News

The ten Batasuna officials were arrested on the orders of High Court Judge Baltasar Garzon, including party leader Arnaldo Otegi, who has served jail sentences for crimes including praising terrorism. The party was trying to re-form and was operating under the instructions of the armed organization ETA.

At 10:00, High Court Judge Baltasar Garzon will start questioning Arnaldo Otegi, Rufi Etxebarria, Rafa Diez Usabiaga and Sonia Jacinto. Moreover, Arkaitz Rodríguez; Miren Zabaleta, Txelui Moreno Sagües, Jose Manuel Serra and Amaia Esnal will also appear in Court.

The tenth detainee in the so-called "Operación Batea" is Ainara Oiz, who was arrested at Miren Zabaleta’s home carrying documents.

Batasuna was outlawed by the Supreme Court in 2003 for its links to ETA. The law, specially drawn up to deal with Basque groups, insists all parties must denounce violence.

Batasuna has undergone several name changes since the 1970s, including Herri Batasuna and Euskal Herritarrok. Long considered the political wing of ETA, it used to garner about 8 percent of the vote in Basque elections.

Otegi, 51, was released from jail last year after serving 15 months for defending terrorism. He is implicated in four investigations involving similar charges.