Madrid trial
When I said that I was going to Madrid to attend the trial of 23 Basque leaders, I was accused of going in order to defend the cause of terrorists. Why such a judgment ? I was invited as a "judiciary observer" at the supreme court. The trial is a political one, which is why it is so significant. To the public, as well as to the media, stiffness and condemnation summarize popular opinion toward the Basque cause. When I was asked to give my opinion, I was seen as being of the opposite opinion. Condemnation and repression will not put an end to terrorism. Political negotiations are necessary. They have to come one day. Why not start without delay, without waiting for dialogue with the ETA organization ?
At the time of the trial, Archbishop Setien of San Sebastian issued a
statement which became controversial. He is of the opinion that a dialogue
should commence with the ETA and he requested that preliminary discussions
started without demanding that the terrorist organization put its weapons
down. He is a courageous bishop. He is great and I conveyed to him my feelings
of solidarity.
Write to Partenia: jgaillot@partenia.org
