Arrest of Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi is a step backwards – de Brún

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has stated that the arrest of Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi and nine other members of the party is a step backwards and will ultimately impact on the task of rebuilding the peace process and dialogue.
“Sinn Féin has argued the need to revive the Basque Peace Process. The banning of Batasuna, alongside the continued jailing of political representatives will in no way aid this task,” said de Brún.
“The arrest of Arnaldo Otegi as the leader of Batasuna and nine other members of the party by the Spanish Government is a step backwards and will make the process of rebuilding and reinvigorating efforts towards a lasting peace process all the more difficult.
“It will further impede any search for forward progress, which requires that every effort be made to improve and encourage dialogue between all of the parties in the Basque Country and the Spanish government. Punitive measures and criminalisation from the Spanish authorities will not advance these goals.”