Basque Society Shows its Solidarity with Political Prisoners

Thousands of people marched through the Basque city of Bilbao on Saturday to demand that rights for the Basque political prisoners are respected by both Madrid and Paris. The protest was called by leftist Basque nationalist groups, including Etxerat, an association of family members of political prisoners which accuses the governments of Spain and France of punishing relatives and friends by holding the political prisoners in prisons far away from their homes.

A judge in Madrid earlier Saturday rejected a legal move to ban the march by an extreme right group called Justicia y Dignidad. But he ruled that the participants must abstain from showing expressions of support for ETA. As a result, the marchers did not display photographs Basque political prisoners, unlike in a similar march one year ago.

The demonstrators marched peacefully across the Basque financial capital Saturday evening behind a banner reading "Basque prisoners, back home", and chanted "Basque prisoners to the Basque Country" and "No peace without amnesty."

Basque political prisoners are dispersed in prisons throughout Spain which makes it difficult for them to receive visits from family members. On Friday, Spain's Supreme Court ruled that the Basque regional government had exceeded its authority by providing aid to families of prisoners being held outside of the region to allow them to visit their loved ones.

The aid was awarded between 2003 and 2009 by the Basque Nationalist Party, which held power in the region until last May when it was replaced in elections by the Socialist Party. The fascist regime that rules in Madrid has murdered thousands of Basques since 1936 in a futile attempt to hold on to its illegal occupation of Euskal Herria.

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Dog Day in Bilbao

The Ertzaintza brutally charged against the relatives of the Basque political prisoners that for years have been carrying out a demonstration every Friday in front of Sabin Etxea (headquartes of the Basque Nationalist Party, the political formation that first proposed the dispersion of Basque political prisoners) in Bilbao. Right after the bus that takes some of the relatives to the jails in Andalucia departed, the Ertzaintza officers attacked against the crowd, arresting one person and sending the mother of a political prisoner to the ER. Those attacked did not even carry pictures of their loved ones, only one banner with the motto «errepresaliatu guztiak etxera» (bring home all victims of repression).

It is quite possible that, due to the dismal lack of knowledge and the preposterous bias deeply rooted in Madrid regarding the Basque reality, a judge may believe that the criticism against the dispersion policy is simply an "ETA/Ekin slogan". This was stated by the Audiencia Nacional judge Eloy Velasco, who earlier this week pressed charges for "apology of terrorism" against a number of food service employees using such argument.

But even a poorly informed person, with no access to any other version but the one portrayed on the police reports (with few facts but extensive guess work), should be able to set apart simply trues, like a father displaying the photograph of his daughter, sentenced to life in prison and serving her time in a jail thousands of miles away and enduring inhumane conditions, is not responding to a slogan but to his own conscience and dignity.

As a matter of fact, that reality can not hide that in Nabarra, thousands of people consider that the Basque political prisoners fight for legitimate ideals, even those who do not share their goals nor their methods.

The big issue here is that if the Spanish judges and politicians compare painting a graffiti in favor of ETA to a public demonstration in favor of the political prisoners' rights, the only result they will achieve is that the Basque dissidence will set up a barricade that will include the social base that supports the Basque Nationalist Party. This comparison established by the doctrine that "everything is ETA" even goes against the perception of reality by the majority of those who vote for the PSOE in the Basque Country. Despite the belligerent speech by the politicians and the wild verdicts by the judges, common sense prevails in Basque society.

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Report by EHW

This report comes to us thanks to Euskal Herria Watch:

33/01 Case against Gestoras Pro-Amnistia-Askatasuna

Description of the case

Repression against the Basque People, conducted by the Spanish State and - to a lesser degree- by the French State has been constant in recent years. It is easy to trace a continuous line throughout the last decades that can show us the persistence of torture, massive and arbitrary detentions, a penitentiary policy with terrible consequences, banned associations and organizations, closure of media, outlawing of political parties and total discrimination from public life against a section of the population. To sum up, an exceptional situation that has generated a dangerous scenario of suppression of the most basic political and civil rights, a scenario that can now be seen in all its brutality.

These circumstances have forced hundreds of Basque citizens to create a retaining wall, to confront repression and participate in different civic organisations, human rights organisations, and activist organisations in what has become known as the Amnesty Movement. Without such a movement, the lack of activation of the people and, therefore, of social opposition would have resulted in a total acceptance of the impunity of the structures of the Spanish State. That is why many and varied activities have been channelled through this Movement -conferences, demonstrations, public appeals, contacts with all kinds of political and social agents…- in order to demand a scenario of respect for basic democratic conditions, of enjoyment of basic civil and political rights.

In this context, the organisation Gestoras Pro Amnistía was born three decades ago as the main platform for solidarity with the people that suffered political repression and to campaign against the situation. This association carried out a process in 2002 to converge with the association Koordinaketa, made up of the committees that worked in solidarity with political prisoners in the North of the Basque Country, under French administration. Askatasuna emerged as a result of this process, to carry out these activities in the whole of the Basque Country. In other words: an organization that focuses its activity on the promotion and protection of the human rights of the victims of repression, that fights for the eradication of torture, for the rights of arrested or imprisoned Basque citizens and the overcoming of the causes that are at the origin of State violence.

This task has always been carried out completely within the law and with a continuous public expression of its activities –press conferences, peaceful demonstrations, organisation of debates, conferences, compilation of information and figures of repression, the diffusion of these through reports, publications, public exchange with other social agencies, political parties, trade unions…-. That is why Gestoras Pro Amnistía–Askatasuna have become a reference for the grassroots movement, with a reputation and social recognition and an important capacity for activating Basque society. We could say that this organisation is present in all cities and neighbourhoods throughout the Basque Country, with the participation in its activities of thousands of people.

Police operations

This task and goals mentioned were criminalized and, in fact, suspended after the police operation carried out by the judge at Central Investigation Court nº 5, Baltasar Garzón. On October 31st, 2001, 12 organizers or spokespeople of this organisation were arrested under the accusation of belonging to a terrorist organisation. Juan Mari Olano, its national coordinator was arrested some weeks later in Bayonne –North Basque Country, under French administration- and after a long process, extradited to the Spanish state. All those people were been in pre-trial imprisonment –remand in custody- for the maximum limit allowed by Spanish law in these cases, of four years awaiting trial. The right to be presumed innocent has disappeared; convictions are now served in advance, before any hearing at a trial. They were released under astronomical amounts of money as bail in May and June 2004.

