REPORT: SUMMARY 8/10
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REPORT: SUMMARY 8/10
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INTRODUCTION In August, September, and March 2008, the Spanish police arrested Luis Goñi, Xabier Sagardoy, Maider Caminos, Mikel Jimenez, and Aritz Azkona, accused of being members of the political organisations Ekin and Segi. Four other Basque citizens were also taken by the police, namely, Alberto Lopez, Amaia Legarra, Maitane Intxaurraga, and Noe Lopez. Many of them were put in solitary confinement or suffered torture and jail. Alberto Lopez’s case was particular. A police car smashed into Alberto’s car, and he was then kidnapped for 5 days. When in isolation, no one knew where he was. As a consequence of the crash, Alberto was injured and had to be taken to hospital. This police raid was just the first and many others would come in the future. On September 30th, 2008, Ibai Azkona, Iker Araguas, Gorka Sueskun, and Mikel Flamarike were arrested by the Spanish police in Iruñea and its surrounding area. A third operation was also carried out on October 6th, 2008: Iker Aristu, Iñaki Marin, Diego Octavio, and Mikel Marin were locked up. Being Basque and pro-independence brings a risk of incarceration. They spent 3 years in jail pending trial. In early October and November 2011, they were judged in the Spanish National Court. Maitane, Amaia, Noe, and Alberto were absolved. The latter was imprisoned for 3 years and 4 months before he was acquitted of all charges. Luis, Xabier, Maider, Mikel, and Aritz, however, were imposed a penalty of 6 years in prison. On December 16th, 2011, Maider, Aritz, Luis and Alberto Lopez were set free. On the contrary, Xabier Sagardoy came back home on May 12th, 2013, while Mikel is still in jail due to a different trial. After several delays, on the coming July 3rd, the Spanish National Court will evaluate the sentences laid down by the Spanish High Court: the 4 young men and women are at risk of being locked up again. These Basque citizens may go back to jail because of their political activity in favour of the civil and political rights.
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REPORT: SUMMARY 8/10
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XABI and LUIS ARREST AND TORTURE
On August 24th, in an operation executed by night, Luis was arrested by the Guardia Civil in Barañain, and Xabier in Lizarraldea. Both spent 5 days in solitary confinement, and suffered tortures during the interrogations. This is the method by which the Guardia Civil has obtained the main proofs. In addition, these forced confessions obtained under means of torture show the names of several Basque citizens that were arrested a posteriori.
Luis Goñi
It was around 5am when police showed up at Luis’s family’s home. Even though they had no court order, they performed a search for 4 long hours. They also searched a basement and Akelamendi taberna in the subsequent hours. Xabier, however, was arrested in a village in Lizarraldea. 4 police officers wearing a sky mask came out of a car at 6am and took him. They did not arrive in Barañain until 10:30am – it usually takes you less than an hour – and searched his house for 2 hours. Then, Xabier was taken to the gaztetxe in Barañain – a self-managed social centre. After being 5 days in total isolation, they had a chance to talk with their attorneys when they were in jail. That is when they could report what they had been subjected to. It was common to be threatened, to have their heads covered by bags until they had passed out, or to be beaten up. Luis and Xabier were forced to do physical exercises while being hit, and police pretended they were going to use electrodes. Apart from physical exhaustion, police also tried to wear down the prisoners psychologically, making them believe that their girlfriend was also arrested or that their mom was in hospital. The aim of all that was to obtain testimonies where Luis and Xabier would self-incriminate, as well as incriminating other Basque young citizens. These statements represent the strongest proofs that the National Court will use against them.
Xabier Sagardoy
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REPORT: SUMMARY 8/10
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MAIDER
ARREST AND TORTURE
Maider Caminos
On August 31st, 2008, the Guardia Civil detained Maider Caminos in Astrain accused of being part of Ekin. In the afternoon, police caused a traffic accident in the outskirts of Astrain in order to catch Maider. Guardia Civil’s intention was to hide the fact that someone had been arrested, trying to replicate what they did a few days earlier with Alberto Lopez. They did not get to Maider’s home until 2pm, and then they began the inspection. Maider remained in isolation for 4 days. Police officers would cover her head by a bag time and time again endeavouring to force Maider to implicate other people with Ekin. At the same time, she was offered freedom and a salary of 2,500 EUR in exchange of her collaboration.
Aritz Azkona
ARITZ and MIKEL ARREST AND TORTURE
Aritz Azkona and Mikel Jimenez, on the other hand, were arrested on October 10th, 2008, in Madrid, in front of the National Court, when they were voluntarily going to testify. Although the Guardia Civil asked for permission to put them in solitary confinement, this was not conceded, and they spent 3 days in jail before attending Court led by Judge Grande-Marlaska. Aritz and Mikel are accused of being members of Segi.
Mikel Jimenez
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REPORT: SUMMARY 8/10
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THE CURRENT SITUATION Luis, Maider, and Aritz came back home on December 16th, 2012, and since then they have to appear in a police station twice a week. Xabier, on the contrary, was set free last May 12th, 2013, after having completed a previous sentence. Finally, Mikel, is still in prison. Now, after bringing an appeal to the National Court, they are awaiting the High Court’s decision – the sentence can be confirmed or quashed. The judges will gather together on July 3rd, and 3 more months can pass until the sentence is made public. While waiting for the sentence, and supported by about 100 people, these young citizens have claimed that the only sentence they will accept is the ACCQUITAL of all charges (13/06/2013), “because this is the only sentence that will bring about a positive contribution to the current political situation”. They have asserted time and time again that it is time to empty the prisons, instead of filling them up.
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