The Spanish government's urgent appeal for economic and financial aid should be put under serious question because of its gross violation of the fundamental rights of Basque Political Prisoner Iosu Uribetxeberria and other prisoners.

  

PRESS STATEMENT
By LUIS G. JALANDONI
NDFP Chief International Representative
Member, NDFP National Executive Committee
14 August 2012

NDFP condemns inhuman treatment of Basque Political Prisoner Iosu Uribetxeberria

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) vigorously condemns the Spanish Government's inhuman treatment of Basque Political Prisoner, Iosu Uribetxeberria. He has been a political prisoner since 2005. He was then already diagnosed as suffering from cancer.

Last month, he suffered dizziness and severe headaches. Two nodules lodged in his brain and lungs were found out. The cancer has metastasized. A few days ago he was transferred to the Donostia Hospital where he is constantly under police guard.

He has courageously started a hunger strike to protest this inhuman treatment by the Spanish government that violates even its own Spanish Penal Law. Article 92 of this Law provides for the release of incurably ill prisoners.

 

Iosu Uribetxeberria also exposes the fact that there are 14 other prisoners with similar serious illnesses. This is a brave act of solidarity for his fellow prisoners.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines firmly supports the just demands of Basque Political Prisoner Iosu Uribetxeberria and calls for his immediate and unconditional release and that of the 14 other prisoners with serious illnesses.

 

The international community should pressure the Spanish government to abide by international human rights standards and even with its own Penal Code. The Spanish government's urgent appeal for economic and financial aid should be put under serious question because of its gross violation of the fundamental rights of Basque Political Prisoner Iosu Uribetxeberria and other prisoners.