In the context of this operation, a virulent campaign by the media and politicians was implemented against the professional activity of the lawyers that work on cases that can be labelled “political”, under the argument that these lawyers belong to the “prison front” of the armed organisation. Thus, on the morning of October 31st, as the premises and offices of the Gestoras Pro Amnistía were searched, the police entered the offices of lawyers which are registered in the Bar Association of Lawyers in Gipuzkoa and Pamplona respectively. It must be remarked that the judge Baltasar Garzón, who was leading the operation in Bilbao was personally warned of this situation. Nevertheless, the judge took no notice of that information and carried on with the search, with both offices being sealed off and computers and documents belonging to the twelve lawyers that worked there being seized.

The investigation judge later ordered the lifting of the sealing of both offices and the restitution of the confiscated material, after duplicating and copying all the content of the computers and the documents seized during the searches. This is a flagrant violation of the rights of the lawyers to professional secrecy, as well as other guaranties that must be observed in these cases. Lawyer Julen Arzuaga will be subjected to these proceedings because of this illegal action.

On February 5th 2003, in a new raid, five people that worked as spokespersons in the new association Askatasuna were arrested, their homes searched as well as the premises of the association of relatives of political prisoners Etxerat in Bilbao, Hernani and Gasteiz. On February 6th Central Court of Investigation nº 5 took the decision to merge the proceedings into Case 33/01.

These operations have a continuity in the present, as on September 11th 2007 Juan Maria Olano and on October 3rd 2007 Ohiana Agirre, also spokespersons of Askatasuna were been arrested and jailed for “reiteration in their public activity as representatives of Askatasuna”. Olano will be released in early March 2008. Meanwhile, Ohiana Agirre is in prison, under new proceedings opened by judge Baltasar Garzón against Askatasuna.

Charges

With these proceedings, the investigation judge Baltasar Garzón suspended the activity of Gestoras Pro Amnistía and Askatasuna, considering its public activity illegal from the point of view of the criminal law and accused the 17 that were in prison and other 10 of a crime of “belonging to an armed organisation”.

The judge reverts the process of the investigation, contrary to law and logic, as first, a conclusion is given out –that Gestoras belongs to the structure of ETA- and later, through interpretations and speculations they look for the evidence, the factual arguments to support that theory.

The alleged criminal actions of Gestoras would be:

1.- Exercising control over the collective of ETA prisoners, connecting and communicating with the members and representatives through their lawyers.

2. - Guaranteeing internal cohesion and obedience to the discipline imposed by this organization on the collective, avoiding any individual initiative in the course of their prison sentence and cancelling any possibility of dissent or breaking from the collective.

3.-Co-operating with and financing the maintenance of ETA prisoners and refugees.

4.- Co-ordinating and driving forms of struggle that complement those of ETA and support for the demonstrations of the prisoners’ collective.

5. - Gathering important information for ETA’s internal security, taking this from the penal processes that members are involved in, and passed on by some of their lawyers, greatly exceeding the right to defence.

6. - Pointing out who they believe are responsible for the situation and condition of ETA prisoners, turning them into possible targets for that organization; or against persons or institutions that don’t back the demonstrations called in support for and solidarity with ETA prisoners.

7.- Taking advantage of the sensitivity caused by the supposed violation of the rights of ETA prisoners to induce volunteers and regenerate the operational structure of ETA.

8.- The setting up and development of the project named Alde Hemendik .

9.- Co-ordinating and directing the so-called “X and Y struggles” Kale borroka (urban struggle) and “days of struggle” that are carried out in support of ETA members or due the death of a member, or other contingent circumstances.

10. - The initiative and decision on when the ETA prisoners collective begin a hunger strike or cell lock- in and other actions.

11.- Publishing the magazine ZOHARDIA, directed by Mikel Korta Carrión, who was included in the Indictment 18/98 for his membership of ETA-Ekin.

All these activities are carried out by Gestoras, under the control and direction of ETA-KAS and ETA-Ekin, through the corresponding instruments developed by those detained and others accused”.

In the following points of the indictment he goes over each one of the detainees and assigns them greater responsibility in one or another of the activities above, in an attempt to justify their supposed “criminal” activity. Amongst the elements of accusation in the indictment is the fact of having belonged in the past to other student, youth or social organizations, to be connected emotionally with a prisoner or a political refugee, participation in acts of homage to prisoners, campaigning, calling demonstrations, attending meetings, developing projects...

These activities, in any case, were publicly carried out by this organisation and in no way could be understood to constitute a crime, as is proven by the fact that they have never been accused of other minor crimes such as “glorifying terrorism”.

In the case of other activities that have are criminal and are may lead to the charge of belonging to a terrorist organisation, they is no way to prove these charges, as no rational evidence of criminality has been presented, no reference to damage against any juridical good protected by the criminal legislation. Again, the charges are generic, brought against groups of people, collectively, in a clear breach of the individuality and precision that must be the basis of any criminal charges.

Conclusions

In the face of these charges and in these circumstances, the trial against these 27 colleagues from the Amnesty Movement will begin on April 21st, 2008, with a petition from the public prosecutor of 10 years in prison.

In view of all the above, we wwould like to make the point that the participation of these people in different areas and organizations of the broad Amnesty Movement has always been open and transparent and has always been known to the public. The connection of this social activity and the actions committed by ETA is absolutely unacceptable and is based on arguments and interpretations lacking any kind of factual or rational basis.

We are aware, nevertheless, that this extensive application of anti-terrorist definitions to public and transparent actions has a long history in the Spanish justice system, hence the Supreme Court in the case of Haika-Segi and the subsequent Audiencia Nacional verdict in reference to Case 18/98, which only makes the position of our colleagues facing this trial worse.

This process is simply a smoke curtain that attempts to discredit a social organization and tries to criminalize the work of denouncing the vulnerability of the rights of Basque prisoners, refugees and deportees and also tries to avoid the social expressions of solidarity with this collective. The r3emand in custody for four years of 13 of these colleagues, released on millionaire bails, the suspension of the activities of these organizations, have generated a total block of freedom of expression and of the right of association and peaceful petition, because the mobilizations and demonstrations organized by this movement have been consistently forbidden by court, suspended administratively and violently attacked by the State Security Forces.

