Who
Are We?
Introduction:
On May
25 1998 the Central Investigation Judge (Juez
Central de Instrucción) at the Audiencia
Nacional began a series of legal proceedings against
a large number of grassroots organisations, social
movements, businesses and media in the Basque
Country. In time this series of proceedings has
become known as Legal Proceedings 18/98 and others,
or 18/98+. A whole host of restrictive legal reforms
came in the wake of these Proceedings, the epitome
of which is the new Law of Political Parties.
During
the Autumn of 2003, a delegation, made up of members
of the National Lawyers Guild from the US and
Association European Democratic Lawyers, visited
the Spanish state in order to study the case in
depth and met a broad span of people –including
judge Baltasar Garzón and officials from
the Spanish Ministry of Justice. They published
a
report about that visit.
In view
of the clear violation of rights and liberties
caused by these Proceedings, the beginning of
the trials has brought about the need for an International
Commission of Jurists that will safeguard the
fundamental rights and liberties violated right
since the beginning of the said Proceedings.
Aims of the Commission:
> To monitor the proceedings opened under the
so called 18/98+
>
To carry out research on the proceedings from
a strictly legal point of view and from a position
of independence, and to draw conclusions about
the violations of rights occurring since the beginning
of the Proceedings
>
To make the International Community aware of the
said violations as well as of the political nature
of this pseudo-judicial action
Organisation:
Promoters:
Makeup:
8/10 prestigious
jurists from various countries.
Tasks:
To monitor the judicial process, to draft assessment
reports and send them to whichever national and
international authorities and bodies necessary.
To produce an overall assessment upon ending its
activity.
>> Network
of Jurists: A
team of jurists, active in various areas of work
and organizations, which can be a base or platform
to support the aforementioned tasks. Specifically,
they will endorse the document which will set
up the International Commission and they will
undertake a commitment to spread knowledge publicize
its existence and its resolutions, promoting support
for the commission and its reports within their
respective spheres of influence. Insofar as it
is possible, they will work as observers, making
visits and producing reports.
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