EIRE/IRELAND: BASQUE FACING EXTRADITION WANTS TO CALL UN RIGHTS EXPERT

Lawyers representing a former member of ETA who spent 21 years in a Spanish Jail (18 in Isolation) want to submit evidence from a United Nations human rights expert, a Belfast court has told today (24/04/09).

Inaki de Juana Chaos, 53, who is currently living in Belfast is being pursued by the Spanish authorities who allege that he made comments «glorifying terrorism».

The Court was told that Professor Martin Schenin (who is a United Nations special rapporteur on the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms ) can provide critical and important evidence dealing with the impact of the isolation on Inaki de Juana Chaos during the 18 years he spent in solitary confinement in a Spanish jail.

Inaki de Juana Chaos was sentenced to 3,000 years in prison in Spain for 25 murders in the 1980s. However, he was released early in August 2008 and later moved to Ireland seeking sanctuary from harassment by the Spanish authorities. The allegations against him concerns a message which was allegedly read out in his name after his release and a Basque phrase it contained. (aurrrea bolie, which translates literally as «kick the ball forward».)

During the period of Inaki de Juana Chaos's prison incarceration Spain was repeatedly condemned by International human rights groups for its treatment of Basque prisoners. Many were subjected to prolonged periods (years) of solitary confinement, torture was commonplace and a number of prisoners died in suspicious circumstances.

Spain has never been held to account for its abuse of Basque prisoners which still continues.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

24/04/09