36 Segi Members arrested.

News is emerging from the Basque country that police have arrested 36 members of Segi in the early hours of this morning (Tues).

The operation was carried out across the Basque Country on the orders of High Court judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska and was still under way into the morning.

It is claimed by unnamed ‘security officials’ that leaders of Segi, which was declared a ‘terrorist’ group by the Spanish Supreme Court in 2007, were among the arrested.

This is the largest scale operation of its kind in recent years. So far, arrests have been made in Otxarkoaga (Bilbao), Lekeitio, Zamudio, Galdakao, Iurreta y Sestao in Bizkaia; Donostia-San Sebastián, Amezketa, Azpeitia e Idiazabal in Gipuzkoa; Vitoria-Gasteiz en Álava, Barañain and Zizur Mayor.

Police officers also entered the homes of at least three other people intending to make arrests, but they were not at home.

Aside from the arrests, searches were carried out in 34 homes, youth-centres, eateries, gastronomic societies and even municipal buildings. The operation remains open, meaning further searches and arrests could be made.

Segi is the youth section of the Basque pro-independence left-wing, succeeding previously banned organizations Jarrai and Haika. It was declared a ‘terrorist’ organization in January 2007, concluding a court case begun by Supreme Court Judge Baltasar Garzon in 2001.

Condemning the arrests Ógra Shinn Féin national organiser, Donnchadh O Laoghaire slammed the Spanish for scuppering the chance for the establishment of a democratic process in the Basque country:

“Within the past number of weeks the Basque independence movement have outlined proposals which would see the establishment of a democratic process. However when the Spanish order and oversee such arrests of political activists it goes against the very essence of what is being outlined by the pro independence movement.

“On behalf of Ógra I would like to extend our solidarity to the young people arrested and pledge the support of our organisation for the cause for which they struggle. I furthermore call for their release. Ógra will be on the streets throughout Ireland in the coming days and weeks in protest at these latest arrests.

“If the Spanish are really interested in establishing dialogue with the pro independence movement such arrests do nothing to advance their case. It would be our hope that they grasp the chance while they can.