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SEGI is a pro-independence and revolutionary left-wing organization, which has already undergone two prohibitions, along with prison sentences for several of their members. In its decision, on 27th February 2007, the Grand Chamber of the ECJ (European Union and the Court of Appeal) dismissed the appeal of the Basque human rights organisation “Gestoras Pro Amnistia” and SEGI against the dismissal by the CFO of its claim for damages suffered as a result of inclusion in the “terrorist list”. The UK intervened, with Spain, on behalf of the Council – the only other EU state to do so.
Background
In 2002 they were classed as a "terrorist" organization by the Spanish National Court magistrate Judge Baltasar Garzón, and they are now banned and considered terrorist (as components of ETA). Garzón had previously banned the two other Basque youth organisations that preceded Segi – Jarrai and Haika.
The Spanish courts have banned a number of ETA-related organisations such as newspapers – Egin (1998), Egunkaria (2003); youth organisations – Jarrai (1999), Haika (2001), Segi (2002); prisoner associations – Askatasuna (2002) and Gestoras Pro-Amnistia (2003); and even the political parties who represent not only ETA’s views but a significant section of the Basque electorate – Herri Batasuna (1997) and its successor Batasuna (2003).
According to An Phoblacht the case descended into a farce when another judge in the Spanish National Court considered that Garzón’s arguments "were not valid" and released all the detainees. However another report suggests that the Supreme Court ruled they were a terrorist organizations, but had not been placed on the country's terrorist list, before the court's Jan. 19 ruling. .
International affiliations
They have international affiliations with JERC (Catalonia), Cuban Youth (Cuba), ANC Youth League (South Africa) and Ógra Shinn Féin (Ireland).
Support from Ógra Sinn Féin
The National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin, Barry McColgan speaking on the court ruling, called for the "immediate release of our comrades in Euskal Herria."
He said,
Ógra Shinn Féin is proud of the longstanding solidarity we have had and continue to have with Jarrai, Haika and Segi. We will do all in our power to try and reverse this decision by showing our open opposition to the ruling. I myself will travel to the Basque country next week to show our opposition to this decision and pledge the support of Ógra Shinn Féin to the young people who find themselves being jailed for 6 years. This decision is completely unacceptable and should be reversed immediately.
They have begun a petition to demand the reversal of the decision to declare SEGI to be an illegal and terrorist organization. The petition outlines that the Spanish Government has "decided to brand a completely legitimate political group as terrorists in an attempt to subvert the ever present Basque national liberation struggle. We condemn this purely political act and demand that you reverse this decision".
They also campaign for the release of the National Executive of SEGI, who were arrested on a protest and are made to serve a 6 year sentence in prison.
Ógra Sinn Féin passed a motion in support of Segi in their Congress,
The right of Basque young people to organise themselves in support of independence and socialism must be defended. The continued attempts by the Spanish government, police and judicial system to criminalise and jail the legitimate expression of these rights must be resisted. The Congress unreservedly rejects the decision by the Spanish national court of this week, convicting the national executives of these youth organisations of membership of a so-called ‘terrorist-organisation’. The decision to jail the young people for periods of up to 6 years is undemocratic and unjust.
The Irish Solidarity Committees with the Basque Country has carried a number of news items in relation to the Basque Country, and have also advertised functions held in Ireland in support of groups such as Segi. Using blogspot to highlight their concerns, is a similar use of the internet employed by groups such as Ógra Shinn Féin
References
- State repression of the Basque movement
- "Terrorist": Flag of Convenience?
- Case C-354/04 P, http://www.statewatch.org/ news/2007/mar/ ecj-feb.pdf
- (Spanish) Detenidos 12 dirigentes de Segi cuando preparaban su viaje a la cumbre de Barcelona
- (Spanish) Segi recoge en un documento su plan para reactivar en verano la «kale borroka»
- Open Democracy
- The New York Times
- Sustatu
- An Phoblacht
- The Independent
- Youth Parties Guide
- Freedom For SEGI
- Ógra Sinn Féin
- Irish Solidarity Committees with the Basque Country