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mayThe report, which includes incidents occurring in prisons during the month ofMay, shows no change or relaxation in prison policy. To the harsh conditions oflife created by that policy, one must add the attitudes of many officials and pri-son officers, with carte blanche to continuously increase tension, humiliationand provocation in the day-to-day lives of Basque political prisoners. A colla-boration which exists in order to further harden, if possible, a system that onlyconsiders the rights of Basque prisoners in order to abuse them.

When this situation becomes unbearable, our family and friends in prison areforced to denunciations and protest actions up tothat as hard and difficult as a hunger strike. In Seys-ses Muret prison in the French State, Itziar Morenoand Ruben Rivero have been on hunger strike,which in the case of Itziar lasted 10 days, with poli-tical prisoners Julen Oihana and Mujika Garmendiaalso in the struggle, due to the attitude that the jaildisplayed towards Garmendia and Moreno; and es-

pecially the assaults Moreno suffered during those days. In the end, the strug-gle ended when Itziar Moreno was transferred to another prison.

Those who put pressures on our families and friend are not not known to be de-terred by scruples. The recent maternity of Olga Sanz was the instrument usedby the Villabona prison to pressure and frighten Olga, threatening to take thebaby unless she left the Prisoners' Collective.

For our part, we realize that our family situation is also used to subject us to de-grading treatment, punishment and sanctions while the costs of the dispersalpolicy are illustrated again by yet another traffic accident, the fifth this year, ex-perienced by friends of Peña Ibai when they went to visit him in Teruel prison.

The current situation is, in some prisons, as hard as ever; in others, harder still; inall, more unjustifiable than ever. It calls for and end to the current prison policy.

602

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"Prisoners have rights. The State has the obligation and mandate to respectand protect their human rights. In this sense, the prison policy principles adop-ted by the UN and the European Union should be the guide to direct their si-tuation, such as the right for prisoners to serve their sentences close to theirplace of origin, as well as providing a solution to the situation of seriously-ill pri-soners or the right to freedom of those who have served their sentence.”

“The special measures adopted under the pretext of fighting against terrorismcan no longer be justified in the context of transition from a situation markedby violence to another in which it is over. " (one of the recommendations madeby the Forum for the Peace Process).

We know that the Spanish and French states are light years away from wantingto admit that Basque prisoners have rights and from the PP's reactions to the re-commendations of this Forum we know that it will not easily render a policythat seeks to benefit society but rather one that delivers in the politics of re-venge. But we trust fully in the work of Basque society.

This May brought more sad news: the murder of ex-political prisoner Mikel Illa-rramendi, apparently during a robbery, while working in Panama. To his familyand friends, from Etxerat, our warmth and solidarity.

Etxean nahi ditugu! (Euskera for “We want them home!”-- Translator)

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dispersed

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602 basque political prisoners

437 Basque political prisoners dispersed over 45 prisons

131 prisoners dispersed over 25 jails in the French state

17 prisoners in 3 jails in Euskal Herria

4 prisoners in an English jail

1 prisoner in the Six Counties (“Northern Ireland”)

1 prisoner Portugal

10 prisoners on parole, due to serious and incurable illness.

1 Basque prisoner confined to Autun area (French state)

96 prisonersin jails between 1.000 and 1.100 km from Euskal Herria

(the Basque Country)

147 prisoners in jails between 800 and 1.000 km from Euskal Herria

113 prisoners in jails between 600 and 800 km from Euskal Herria

131 prisoners in jails between 400 and 600 km from Euskal Herria

81 prisoners in jails at least 400 km from Euskal Herria

one prisoner confined 900 km from Euskal Herria

6 Basque prisoners in jails in other countries.

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right to health The situation of the fifteen prisoners with serious and incurable diseases re-mains the same without any progress. Their release from prison is essential inorder to cope with their illness with dignity, with medical monitoring and a gua-rantee of the necessary care and treatment which their diseases require. Theirstay in prison aggravates their ailments and each passing day is time that runsagainst the health of every one of them.

Of particular concern is the case of Txus Martin, suffering froman acute psychological illness which requires he be submittedto suicide prevention procedure, which requires him to be incompany 24 hours a day. Although there are another six Basquepolitical prisoners currently held in the same prison (Zaballa),they are not permitted to be ones sharing with him, which un-dermines his spirits considerably. The prison forbids that heshare with someone in whom he trusts, who can help to alle-viate his condition. For this required sharing he is allocated only

social prisoners. To this should be added that he has recently been diagnosedwith an aorta deficiency condition, which cannot be treated due to the incom-patibility of the necessary treatment with that prescribed for his psychologicalillness.

In principle this should not be a serious deficiency, the complication arises bynot being able to apply the appropriate treatment, which makes it difficult toproperly control it.

Because it is their right, fifteen prisoners with serious and incurable diseasesmust be released. We want them alive and home!