This trial is a further landmark on the road to criminalize, with no legal basis, solidarity with political prisoners, opposition to repression and to state violence and mobilization in defence of human rights. The states, convinced of their strategy of maintaining the repression against increasingly broader sections of the population, require higher levels of impunity.

The way of doing things of the Audiencia Nacional as an instrument for the application of special antiterrorist laws, a vivid example of the “law for an enemy” shows us the impossibility of receiving a fair trial in front of this exceptional tribunal. Furthermore, keeping in mind the events mentioned above, we believe that the trial will be a mere masquerade designed without content to administer a previously written political verdict. We are not expecting, hence, justice from this court. Nevertheless, we are expecting an opportunity to explain to Basque and international society who we are and what we are seeking.

This type of political-judicial trials moves us further away from the aims we share with Basque society: ending the repression and seeking the definitive resolution of the Basque conflict.

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Garzon Bans Rallies

This note comes to prove that Spain is far from being a democracy. In the wake of Natividad Junko's death the clown judge has decided to ban the rallies called by human rights' organization Etxerat to demand an end to the Dispersion Policy that Madrid applies only against Basque political prisoners in a clear example of political apartheid.

One would think that a judge would side with those who demand justice and equal respect for the civil liberties of all citizens, instead, Garzon adds insult to injury by banning the rallies just because some obscure extreme-right organization requested it, showing just how close Garzon is to the fascist minded politicians in Spain.

Here you have the note appeared at EITb:

Politics

Spanish High Court

Spanish judge Garzón bans Etxerat rallies

12/28/2007

A ruling by the Spanish High Court judge, considering the demand by the right-wing organization Dignidad y Justicia, bans the rallies of the Etxerat organization.

Spanish High Court judge Baltasar Garzón decided on Friday to ban several rallies called by the Basque organization Etxerat to protest against the death of Natividad Junko in a car accident.

Natividad Junko, mother in law of the Basque inmate Unai González, was killed in a car accident when she was going to visit his son-in-law.

The High Court ruling follows a demand by the right-wing organization Dignidad y Justicia to ban the rallies, official sources reported.

The banned rallies were called by Etxerat, a Basque organization in defense of the rights of the Basque prisoners, to protest against the death of Natividad Junko.

What's next?

The people will respond to Etxerat's call and the state will send the police force against them which will in turn create confrontations that will render a new wave of arrests, meaning, more political prisoners whose rights will be trampled by the Spanish government. That is Spain today.

~ ~ ~

Basque Prisoners Back Home

This note comes to us via EITb:

Basque prisoners

Etxerat demands prisoners to be closer to home

08/06/2006

Relatives of Basque prisoners have reported that prisoners' dispersal aims at "causing the death and increasing the suffering of captives and relatives".

Relatives of Basque prisoners summoned by Etxerat have rallied on several Basque beaches in order to demand that their family members would be moved to jails in the Basque Country.

In Donostia-San Sebastian, around 50 people have attended the meeting. They have gathered next to the Kursaal Palace and soon later, they have walked to the Zurriola, carrying two banners.

Association of Basque prisoners' relatives Etxerat has claimed that prisoners accused of belonging to armed group ETA are suffering "exceptional" prison measures that, according to them, aim at "causing the death and increasing the suffering of prisoners, family members and friends".

"22 captives and 16 relatives and friends have died because of this prison policy", their statement says. According to it, most of Basque society supports the idea that Basque prisoners should take part in the process to solve the conflict.

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Too Late Patxi

After losing the election to lehendakari of the BAC mainly because he was unable to show himself as an statitian, finally Patxi Lopez decides to say something fair and balanced.

Here you have it as EITb published it:

Bringing inmate to Basque jails may help process - socialist leader

The secretary general of socialist PSE-EE, Patxi López, has affirmed that when the absence of violence is verified, "there could be measures that favour dumping arms" by ETA. Likewise, he thinks that bringing Basque prisoners to Basque jails "could be one of them." He has affirmed that claiming "remembrance, dignity and justice" for terrorism victims "is not incompatible" with "a dialogue with the terrorist band to reach a peace scenario."

In an interview for ETB, López has said that transferring Basque prisoners to Basque jails is not a "political price" the Government pays for peace.

Now Patxi, you can start by demanding that Madrid stops considering groups like Presoak, Gurasoak and Etxerat as part of ETA's entorno.

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Today in Biarritz

Parents of Basque prisoners and members of the Basque association 'Etxerat' (Return at Home) during an extraordinary general meeting in Biarritz, southwestern France, Sunday, March 26, 2006. Etxerat called on the French authorities to respond in a positive way to the new situation after ETA declared a permanent cease-fire. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

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Etxerat Speaks Out

Intza Aldana, left, daughter of exiled Spanish Basque activist and Stanilas Etxeburu member of 'Etxerat' (Return at Home) Basque association during a press conference in Bayonne, southwestern France, Friday, March 24, 2006. Etxerat calls on the French authorities to respond in a positive way to the new situation after ETA declared a permanent cease-fire. The poster behind shows pictures of members of the Basque separatist group ETA currently in prison in Spain and France and reads 'We want prisoners and exiled to come back home'. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

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Etxerat and the Refugees

With our ongoing and wrongly named "War on Terrorism" some states have created new laws aimed at removing many of the human rights and civil liberties of those individuals who stand faithful to their principles, their ideals and political proposals become what is known as dissidents.

On the other hand, there is governments that time to time seem to understand that to achieve peace, you most negotiate, you must yield to some of the demands put forward by those on the other side of the table.

Here you have an article that appeared at Berria today, by Ekain Rojo titled "Etxerat urges ending of oppression to fugitives":

During a press briefing given in Donostia (San Sebastian) yesterday Etxerat called on Spain and France to end the oppression of Basque fugitives. It urged them “to stop,” once and for all, “the cruel measures that only serve to prolong the conflict and spread the suffering,” and made a call for the steps needed in the Basque Country to resolve the conflict to be taken by everyone together.

Etxerat’s request in fact comes the day after the British Government published legislation that would open up the way for the fugitives of the IRA and other paramilitary groups to return home. They stressed that if the Basque conflict is to be resolved, then Basque fugitives are also needed back in the Basque Country.

