SORTU has taken with deep pain the decease of Nelson Mandela, courageous anti-apartheid fighter and South Africa's first democratically elected president.

The great leader, that raised his people's love and the respect of the world, has left a great void in his country and throughout Africa.

For this reason, we want to transmit our condolences to the South African people and authorities, and especially to the ANC and to the anti-apartheid movement.

We also want to highlight, that throughout his life, and using various forms of struggle, Mandela led a tireless struggle for the freedom of his people.

Mandela, who was a prisoner until 1990, kept to the end the decision he took, together with the anti-apartheid movement, for a free and a democratic society.

The main objective of the movement represented by Mandela, after being released from prison, was the construction of a new nation where all citizens had the same rights.

The negotiation process with the racist government of South Africa that led to the official end of apartheid was carried out under Mandela and as a result of it on the 10th of May, 1994, he became the first democratically elected President.

After a term as president, he left his position. In fact, after that he made an important job to overcome the terrible legacy of inequality left by the apartheid system on South African society. Mandela is dead, but the struggle for social justice and equality of opportunity he represented has not ended.

The foundation that carries the name of the Peace Nobel awarded politician does not lack functions. In recent years it has helped to promote processes of solutions around the world. In Africa as well as outside the continent the South African model has had a great impact. For example, in Ireland. But also in the Basque Country, as the Mandela Foundation was one of the driving forces behind the Brussels Declaration.

The struggle against apartheid and the democratic solution developed by South Africa to end that ruthless system has casted its shadow over the world as well as over the Basque Country.

Therefore, Mandela's death leaves Basques, and all people who fight for a comprehensive and lasting peace, orphans.

Agur eta Ohore, Madiba!

Sortu,
6th Decembre 2013