Inaki de Juana Chaos, the Basque and former ETA member convicted of terrorist offences by Spain, appeared in a court in Belfast this week and was released on conditional bail.

As reported previously in Celtic news, Inaki de Juana Chaos, left the Spanish state after being released from jail in August 2008 following a hunger strike. However, Spanish courts later contacted the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to request their help in tracking Juana Chaos down once again, over allegations that he 'glorified' terrorism while in jail.

The Celtic League wrote a letter to INTERPOL in September of this year asking the Director of the organisation to use discretion in the de Juana Chaos case for the time being, based on the possibility that de Juana Chaos' summons may be politically motivated. Spain's penal laws related to the 'glorification' of terrorism or 'making an apology for terrorism' have been criticised in the past by among others, the United Nations, who, as late as last month, called for Spain to give evidence for its failure to meet obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including citizens' rights on "the freedom of opinion and expression."

Juana Chaos was serving a 21 year jail sentence for various crimes including the deaths of 25 people, but was due to be released in 2004 having only served 17 years. The Spanish Government however prevented his release and he eventually participated in a lengthy hunger strike.

Since his arrest in Belfast, Spain has issued an international extradition warrant for Juana Chaos, but the Belfast judge, Tom Burgess, stated on Monday at Laganside Courts, that it was not clear if the terms of the Spanish warrant had an equivalent in UK law, due to the allegations on which it was based. No date was set by the Judge for the full hearing of the case, but the Spanish press has rumoured that if convicted under UK jurisdiction, Juana Chaos, would receive a maximum of two years in jail - a sentence too short for the extradition process to be implemented.

Juana Chaos is currently enrolled in college in Belfast, where he is staying with his wife.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 21/11/08

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