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Alakrana released

Alakrana majors launch attack on Spain's handling of the crisis

11/18/2009

The Basque mayors condemned the "unnecessary extension of the crisis up to unbearable terms for the physical and psychic integrity of the victims" and their families.

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Mayors of Bermeo, Ondarroa, Mundaka and Santurtzi and a representative of Bilbao, hometowns of some of the crew members of the Alakrana, launched a harsh attack on the Spanish and Basque Governments for their management of the hijacking of the Basque tuna trawler by Somali pirates.

Talking during a press conference in the town of Bermeno, the Basque mayors condemned the "unnecessary extension of the crisis up to unbearable terms for the physical and psychic integrity of the victims" and their families. They also criticized the "disregard" of the Spanish and Basque governments towards the Alakrana sailors and their hometowns.

Reading a joint statement, Felix Aranbarri, Unai Rementeria, Ricardo Ituarte and Sabin Anucita, condemned the "absolute state of neglect" in which the relatives of the victims have lived", who "have had biased and partial information on the evolution of the kidnapping.

Jose Luis Marco Merino, socialist mayor of Sestao who was not with the other representatives, voiced in a separate statement his disagreement with the press conference.

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