Urgent Alert: SPAIN CLOSED "EGIN" (BASQUE NEWSPAPER) AND "EGIN IRRATIA" (BASQUE RADIO)

Letter to Spanish authorities

27 July 1998

Madame Maragarita Mariscal de Gante y Miron
Minister of Justice
Spain

Dear Minister

ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, is deeply concerned at reports that the newspaper, Egin, and radio station, Egin Irratia, have been closed down by the police on the summary decision of Judge Baltasar Garzon. We understand that he ordered that they be temporarily suspended.

As you will be well aware, the peaceful expression of opinions is protected under the freedom of expression articles of international human rights treaties to which Spain is a state party, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 19), and the European Convention of Human Rights (Article 10).

In the present case, it is reported that individuals connected with Egin and Egin Irratia are connected with the outlawed ETA organization, though it is unclear to us whether formal charges have been brought against them. The closure of the two media outlets, however, constitutes an extreme form of censorship, and one which cannot be justified on grounds of their contributors' alleged connections. On the contrary, if either of the two media outlets is alleged to have published information in breach of the law, it should be possible for the authorities to bring charges on this account and allow them due process of law, not summarily suspend the media outlets.

We would welcome urgent clarification regarding this decision by Judge Garzon, and whether any individuals connected with the two media outlets are to be charged with offences and, if so, the nature of those charges.

We would also urge you to order the lifting of the suspension orders imposed against Egin and Egin Irratia in order that they can resume publication and transmissions without delay.

Yours sincerely

Dr Frances D'Souza
Executive Director
Article 19
Lancaster House
33 Islington High Street
London
N1 9LH
tel: 0171-278-9292
fax: 0171-713-1356
article19@gn.apc.org

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