08/30/2008
Batasuna's leader Arnaldo Otegi left Martutene prison in Donostia (San Sebastian) at around 7,20 in the morning on Saturday, where he was serving a 15-month sentence for praising terrorism, and called for "dialogue and negotiations" to "solve the country's political problems".
Arnaldo Otegi looked fine and smiled as he was welcomed by hundreds of sympathizers of the Basque leftist party. He punched the air as he left the jail in the northern city of Donostia (San Sebastian) and was greeted by applause and shouts of "free the Basque prisoners" from around 50 people, including his wife, son, parents and Batasuna leaders.
In a brief speech to the media that was gathered at the exit of the prison, the Basque leader gave "his love" to Basque prisoners and relatives. Otegi was jailed by Spain's supreme court which said he had praised ETA guerrillas who have staged a four-decade fight for an independent Basque state. "This is a problem we will only solve through dialogue and negotiation", Otegi told reporters, calling for the release of all members of ETA held in jails across Spain. "During this process, all Basque political prisoners must be freed".
Otegi was imprisoned in July 2007, three days after ETA officially broke off a cease-fire and threatened to act "on all fronts" to attack the Spanish government. He now faces other charges, ranging from participation in illegal political meetings and marches, to representing the political wing of ETA.
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