Independence for the Basque Country was the slogan being shouted by thousands of people in Iruna/Pamplona today as Spain celebrated Dia de la Hispanidad/Hispanity Day (known as well as "Columbus Day")and Armed Forces Day.

In the Basque Country and Catalunya today, a public holiday throughout the whole of the state of Spain, is widely regarded as an Spanish ultra nationalist festival and many basques do not regard it as a holiday at all. Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, President of the EFAy, witnessed the demonstration in Iruna/Pamplona:

"There was occasionally a tense atmosphere, as many of the protesters booed the police who marched alongside the crowd, but on the whole people were in good spirits. There were people of all ages among the protesters. Nevertheless the police were out in droves and carried guns at the ready".

The protest, organized by the Eusko Abertzale Ekintza - Acción Nacionalista Vasca (EAE-ANV) (Basque Nationalist Action) political party called for the independence of the Basque Country and the release of leading members of the illegal Batasuna party who were arrested last week. Protests were also held in Donostia/San Sebastian.