15

In the French state, life sentences are applied in a different way to other sta-tes; there is no maximum number of years laid down for the life sentencethere. In the French state a prisoner sentenced to life (“perpétuité”) can apply

for parole after completing 15 years (or by completing a “security pe-riod ” if that measure has been applied to him or her), but it is theSentences Judge which accedes to the application or who can re-fuse it – and may continue to refuse it. Some social prisoners haveserved as long as 50 years in French jails.

Currently four Basque political prisoners have been sentenced to lifein France: Jakes Esnal, Frederik Haranburu and Ion Kepa Parot, have already ser-ved 23 years in prison and it was recently also applied to Mikel Karrera. This me-asure has also been applied de facto to other Basque political prisoners by longsentences, as in the case of Saioa Sanchez, Lorentxa Beyrie or Didier Agerre.

In the Spanish state our families, our relatives, our friends were sentenced intheir time by the courts. This sentence had a date of commencement and anend date. Since 2006, Decree 197/2006 of the Supreme Court, which, despitebeing contrary to law applies retroactively, subjects Basque political prisonersto life imprisonment to which they were not sentenced and nor were we.

Ninety-two Basque prisoners have had their sentences ex-tended by up to 12 years in jail. Of these 92, seventy are stillin prison. Decree 197/2006 thus becomes another mecha-nism of a prison policy employed as an instrument of revengeto cause continuing suffering. This is within a prison policyrequiring, for their purposes, carte blanche for violation ofrights.

The systematic denial of parole is another of the special measures takenagainst Basque political prisoners, who are kept in prison until the completefulfillment of their sentences, systematically rejecting access to probation tothose who are eligible for it.

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special measures unending sentence

paroles

70

147

Euskal Herria Zaballa Txus Martin

Urtza Alkorta

Gotzone L. de Luzuriaga

Spanish state Soto del Real Ibai PeñaOlga Sanz (medical section)

Leire López Zurutuza

Córdoba Sergio Polo (solitary confinement block)

Puerto III Oscar BarrerasXabier Rey

Estremera Sonia JacintoPuerto I Arkaitz Bellon

Foncalent Garikoitz Mujika

French state Joux la Ville Marian Aramendi

Julen Eizagirre

Tarascon Ibai SueskunBapaume Kristina GoirizelaiaBourg en Bresse Ander Mujika

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in the prisons

Isolation or the separation of comrades, preventing all contact between them,is part of the specific regime applied to Basque political prisoners. Although inlegislation and in penitentiary norms isolation is a measure applied to very con-crete situations and for a restricted period, it is applied to our relatives as a wayof life, in addition to other sanctions which they may intend to use as punis-hment. The Basque political prisoners are dispersed in different jails and in ad-dition to different blocks. In other cases, without being in isolation as such,they are kept apart from their comrades, which we must assume creates a diffi-cult lonely situation.

violation of rights other incidents

Isolation

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Hunger strike

Pressurising

Searches of prisoners and other incidents

MURET SEYSSES jail (French state): Itziar Moreno and Oihana Garmendiabegan a hunger strike on May 27 in protest at the continuing tension and pro-vocations created by the attitude of the prison guards. On the day the strikebegan, Itziar Moreno (from Bilbo) had an argument with an officer, in the courseof which the officer shoved her to the ground, handcuffed and immediately af-terwards dragged her to mitard (isolation). After this, Itziar Moreno and hercomrade, Ohiana Garmendia, embarked upon a hunger strike as the situationwas not an isolated incident but the usual procedure of the prison guards inSeysses Muret.

Ten days later, upon Itziar Moreno being transferred to another prison, theyended their protest.

Olga Sanz was transferred from the Soto del Real jail to the one in Aranjuez aftergiving birth. While she was pregnant in the jail at Villabona, personnel in the jailtook advantage of the situation in order to pressurise her into leaving the Bas-que Political Prisoners' Collective, threatening to take away her child. Her part-ner and father of her son remains in the Villabona jail and they are permittedonly one telephone call fortnightly of fifteen minutes.

MURCIA PRISON: On May 21st, Kandido Sagarzazu, prisoner from Donosti, wasin the gym of Murcia II prison, when he was approached by a prison guard in anunexplained aggressive manner, so that the Basque prisoner chose to ignorehim, whereupon the officer gave him a nasty blow to the arm, causing a consi-derable hematoma. Then Sagarzazu Kandido was taken to isolation cell for 48hours. His comrade in the jail, Mikel Izpura, carried out a rules infringement inorder to be also moved to isolation and show solidarity with Sagarzazu.

CORDOBA PRISON: Officials have begun to make nightly rounds on the hourin the isolation landing. They go through the landing without opening the pe-epholes of the cells, but knocking on the cell doors to wake the prisoners oneach round.

