The Siege Continues

The siege by the Spanish government against everything Basque continues.

Their guns are aimed at Euskara, the Basque language.

Judge del Olmo decided to continue with the process against the people from the newspaper Egunkaria, then the only one entirely printed in Euskara.

Is there calls from Rodriguez Zapatero to stop the harassment?

No.

Why should he? The repressive campaign against the Basques is institutional, it doesn't matter who is the Prime Minister, or which party he represents.

Is there any protests from "Reporters Sans Frontiers"?

No.

Why should they? This is about the rights of Basques, their freedom of speech, and well, all Basques are terrorists, the media says so.

Here is part of the note that appeared today at Berria:

Del Olmo indicts eight people including the late Zumalabe

The judge has charged them with forming “an illegal association” and has decided not to try three of the accused

Imanol Murua-Uria – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

According to Spanish National Criminal Court Judge Juan Del Olmo, Euskaldunon Egunkaria constituted “an illegal association” from the moment it was created, and he has therefore indicted eight people who held key positions, including Joxemi Zumalabe, the Chief Executive of Egunkaria S.A., despite the fact that he has been dead since 1993. The judge has indicted seven of the ten people arrested in the operation conducted by the Spanish Civil Guard to close down Egunkaria, which means that three have not been charged. In the indictment the judge states that he will not be trying Martin Ugalde, as there is a lack of “sufficient criminal evidence” against him.

The judge has charged three of the indictees, Txema Auzmendi, Joan Mari Torrealdai and Iñaki Uria with being in the main decision-taking positions of the Egunkaria project from the moment it was created until it was closed down, and consequently with being aware of Egunkaria’s “criminal activity”: “The power of decision rests with these people through their signatures,” according to the indictment. Another three, Xabier Oleaga, Pello Zubiria and Martxelo Otamendi stand accused of enjoying the trust of ETA and of being responsible for Egunkaria’s line of information, because of the responsibility they had in the editorial office. The judge has charged Xabier Alegria in his position as a member of KAS of liaising between Egunkaria and ETA. The seven indictees who are still alive have been summonsed by the judge to appear before the National Criminal Court on December 3 to have their charges read out to them. In the case of Zumalabe, the judge has requested his death certificate.

.... ... .