Move to suspend Basque nationalist party
Friday, 23 August 2002 17:18Spain's public prosecutor has approved the suspension of the Basque nationalist party, Batasuna, supporting a judge's allegation that the group supports and funds the armed separatist group ETA.
High Court Judge, Baltasar Garzon, is due to announce the ban on the group on Monday, giving the party time to reply to his allegations in writing.
Regional authorities in the troubled Basque region of northern Spain are then expected to send police to close the party's headquarters and local offices.
Police in the Basque Country were already on alert for possible ETA reprisals after Batasuna leader, Arnaldo Otegi, warned the regional government this week the prohibition would have "undesirable consequences".
Batasuna shares ETA's aim of achieving an independent Basque state in parts of north Spain and southwest France.
While the party's leaders deny Madrid's accusation that it is the political wing of the armed group, they refuse to condemn ETA violence, which has claimed 800 victims since 1968.
The suspension is only one of the legal mechanisms under way in Spain against Batasuna.
On Monday, Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will ask parliament to begin judicial proceedings to outlaw Batasuna under a controversial law which allows parties to be banned simply for not condemning terrorism.