Estanis Etxaburu, Etxerat’s spokesman, pointed out that over 2,000 political fugitives had fled the Basque Country, “because of the violence being perpetrated by the [French and Spanish] States”. They have taken refuge mainly in Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Panama, Cuba, Mexico, Cape Verde and Belgium. Etxaburu said they did not know what the circumstances of many of them were: “It is very tough not knowing where your sons and daughters, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles or friends are or how they are doing.”

As you read these lines, six Basques await an extradition process that is today in the hands of the Supreme Court in Mexico. Their process has been plagued with irregularities and the Inquisitorial Judge Garzón has presented nothing but a copy of a document that says absolutely nothing.

A number of Spanish politicians both from the present and the past governments have demanded from President Vicente Fox to bypass the Mexican Constitution that prevents the Mexican authorities from extraditing political refugees to countries that practice oppression and torture. Sadly enough Vicente Fox, like his predecessor Ernesto Zedillo, agreed to it.

Now, those six depend on a display of courage by the Supreme Court judges, because that is going to take in order to ensure that the executive and legislative powers in Mexico remain independent from each other.

Bottom line, Spain is looking to exporting that repression that Etxerat speaks about to other sovereign states and demanding from them to violate their own laws and regulations.

Sad indeed, taking into consideration that this is the XXI century.

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BIC's January Newsletter

We got this information this morning via email:

Dear sympathisers of BIC,

Here you will find the new Monthly digital BIC-Newsletter. Please take a look also in our Shop on our website, you will find some English material for sale and some documents in English as well, for example the Anoeta- proposal of the left-wing Basque independence party Batasuna.

We will give information evenings explaining this proposal with a new DVD by Batasuna and we will also talk about the current situation in the Basque Country and the new campaign of the Basque political prisoners. We will be the 17 of February in Nijmegen, the 18 in Amsterdam and the 28 in Utrecht. Please check our Monthprogram for the addresses. The infos will be in English.

Cheers
BIC

Monthly digital BIC-Newsletter nr. 1, period 1 until 31 January 2005

1) Basque political prisoners

2) Initiatives from Euskal Herria to come to a political solution of the conflict

3) Repression in the Basque Country

4) ETA

1) On the last day of the year 8000 people in 60 villages throughout the whole Basque Country hit the streets to ask attention for the more then 700 Basque political prisoners. 50 people demonstrated outside the largest prison in Madrid, Soto del Real. According to the prisonhelporganisation Etxerat 2004 showed a worsening situation, with 712 political prisoners more then ever in the history of Euskal Herria, spread around over 88 different prisons in 6 countries. Many critics were also for the Basque political parties who are not doing anything to ‘end the suffering of the prisoners and their relatives’, meaning the isolation and the dispersion policies.

The Basque prisoners collective EPPK gives out a statement at the 4th of January where they announce to take action and that the Basque prisoners in Mexico, Belgium, some in France and Spain, 37 people, started the first ‘estaffette’ and until 13 January won’t leave their cells. The prisoners all sent a letter to their prisondirector to tell their motives. They demand recognition of their basic rights as prisoners, but also the status of political prisoner and want to be involved in the process to come to a political resolution of the conflict in the Basque Country.

Prominent artists, writers and politicians from France demand at 7 January the release of the singer Peio Serbielle from Zuberoa, who was arrested in the French-Spanish police operation at 3 October last year in Béarn. Serbielle is now 700 kilometres from his village in prison and declared that he gave shelter to people, apparently ETA-members, out of humanitarian reasons and was taken before a judge at 9 November. There was said he didn’t pose any ‘danger’ and that his trial wouldn’t take place before the end of 2006.

At 8 January 32.000 people demonstrate in Bilbao for the transfer of Basque political prisoners to the Basque Country. The parties Batasuna and Aralar and the unions ELA and LAB supported the call from the pro-amnestia-movement. At the head of the demonstration were 100 ex-political prisoners and after them the relatives and friends of the 712 Basque political prisoners walked with photo’s of them.

The Basque political prisoner Iñaki de Juana Chaos, who was to be released at 9 February because he finished his 18-year sentence, hears at 10 January that he will not be released. Judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska De Juana wrote 2 opinion articles in the leftwing Basque newspaper GARA, for which he now is accused of being ‘ETA-member’ and ‘making terrorist threats’. De Juana was convicted for ‘helping’ in an attack in 1986 in Madrid were 12 members of the Guardia Civil were killed.

A similar case is that of the Basque political prisoner Edorta Sainz-Lobato, who should have been released on 13 January after 17 years, but on orders of judge Javier Gomez-Bermudez had to stay behind bars until the ‘measures of shortening the sentence’ are fully investigated. It is no coincidence; the Spanish juridical system and the Spanish Minister of Internal Affairs Jose Antonio Alonso look for measures to prevent Basque political prisoners to be released after serving their sentence. The Spanish Minister of Justice Juan Fernando Lopez-Aguilar said ‘they are not to be released before they shown remorse’. At this moment there are 100 Basque political prisoners who can be released according to the Spanish law, after serving ¾ of their sentence. Also the shortening measures won by working in the prison or good behaviour work not for them. Another example is Filipe Bidart, who was due for release in February 2003. At this moment there is a campaign for his release, among other through the French-Basque website www.filipeaska.com

2) The in May 2003 banned local election platforms of the left independent movement say in a statement at 13 January that 80 chosen councillors have failed to take their seat or left in at a certain moment. They announce that the coming week more councillors will give up their seat and that the 472 council seats where the left platforms are entitled to according to shadow-elections in May 2003, will be requested by them.

At 15 January 1000 people, among them 40 majors, attend the establishment of Euskal Herriko Laborantza Ganbara (the Agricultural Chamber of the Basque Country) in the French Basque province Behe Naffaroa. After years of campaigning and the refusal of the French Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Basque farmers in France made their own representation.

3) At the end of December the Spanish Parliament took a law into effect that the Spanish army, eminent present in the Basque Country, can be deployed against ETA. The army asked for such a law for a long time, but after the attacks on 11 March by Islamic extremists in Madrid it is there. The Basque Country suffers already for years from military manoeuvres, such as parachutists landing in villages and asking people for their identity-papers, or full-scale practice bombardments in Naffaroa. In 1981 the army helped to close the border between Spain and France, the river Bidasoa, that runs also as a border between the Basque Country.

