BILBAO: A peace movement set up 28 years ago to counter the violence of the Basque militant group ETA formally dissolved yesterday, saying that it had achieved its objective now that ETA has laid down its arms.
Three hundred people congregated for a minute’s silence in Bilbao’s Circular Square, the scene of A Gesture for Peace’s first protest in 1985.
Basque ombudsman Inigo Lamarca said it would have taken longer to end the region’s violence without the group.
“A Gesture for Peace is breaking up, but its testimony, bravery and civic courage will live on,” said Lamarca, whose job is to supervise regional offices.
Rocker ends hunger strike
MOSCOW: Jailed Pussy Riot punk rocker Maria Alyokhina has announced an end to her hunger strike after 11 days as the prison has met her demands, the husband of Alyokhina’s bandmate said yesterday.
Alyokhina, 24, jailed for her protest stunt in a prominent Moscow cathedral, was denied parole on May 23. She had gone on a hunger strike a day earlier in protest against the authorities’ refusal to allow her to attend the parole hearing in person. She later added the treatment of other convicts in the colony as a further reason for her hunger strike.
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