Three months after he indicated that there was no reason to continue investigating, Judge Manuel García Castellón has corrected his position and has chosen to reopen the proceedings on a case regarding reception of ETA prisoners that dates back to a police operation carried out in 2018. In the order in which he decides to reopen the investigation, he points to the possible commission, by ETA prisoners and members of Sortu, of several crimes of humiliation of victims in relation to 95 tributes to inmates between 2016 and 2019.
The investigation had stopped last autumn and, in January, the Public Ministry had requested the prosecution of Antón López Ruiz, alias Kubati, Carlos Sáez de Eguilaz and Felipe San Epifanio, ‘Pipe’, as well as that of the leaders of Sortu Haimar Altuna and Oihana Garmendia and ‘Kalera Kalera’ member Oihana San Vicente. The first arrests as a result of this case had taken place in February 2018, within the Aurresku-Carmen operation.
Dignity and Justice, however, requested that further investigation be carried out, pointing to the possible relationship of Sortu and Sare, a network for prisoners’ rights, with these crimes. Judge Garía Castellón has corrected his initial position and sees in several Telegram chats indications to extend the investigation until July 29.
Specifically, the judge points out that the closure of the investigation “was premature” and indicates that in these chats “guidelines and instructions were given on various issues and areas related to the prisoners and escapees of the terrorist group, promoting campaigns and mobilizations in favor of ”.
In the order, the judge points out that two conversations by Carlos Sáez de Eguilaz on the Telegram channel Sortu-herritmoa bizitu (Sortu/enliven the rhythm of our people), which would be administered by the political party Sortu, “are relevant to the investigation “.
Through this channel, Sáez de Eguilaz would receive, according to the judge, “abundant information about events and mobilizations and messages about the release of the prisoners of the terrorist organization ETA, which were later disseminated by organizations such as Etxerat or the magazine Kalera.info”.
For his part, Felipe San Epifanio was subscribed as a user on the public channel Sortu-Herritmoa Bizitu, as well as on the channel BarneKom, abbreviation of Barne Komite (Internal Committee), “where guidelines and instructions relating to activity in certain areas are published , and verifying the subsequent application of said guidelines by the Sortu media”.
The judge also focuses on a Telegram channel managed by the citizen network Sare. The magistrate points out that it is unknown “who are the administrators of the three Telegram channels mentioned, two belonging to the Sortu political party and one to the Sare citizen network, it being essential to know this point to clarify the facts investigated in these proceedings.”
It should be remembered that the group of ETA prisoners, the EPPK, decided in November 2021 to end public receptions for inmates convicted of terrorism who were leaving prison, in order to “relieve” the pain of victims “who have honestly expressed that they feel pain.” with the public ongi etorri.”
The general coordinator of EH Bildu, Arnaldo Otegi, has accused Manuel García Castellón of wanting to open “the Basque front” after having done so with the “Catalan front”, and has considered that “this attack and others that will come” are included within of the pulse that exists between the “deep state” and the independence movement.
“There are many people in the judiciary who want to derail these debates. All of these things are aimed at sabotaging the outcome of something deferential to the Transition.” He added that the political opportunity that has been put on the table with the current Government and the parties that support it allows for “serious debates about the plurinational model.” , he has indicated.
