Tens of thousands of people in Spain’s northern Basque region have formed a human chain, demanding the right to hold a vote on self-determination.<br /><br />Some 123 kilometres long, it echoes a similar demonstration last September in Catalonia, another Spanish region with a large independence movement.<br /><br />Sunday’s chain stretched from the city of Durango to Pamplona, which, though in the neighbouring Navarra region, is considered part of Basque cultural and linguistic territory. <br /><br />“I want to congratulate all the participants, especially all the people who have worked hard this year to create this – helping us to create a free Basque Country,” said Zerai Nikolas, spokesperson for the human chain initiative.<br /><br />The Basque Country – with its own language and culture – has traditionally sought greater self-rule from Spain.<br /><br />Nationalist political parties are leading the drive for independence. The violent, Basque separatist group ETA, weakened by arrests and dwindling popular support,declared an end to its armed campaign in 2011.<br /><br />A long economic crisis and political corruption scandals have triggered broad public disenchantment with key institutions that anchor Spain’s democracy.<br /><br />Catalonia is pressing ahead with plans for a referendum on independence in November, a vote the central government is vowing to block on constitutional grounds.
