“Since last June we have looked at a number of rescue plans, including moving to a variety of new premises to lower costs, but these plans did not prove viable alternatives. As a management committee we have a responsibility to protect Féile an Phobail. We feel that we are unable to continue, at this time, with Féile FM. The management committee team have opted for immediate suspension of the station as it can no longer be maintained with the use of restricted, shared and vital resources at the same rate or in the same way, particularly as we are obligated to coordinate and oversee our other quality community festivals.

“We would like to thank all those staff and volunteers who worked on the station in many capacities and without whose efforts the station would never have been able to transmit on a full-time basis for over three years.

“We would also like to thank OFCOM for all their help and support, and to OFCOM we return the full-time licence which we were proud to hold.

“Hundreds of people from all ages experienced the thrill of live broadcasting on Féile FM, learnt editorial and presentational skills and news-gathering techniques which raised their personal confidence and self-esteem and contributed to community morale.

“Our plan now is to protect and preserve our equipment with a view to returning, initially, to part-time broadcasting as soon as possible, and with a view to returning as a full-time station in improved economic times.

Danny Morrison
Chairperson, on behalf of the management committee of Féile an Phobail

Basque Info

• Tribunal accepts Otegi promoted a peace proposal and acquits him and his co-defendants [more]
• Gernika Agreement gathers international and local support [more]
• Wikileaks exposes Spanish cruelty and fabrication of charges [more]
• Another youth denounces being kidnapped [more]

Tribunal accepts Otegi promoted a peace proposal and acquits him and his co-defendants

Last week the Spanish National Court acquitted Basque Pro-Independence Left leaders Arnaldo Otegi, Joseba Permach and Joseba Alvarez of “glorifying terrorism” during a political rally in Donostia / San Sebastian in 2004. During the event, attended by 15,000 people, the Basque Pro-Independence Left launched a proposal which would later lead to a negotiation process between ETA and the Spanish Government.

The special tribunal accepts now that the pro-independence leaders didn’t commit any offense and quite the contrary that they defended the timeliness and the need for a dialogue and negotiation process for the peaceful and democratic resolution of the conflict.

According to the Pro-Independence Left the sentence weakens the arguments of those who oppose the resolution of the conflict and instead promote the criminalization campaign.

Immediately after the sentence many different political parties from the Basque Country, Catalonia and Ireland demanded the release of Arnaldo Otegi from jail. The campaign for his release is gaining momentum with various initiatives such as a march to the Logrono jail where he is kept, a new song and video called Free Otegi by Fermin Muguruza and others (watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pJOSwUHZkU ) and a petition launched in Galicia by well-known politicians and writers.

Arnaldo Otegi was arrested in October 2010 along with several members of the Pro-Independence Left leadership when they were launching a crucial strategic internal debate. They were accused of reorganising Batasuna, banned by the Spanish authorities in 2002.

Gernika Agreement gathers international and local support

Last September dozens of Basque political and social organizations signed the so called Gernika Agreement (PDF), an agreement set to achieve the minimum democratic conditions needed to promote a peace process.

Among those conditions are the implementation of all civil and political rights including the lifting of the bans on all pro-independence organizations, the repatriation of Basque political prisoners and the release of those who are ill and those who have already completed their sentences, along with the end of all forms of violence. Once this is achieved the signatories consider that a dialogue and negotiation process will be needed to resolve the roots of the conflict. The negotiation processed should be based on the so called Mitchel Principles which were applied during the Irish peace process.

Since the agreement was launched in September at the national level many other presentations have taken place at provincial and local levels and more support has been gathered. Last weekend the XV Congress of the International Union of Trade Unions also passed a motion of support.

The recently launched Basque Civil Rights Movement also mobilised last Friday across the Basque Country during Human Rights International Day. A statement was read at the rallies calling for the civil rights movement to be spread around the country; they also said they want to promote the human right to peace but a peace based on the respect for the rights of individuals and peoples as well as social justice.

Wikileaks exposes Spanish cruelty and fabrication of charges

Among the hundreds of thousands of documents recently revealed by Wikileaks there were some cables about the Basque conflict. In one of them the US ambassador in Spain speaks of a personal conversation with the Spanish Interior Minister where he admits they made up new charges against the now former Basque political prisoner Inaki de Juana in order to keep him in jail. The Minister also expressed his regret about that decision as it damaged the government afterwards.

Inaki de Juana had to move to Ireland after achieving his release through three hunger strikes but had to go on the run again as the Spanish authorities continued persecuting him there.

Another of the cables said that thanks to the negotiation process between the Spanish authorities and ETA in 2005 and 2006, the social-democratic Spanish Prime Minister could easily win the elections in 2008 while the right wing would have to change its apocalyptic discourse.

Another Basque youth denounces being kidnapped

During a press conference last week one Basque youth from the Arratia Valley, near Bilbao denounced he had been kidnapped three times over the past 12 months. The last one happened last week when he was kidnapped by four masked men and taken to a forest where another four masked men were waiting for him. He was subjected to threats and beatings for one hour.

