basque Museum and Cultural Center to discuss and debate what
language and terminology should be included in a legislative memorial
asking the Idaho legislature to recognize the political problems
in the Basque provinces. A memorial has no force of law, but instead
is a recommendation or statement of opinion of an elected State
body. If passed by at least a majority, that Memorial continues
on to the United States Congress and the President of the United
States for their consideration. Secretary of State Pete T. Cenarrusa
(Republican) had been planning an intervention for months, but because
the Secretary of State is in the executive branch of government,
that person is unable to propose legislation. The Idaho State Constitution
states that legislation will be presented by an elected member of
the House of Representatives, or of the Senate. Representative David
Garmendia Bieter (Democrat) was eager to be that person to propose
and carry this idea through the legislative process.
The Idaho legislative session began in January 2002, and the testimony
and first committee hearing for the memorial was held during the
first week of March. Citizen speakers in favor of the memorial included
Pete T. Cenarrusa, Toni Lawson, Joseba Chertudi, Mark Guerry, Tracy
Basterrechea, and Gloria Totoricagüena, who each gave explanations
and information regarding the political situation in the Basque
Country. The committee passed the proposal unanimously and the next
step was the vote of the entire House of Representatives. Pete Cenarrusa
was allowed to serve as Speaker of the House for the floor debate
on the memorial in honor of his decades to public service in Idaho,
and his past experience as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The floor vote was unanimously in favor.
 | |
| Cenarrusa, Pete 1995 Boise, Idaho |
The Idaho legislative branch is bicameral, which forces every piece
of legislation to go through scrutiny in both chambers, therefore
the memorial proposal continued on the next step which was reading
and debate in the Senate committee. Ten minutes before the committee
meeting was to commence on that Friday afternoon, the Chairperson,
Sheila Sorensen, was summoned for a conference call in Pete Cenarrusa's
office with representatives of the office of the United States National
Security Advisor. Senator Sorenson was told to hold the committee
vote until Monday so that there could be negotiations about changing
the language of the original proposal and adding language that included
a specific condemnation of ETA. The original version stated a condemnation
for all violence in the Basque region. The same five witnesses testified
to the Senate committee, however, the vote was postponed to a Monday
meeting, and after the specific language was added, the Senate committee
voted unanimously to pass the memorial. The last step remaining
was for the entire Senate to debate and vote on the proposal. Senator
Robbie Barrutia, of Mountain Home, led another seven Senators who
debated in favor of the proposal signifying that they were proud
of the Basque population in the State of Idaho and the major contribution
they have made to the economy, culture, education, tourism and industry
of Idaho; they called for democratic application of enforcement
and complete implement of the Statutes of Autonomy; and enforcement
and implementation of the Economic Agreement between Gasteiz and
Madrid. When the Senate vote was called, it was the fourth unanimous
YES vote it received. However, because the version of the Senate
was different from the first version passed in the House of Representatives,
it had to be returned to the House of Representatives for another
vote. The measure was again passed unanimously, was signed by the
President of the Senate and by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
of the Idaho legislature, and sent on to Washington D.C.
Because of its controversial nature, the Idaho Memorial 114 in
its entirety is printed here for the reader in exactly the same
form in which it was passed unanimously by the Idaho Senate and
the Idaho House of Representatives.
Senate Joint Memorial No.114
SJM114.....................................................by
STATE AFFAIRS
BASQUE HOMELAND - Stating findings of the Legislature and
calling for the immediate cessation of all violence occurring
in and near the Basque homeland; and to request that a peace
process be undertaken.
- 03/12/02 Senate intro - 1st reading - to printing
Report printed - to 10th Ord
Rules suspended - ADOPTED, voice vote
Title approved - to House
- 03/13/02 House intro - 1st reading - to 2nd reading
Rules suspended - ADOPTED - voice vote - to Senate
- 03/13/02 To enrol
- 03/14/02 Pres signed - Speaker of the House signed
03/14/02 To Secretary of State
Bill Text
|
Legislature of the State of Idaho
Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session
- 2002
|
IN THE SENATE SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 114 BY STATE AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE A JOINT MEMORIAL TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, THE SENATE
AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS
ASSEMBLED, THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE
OF IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE BASQUE AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT, THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER,
THE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER AND THE KING OF SPAIN.
