With relation to the intent to boycott the academic act which will take place at Stanford University on the 14th February 2008 and to which the "Lehendakari" President of Euzkadi, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, has been invited, we, the citizens who support this petition, want to manifest our most profound repulsion against the intent to restrict the freedom of expression of the maximum representative of the popular will of the Basques.

Juan Jose Ibarretxe is the President of the Autonomous Community of Euzkadi democratically elected through universal suffrage by all the citizens of our Community. As the supreme representative of this popular will his legal and legitimate status is beyond all doubt.

The proposal that President Juan Jose Ibarretxe has made to the Basque Society has been developed on the pillars of absolute respect to all Human Rights, on the respect of the will of the Basque Society, and in the search for the well being of all the persons who live in Euzkadi. We therefore understand that the attempt to obstruct the free expression of Lehendakari Ibarretxe is an attempt to silence the voice of the majority of Basques.

This is why we want to express our support for the freedom of speech of the maximum representative of the Basques throughout the world and to the principles which are the foundation of the political proposal formulated by Lehendakari Ibarretxe to the Basque Society.

Finally, we would also like to condemn the attempt to discredit the political course of the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV), a party which is over one hundred years old, and that has demonstrated throughout its history its commitment with Democracy and the rights of the Basque Society, because of which it suffered 40 hard years of persecution and exile during the fascist dictatorship which governed Spain since 1936 and during the Second World War.

For all these reasons we request Stanford University to disregard the petitions of groups that pretend to obstruct freedom of speech and we do this in the name of one of the sacred principles which have inspired this prestigious institution, namely: "love and reverence for the great principles of government as derived from the inalienable rights of man to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".

In support of our petition we would also like to make ours the following words:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."