WiPC concerned about reports that detained Basque writers and journalists have been ill-treated

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is seriously concerned about the continued detention of six Basque writers and journalists under anti-terrorism legislation, with reports that they have been ill-treated adding to the organisation’s fears. The arrests of ten writers and journalists (four of whom were subsequently freed on bail) and the forced closure of […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is seriously concerned about the continued detention of six Basque writers and journalists under anti-terrorism legislation, with reports that they have been ill-treated adding to the organisation’s fears. The arrests of ten writers and journalists (four of whom were subsequently freed on bail) and the forced closure of the Basque daily “Euskaldunon Egunkaria” on 20 February 2003, has been widely condemned both within Spain and internationally. International PEN joins calls for clarification of the reasons for the closure of the newspaper and the detentions, as well as a full and impartial investigation into allegations that the detainees have been subject to torture.

On 20 February, the offices of the Basque newspaper “Euskaldunon Egunkaria”, based in Andoain, northern Spain, and the homes of its senior staff, were raided by Civil Guard police officers following an order issued by National Tribunal Judge Juan del Olmo. Ten of the newspaper’s senior staff were arrested and taken to the National Tribunal in Madrid. Judge del Olmo
announced that the action had been taken to investigate claims that the newspaper had been created and financed by the Basque armed group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), which had used it to “launder” money obtained from extortion and kidnapping. He added that the newspaper had disseminated ETA’s “terrorist” ideology.

According to leaked reports published in the Spanish press, Judge del Olmo’s action is based on ETA documents from 1990 that apparently show that the organisation helped to finance the setting up of “Euskaldunon Egunkaria” and established the newspaper’s editorial policy. The names of those arrested on 20 February had been listed in papers seized from ETA members between 1990-93. The current editor, Martxelo Otamendi, who was freed on bail, disputes that the newspaper acted as an agent of ETA. He refers to “Euskaldunon Egunkaria”‘s frequent publication of articles critical of ETA and denies any sympathy with the terrorist group. He argues that the fact that his name is quoted in ETA documents “does not make me a member of ETA.”

A group of noted Basque writers, among them the best known, Bernardo Atxaga, have supported the paper, stating that, “nobody in their right mind would affirm that the editorial line of ‘Euskaldunon Egunkaria’ was favourable to ETA.” Many writers claim that since 11 September 2001, Spanish government policy aimed at tackling the urgent struggle against ETA terrorism is being increasingly confused with a policy of suppressing certain democratic institutions promoting Basque culture.

The six who remain detained are:

Juan Mari Torrealda: Managing Editor of “Euskaldunon Egunkaria” and editor of the Basque literary magazine “Jakin”. Since the 1960s, he has been active in the Basque cultural movement. He is the author of a number of books on Basque culture and literature, among them “Euskal Idazleak Gaur” (“Basque Writers Today”), “Euskal Kultura Gaur” (“Basque Culture Today”) and three books on censorship under Franco, the latest, published in 2000, entitled “Artaziak – Scissors Basque Books and Franco’s Censorship 1936-1983”.

Pello Zubiria: Former editor of “Euskaldunon Egunkaria” and editor of “Argia” until his recent ill-health led him to leave his post. His situation deteriorated sharply since his arrest and he is now held at the intensive care unit at Gregorio Marañon hospital in Madrid, receiving treatment for pneumonia. He reportedly attempted to commit suicide while under interrogation.

Iñaki Uria: Chairman of the “Euskaldunon Egunkaria” board and its Managing Director. A founding member of the newspaper and a journalist for the magazine “Argia”, he has been active in the Basque cultural movement for many years.

Xabier Alegria: member of the Basque municipal assembly and formerly with the newspaper “Egin”, which was closed down in 1999 under similar circumstances to the current case.

Xabier Oleaga: Deputy Editor of “Euskaldunon Egunkaria” and former editor for “Egin”.

Fr. Txema Auzmendi: Jesuit Priest and Deputy Director of Radio Popular San Sebastian. Secretary of the Board of Directors of “Euskaldunon Egunkaria”.

The ten arrested were held incommunicado for interrogation for five days. Four were then released on bail, and the others, excluding Zubiria who was hospitalised, were jailed at Real Soto prison, in Madrid.

At a press conference, one of those freed, Otamendi, claimed that he had twice had a plastic bag placed over his head until he was nearly suffocated, spent much of the time naked and forced to crouch. He added that he could hear the screams of his colleagues, notably author Juan Mari Torrealdi, as they were beaten by their interrogators.

On 22 February, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the Basque regional capital, San Sebastian, among them senior Basque government leaders. The Basque regional government has subsidised the newspaper, and has called for an urgent clarification for the reasons behind its closure and the arrests. A cross section of Basque political parties, businesses, trade unions and other institutions have joined the protests against the arrests.

“Euskaldunon Egunkaria” (“Newspaper of the Basques”) created in 1990, is published six days a week and is the only newspaper published in Basque, with a readership that extends beyond northern Spain. It had a circulation of around 15,000. The newspaper was re-opened on 21 February under the title “Egunero”.

The action against the newspaper is part of a crackdown against Basque separatism, and followed the murder of a policeman by ETA on 8 February. ETA, which has been fighting for independence from Spain for over 30 years, has carried out attacks against Basque and Spanish officials and civilians, including journalists. In May 2000, Jose Luis Lopez de Lacalle, a writer for the Basque edition of “Le Monde”, was murdered after he criticised ETA (see IFEX alerts of 25 February 2003 and 28 November 2000). Threats and attacks against journalists critical of ETA has led many journalists to flee the region fearing for their safety. International PEN has and continues to protest against ETA attacks upon writers and journalists.

On Monday 10 March 2003, there will be a major gathering of democratic organisations meeting in Barcelona to protest the closure of “Euskaldunon Egunkaria”, the continued detentions, and to ask for an investigation into the torture allegations. Among those participating in the meeting will be the Lawyers Union of Barcelona, the Journalist’s Union of Catalonia, the United Nations Association, the Catalonia centre of UNESCO, the Catalan PEN Centre and CIEMEN (Centre Internacional Escarré per a les Minories Ètnique i les Nacions). These organisations have long warned that Spanish anti-terrorist legislation could lead to the suppression of fundamental liberties. Joan Smith, Chair of the WiPC of the English PEN Centre, will take the floor at the meeting on behalf of International PEN.

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