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PUERTO I PRISON: The authorities have increased considerably the number ofcell searches, letting the prisoners know that they intend to maintain this fre-quencyfrom now on.

SEVILLA II PRISON: Between 7th and 13th April, the prisoners have been se-arched by patting and squeezing bodily parts before going to the exercise yard,so they filed a complaint against this measure. From 9th to 12th of the samemonth, the prisoners refused this frisking to go outside on mornings, statingthat this kind of frisking favours the aggressive and provocative attitude ofsome staff and facilitates attacks.

Right to communicationCASTELLO II PRISON: The authorities withhold photographs of friends and re-latives on irrelevant and petty excuses, such as that there is a Basque flag nearthe person in the photo, or one of the photographed people is wearing a badgeor pin.

The staff of a private security firm are used at weekends (but not during week-days) to check the identities of prisoners' relatives.

DAROCA ESPETXEA PRISON: A private security firm has been contracted tocheck the details of visitors of the Basque political prisoners 2. Arguments brokeout when these asked to see proof of identification of minors.

ESTREMERA PRISON: The authorities removed visiting permission for sixmonths from the partner of Jon Kepa Preciado (because they found in the poc-ket of a pair of trousers in a parcel brought by her, €20 euros and a piece ofpaper on which was written how much to take off the bottom of the trousers.The relatives are unsure how those objects came to be in the trousers. As thepunishment is very heavy, they have appealed it).

2 The relatives and friends object to this as a further intrusion on their privacy andas yet another hurdle which they have to overcome in order to have a meeting of 40 minutes after oftenlengthy journeys.

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GRANADA PRISON: The authorities have stated that henceforth they will notpermit partners of prisoners to accompany relatives on open family visits (asthey claim that these visits then become open intimate visits 3).They guards continue frisking relatives. They have also interfered with tele-phone communication (for example ending the call before the five minutes isup or claiming that the telephone is out of order ....)

JAEN PRISON: Random strip-searching of Basque political prisoners.

MANSILLA PRISON, León: After 10 months of seeking a transfer to the jailwhere his partner is held so as to get to know his son 4 , Basque prisoner OroitzSalegi has been permitted to get to know him only by videoconference. Anofficial said: “ … and I won't have to put my hand up your arse because theydon't pay me enough”.

BADAJOZ PRISON: Kepa del Hoyo continues to have to endure a particularofficer'd crusade against him. He recently disturbed him at 4 am outside hisdoor (waking him up, making noise, insulting him) ....

MONTERROS PRISON:The authorities banned a poster of Porrotx Pirritx (a verypopular Basque clown duo) because it was in Euskera (Basque Language -- al-though such linguistic discrimination is not legal).

PUERTO III PRISON:Of the three Basque prisoners permitted to have visits ac-companied by small children, one has had monthly visits approved for sometime. Both other prisoners applied for the same – one had permission grantedbut not the other.

TERUEL PRISON: The prisoners are stripped after open visits 5 .

3 Prisoners who have a wife or a husband are also entitled to intimate meetings, when in-timacy is permitted with one's partner4 Women prisoners may keep their children with them up to three years of age.5 i.e. without glass barrier between prisoner and visitor.

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VALLADOLID PRISON: Relatives attending with children are obliged to pro-duce a certificate of agreement from the mother in order to be able to go aheadwith the visit, even when accompanied by the father.

BOURG EN BRESSE PRISON(French state): On the 18th three friends, one ofthem with a hip replacement, went to visit Ander Mujika. Prior to going throughthe detector, the visitor informed them of this and gave the guard the appro-priate certificates. After going through the detector, the other two visitors werepermitted to enter but when the detector noted the hip replacement, the visi-tor was obliged to produce once again the documents, only to be told that per-mission to enter would not be granted.

Explanations that the visitor had been admitted in the past and that the socialworker of the jail had copies of the certificates were of no avail. But in addition,the other two visitors were also prevented from going in to visit the prisoner,being taken out roughly and pushed out forcibly. Finally the guards permittedone of them only to visit the prisoner.

EPPK (Basque Political Prisoners) actions in the jailsOn the last Friday of the month the Collective continues its campaign for “Eus-kal Presoak Euskal Herrira” (“Basque Prisoners to the Basque Country”). Eachprison organises its own action; in most, they refuse prison food or fast.

On the last Friday of the month, also with fasts, they protest and demand the an-nulment of Decree 197/2006

relatives and friends

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New accident caused by dispersal policy

Mikel Illarramendi, ex-political prisoner,dies in Panama

On 25th May, two relatives of the prisoner Ibai Peña from Gasteiz were ina traffic accident on their way to visit him at the Teruel prison where he isjailed. At 8:00am at the Ubide water course, a deer crossed the road andcrashed into the car. The impact of considerable force, although not har-ming the occupants, obliged them to retrace their journey and beginanew with a different car.

