arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Call for action; International solidarity against extraditions!

European mobilisation on April the 28th, to denounce the European arrest warrant against 4 Basque people and the repression.
We are calling to make demonstrations in front of the embassies that Belgium has in Europe in order to denounce the European order against 4 Basque people, Rakel Garcia, Luis Moreno, Ion Lopez and Diego Ugarte, these last two held in prison in Belgium.

In Belgium there is also going to be a protest, on April 28th, in Brussels, in front of the Ministry of Justice at the Waterloolaan 115 at 18.00.

Askatasuna, the Basque left wing anti-repression organisation, is asking for these protests to recall international solidarity towards these 4 Basque people and to denounce Belgium government, asking them no to collaborate with Spanish authorities.

On April 21st, Rakel and Luis are facing a public hearing. This will be the third court that will deal with the Spanish Extradition order. The previous two decided to put them free, but in all cases the state prosecutor has appealed the decisions.

We want to denounce the arguments that have been use in order to implement the European order. They want to make faster procedures and depoliticise them. We have clearly seen that in the case of Rakel and Luis there is important political pressure. Belgium state decided to refuse the extradition of Rakel and Luis to the petitions of 1993 and 1996 after considering their crime a political one.

Askatasuna wants to denounce also the fact that in this case, with this new European law, the court wants to implement it with retroactivity, something that goes against all international juridical principles. Especially in the cases that go against the interest of the person that is to be punished.

In March 31st Diego Garte and Jon Lopez were arrested in Boussu (Belgium). Today Diego is held in the Prison of Mons, and Jon in the Prison of Tournei. In April 23rd they have to appear in front of the judge. In the case of Ugarte, even though Spain has send 3 European arrest warrants the judge has started and extradition procedure. In the case of Jon Spain has send one European order which asks that Jon will pay the 17th years to which he was sentenced already. Both applied for political asylum in Belgium.

It is to denounce this situation and that we are asking International solidarity to protest in front of Belgium embassies.

More info:
http://www.baskinfo.org
More info on the case of Luis and Rakel on
http://www.geenuitlevering.tk