RSF address open letter to Spanish Ambassador

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Monday December 19, 2005 22:11 by Des Dalton - Republican Sinn Fein Head Office: 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland Tel: 872 9747 Fax: 872 9757

RSF support for Basque prisoners who went on hunger strike earlier this year in pursuit of the right to political status.

RSF address open letter to Spanish Ambassador

IN AN open letter to the Spanish Ambassador to the 26-Counties Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton expressed RSF's support for Basque prisoners who went on hunger strike earlier this year in pursuit of the right to political status. Concern was also expressed about the death of a Basque political activist whilst in Spanish custody. He also said that Republican Sinn Féin stood by the Basque peoples' right to nationhood.

"At our recent Ard Fheis (National Conference) held in Dublin on November 13/14 the assembled delegates passed a resolution expressing Republican Sinn Féin's support for those Basque political prisoners 'who went on hunger strike during this past year for political status'.

"On behalf of Republican Sinn Féin I reiterate that support and solidarity. Republican Sinn Féin fully supports their demand to be treated as political prisoners. In Ireland we are only too well aware of this issue, since 1917, 22 Irish Republican prisoners have died on hunger strike to vindicate their right to political status, including Bobby Sands and his nine comrades in the H Blocks of Long Kesh in 1981.

"We note the recent death of Jose Angel Altzuguren in Castille prison in north central Spain on October 31. This man, a long time political activist and elected public representative, serving two terms on the town council of Bera in the Basque country was arrested on October 22 and sent back to prison to serve the remainder of a six and a half year sentence, despite having been released on January 7.

"He had served almost four years in prison. Although suffering from depression he was held in an isolation cell in which it is alleged he hanged himself. Basque human rights groups including the pro-amnesty movement described his death as an 'induced suicide'. According to reports there are currently 720 political prisoners being held within the Spanish state, the highest figure since the Franco dictatorship, we believe that the Spanish Government is violating the human rights of these prisoners.

"Republican Sinn Féin further calls on the Spanish government to end the policy of dispersal of Basque political prisoners, whereby prisoners are dispersed throughout the Spanish state, many hundreds of miles from their homes, isolating them from their families and lawyers, causing hardship and expense for family members and others wishing to visit them. Again this is a policy, which the British government employed against Irish Republican prisoners held within Britain.

"Finally we express our grave concern at the increase in Spanish state repression directed against the Basque people and their demand for nationhood. This repression is directed not only at political groups, but extends to trade unions, Basque language and cultural groups. We view this as an attempt to criminalise the Basque people and their legitimate demand for independence and nationhood."