The Public Prosecutor Enrique Molina of the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid demands at 4 Janaury alltogether 654 years imprisonment for the 42 accused youngsters in the case against the left independent Basque youth organisations Jarrai-Haika-SEGI. According to Molina the youngsters, who all had public functions in their organisations, are all ‘member’ or ‘co-operatives of ETA’ and he concludes that because the organisations have the same goals and even are a ‘financial unity’. From 10 of the 42 the where-abouts are unknown. Against Asier Tapia Molina demands 111 year and 10 months in prison because of the press conference he gave at 6 March 2001 after the arrest of 15 Haika members at the orders of judge Garzón. Tapia called to react on this arrests and Molina now holds him responsible for ’22 acts of terrorist street violence’, that followed on the arrests, and demands on top of that 24 million euro for the damage. The trial has to take place quickly now, because in March 2005 the terms of 4 years ‘research arrest’ is over and the first youngsters should be released. In the village Lekeitio, where 3 of the accused used to live, 125 people went onto the streets to protest against the charges.

Several days later 7 of the accused responded on a press-conference, where they were literally backed by 80 people representing all kinds of social organisations, on the charges of Molina: “This is apparently the price we have to pay for our work against job insecurity, for our struggle for better education and linguistic rights, for the alternative life-style in the social centres and for our fight for equal rights for the sexes”, they said.

The Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs published at 5 January their figures about ‘anti-terror’-operations in 2004. The Spanish security forces arrested 74 suspected ETA-terrorists and another 57 were arrested in France, and 4 in Belgium. Probably they added Luis and Rakel to Jon and Diego, but the first were dismissed from prosecution and not extradited. Also 3 members of GRAPO were arrested, 1 member of the Italian Red Brigades and 1 IRA-member. And 131 arrests of Islamic extremists. Concerning ETA the police claims to have dissolved 2 ‘terrorist cells’, 3 networks working on recruitment and infrastructure and various ‘leaders’ were apprehended. 2004 was the first year since 1999 without dead victims by attacks of ETA.

Against the spokesman of the Basque anti-repression organisation Askatasuna, Jean François Lefort, who was arrested at 7 December, the European Arrest Warrant comes into effect at 14 January. Lefort however is a French citizen and the Spanish Justice didn’t come with any evidence until now.

The Public Prosecutor Juan Moral orders at 17 January to judge Garzón to prosecute 36 members of Batasuna because of ‘belonging to ETA’. Also the Herriko Tabernas, de leftwing people’s pubs, remain closed and the accounts frozen (also Batasuna’s). In 2002 Batasuna was accused of damage after streetriots, and the goal from Moral of both measures is the covering of the debt of 24 million euro. Garzón produces at 25 January a document of 267 pages in which he explores the same thesis as in the case ‘18/98’, in which he accuses all kinds of sectors of the left independent movement of ‘ETA-membership’. The 36 are all in one way or another, according to Garzón, connected to ETA and they committed their ‘crimes’ by the use of the Herriko Tabernas. Some of the accused Batasuna-members are also member of the Basque parliament and thus cannot be prosecuted and that’s why the judge asked the Basque High Court to prosecute them.

The International human rights organisation Human Rights Watch publishes at 27 January a 65 pages document about Spains measures against terrorism. Heavy criticism is given by HRW on the since November 2003 possible lengthen of the notorious ‘incommunicado-detention’ to 13 days. Also the safeguards against abuse, maltreatment and torture are by far not sufficient and the Spanish authorities fail to conduct proper investigations into torture complaints. And the rights of terror-suspects are violated and the terms of 4 years in ‘research- imprisonment’ is totally out of proportions, also because the inmates are subdued to isolation in most of the cases. The recommendations of HRW are not really a surprise and are in fact a repetition of every year’s recommendations of Amnesty International and the United Nation. They demand direct access to a lawyer when arrested, the possibility of a private conversation with that lawyer, presence of juridical help during all steps in the trial, the reduction of the admission of secret prove, the trial has to be held within 2 years and last but not least the guarantee for the conditions during imprisonment at the police.

At 28 January the French police arrests Araitz Zubimendi, Ibon Arbulu and Unai Berostegieta in Baiona and Ziburu, on orders of judge Garzón. Details about the accusation are not known yet, but it is to be expected that the European Arrest Warrant is put into effect on them. Garzón filed an international arrest warrant at 16 April 2004 against Zubimendi, a former member of the left-wing party Sozialista Abertzaleak, for her role in SEGI, in which case she didn’t show up. The arrest warrant for Arbulu, former councillor in Bilbao, dates from 30 April 2003, when the Guardia Civil wanted to arrest him at home in the police operation against Udalbiltza, the self organisation of councillors in Euskal Herria. The arrest warrant for Berostegieta dates from 24 April 2003, accused of ‘member of ETA’s recruiting organisation’.

4) Halfway January ETA sends a statement to the Basque daily Berria, were they emphasise to agree with the ‘Anoeta’-statement of the left-wing independence party Batasuna of 14 November last year. ETA thinks a ‘broad carried, specific process of dialogue’ has to be put in motion to solve the political conflict. ETA is ‘fully prepared’ to participate in such a process.

At 18 January a car bomb of ETA explodes in the area Neguri in Getxo, the damage is quiet heavy and one officer of the Basque regional police Ertzaintza is wounded. The Basque left-wing newspaper GARA received a warning call half an hour before the explosion and the caller also said were the owner of the car could be found, tied to a tree. It was the 6th ETA-bomb in that area since 1999, where directors, politicians and known journalists live.

The rumours of talks between representatives from Spanish government circles and ETA are strong, for sure after Batasuna sent a letter to the Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero urging him to negotiate.

At 30 January an ETA-bomb explodes near a hotel in Dénia, 2 people get wounded. ETA warned before the explosion.

This overview is written by the Baskenland Informatie Centrum from The Netherlands. You can contact us at baskinfo@xs4all.nl and you can check our site at www.baskinfo.org

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The Hidden Violence

Have you ever been in the situation where one morning a female coworker or friend applies a lot of make up but you can still see the bruises?

Usually the victims of domestic violence keep quiet, and unless one of them ends up killed, what happens to them usually goes unnoticed.

Same with the grinding violence against the Basques in Spain (and to certain degree in France).

