From: Spandoekservice@cs.com
Date: 12 Mar 2002 16:09 uur
Press-statement 11 march 2002
Twelve young Basques arrested
In the night of 7 to 8 of march twelve young people where arrested in a
police operation carried out by 200 policemembers. The police invaded a total
of about 25 houses, offices and bars. The operation was ordered by the
infamous Spanish investigation-judge Balthasar Garzon. Garzon blames the
twelve youngsters for being the leadership of Segi, an organisation which,
after extreme Spanish pressure, was placed on the European list of terrorist
organisations and was later declared illegal by decrete of the same judge
Garzon.
The twelve youngsters are blamed of being members of a terrorist
organisation. This accusation is based on the theory that ETA is not just an
armed organisation but a whole network involving newspapers, political
parties, and activist groups who all have in common that they work in favour
of the independence of the Basque country. The theory (made up by, again,
Garzon and fully backed by the Spanish governing party the Partido Popular)
is that anybody following the same goals as ETA forms part of ETA. This
theory was first used four years ago with the blocking of bank-accounts of
different organisations among which the organisation for teaching the Basque
language to adults AEK. Shortly after the Basque newspaper Egin was closed
and since then many organisations have been declared illegal without any
judicial control.
One of the only organisations forming part of the Basque movement for
independence still not declared illegal is the political party Batasuna. This
wasn't a result of lack of voluntary on Spanish side but because there exist
laws against illegalising political parties without evidence or judicial
control. At the moment a law is passing through Spanish parliament to "repair
that defect" in the Spanish legal system. It is expected that after this law
passes parliament (in which the Partido Popular has an absolute mayority)
Batasuna will be declared illegal, leaving the Basque independence movement
without means of democratic and peaceful expression.
The arrest of the twelve youngsters is the next step in this repression
proces. The twelve are blamed for all the acts of urban violence since the
constitution of Segi nearly a year ago following the illegalisation of the
former Youth movement Haika. Representatives of Segi
gave a press-conference on the 8th of march from Bainoa in the north of the
Basque country (falling under French jurisdiccion). It was said that for the
youth two possibilities were left over: "Stop our activities or keep on with
our struggle in spite of the laws against the Basque country invented by the
Spanish government". The representatives pointed out that many of the
detained were also student activists and they spoke out the fear that the
student movement Ikasle Abertzaleak might be the next victim of Garzons
criminalisation drive. A day of struggle was announced for today. Yesterday
there have been protests against the detentions in many Basque villages and
cities. The last news is that 11 of the 12 go to prison and that the arrest
of more youngsters is ordered. Garzon has even asked for the extradiction of
Segi-members from the French part.
We ask for your solidarity. Protest at the Spanish and French diplomatic
representatives, spread this story where-ever you can, put it on your
web-site, ask your favourite politician to take action. If you want to keep
informed, please sent an e-mail to BicUtrecht@cs.com
Basque Information Centre
PoBox 2884
3500 GW Utrecht
The Netherlands
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