Youths In Dire Situation

Berria has published this article regarding the Basque youths being tried as adults for the so called street violence under the draconian "terror laws":

“Dire situation” of minors punished for street disturbances denounced

The “Gurasoak” and “Etxerat” associations have begun collecting signatures in an attempt to improve the situation endured by inmates at Los Rosales remand home in the Carabanchel district of Madrid

Aitziber Laskibar – BILBO

Since its implementation two years ago the Juvenile Law refers the crimes of those under 18 to a special court. Moreover, those people linked to street disturbances or “crimes of terrorism” go through the Juvenile Court that answers to the Spanish National High Court. The young people also have to serve their sentences in special centres; the regulations state that the aim is to attach greater importance to education. The reality, however, is quite different, according to the denunciation made by the “Gurasoak” and “Etxerat” organisations (*). The four Basque citizens at the special centre known as Los Rosales are in a “dire situation”. For this reason the two associations have launched an awareness campaign with the collecting of signatures.

As its starting point the petition takes a letter sent to his friends by Z.L. of Durango (Bizkaia), who is serving a five-year sentence at Los Rosales. He described their way of life at the juvenile centre and asked for something to be done about his rights. The awareness campaign was launched in Durango itself. Yesterday, a round table discussion was held there on the Juvenile Law and the situation at Los Rosales.

Although the initiative was started in Durango the two associations plan to extend the collecting of signatures throughout the Basque Country. The petition will request that at least the same rights enjoyed by ordinary prison inmates should be extended to the children. They plan to send the petition both to the Spanish National High Court and to Los Rosales. Furthermore, the “Gurasoak” and “Etxerat” associations will be meeting with social bodies to inform about the circumstances of the young people and to collect signatures. Later on they plan to meet with the Basque institutions.

(*) Associations of Basque political prisoners’ relatives to defend the rights of their family members in prison. “Gurasoak” is the association specifically geared to parents whose under-age children have been charged with involvement in street disturbances.

.... ... .