==it==
*Below is an interview with Un Rapporteur, Martin Schenin given in Barria on 18th of March 2009.
The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee has stated that the arrest of a member of the Basque community , living in Belfast, is yet more evidence of the Spanish authorities attack on Basque Civil society.
Speaking today a spokesperson for the group, Kevin Morrison, said:
“The arrest of a member of the Basque community, living in Belfast, Arturo Villanueva, is yet more evidence of the continuation of attacks by the Spanish government on Basque civil society.
“The extradition warrant issued by the Spanish authorities is accusing Arturo Villanueva of membership of Segi, a youth organization banned in 2001 in a series of draconian clampdowns on Basque cultural and societal organizations.
“Since then newspapers and radio stations have been closed, human rights groups have been banned, and Batasuna, the Basque pro-independence party has been proscribed and its leadership arrested and imprisoned. All of these are blatant infringements of basic human rights and the freedom of speech within the European Union.
“This attitude of the Spanish government has recently been described by UN Rapporteur, Martin Scheinin as ‘too broad’ targeting ‘groups that have nothing to do with violence’.
“Arturo has been living openly in Belfast for over five years and now has a life here.. We are a calling for immediate dropping of this case and an overall end to such repression of Basque civil society.”
==fr==
*Below is an interview with Un Rapporteur, Martin Schenin given in Barria on 18th of March 2009.
The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee has stated that the arrest of a member of the Basque community , living in Belfast, is yet more evidence of the Spanish authorities attack on Basque Civil society.
Speaking today a spokesperson for the group, Kevin Morrison, said:
“The arrest of a member of the Basque community, living in Belfast, Arturo Villanueva, is yet more evidence of the continuation of attacks by the Spanish government on Basque civil society.
“The extradition warrant issued by the Spanish authorities is accusing Arturo Villanueva of membership of Segi, a youth organization banned in 2001 in a series of draconian clampdowns on Basque cultural and societal organizations.
“Since then newspapers and radio stations have been closed, human rights groups have been banned, and Batasuna, the Basque pro-independence party has been proscribed and its leadership arrested and imprisoned. All of these are blatant infringements of basic human rights and the freedom of speech within the European Union.
“This attitude of the Spanish government has recently been described by UN Rapporteur, Martin Scheinin as ‘too broad’ targeting ‘groups that have nothing to do with violence’.
“Arturo has been living openly in Belfast for over five years and now has a life here.. We are a calling for immediate dropping of this case and an overall end to such repression of Basque civil society.”
==en==
*Below is an interview with Un Rapporteur, Martin Schenin given in Barria on 18th of March 2009.
The Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee has stated that the arrest of a member of the Basque community , living in Belfast, is yet more evidence of the Spanish authorities attack on Basque Civil society.
Speaking today a spokesperson for the group, Kevin Morrison, said:
“The arrest of a member of the Basque community, living in Belfast, Arturo Villanueva, is yet more evidence of the continuation of attacks by the Spanish government on Basque civil society.
“The extradition warrant issued by the Spanish authorities is accusing Arturo Villanueva of membership of Segi, a youth organization banned in 2001 in a series of draconian clampdowns on Basque cultural and societal organizations.
“Since then newspapers and radio stations have been closed, human rights groups have been banned, and Batasuna, the Basque pro-independence party has been proscribed and its leadership arrested and imprisoned. All of these are blatant infringements of basic human rights and the freedom of speech within the European Union.
“This attitude of the Spanish government has recently been described by UN Rapporteur, Martin Scheinin as ‘too broad’ targeting ‘groups that have nothing to do with violence’.
“Arturo has been living openly in Belfast for over five years and now has a life here.. We are a calling for immediate dropping of this case and an overall end to such repression of Basque civil society.”
==es==
* A continuación se presenta una entrevista con el Relator de la ONU, Martin Schenin en berria el 18 de marzo de 2009.
El Comité de Solidaridad con Euskal Herria de Belfast ha declarado que la detención de un miembro de la comunidad vasca, que vive en Belfast, es una prueba más, más evidente si cave, de del contínuo ataque a la sociedad civil vasca por parte de las autoridades españolas.
Un portavoz del grupo, Kevin Morrison, dijo:
"La detención de un miembro de la comunidad vasca, que vive en Belfast, Arturo Villanueva, es una prueba más de los continuos ataques perpetrados por el gobierno español en contra de la sociedad civil vasca".
"La orden de extradición emitida por las autoridades españolas contra Arturo Villanueva, donde se le acusa de pertenecer a Segi, una organización de jóvenes prohíbida en 2001, se sitúa en una serie de draconianas medidas represivas contra organizaciones culturales y sociales vascas".
"Desde entonces, los periódicos y estaciones de radio han sido cerradas, los grupos de derechos humanos han sido prohibidos, y Batasuna, partido político del País Vasco a favor de la independencia, ha sido proscrito y sus dirigentes detenidos y encarcelados. Todos estas medidas son flagrantes violaciones de los derechos humanos fundamentales y la libertad de expresión dentro de la Unión Europea.
"Esta actitud del gobierno español ha sido recientemente descrita por el Relator de Naciones Unidas, Martin Scheinin como "demasiado amplia" donde se persiguen "grupos que no tienen nada que ver con la violencia".
"Arturo ha estado viviendo en Belfast de forma abierta por más de cinco años y ahora tiene una vida aquí. Estamos pidiendo un cierre inmediato de este caso y un fin a esta represión de la sociedad civil vasca. "
==eu==
* A continuación se presenta una entrevista con el Relator de la ONU, Martin Schenin en berria el 18 de marzo de 2009.
El Comité de Solidaridad con Euskal Herria de Belfast ha declarado que la detención de un miembro de la comunidad vasca, que vive en Belfast, es una prueba más, más evidente si cave, de del contínuo ataque a la sociedad civil vasca por parte de las autoridades españolas.
Un portavoz del grupo, Kevin Morrison, dijo:
"La detención de un miembro de la comunidad vasca, que vive en Belfast, Arturo Villanueva, es una prueba más de los continuos ataques perpetrados por el gobierno español en contra de la sociedad civil vasca".
"La orden de extradición emitida por las autoridades españolas contra Arturo Villanueva, donde se le acusa de pertenecer a Segi, una organización de jóvenes prohíbida en 2001, se sitúa en una serie de draconianas medidas represivas contra organizaciones culturales y sociales vascas".
"Desde entonces, los periódicos y estaciones de radio han sido cerradas, los grupos de derechos humanos han sido prohibidos, y Batasuna, partido político del País Vasco a favor de la independencia, ha sido proscrito y sus dirigentes detenidos y encarcelados. Todos estas medidas son flagrantes violaciones de los derechos humanos fundamentales y la libertad de expresión dentro de la Unión Europea.
"Esta actitud del gobierno español ha sido recientemente descrita por el Relator de Naciones Unidas, Martin Scheinin como "demasiado amplia" donde se persiguen "grupos que no tienen nada que ver con la violencia".
"Arturo ha estado viviendo en Belfast de forma abierta por más de cinco años y ahora tiene una vida aquí. Estamos pidiendo un cierre inmediato de este caso y un fin a esta represión de la sociedad civil vasca. "