Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee calls for case against Inaki de Juana Chaos to be dropped

The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee has called for the case brought aagainst a Basque living in Belfast, Inaki de Juana Chaos to be dropped. The case brought by the Spanish prosecution service to see Inaki de Juana Chaos be returned to Spain saw Mr de Juana Chaos appear in a Belfast Court yesterday.

Speaking as spokesperson for the group, Kevin Morrison, said:

"The case against Inaki de Juana Chaos is a embarrassing one for the Spanish prosecution to be perusing. Inaki de Juana Chaos has been living openly in both Belfast and Dublin for over four months now and has made himself available to Irish police, the Spanish authorities in the embassy and now in a court in Belfast. These actions highlight that Inaki is a man who has little to hide.

"The entire case is indicative of the repression and control the Spanish government exert in the Basque Country. Day and daily show trials with similar spurious charges are brought against countless individuals and groups. The outcomes are that political parties are banned, human rights and social organisations are closed along with newspapers, magazines and radio stations. This is happening on our doorstep in an EU country.

"The Spanish authorities need to reassess their insistence in pursuing the extradition of Inaki de Juana Chaos. They have constantly abused the basic civil liberties of people inside and outside the Basque Country and this case will draw further attention to that fact."