That is the violence that no one talks about, gallons of ink are spilled by people that claims that "they refuse to ackowledge the right of the Basques to their self determination as long as they allow ETA to conduct attacks".

As if ETA would go from home to home in the Basque Country to ask for permition to plant a bomb or kill someone.

I said it before, ETA is on the run, and that includes being on the run in the Basque Country because its been a long time since the majority of Basques have turn their backs on them, condemning their violent ways.

But do you ever see all those rivers of ink being spilled over issues like the torture against Basque prisoners held under incommunicado detention?

Do you ever read about the policy of dispersion that has killed and wounded hundreds of Basques, draining their economic resources on top of it?

Do you ever read something about the preventive prison terms where Basques have gone up to 5 years without going to trial just to walk free after paying a bail just to have the charges dropped?

Do you ever read anything about the paramilitary groups operating in the Basque Country, harassing, kidnapping and killing Basques that dare to say that they love their fatherland?

No, you don't, that would require serious journalist work, and now a days to be a journalist or a reporter doesn't require much, just ask Jayson Blair.

That hidden brand of violence is the one the Basques have endured since 1936, but no one talks about it. On top, today, they have to endure the violence of ETA, the terrorist organization that allegedly wants their independence but that in reality, is a self serving group that lost all contact with the will of the Basque people a long time ago.

Here is a note that appeared today at Berria regarding the efforts to end that murderous practice called "the dispersion":

8,000 people remember prisoners at the end of the year

Rallies were held in about 60 towns throughout the Basque Country; a demo is planned for January 8 in Bilbo

Editorial Staff – BAIONA (Bayonne)

Rallies took place in support of Basque prisoners the day before yesterday in the afternoon in response to a call made by Etxerat. They coincided with the last Friday of the month, which was New Year’s Eve, so that the prisoners would be remembered at the end of the year, too. 8,000 people gathered in about 60 towns in Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia, Navarre, Araba and Lapurdi. About 50 people gathered outside the prison of Soto del Real (Madrid). The biggest rallies took place in Bilbo and Azkoitia, with the attendance of 700 and 500 people, respectively.

A demonstration is scheduled for this coming Saturday in Bilbao. The slogan will be: Euskal Presoak Euskal Herrira orain (Bring the Basque prisoners to the Basque Country now!). During the rallies the day before yesterday Etxerat appealed to people to take part in the march scheduled to set out from La Casilla in Bilbo at 17.00 hours.

Etxerat believes 2004 has been the year which has seen a worsening in the situation of the prisoners. “There are more Basque prisoners than ever, 716 family members and friends are more dispersed than ever in 88 prisons in 6 countries,” Etxerat pointed out. The association went on to declare that “both the French and Spanish States have announced that they will be maintaining these cruel measures” to send the prisoners further away from the Basque Country than ever, and to “isolate and leave them without any protection”.

Criticism was also directed at the Basque Country’s political parties. “They have had neither the courage nor the will to put an end to all this suffering”. The parties were accused of regarding the prisoners and their relatives as “second class citizens”. “As far as those who call themselves democratic are concerned, our lives are worth less than automatic cash dispensers”.

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A Farewell to Karmele

Add this one to the 1,600 killed in Gernika, add this one to the thousands tortured and killed during the reign of terror of Francisco Franco, add this one to the hundreds tortured and killed by the "democratic" governments of Spain.

But hey, no one is keeping count of our dead.

Karmele

Thousands of people publicly denounce Solaguren’s death

A mass demo was held in Barañain and gatherings called by Etxerat, the support group for Basque prisoners’ relatives, took place in many towns

Irene Arrizurieta – BARAÑAIN (Navarre)

Over fifteen hundred people gathered in Barañain, near Iruñea (Pamplona), yesterday to denounce Karmele Solaguren’s death. The protesters said the dispersion of Basque prisoners was responsible for “killing” people. Last night thousands of people protested and voiced their condemnation in many towns in the Basque Country, as they did in the hometown of Karmele Solaguren, who died while she was on her way to visit her son, Ekain Gerra, in prison.

The march in Barañain set off carrying a single ikurriña (the red, white and green Basque flag) and a photo of Karmele Solaguren. That was followed by friends of the deceased carrying a banner bearing the slogan Karmele sakabanaketak eraila. Konpromisoak orain (Dispersion responsible for Karmele’s murder. Commitments now). Then came the rest of the demonstrators. Some carried ikurriñas and others held photos of local Basque prisoners currently behind bars. The slogans heard were mainly “The people won’t forgive!” “Dispersion kills!” and “Get out of here, leave us alone!”

Before the demo began even, three Spanish Civil Guard patrols had already been stationed at the entrance to the town, even though there was less police presence than in the morning. At the entrance to the Town Hall square, where the march was scheduled to set out there were two patrol vehicles and a large van. The demo nevertheless took place peacefully and there was no trouble.

The marchers went to the house where Karmele Solaguren used to live and stood clapping outside for a minute. They returned to the Town Hall square on the way back. A Basque dancer performed an aurresku (Basque dance of honour) before a photograph of Solaguren and a young person praised the work the woman had done for the town of Barañain. “She was well-known and loved in the town for her work in favour of Basque prisoners, the Basque language and young people.” The rally ended with a message sent by Jose Luis Gerra, the father of the Basque prisoner Ekain Gerra, and widower of Karmele Solaguren. He was discharged from Soria hospital yesterday and was on his way from Madrid to Barañain while the demonstration was going on. The organisers said he had expressed his gratitude for the support they had received but had asked to be left alone during the next few days.

Batasuna representatives also joined yesterday’s rally. Arnaldo Otegi referred to International Human Rights Day; he called for the political dispersion to be ended “once and for all” and for a solution to be found to the Basque conflict. “We call on all social players and governments to build a Basque Country based on respect for all human rights, and to work for peace through a democratic process that will resolve the conflict,” he said.

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They Have a Point

Death does not discriminate, the Spanish State that burdens the families and loved ones of Basque prisoners does discriminate.

It's up to the international community's human rights watchdogs to realize how devastating this practice of "the dispersion" is and create mechanisms to put an end to it.

