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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 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
Rpt prt - to 10th Ord
Rls susp - ADOPTED, voice vote
Title apvd - to House
03/13 House intro - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg
Rls susp - ADOPTED - voice vote - to Senate
03/13 To enrol
03/14 Rpt enrol - Pres signed - Sp signed
03/15 To Secretary of State
|||| 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
1 A JOINT MEMORIAL
2 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED
3 STATES, THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES IN
4 CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF
5 IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BASQUE
6 AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT, THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, THE SPANISH PRIME MINIS-
7 TER AND THE KING OF SPAIN.
8 We, your Memorialists, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
9 State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-sixth
10 Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
11 WHEREAS, during the early part of the twentieth century, a wave of Basque
12 immigrants left a stretch of coastline along the Bay of Biscay destined for
13 the state of Idaho where many initially found work as sheepherders in the
14 ranges and pastureland of Idaho; and
15 WHEREAS, the state of Idaho has long since been known as the North Ameri-
16 can center of the Basque population and many citizens of the state have kept
17 close ties to the homeland of their forefathers; and
18 WHEREAS, in the year 1972, the Senate and House of Representatives of the
19 State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session of the Forty-first
20 Idaho Legislature passed Senate Joint Memorial No. 115 condemning the totali-
21 tarian dictatorship of Franco and insisting on total general amnesty for all
22 Basques and Spaniards imprisoned or exiled for their political and social
23 activities; and
24 WHEREAS, the Basque people are the oldest indigenous people in western
25 Europe and have a long history of personal accomplishment and a devotion to
26 the preservation of their national heritage; and
27 WHEREAS, the Basque homeland was claimed in the mid-seventeenth century by
28 the emerging nation states of Spain and France and is now divided into seven
29 provinces, four of which are located in Spain and three of which are located
30 in France; and
31 WHEREAS, notwithstanding this division, the Basque people have sought to
32 maintain their autonomous culture, their ancient language and their self-gov-
33 ernment; and
34 WHEREAS, despite conflicts associated with the configuration of the Basque
35 Country and its relationship with the Spanish and French states, all but a
36 marginalized fraction of Basques oppose all incidents of violence; and
37 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature of the State of Idaho in
38 adopting this Joint Memorial to:
39 (1) Express strong support for an immediate end to violence in the Basque
40 homeland located in Spain and France and the establishment of peace
41 through all lawful means available to the governments of Spain, France and
42 the Basque Autonomous Region; and
43 (2) Condemn all acts of terrorism and violence committed by any and all
44 organizations and individuals within the Basque homeland and throughout
2
1 the world, including those organizations, such as ETA, who are defined by
2 the government of the United States as terrorist organizations pursuant to
3 the applicable laws of the United States; and
4 (3) Reiterate its unqualified support of and participation with the gov-
5 ernment of the United States and those of all other nations in the war on
6 terrorism.
7 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
8 sion of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre-
9 sentatives concurring therein, that the state of Idaho calls for an immediate
10 cessation of all violence occurring in and near the Basque homeland, and that
11 a peace process be immediately undertaken between the governments of Spain and
12 France, the Basque Autonomous Government, and other groups committed to peace.
13 The state of Idaho further supports the right of the Basques to self determi-
14 nation.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is
16 hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this Memorial to the Pres-
17 ident of the United States, the Secretary of State of the United States, the
18 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of
19 Congress, the congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in the
20 Congress of the United States, the President of the Basque Autonomous Govern-
21 ment, the French Prime Minister, the Spanish Prime Minister and the King of
22 Spain.
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
Phone: 334-2300
Name: David Bieter
Phone: 332-1130
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SJM 114