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| Europe |
| Spanish judge freezes ETA accounts |
| 2002-07-07 |
| A Spanish judge has frozen all bank accounts of the Basque political party Batasuna, a radical group considered to be the political wing of the armed separatist group ETA. The measure is the latest against Batasuna, a party which the Spanish government has said it is determined to outlaw. Judge Baltasar Garzon ordered the freeze on Friday. Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi confirmed the move against the party but said he had received no official notification as to why. "Whatever for? Explosions? Us? Y'must be joking...!" In a landmark ruling earlier this week, Garzon said Batasuna was liable for the damage caused by young ETA supporters who routinely go on rampages of street violence in the Basque region, burning buses, smashing bank windows and destroying other property. The damage has been set at $23.5 million. In his order, Garzon said Batasuna was a front for ETA and has routinely organized street violence by a banned youth group called Segi. Nice move. Hit 'em in the pocketbooks. I hope the liability extends to the individual head cheeses. Being a revolutionary can be a pretty lucrative profession. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |