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30 September 2011

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SPAIN SENTENCES BASQUE LEADERS AT HEART OF PEACE PROCESS | SINN FÉIN CALLS FOR RELEASE

Arnaldo Otegi

Arnaldo Otegi sentenced

ARNALDO OTEGI, the former leader of outlawed Basque independence party Batasuna, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail after being convicted by a Spain’s National Court of trying to rebuild Batasuna. Four other accused were handed prison sentences ranging from 8 to 10 years; three others were acquitted.
Batasuna was banned in 2003 for alleged links with ETA. Otegi was been in custody since 2009 after serving a 15-month sentence when he was falsely accused of “promoting terrorism”.
During this latest trial, Otegi, a frequent visitor to Ireland for Sinn Féin ard fheiseanna, reiterated his commitment to the peace process and repeated his rejection of the use of violence to obtain an independent Basque homeland. ETA declared a ceasefire in September last year.
The Basque organisation Abertzale Left said that the verdicts show more than ever before that the Spanish state lacks a democratic approach to the Basque Country. Calling for the Basque leaders’ release, Abertzale Left quoted Arnaldo Otegi at the National Court: “No one should leave this path because we are going to win.”
Sinn Féin has been involved for several years with Batasuna activists in relaying to them the party’s experiences of peace building in Ireland. Sinn Féin MLAs Gerry Kelly and Alex Maskey, along with Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún, have been directly involved in this.
Commenting on the trials, in a joint statement with Raymond McCartney, Sinn Féin’s Assembly spokesperson on International Affairs, they joined calls for the release of the Basque leader.
The Sinn Féin spokespersons said that Arnaldo Otegi’s credentials as a peacemaker are unchallengeable. They said the rebuilding of the peace process in the Basque Country and unilateral actions taken by Basque activists created the conditions in which two things have happened: a unilateral, permanent general and verifiable ceasefire by ETA; and a commitment by Basque political activists to an exclusively peaceful and democratic strategy in pursuit of political objectives.
“Today, after being sentenced. Otegi reiterated his support for these approaches and urged all others to do likewise. Regrettably, the authorities in Madrid have failed to step up to the plate in respect of their responsibilities. They have refused to grasp the enormous opportunity for lasting peace created by Otegi, his colleagues and others. Madrid needs to reverse this negative, irresponsible and politically debilitating approach. Democratic rights must prevail.
“Basque political activists must be accorded their democratic right to organise politically. The electorate must be accorded the right to vote for parties and candidates of their choice. Otegi and his colleagues must be released.”
The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee said the Spanish authorities have once again been exposed as ignoring the peace process. Spokesperson Kevin Morrison said:
“There now must be international pressure brought to bear on the Spanish Government. This is a government within the EU that sees fit to outlaw opposition political parties and imprison democratically elected representatives. If it were happening anywhere else in the world there would be a public outcry.”

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