00:51Spain: Police break down Basque 'People's Wall'
Spain: Police break down Basque 'People's Wall'
Police infiltrated the 'People's Wall' built by Basque solidarity activists in the town of Donostia on Friday, arresting the members of pro-independece organisations the group were protecting. The Basque Regional Police arrested six of the eight sentenced youth, each sentenced to six and half years in prison by a Madrid court for being members of banned organisation Segi.
The call for a 'people's wall' attracted some 1,200 supporters on Thursday, who gathered in the Aske Gunea camp to prevent the arrest of the young activists. One journalist was also arrested.
During police visits on Thursday, the protesters surrounded the targets while sitting on the ground holding each others arms and shouting for 'firm civil disobedience'.
On Friday, the Basque activists were not as successful as the police blocked all entrances to the square and arrested six of the eight protectees. Protesters said that some supporters received punches and blows from the police, resulting in several injuries.
The eight Basques denounced the final court verdict, saying that they have been unjustly tried for their political work. There are another 200 Basque people in Spain who are also awaiting trial for affiliation with controversial political organisations.
The court says the eight were found guilty of 'membership of a terrorist organisation' for belonging to the left-wing political organisation, Segi. The group, which advocates for Basque independence, was classified as a terrorist group by the Spanish National Court in 2002.
00:51Spain: Police break down Basque 'People's Wall'
Police infiltrated the 'People's Wall' built by Basque solidarity activists in the town of Donostia on Friday, arresting the members of pro-independece organisations the group were protecting. The Basque Regional Police arrested six of the eight sentenced youth, each sentenced to six and half years in prison by a Madrid court for being members of banned organisation Segi.
The call for a 'people's wall' attracted some 1,200 supporters on Thursday, who gathered in the Aske Gunea camp to prevent the arrest of the young activists. One journalist was also arrested.
During police visits on Thursday, the protesters surrounded the targets while sitting on the ground holding each others arms and shouting for 'firm civil disobedience'.
On Friday, the Basque activists were not as successful as the police blocked all entrances to the square and arrested six of the eight protectees. Protesters said that some supporters received punches and blows from the police, resulting in several injuries.
The eight Basques denounced the final court verdict, saying that they have been unjustly tried for their political work. There are another 200 Basque people in Spain who are also awaiting trial for affiliation with controversial political organisations.
The court says the eight were found guilty of 'membership of a terrorist organisation' for belonging to the left-wing political organisation, Segi. The group, which advocates for Basque independence, was classified as a terrorist group by the Spanish National Court in 2002.