Security & Intelligence - in brief (4)
01 March 2000
Spain: ETA kills Socialist MP: Fernando Buesa, a Socialist MP in the Basque parliament died in Vitoria in February, alongside the policeman from the Basque autonomous force who was escorting him, in an attack claimed by ETA. This attack is a blow to the strategy of agreements between nationalist forces which resulted from the latest cease-fire called by ETA. The situation in which the Basque government, which was formed due to the parliamentary support of Euskal Herritarok (the political organisation of the nationalist (abertzale) left) is precarious. ETA's new strategy, blaming their former nationalist allies for the present situation, weakens the stability of the Basque institutions to the point where it appears inevitable that new autonomous regional elections will take place.
UK: Samar and Jawad decategorised: After concerted pressure by the Freedom and Justice for Samar and Jawad Campaign, the Prison Service's Review Committee has decategorised the Palestinian prisoners. The Campaign has argued vociferously that their Category A status was unjustified. Samar Alami and Jawad Botmeh, who were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in 1996 after being found guilty of conspiracy in relation to the bombings of the Israeli embassy and Balfour House in London during 1994 (see Statewatch vol 9 nos 1, 3 & 4). Their convictions are contested, having been obtained with the use of public interest immunity certificates, which prevented the disclosure of highly relevant information relating to the role of the Israeli intelligence services. Their case is supported by the Lebanese government and the Palestinian Authority, as well as a number of UK MPs. In February the Campaign presented a petition with over 200,000 signatures from Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon demanding justice for Samar and Jawad. Supporters held a candlelit vigil opposite Downing Street. The petition was presented by Dr Eyed Sarraj, general secretary of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights, who had travelled from Palestine, and told the vigil that Samar and Jawad are considered to be political prisoners. Freedom for Samar and Jawad, BM Box FOSA, London WC1N 3XX; email postmaster@freesaj.org.uk