Denunciation in Madrid that torture against Basque citizens systematic

Preliminary proceedings have been instituted in connection with the filing of complaints of torture endured during incommunicado detention by Nekane Txapartegi and Xabier Oleaga
Gurutze Izagirre

In Madrid yesterday preliminary proceedings were instituted in connection with the complaints of torture filed by two Basque citizens: Nekane Txapartegi and Xabier Oleaga. Many Basque citizens went down to Madrid to support them. Martxelo Otamendi spoke on behalf of the 18/98+ Group. He said torture was systematic and deep-seated in Spain and pointed out that some of the statements in the 18/98 Case had been extracted under torture.

Txapartegi spoke in similar terms after emerging from court. "Spain uses torture as a strategy against the Basque Country by bring false charges with the help of torture; the statements are then taken into consideration by the Spanish National Criminal Court and used to convict people."

Txapartegi is facing charges in the Xaki section of the 18/98 Case. She was arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard in 1999 and filed torture complaints after being held incommunicado for five days. When she was remanded in custody, the court-appointed doctor at the prison saw the bruises all over her body and referred to them in his report. But in June 2001 the 34th Court of First Instance in Madrid dismissed the complaint maintaining that there was no mention as to what had caused the bruises. An appeal was lodged and considered by the Madrid Court of First Instance yesterday.