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23/04/2009
Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee Condemn Arrest
The arrest of an alleged Spanish terrorist in Belfast yesterday has been condemned by a local support group.
A spokesperson for the Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee, Kevin Morrison, said the arrest of Arturo Villanueva, who comes from Pamplona (Navarra) "is yet more evidence of the continuation of attacks by the Spanish government on Basque civil society".
He condemned the Spanish authorities' bid to extradite him for "terrorist crimes committed in Spain".
The charges that are attributed to Villanueva - who has since been released on bail - are that he allegedly escaped a prior judgement in relation to membership in a banned youth organisation linked to the Basque radical left.
The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee demanded an "immediate dropping" of the case against Villanueva, who they said has been living in Belfast for over four years.
The group also complained about the banning of the Basque pro-independence party Batasuna and the imprisonment of its leadership, something they described as "blatant infringements of basic human rights and the freedom of speech within the European Union".
The spokesman quoted the UN Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights, Martin Scheinin, who has recently an analyzed the Spanish legislation for countering terrorism.
He considered it to be "too broad" in its Law of Parties and the definition of what can be considered as a terrorist activity, the spokesman said.
He noted that he had proposed "an examination by an expert on Penal Code, in order to improve and clarify the Law of Parties".
See: Suspected ETA Sympathizer Bailed In Belfast Court
(AC/BMcC)
A spokesperson for the Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee, Kevin Morrison, said the arrest of Arturo Villanueva, who comes from Pamplona (Navarra) "is yet more evidence of the continuation of attacks by the Spanish government on Basque civil society".
He condemned the Spanish authorities' bid to extradite him for "terrorist crimes committed in Spain".
The charges that are attributed to Villanueva - who has since been released on bail - are that he allegedly escaped a prior judgement in relation to membership in a banned youth organisation linked to the Basque radical left.
The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee demanded an "immediate dropping" of the case against Villanueva, who they said has been living in Belfast for over four years.
The group also complained about the banning of the Basque pro-independence party Batasuna and the imprisonment of its leadership, something they described as "blatant infringements of basic human rights and the freedom of speech within the European Union".
The spokesman quoted the UN Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights, Martin Scheinin, who has recently an analyzed the Spanish legislation for countering terrorism.
He considered it to be "too broad" in its Law of Parties and the definition of what can be considered as a terrorist activity, the spokesman said.
He noted that he had proposed "an examination by an expert on Penal Code, in order to improve and clarify the Law of Parties".
See: Suspected ETA Sympathizer Bailed In Belfast Court
(AC/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
