Spanish lawmakers back ban on Basque party

THE Spanish Parliament last night overwhelmingly approved a legal ban against a Basque political party after a judge ordered its offices closed, accusing it of complicity in the “crimes against humanity” of the outlawed separatist group ETA.

The parliament's lower house voted 295-10 to pass legislation formally asking the government to initiate proceedings for the Supreme Court to declare the radical Basque party Batasuna illegal. The move tightened the noose around the party which has seven seats in the Basque regional assembly following passage of a law in June allowing the court to outlaw parties deemed to be actively or tacitly supporting terrorism.

The motion was passed during a special session of parliament during summer recess, with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and his entire Popular Party government present.

Earlier yesterday, Judge Baltasar Garzon, Spain's most prominent anti-terrorism crusader, ordered Batasuna's activities suspended for three years.

Batasuna's offices will be closed and the 24-year-old party will be barred from calling public demonstrations or political rallies or receiving a share of electoral funds, according to Judge Garzon's 375-page order.

The party also cannot run in municipal elections scheduled for May of next year. But lawmakers representing the party can serve out their terms in the Basque regional parliament.