Those of you who know me will know for sure that I’m an Athletic Club supporter. Today, I wanted to write some words about another supporter, Iñigo Cabacas.

One year ago Iñigo went to an Athletic’s match, after the match he joined some friends to have a drink not far from San Mamés (Athletic club’s Stadium). Several vehicles of the Basque Police appeared and without any kind of provocation or attack, the officers started shooting rubber bullets at point blank range. Iñigo Cabacas was wounded by one of those bullets. He was taken to the hospital were he died 4 days later.

His death raised huge protests in Bilbao and surrounding areas. The, at that time, Home Affairs counsellor, Rodolfo Ares, tried to intoxicate about the the events and the actions of the police officers. He finally had to admit that Iñigo’s death had been caused by the officers under his charge; he promised an investigation and the ban of rubber bullets, even promising to change the ammunition used in anti-riot operations.

They tried to show the change by inviting BBC to probes of the new ammunition (The video is really worth having a look, even if its not 100% accurate!)

Unfortunately, this decision has been counter mandated by the new Counsellor (PNV) and Basque Police will still use rubber bullets even if their lethal capacity is clear.

One year has gone by, and there are still no officers accused for the murder. Furthermore, Gara has published that the order to charge against the supporters without reason was given directly by a police chief. This officer hasn’t been taken to the courts.

Iñigo was shoot near one of the Abertzale Left’s social Bars. The police Chief that ordered the charge and the officers that shoot bystanders knew it, as they probably knew they could count on their impunity.

Gorka Elejabarrieta

*Gorka Elejabarrieta is the representative of the Basque Abertzale Left in Brussels. He has a blog in http://www.basquepeaceprocess.info/