Batasuna's Ban : European Shame

This press release comes to us thanks to the Basque Diaspora group:

CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION

EUROPE'S SHAME AS BATASUNA BANNED

As expected the Spanish parliament, at a special sitting, has endorsed a ban against the Basque nationalist party, Batasuna

The ban was passed by 295-10 with the ruling party of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar receiving backing from the opposition Socialists. However, other parties from the Basque, Catalonian, Galician regions either abstained or voted against the motion.

The government, in a bizarre twist to the normal judicial process, will now initiate proceedings seeking an order from the Supreme Court to declare Batasuna illegal. It is expected that this will only be a formality as the Supreme Court is little more than a 'nodding donkey' for the government party.

Already a High Court judge has ordered Batasuna to shut down for three years. The order by Judge Baltasar Garzons effectively shuts all Batasuna offices and businesses and bans the party from holding meetings or calling demonstrations.

The government justifies the move by citing what it says is Batasuna's support for the armed separatist group, ETA.

However, Batasuna denies any formal links with ETA and the government, which claims that the party is a key part of the armed group's fund-raising activities and recruitment operations, has not been able to provide credible evidence to justify its allegations.

A more likely reason for the government action is the success that Batasuna has enjoyed in mobilising Basque youth. This is known to have worried the Aznar government because it indicates that without meaningful progress towards self-determination the young and vibrant political organisation which Batasuna has developed would continue its pressure on the Spanish.

It is an appalling day for democracy in Europe when a political party is banned in this way while European Governments and the European Union maintain a stoney silence.

Bernard Moffatt

Secretary General

Celtic League

26/08/02

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It focuses on human rights abuse and civil liberty issues and also monitors the impact of military activity.

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