ETA-linked Basque separatist leader freed from jail

BILBAO
THE leader of the banned Basque separatist party Batasuna left prison yesterday after serving a 15-month sentence for glorifying terrorism, and called for negotiation to solve the region's political problems.

Arnaldo Otegi punched the air as he left the jail in the northern city of San Sebastian.
He was greeted by applause and shouts of “free the Basque prisoners” from dozens of people, including his wife, son, parents and leaders of Batasuna, banned for links to armed separatist group ETA. “There is an unresolved problem in this country. I personally consider this problem will only be solved through dialogue and negotiation,” Otegi told reporters, calling for the release of all jailed ETA members. “During this process, all Basque political prisoners must be freed.” Otegi, formerly Batasuna's chief spokesman, was jailed by Spain's supreme court for “glorifying terrorism” when he took part in a memorial service for an ETA leader.

He was imprisoned in July 2007, three days after ETA officially broke off a ceasefire and threatened to act “on all fronts” to attack the Spanish government.

He now faces other charges, ranging from participation in illegal political meetings and marches, to representing the political wing of ETA. Batasuna denies being ETA's political wing.

Otegi kept a low profile in prison but gave an interview to a Basque newspaper calling for negotiation to solve the Basque conflict.
Spanish newspaper El Publico said Otegi had distanced himself from ETA but future court cases made it unlikely he would be able to resume a prominent role in politics.

Asked what his plans were, Otegi said “We'll see.” Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called off peace talks with ETA after the group killed two Ecuadoreans in an attack on Madrid airport in December 2006, effectively ending the 10-month ceasefire.

Batasuna had been expected to take part in consultations over the region's future had the peace negotiations been successful.
Spain's Socialist government says ETA and Batasuna have been severely weakened by a string of arrests. The guerrillas have staged more than a dozen attacks this year that have killed two people.

Zapatero has ruled out further peace talks with ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna, or Basque Country and Freedom) and says the guerrillas' only option is a unilateral surrender after four decades in which they have killed over 800 people.