The information in this file was recently published in FREEDOM - the fortnightly anarchist journal published by FREEDOM PRESS: FREEDOM PRESS (IN ANGEL ALLEY) 84B WHITECHAPEL HIGH STREET, LONDON E1 7QX GREAT BRITAIN Do write for a sample copy or for a copy of our booklist of publications. We will be putting more of this information out so watch this spot... BASQUE COUNTRY Yet another person has been charged and imprisoned in the French part of the Basque country - the 70th. Karim Chakroun was arrested, brought to court and sent down on 7th March this year having fallen foul of the laws relating to irregular residence and criminal association relating to terrorist activities. This latest arrest reveals the willingness of the state to keep up the pressure on those who have shown solidarity with political prisoners not recognised as such by the state. Today the Mitterand/Pasqua system have the Basques in their sights in the same way as they had the Kurds not so long ago. Criminalise and terrorise are the objectives of the judge who decorated by the Spanish government for his contribution to the anti-terrorist struggle. Now we're not idiots. There is no documentary evidence. The arrestees are not the 'bloodthirsty terrorists' portrayed by those in power. To the great regret of the legal system those in the dock are simply Basque militants, who, since their rights to assylum were taken away, sought to go underground rather than risk prison and torture in post-Franco Spain and the irony is that the locals freely gave of their support. There will be more Karims! It was the same in May 93 when 20 locals were accused of drinking coffee with or lending a bicycle to these terrible members of ETA. Since Karims arrest a support group has been set up which has issued a press comuniqu, the essence of which is as follows: So long as the national Basque liberation movement is met with torture and oppression as a response to its demands its militants are forced into exile... This latest arrest reveals that despite their desire to criminalise opposition the French and Spanish states will not succede in breaking the solidarity that exists between the people and active individuals... The number of arrests demonstrates the political dimension of the affair. Taking account of all these aspects, we reaffirm our solidarity with Karim and with all those in the same position... and call for their immediate liberation. Contact: CSNIDA 17, rue Paul-Bellamy, 44000 Nantes. Le Monde Libertaire 27/4/94