Local councillors and anti-repression activists supported him at the press conference and announced protests for the coming days. They demanded an end to these practices and the right of youth people to live in peace.

Five other pro-independence activists have been kidnapped over the past two years. One of them, former prisoner and ETA volunteer Jon Anza, disappeared for 11 months until he was found dead in the Toulouse morgue in France.

The great Dr.Hook tribute band are playing here in the Waterfront Hall Thur 17th February. This will be a night to remember!! and a great Christmas gift….. If you want to be in for a chance to win these fabulous tickets you simply have to stay tuned to your local station 103.2 Feile Fm for detail on how to enter.

You can also purchase tickets by contacting the Waterfront Hall Box office, Ticketmaster.ie or online at Wonderland Promotions.co.uk.

Smokie

Want to go see Smokie live in concert?! Yep, that’s right – the fantastic Smokie are playing live in concert at the Waterfront Hall 19th December and you could be there too! Performing their greatest hits from the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s, this is a gig not to miss!

All you have to do is tune into your local radio station Féile FM 103.2 for more details on how to win these amazing tickets but you will have to be quick competition ends this week.

You can also purchase tickets by contacting the Waterfront Hall Box office, Ticketmaster.ie or online at WonderlandPromotions.co.uk.

Lettuce Bid

Check out Lettucebid, a new locally-based small business. Lettucebid is a unique, bespoke hospitality auction site where you can bid for deals on restaurants meals, hotels rooms, golfing, villa breaks and sports & activities, auctions starting at up to 80% off.

Check out the Christmas party specials for your upcoming parties!

Why not click the link and start bidding! Tell all your friends and join Lettucebid on Facebook for all our new deals: http://www.facebook.com/LettuceBid

Email: info@lettucebid.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LettuceBid
Twitter: twitter.com/LettuceBid

ABBA

Thats right, the fantastic ‘ABBA‘ tribute band is here in Belfast at the Waterfront Hall on Thursday 16th December. We will be giving away tickets this week to some of  our lucky listeners.  If you want to be in with the chance to win, stay glued to your radio all week for details on how to enter!

You can also purchase tickets by contacting the Waterfront Hall Box office, Ticket master or online at wonderlandpromotion.co.uk

Boots Chemist

We have teamed up with Boots Chemist and we are giving one of our lucky listeners the chance to win £100 worth of ‘Protect and Perfect’ beauty products……an excellent Christmas pressie for some lucky lady.

This competition ends Thursday 2nd December.  So dont forget to stay tuned to Féile FM for your chance to win!

JJ Gilmore

Dick from the Ant + Dick show caught up with JJ Gilmour to talk about the musical Dancing Shoes and his upcoming tour, Songs For The Love Of George.

Songs for the Love of George

Thursday 25th November – Friday 24th December 2010

Songs For The Love of George. A tribute in song to George Best with JJ Gilmour. The concert includes some of JJ’s songs from the musical he co-wrote  “Dancing Shoes” and also some amazing songs written for or about George by other songwriters such as Ray Davies (The Kinks) Colin Hay (Men at work) and other great artists.

The 25^th of November 2010 sees the 5^th anniversary of the passing of George Best. To continue George’s Legacy and help spread awareness and raise funds for the George Best Foundation, JJ Gilmour is touring the North in 2010 and then the United States of America in 2011 with a concert of songs celebrating the life of George Best. The concert is called – “ Songs for the Love of George”.

The concert includes some of JJ’s songs from the musical he co-wrote  “Dancing Shoes” and also some amazing songs written for or about George by other songwriters such as Ray Davies (The Kinks) Colin Hay (Men at work) and other great artists.

Concerts

All performances begin at 8pm.

• Thursday 25 November 2010 – O’Hares Lounge Bars, Newcastle, County Down
  Admission £10 on the night – 028 43722487

• Sunday 28 November 2010 – The Roost Bar, Belfast
  Admission £10 on the night or ring to reserve – 02890 233282
• Thursday 2 December 2010 – The Quays Restaurant, Portavogie
  Meal Deal £25 includes 2 Course Meal – Ring Venue to book – 028427 72225
• Sunday 5 December 2010 – The Wind Rose, Carrickfergus
  Meal Deal £25 includes 2 Course Meal – Ring venue to book – 02893 351164
• Wednesday 8 December 2010 – The Playhouse, Portrush
  Admission £10 on the night / ring for tickets / purchase tickets from Box Office – 028 7082 4435
• Wednesday 15th December 2010 – The Nerve Centre, Londonderry
  Tickets £10 on the night / ring for tickets / Purchase tickets from Box Office – 028 71 260 562
• Thursday 16 December – Hilden Brewry Lisburn
  Meal Deal £25 includes 2 Course Meal – Ring venue to book – 028 9266 0800
• Wednesday 22 December 2010 – Derg Arms, Castlederg
  028816 71644