Spanish Court Convicts 21 for Terrorist Activities

By Sarah Benczik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MADRID, Spain - Spain's National Court convicted 21 people on Wednesday for belonging to a terrorist group connected with ETA. 

Three leaders of the group - Juan Maria Olano, Julen Zelarain and Aitor Juice - were sentenced to 10 years in prison, while 18 others were each sentenced to 8 years.  All 21 were part of the group known as Gestoras pro Amnistia or its successor, Askatasuna.  Askatasuna is best known for its campaigning on behalf of jailed ETA members.

According to the National Court's judgment, Gestoras pro Amnistia maintained a "common ideology" with ETA and "assumed, and had accepted the armed struggle."  Gestoras's actions included pointing out new ETA targets, and was tasked with compelling Spanish security forces to leave the Basque region.

ETA (Basque Homeland and Freedom) has been responsible for over 800 deaths during the last 40 years in attempts to further its mission to establish Basque independence.  It is recognized as a terrorist group by Spain, the European Union and the United States. 

Along with the prison terms, both groups were also banned by the court.  Spain's Supreme Court had, on Tuesday, banned another separatist group known as the Communist Party of Basque Lands (PCTV) and dissolved Basque Nationalist Action (ANV).  Both groups were political parties with the same goal for Basque independence.  They emerged after the Batasuna party was outlawed in 2003.  ANV was the third-strongest party in the Basque region.  Last week, Spain's Constitutional Court prohibited a regional referendum on Basque self-determination.   

Spain's move to ban ETA-related groups began in 2001 under the watch of Baltasar Garzon, former anti-terror investigator and current judge in Spain's criminal court.

For more information, please see:

CNN -  Spanish court convicts 21 for terror links - 17 September 2008

International Herald Tribune - Spanish court convicts group on terrorism charge - 17 September 2008

La Cronica - Cárcel para los 21 líderes de Gestoras Pro Amnistía - 17 September 2008

The Earth Times -  Spain bans another political party for supporting ETA - 18 September 2008