Here is part of a note appeared at Berria English:

Solaguren’s death is “state murder” says Etxerat

Basque prisoners’ families and friends say the dispersion is a “carefully calculated policy” and have appealed for a uniting of forces to oppose this prisons policy

Irene Arrizurieta – IRUÑEA (Pamplona)

Etxerat yesterday blamed the dispersion of Basque prisoners for killing people. This support group pointed out that the dispersion was “a very carefully calculated policy by the [Spanish] State” and that was why Karmele Solaguren’s death constituted “state murder”.

Etxerat members spoke of their profound anger and hurt during a crowded press conference in Iruñea (Pamplona) yesterday. They denounced the death of Karmele Solaguren, the mother of the Basque prisoner Ekain Gerra. Etxerat’s spokesman Imanol Haranburu pointed out that the dispersion policy killed people. Haranburu was accompanied at the press conference by over 50 friends and relatives of Basque prisoners; each held a poster bearing the words Hurrengoa ni izan naiteke (I could be the next). “Each one of us here is saying ‘I could be the next’, because the dispersion policy does not discriminate between people.

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Victims of the Dispersion

When a Basque is found guilty whether he is or not, is not only him the one that has to pay his debt to society, his whole family and loved ones get the bill.

Spain has a law lost somewhere which dictates that those serving time must do so at penitentiaries close to their towns.

The Basques are victims of a tool used by the Spanish justice system to tighten the repression against Basque society just one more notch, it is called "the dispersion".

Meaning, the Basques are put in jails as far away from the Basque Country as possible, as a result, their families and friends have to travel long distances in order to visit them. It is not only an economic burden, often, it is a matter of life and death.

The chances of being involved in an accident increase in relation with the distance you travel, if you travel 100 miles your chances of being in an accident are ten times larger than if you travel only 10. Yes I know, there is no scientific data to prove me right. But go ahead, see how fresh you are after driving for 1 hour, see how tired you are after driving 10.

The more tired you are, the more prone you are to be distracted, the more chances there is you could make one mistake, and one mistake is all it takes to get in a car accident.

And that is what just happened, and that is why the practice of the "dispersion" most come to an end.

For more information go to the Presoak and the Etxerat web sites.

Mother of Basque prisoner Ekain Gerra dies in road accident on route to prison visit

The parents of the Barañain-born prisoner had an accident in Soria yesterday morning; his father is in a very serious condition

Editorial Staff – IRUÑEA (Pamplona)

The parents of Ekain Gerra of Barañain (close to Iruñea-Pamplona) were involved in a road accident yesterday while on their way to visit their son. The prisoner’s 57-year-old mother, Karmele Solaguren, died in the accident that took place in the morning in the town of Noviercas in Soria (Spain). His father, Jose Luis Gerra, is in a very serious condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the Santa Barbara Hospital in Soria. The prisoners’ relatives support group Etxerat blamed the death on the policy of dispersion [of Basque prisoners].

According to the information provided by the Spanish Civil Guard headquarters in Soria, the accident happened at about 08.15 hours. The car in which Ekain Gerra’s parents, Karmele Solaguren and Jose Luis Gerra, were travelling stopped on the road. Karmele Solaguren got out of the car and was run over by a vehicle travelling in the same direction while she was speaking on her mobile phone. The woman died instantly. The vehicle crashed into the stationary car belonging to Ekain Gerra’s parents, seriously injuring his father. Jose Luis Gerra was taken to the Santa Barbara Hospital in Soria and is in the Intensive Care Unit “in a very serious condition”.

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Etxerat's Report

This note appeared today at Berria English:

“Dreadful year” for prisoners and relatives

The Etxerat association drew attention yesterday to the fact that curbs on Basque prisoners’ rights and the situation of their relatives were “worsening by the day” and has called on institutions to put aside their “indifference” and undertake effective initiatives

Eider Goenaga – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

“A dreadful year”. That is how the Etxerat member Saioa Agirre described 2003. The situation of the prisoners is becoming increasingly worse; their relatives involved in 23 accidents; three killed on the roads; two “fighting for their lives” as a result of a road accident; illegal practices made legal; seriously ill prisoners beaten up; expulsions, etc. The Etxerat association’s assessment of 2003 presented yesterday a list of all these things. Moreover, the fact that there are more prisoners than ever who are more dispersed than ever must be added to all this: there are 700 detainees in 80 prisons.

Agirre went on to stress that the start of this year does not point to any improvement, but rather the opposite. The prison transfers taken place have been to move prisoners further away, other prisoners on parole have been imprisoned, Manu Azkarate released under article 92 (*) has been imprisoned again and moved away to Alcala. Etxerat members went through the infringements of rights that took place last year, category by category.

Death penalty: Relatives going to visit Basque prisoners last year suffered 23 road accidents and 100 people were involved in these accidents.

Financial drain: Agirre denounced the fact that “Basque prisoners’ friends and relatives are suffering a tremendous financial drain to be able to exercise the right of communication enshrined in Spanish and French legislation”. Indeed each family is spending an average of 1,350.65 euros a month on travel.

Transferring people far away: Last year there were 438 transfers; 200 of them involved a change in destination. Over 70% of the changes in destination were to take Basque prisoners further away from the Basque Country. “The prisons of Galicia, Andalusia and Paris are full of Basques,” said Agirre.

Only 15 prisoners in the Basque Country: The Spanish Government has decided to take Basque political prisoners out of the Basque Country prisons and Etxerat converted this into figures. Today there are six political prisoners in Langraitz (Araba); seven in Martutene (Gipuzkoa), two in Iruñea (Pamplona); not a single one in Basauri (Bizkaia).

Solitary confinement blocks: Etxerat has accused the Spanish and French government of “intensifying the prisoners’ lack of protection”; “they want them to feel alone in the blocks they have built to destroy people physically and mentally. They have turned punishment cells into “normal blocks” for Basque prisoners, says Etxerat.

In ‘mitard’ and alone: Basque prisoners are also kept in solitary confinement in French prisons, and not just in punishment cells (‘mitard’) but in many prisons there is only one Basque prisoner. An extreme case is that of Txuma Puy from Lekunberri (Navarre). He was taken to Strasbourg last year; to visit him people have to travel over 1,300 km and he is the only Basque prisoner there.

(*) This article in the Criminal Code makes provision for release on parole of prisoners who are seriously ill or who have incurable illnesses.

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Release Manu Azkarate!

