(RSF/IFEX) – Journalist Martxelo Otamendi Egiguren, managing editor of the Basque-language newspaper “Euskaldunon Egunkaria”, who was held for five days in the context of a police operation against the paper’s management, has said he was both psychologically and physically ill-treated while in police custody. He was among 10 members of the newspaper’s staff who were […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Journalist Martxelo Otamendi Egiguren, managing editor of the Basque-language newspaper “Euskaldunon Egunkaria”, who was held for five days in the context of a police operation against the paper’s management, has said he was both psychologically and physically ill-treated while in police custody.
He was among 10 members of the newspaper’s staff who were arrested on suspicion of collaboration with the Basque separatist movement ETA.
“We urge you to open an inquiry into these allegations of ill-treatment in custody by the managing editor of ‘Egunkaria’ and to keep us informed of the condition of former managing editor Pedro Zubiria, who tried to commit suicide in custody,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said in a letter to Spanish Interior Minister Angel Acebes.
RSF also reminded the minister of its opposition to the closure of the Basque-lanaguage newspaper. “We oppose the closure, even temporarily, of the daily ‘Euskaldunon Egunkaria’. This move punishes a media outlet which has done nothing wrong, and deprives readers of their right to news. Without taking sides on the charges levelled against the paper’s management, we call for the reopening of ‘Egunkaria’ throughout the duration of legal procedures,” added Ménard.
Police arrested 10 journalists and members of the newspaper’s board of directors on 20 February 2003, on suspicion of “membership of or collaboration with the terrorist organisation ETA”. A judge also ordered the newspaper’s closure.
Four persons were released on bail on 25 February, including managing editor Egiguren, but six other management employees have been placed in preventive detention. Former managing editor Zubiria is currently in hospital after attempting suicide in custody on 23 February.
