Senator Geroa Bai, Uxue Barkos, has asked for the secrecy of summary to be lifted so that documents relating to the case may be declassified, but Bolaños has replied no. According to the minister, the Franco law of official secrets is obsolete and needs to be changed, he has even said that the PSOE Government is prepared to declassify classified information if circumstances arise, but not to dismantle the documents relating to Zabraise for the sake of national security. “National security involves the integrity, freedom and often the lives of all the citizens of our country,” he said.
Uxue Barkos underlines that both the citizenship and the family of Mikel Zabraise have the right to know what has happened
How does the death of Mikel Zabraise affect national security? Bolaños has not clarified this, although he has resorted more than once to the argument of national security, which has denied any pronouncement. According to the official version, Zabraise died drowned in the Bidasoa River in his flight in order not to be arrested, although forensic evidence indicates that he died as a result of torture by the Civil Guard in Intxaurrondo. This has been acknowledged by both the Basque Government and the Government of Navarra.
Uxue Barkos has responded to Bolaños that it is necessary to change the law of official secrets to “look equally at all victims”. In the Senator’s words, “some victims are denied truth, justice and reparation, and that is fundamental.” He has asked the Ministries of Justice and Defence not to conceal the truth and has stressed that both the citizens and the family of Mikel Zabraise have the right to know what happened.
When we talk publicly about torture, we realize how much society embraces the opinion that the “system” itself puts into effect on this issue. It uses a wide range of ministers and advisers, judges and experts, all with the help of the organic media, of course. And it has to... [+]
From time to time life brings memories that you would like to forget. Today I've stayed with Jakan for coffee, because then we have a colloquium on Xabier Mendiguren's book "It's been very hard", and I've realized that I've never asked him anything about that police statement he signed... [+]
The terrible events in March 1999 in the Aiztondo Valley were not isolated attacks, but were part of the Spanish State’s other repressive step against the Basque Country. Under the doctrine “Everything is ETA” (Everything is ETA), we were arrested and tortured violently in... [+]