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and the House of Representatives
of the State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session
of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully
represent that:
WHEREAS, during the early part of the twentieth century, a
wave of Basque immigrants left a stretch of coastline along
the Bay of Biscay destined for the state of Idaho where many
initially found work as sheepherders in the ranges and pastureland
of Idaho; and
WHEREAS, the state of Idaho has long since been known as the
North American center of the Basque population and many citizens
of the state have kept close ties to the homeland of their
forefathers; and
WHEREAS, in the year 1972, the Senate and House of Representatives
of the State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session
of the Forty-first Idaho Legislature passed Senate Joint Memorial
No. 115 condemning the totalitarian dictatorship of Franco
and insisting on total general amnesty for all Basques and
Spaniards imprisoned or exiled for their political and social
23 activities; and
WHEREAS, the Basque people are the oldest indigenous people
in western Europe and have a long history of personal accomplishment
and a devotion to the preservation of their national heritage;
and
WHEREAS, the Basque homeland was claimed in the mid-seventeenth
century by the emerging nation states of Spain and France
and is now divided into seven provinces, four of which are
located in Spain and three of which are located in France;
and
31 WHEREAS, notwithstanding this division, the Basque people
have sought to maintain their autonomous culture, their ancient
language and their self-government; and
WHEREAS, despite conflicts associated with the configuration
of the Basque Country and its relationship with the Spanish
and French states, all but a marginalized fraction of Basques
oppose all incidents of violence; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature of the State
of Idaho in adopting this Joint Memorial to:
- Express strong support for an immediate end to violence
in the Basque homeland located in Spain and France and the
establishment of peace through all lawful means available
to the governments of Spain, France and through all lawful
means available to the governments of Spain, France and
the Basque Autonomous Region; and
- Condemn all acts of terrorism and violence committed
by any and all organizations and individuals within the
Basque homeland and throughout the world, including those
organizations, such as ETA, who are defined by the government
of the United States as terrorist organizations pursuant
to the applicable laws of the United States; and
- Reiterate its unqualified support of and participation
with the gov ernment of the United States and those of all
other nations in the war on terrorism.NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Session
of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the
House of Repre sentatives concurring therein, that the state
of Idaho calls for an immediate cessation of all violence
occurring in and near the Basque homeland, and that a peace
process be immediately undertaken between the governments
of Spain and France, the Basque Autonomous Government, and
other groups committed to peace. The state of Idaho further
supports the right of the Basques to self -determination.BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be,
and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy
of this Memorial to the President of the United States,
the Secretary of State of the United States, the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
of Congress, the congressional delegation representing the
State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States, the
President of the Basque Autonomous Government, the French
Prime Minister, the Spanish Prime Minister and the King
of Spain.
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact
Statement of Purpose
RS 12220C1
Idaho is the home of thousands of the descendants of Basque
immigrants. Over the decades since the early 1900's, the Basques
have worked to gain a place in Idaho, while at the same time
preserving their cultural heritage and ties to their homeland.
Through this joint memorial the Idaho legislature stands with
the Basques and all Idahoans in opposing all violence in the Basque
Country and calling for the immediate convocation of a process to
bring about a lasting peace. The Basques are the oldest
indigenous people of Western Europe. Since the beginning of
recorded history, their language and culture have been present
in
the same area of what became parts of Spain and France. Out
of
respect for this heritage and America s commitment to our
own
struggles f or freedom, this memorial expresses Idaho's support
of the right of the Basques to self determination.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the general fund.
Contact
Name: Pete Cenarrusa
Name: David Bieter
|
Gloria Totoricagüena Egurrola
Center for Basque Studies, University of Nevada Reno. |
