File spoon-archives/marxism-news.archive/marxism-news_1997/marxism-news.9708, message 14


Date: Fri, 08 Aug 1997 09:36:45
From: IRSP <irsp-AT-netwizards.net>
Subject: M-NEWS: Missing Basque political refugee found dead in Mexico 


>From Euskal Herria Journal:
Missing Basque political refugee found dead in Mexico.
By Olatz Arkauz

The body of Jose Luis Salegi Elorza, a Basque political refugee residing in 
Mexico City, was found on Wednesday.  Salegi Elorza was missing since 
Monday, August 4.

Salegi Elorza disappeared on Monday from the municipality of Irapuato, 
about 500 kms from Mexico City, where he resided.  His friends searched for
him Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, several children found the 
body of Salegi Elorza in one of the areas searched by the refugee's friends.
 

The body of Salegi Elorza was taken to the hospital of Irapauto and then 
transferred to a cemetery ("civil pantheon") for an autopsy which was 
performed on site. According to the autopsy report, the death was caused
by a heart attack.

On Wednesday afternoon five men and one woman showed up at the cemetery
claiming to be relatives of Salegi Elorza.   Another person, a man, came to
the
cemetery and claimed to be the the brother of the deceased. He brought one of
the 
shoes that was missing from the body of Salegi Elorza when it was found by  
children.  These people who made believe they were relatives of Salegi Elorza
were
not asked to identify themselves.   After identifying the body, they
authorized the burial in a  common grave.

The family of Salegi Elorza has demanded an immediate investigation and
the repatriation of the body.  The lawyer in charge of the case requested
another
autopsy and called on the Mexican Public Ministry for an explanation about
the
irregularities of the process. 

There are over 2,000 Basque political refugees in the Americas, Africa and
Europe.  Many of them have endured persecution and violence by Spanish 
police and paramilitary death-squads in the countries where they resided.

Political refugees Jokin Etxeberria and Esperanza Arana were killed in 
Venezuela in 1980.  The BVE, anti-ETA paramilitary deaths squads, claimed 
responsibility for the killings.

In 1986,  political refugees Alfonso Etxegarai and Miguel Angel Aldana were
kidnapped and tortured in Ecuador. The victims claimed the abductors and
torturers identifed themselves as Spanish policemen.   

An attempt to kill several Basque refugees in Venezuela took place in 1989.
  
In Uruguay, several refugees were abducted from their homes and tortured.

In April 1996, a police official in Venezuela, without the knowledge of his 
superiors, carried out an order of arrest from the Spanish National Court
against 
a Basque refugee living in the country since 1984. The refugee was arrested 
without his extradition requested by Spain. 

Last month a mainstream Spanish daily published a list with names and 
addresses of  Basque political refugees in Mexico alleging they are members
of 
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA, Basque Homeland and Freedom). 

The disappearance/death of Salegi Elorza points to a reactivation of the
Spanish
"dirty war" against Basque political refugees.
end.


IRSM: http://irsm.pair.com/
IRSC: http://irsm.pair.com/irscna/
IRSP: http://irsm.pair.com/irsp/
IRSP (London): http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~alanbud/home.html




   

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