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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