Public prosecution finds "no proof ETA was behind Egunkaria"

Spain''s public prosecution confirmed on Monday that it "could not be proved" that ETA "was behind" closed-down newspaper Euskaldunon Egunkaria, the trial against which was entering its final phase.

After hearing the testimonies from each of the witnesses last week, on Monday all parties put forward their conclusions to the President of the Tribunal, Javier Gómez Bermúdez. The trial is due to remain open for sentence until Wednesday at the latest, though it could be concluded as early as Monday evening.

During Monday''s procedure, public prosecutors stressed that the charges "were unsustainable" and consequently requested that the five men on trial - Martxelo Otamendi, Iñaki Uria, Joan Mari Torrealdai, Joxe Mari Auzmendi and Xabier Oleaga - be freely absolved.

Furthermore, they signaled that it was "important to bear in mind" the testimony given by the ex-head of ETA''s political wing José Luis Álvarez Santacristina, a.k.a. Txelis, who squarely denied any involvement by the organization and declared that it was the paper''s criticism of ETA that helped him to move away from violence.

The public prosecution stated that it would have filed its petition for absolution for the five former directors of Egunkaria "with or without a ceasefire". It did not deny that ETA "had an interest" in the paper, but insisted that, throughout the thirteen years of Egunkaria "not one piece of news, or article, not even one line demonstrated that ETA was of any assistance to them".

"It cannot be proved that ETA was (hiding) under the veneer of a legal newspaper," insisted Carballo, before reiterating that all five men accused already had long professional careers of some prestige prior to the launch of the paper and that their profiles did not appear to "fit in" with those usually associated with ETA.

Previously, the popular action brought against the paper by the associations Dignity and Justice and AVT, had restated their jail petitions (for sentences of between 12 and 15 years) and upheld the theory that ETA was behind the foundation and development of the paper.

In the first session of the trial, held on 15th December, the accused denied any links with ETA, statements which were later ratified by the testimonies of Txelis, as well as one of the main proponents of the paper, Professor of the University of Basque Country (UPV) Iñaki Zabaleta.

The paper was closed down by the Spanish Civil Guard on 20th February 2003 by order of National Court Judge, Juan del Olmo.