Mikel Illarramedi ex-Basque political prisoner, died in Panama on the 28th ofMay. He was stabbed in the course of a robbery at the house where he lived.He was in temporary residence in Panama for work reasons. Etxerat wishes toconvey to his relatives its warmth and solidarity at this difficult time.

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Eider Zuriarrain (Deustu), 7th May, on bail of €20,000 awaiting outcome of ap-peal.Euri Albisu (Segura), 7th May. Already at liberty, presented self in front ofjudge to complete sentence but was bailed on €20,000.Xabier Atristan (Donostia).Juan Mari Mariezkurrena (Hernani), on bail of €20,000 awaiting outcome ofappeal.Edu Perez Anuzita (Igorre), 9th May, after 18 years in jail.Xabier Sagardoy (Barañain), 12th May.Ekaitz Agirre (Donostia), 10th May, on bail of €15,000.Paul Asensio (Algorta), 17th May, sentence completed.Karlos Apeztegia (Iruñea), 22nd May, after 22 years in jail.Josu Ziganda (Orereta), 22nd May, after 24 years in jail.

at liberty

jailedEider Zuriarrain (Deustu), 3rd May, to complete sentence.Xabier Atristan (Donostia), 4th May, to complete sentence.Juan Mari Marizkurrena (Hernani), 4th May, to complete sentence.Raul Aduna (Gasteiz), 7th May, jailed in La SantéAndoni Goikoetxea (Gaztelu), 7th May, jailed in FleuryIgor Uriarte (Gasteiz), 7th May, jailed in OsnyJulen Mendizabal (Arrasate), 7th May, jailed in OsnyEkhiñe Eizagirre (Zarautz), 7th May, jailed in FresnesKepa Arkauz (Arrasate), 7th May, jailed in VillepinteUrtza Alkorta (Ondarroa), 7th May, jailed in ZaballaXabier Agirre (Gasteiz), 7th May

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transferredSpanish state:Ekaitz Ezkerra (Donostia), from Martutene to ZaballaAitor Olaizola (Donostia), from Martutene to Zaballara.Egoi Alberdi (Donostia), from Martutene to ZaballaMikel Arretxe (Donostia), from Martutene to ZaballaOier Lorente (Donostia), from Martutene to ZaballaOlga Sanz (Sopela), from Villabona to Soto del RealIbai Peña (Gasteiz), from Soto del Real to TeruelJuan Carlos Estevez (Donostia), from Soto del Real to VillenaAlberto Gomez (Barakaldo), from Basauri to FoncalentXabier Lujanbio (Orereta), from Martutene to FoncalentMaitane Linazasoro (Orereta), from Martutene to TopasIñaki Goienetxe (Iruñea), from Ocaña II to JaenAsier Badiola (Ondarru), from Estremera to Valencia IIIAlicia Saez de la Cuesta (Gasteiz), from Aranjuez to Logroño

change of prison

Temporary relocations (for court appearances etc.)

temporary relocations

SPANISH STATE:Manex Castro (Villabona), from Puerto to ZaballaIñaki Marin (Iruñea), from A Lama to ValdemoroIker Araguas (Iruñea), from Mansilla to ValdemoroIñigo Zapirain (Bilbo), from Jaen to AranjuezOlatz Lasagabaster (Donostia), from Foncalent to Brieva, Avila.Bea Etxebarria (Bilbo), from Córdoba to Soto del Real.

FRENCH STATE:Mikel Karrera (Iruñea), from Fresnes to VillepinteEider Uruburu (Bilbo), from Fleury to Lion Corbás.

Etxerat

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9th May. Etxerat organised 140 prisoners' relatives to walk the streets of Bilbaoprotesting the consequences of the prison policy. They left in a human chainat 18:30 from Plaza Moyua to Arriaga. Their objective was to impress their si-tuation upon Basque society. They carried placards, gave out leaflets and alsodisplayed the map of prisoner dispersal. The effects they suffer and protestedwere clearly illustrated by the slogan chosen for the action: “Condemned”.

11th May. A press conference presented the solidarity weekend that wouldtake place on the 1st and 2nd July with the 15th annual Hatortxu Rock concertin Atarrabia and the 1st Lasterbidean community races in Oiartzun. The pressconference was presented by the organisers of each activity and by Etxerat re-latives.

25th May. Two Etxerat relatives took part in the activities about represion or-ganised in Madrid by the Euskal Herriaren Lagunak group there.

29th May. A round-table discussion about deportation was organised at the Al-dabe cultural centre in Gasteiz. Taking part were Iker Urbina, lawyer and Amaiurparliamentary representative, also Kristiane Etxaluz, partner of Alfonso Etxega-rai, deportado a Sao Tomen. Journalist Bertha Gaztelumendi facilitated the dis-cussion.