IBO : Xarlo Etxezaharreta Kidnapped

Here you have another demand for the immediate liberation of Xarlo Etxezaharreta, abducted in Hegoalde by the Spanish secret service, this one from the International Basque Organization for Human Rights:

September 29, 2003

Basque Journalist snatched off the street

Sunday night in Abadiño finished off a day of festivals. XarloEtxezaharreta was escorting a visiting friend around the region and was about to drive his friend home. Suddenly, strange men surround all, and Xarlo was put into a car and driven away. No charges read, no explanations given. None are needed when the victim is Basque and the arrestor is the Spanish Guardia Civil. All the more frightening is that Xarlo is from Hazparne,the northern Basque region, and is a French citizen.

Xarlo's friends were stranded and frightened, not knowing at that time who these men were or why they took Xarlo. His family was contacted and was confused, having thought of no apparent reasons for his arrest.

Sixty two year old Xarlo Etxezaharreta is the editor of the Basque political magazine Kale Gorria. This magazine writes commentary on politicians and organizations in Spain and the Basque region. In its previous incarnation, Ardi Beltza, Spanish authorities accused the magazine of being part of the terrorist group ETA because its articles were critical of politicians and those in authority. The magazine’s editor at the time, Pepe Rei, was imprisoned and later released due to lack of evidence.

Xarlo is also a member of Udalbiltza, a political group that spanned all regions of the Basque country. Udalbiltza was an organization made up of politicians and others from hundreds of city and town councils of the Basque region within Spain and France. They regularly met and discussed ways of working together politically, to advance Basque cultural and political causes. Spanish authorities did not like Udalbiltza. Here was an organization of Basque politicians, spanningborders, working together legally to change their political landscape. In order to stop this, the authorities called Udalbiltza an "integration of ETA" They outlawed Udalbiltza, and asked the United States to add them to their list of terrorist organizations. The US, owing a favor to their Iraqi War allies, did just that.

It was because of Xarlo's participation in Udalbiltza that he was arrested and held incommunicado this past Sunday night. Xarlo now joins the ranks of the dozens of politicians and journalists currently being held for the same reason: that they dared to work in a legal manner to change their political reality in the Basque Country.

International Basque Organization For Human Rights
PO Box 225 Corte Madera, CA 94976
www.euskojustice.org

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ADV : Free Xarlo!

Xarlo Etxezaharreta has been abducted by the Spanish secret police following an arrest order by Baltasar Garzón.

This is the press release by the Asociación Diáspora Vasca (Basque Diaspora Association) demanding Xarlo's liberation:

INTERNATIONAL PROTEST BY THE BASQUE DIASPORA ASSOCIATION OVER DETENTION OF ONE OF ITS MEMBERS

The Basque Diaspora Association, which groups Basque citizens and Basque descendants who live in twenty countries around the world, denounces the arrest yesterday (September 28th, 2003), on what amounts to abduction of Xarlo Etxezaharreta, natural and resident of Hazparne (Northern Euskal Herria, under French administration) on thetown of Abadiño (Southern Euskal Herria, under Spanish administration).

After being taken to an undisclosed location by his abducters in plain cloths, sketchy information indicate that Mr. Etxezaharreta was abducted following orders of Judge Baltasar Garzon Real. It is believed at this time while awaiting confirmation that he will be accused of colaborating with the armed Basque group Euskadi ta Askatasuna (ETA), also as being involved with Udalbiltza, organization of Basque representatives elected in formal elections, but criminalized under judicial investigation ordered by Garzon Real himself.

At this time we denounce the blatant abduction by Spanish police officers. The operative by the law enforcement agents mirrors the one that took place recently in Venezuela, where Jose Ramon Foruria Zubialdea was abducted and illegally turned into the hands of the Spanish police despite him holding the Venezuelan citizenship. This took place last week, and it has its precedents on the illegal prodedures that ended up on the unlawful deportation against Basque citizens Sebas Etxaniz Alkorta and Bittor Galarza.

At this time, the Basque Diaspora Association does everything in its power to make sure that the Argentinian authorities do not give up to the demands by the Spanish government to extradite Jose Lariz, on preventive detention after being shamefuly expelled from Uruguay by the local authorities. On a heart lifting note, Mexico's government rejected ten days ago the extradition process against Lorenzo Llona, closing a judicial process that was corrupted by political quagmires and judicial treacheries under the lead of Garzon Real.

Xarlo Etxezaharreta is the director of Basque magazine "Kale Gorria" and he is an important and beloved member of the Basque Diaspora Association. From the everyday contact with him we admire his deep love towards everything Basque, his profound loyalty towards Euskal Herria, his solidarity with all the oppressed peoples, his sense of humor and his exemplary family life.

Xarlo Etxezaharreta joins Miriam Campos who was previously arrested and is today in jail under a sentence ad hoc instructed against her by Garzon Real. Miriam Campos who belongs to the previously mentioned organization Udalbiltza is part of our association too, which entitles us to be character witnesses of her high moral and human standards. Despite this, the Spanish executive/judicial tandem keeps her behind bars.

The abduction of Mr. Etxezaharreta is blatant example of the repression against the Basque people by the Spanish state. The way the case developes will demonstrate the degree of permisivness and complicity by the French state, Mr. Etxeharreta is under French jurisdiction due to the fact that he is a Basque citizen who was born and lives on territory under French administration.

In broadcasting this new abuse without borders against the Basque people, the Basque Diaspora Association appeals to the sensibility of individuals and organizations working in the defense of human rights, human rights which include the right to self determination of every people in the world. We also ask from the people reading this statement to express within their own space and means their rejection to this new abuse and display of excessive force by a state.

Asociación Diáspora Vasca
29 de septiembre de 2003

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