Today at Berria English:

Thousands of people in Donostia call for Manu Azkarate’s release

They denounced the situation of the Basque prisoner as being “indicative of the political vengeance of Madrid and Paris”

Ainhoa Sarasola – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Thousands of people gathered in Donostia yesterday for the demo organised by the Etxerat association to call for the release of the Basque prisoner Manu Azkarate. Azkarate was arrested and taken into custody on January 14 accused of not fulfilling the conditions of his parole granted in 1992 owing to serious illness. Right now he is being detained in the hospital of Donostia as a result of his hunger strike and refusal to take water and his medication while in prison, and the pneumonia he contracted in the hospital.

The march was led by a banner with the slogan “Etxean eta bizirik behar ditugu. Manu Etxera!” (“We want them alive and at home. Bring Manu home!”) carried by Azkarate’s relatives, including Ixiar Arratibel, the prisoner’s wife, and many Etxerat members, among others. Arratibel said in declarations made before the start of the march that Azkarate had not broken any rules relating to his parole, and regarded his arrest as an injustice and an act of vengeance. Next in the march came the trade union representatives who were supporting the initiative ( ELA, LAB, ESK, EHNE, Hiru, EILAS and CCOO) and who bore the banner which said, “Mendeku eta gorroto politikari ez. Manu Etxera!” (“Down with the policy of vengeance and hate. Bring Manu home!”). During the days leading up to the demo the social organisations ESAIT, Askatasuna and Elkarri pledged their support for the demonstration, as did the political parties Batasuna, EAE-ANV and Aralar, among others. Arnaldo Otegi and Pernando Barrena of Batasuna and Maixux Rekalde of Elkarri also marched along the Donostia streets. The march set out from the Boulevard at exactly 17.30 hours. After progressing through the streets of the city centre, it ended at the place where it had first set off.

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Behatokia

Ok, lets start by posting the links to a few organizations working within Euskal Herria towards peace and democracy, the first one I want to point out is Behatokia, they are a group that is trying to bring attention upon the violations of civil and human rights in Euskal Herria. As usual the link to the site has been embedded on the list to the left of this page.

Here is the link to their site and how do they describe themselves:

Behatokia: Basque Observatory of Human Rights is an initiative launched by several Basque organizations in defense of the Human Rights. BEHATOKIA driving forces are: TAT (Group Against Torture), ETXERAT (Association of Relatives of the Politically Repressed), ESKUBIDEAK (Basque Solicitors Association) and GURASOAK (Association of Parents of Young Victims of the Repression).

The objective of these groups when launching BEHATOKIA, was to start up a center of intercommunication with international bodies, non-governmental organizations and groups who work in the defense of Human Rights in order to reveal the violation these rights both, generally and specifically.

Additionally, BEHATOKIA will work before courts and international tribunals interposing imputations where fundamental rights have been violated and confronting the pertinent Spanish and French institutions who have not corrected such situations. On top of it, a substantial part of BEHATOKIA's work will be based on the spreading of information regarding the violations of fundamental rights by the institutions.

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Etxerat and Catalan Parliament

This was published today at Gara:

The president of the Catalan Parliament receives Etxerat

In Geneva they also had a meeting with the Human Rights Commission of the U.N.

Etxerat ended the tour it has been carrying out through Milan, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Barcelona and Geneva. Eyes have been fixed on happenings in the latter two cities, where they had meetings with the President of the Catalan Parliament and with representatives of the U.N Human Rights Commission.

GARA

DONOSTIA

Barcelona and Geneva were the centre of attention on the last day of the tour that relatives of Basque political prisoners have been carrying out through different European cities. For the duration of this informative tour they have been fasting.

The meeting held by Josu Cerrato and Miren Olaskoaga, representing prisoners' relatives, with the President of the Catalan parliament Ernest Benach (ERC), provoked a flood of criticism from the PP, the Collective of Victims of Terrorism (Covite), the Association of victims of Terrorism (AVT) and the Catalan Association of Victims of Terrorist Organisations (ACVOT).

After the meeting, Benach committed himself to bringing what is known as the Virreina Manifesto to the attention of the political groups that make up the chamber. This manifesto has been signed by 65 different groups and demands “the end to the policy of prisoner dispersal, distancing and isolation of Basque prisoners”.

However, outside these postures, Etxerat completed their agenda which was full of interviews and met with representatives of the UGT and CCOO trade unions; with Joan Herrera, parliamentarian for Initiative for Catalunya- and head of the list for the Spanish elections- Unió Democratica de Catalunya as well as Jordi Miralles of IU, and with members of Nunca Mais. Before the fast ended 500 people came together in the La Virreina square behind the banner “Basque prisoners to the Basque Country”.

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Van Boven Sets the Record Straight

Today in Berria.info:

Van Boven: “Denying the problem hinders the solution”

He pointed out that he would be looking into whether torture is “the tip of an iceberg or whether its practice is limited”

Editorial Staff – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

Theo Van Boven, the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture, gave a press conference in Madrid yesterday. This week the UN representative has been visiting Spain and the Basque Country to investigate the torture claims that have been filed, and has held meetings with officials, civil society organisations and a number of people who have filed complaints of torture.

In his appearance before the press Van Boven said that he had received many testimonies and views, but added that depending on the sources they were “very contradictory”. He said he had been with “a number of people who had been tortured” and with other officials who had told him that “in Spain there is no torture.” In response to this he said, “denying the problem hinders the solution.” At the same time the UN representative pointed out that most sources had told him that “torture is not systematically applied.”

In Madrid he met with the Spanish Foreign and Interior Ministers, the Heads of the Spanish Police and Civil Guard, the Secretaries of State Security and Justice, the Attorney-General, the Head Public Prosecutor of the Spanish National High Court, the Spanish Ombudsman and Prison Institutions, among others.

In the Basque Country he was with Etxerat, the Torturaren Aurkako Taldea (anti-torture group), Elkarri, and with Javier Balza and Joseba Azkarraga, the heads of the Interior and Justice Departments, respectively, of the Government of the Basque Autonomous Community [of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa]. In addition, Van Boven heard the first-hand testimonies of Unai Romano and Juan Carlos Subijana, who were arrested in Gasteiz (Vitoria) in September 2001, and of Martxelo Otamendi, Joan Mari Torrealdai and Txema Auzmendi, detained in the Egunkaria case.

The declarations that were heard will make up the first item in the report due to be published between March and April of next year.

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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.

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