Leading Basque militant facing ETA charges

The Basque region’s most prominent pro-independence militant was indicted today on charges of belonging to the armed Basque separatist group ETA.

A judge at the National Court filed the charges against Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the outlawed Batasuna party, and his associate, Jon Salaberria, court officials said.

Otegi, 47, was arrested last week as part of a probe into ETA financing and spent two days in jail before being released on €400,000 bail.

Salaberria is a fugitive. He was to have appeared at the same court hearing at which Otegi was remanded in custody, but failed to show up.

Otegi has on many occasions given statements as the spokesman for the Batasuna party, which the Spanish Supreme Court outlawed in 2003 on grounds that it is part of ETA, blamed for more than 800 death since the late 1960s. Otegi denies belonging to ETA.

Even after that ruling Otegi retained his seat in the Basque regional legislature because the party changed its name. Judges could not prosecute him because he had immunity as a lawmaker.

But he lost this protection after April 17 elections in which Batasuna was barred from running, allowing judges to question and jail him.

Otegi is the most prominent and visible member of the militant pro-independence movement in the Basque country. He served six years in the late 1980s and early 1990s after being convicted of taking part in an ETA kidnapping.