The two defendants, who testified at yesterday’s hearing, acknowledged before the judge that they participated in the disarmament of ETA and assured that they had always acted in favor of peace.
He Paris Correctional Court will organize the second and final hearing of the trial of the ‘artisans of peace’ today at 1:30 p.m. Jean Noel Etcheverry Txetx And Beatrice Molle, for his participation in the disarmament of ETA. The prosecutor’s petition will be heard against the two activists, who could theoretically be sentenced to seven to 10 years in prison.
In yesterday’s session, Molle was the first to answer questions. In his statement, he made it clear that his personal and professional career has had nothing to do with violence. He clearly admitted that he participated in the disarmament and that he knew that there were weapons in his village Luhuso. All steps he took, he assured, would help advance the peace process.
Then Etcheverry took the floor, who also emphasized that his political career was pacifist. He acknowledged his participation in the 2016 events and ensured that they took place with the approval of several political leaders. The sole purpose, he added, was to promote the peace process. When asked by his attorney, Etcheverry reiterated, as he has said countless times, that they would do what they did again.
Six defense witnesses also testified, including the French Minister of the Interior at the time of the Luhuso operation, Mathias Fekl, and the then Prefect of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Eric Morvan. Both supported the suspect.
Fekl stated that the ‘peace artisans’ and the French authorities worked closely together, which made the work easier. In his words, the disarmament of ETA on April 8, 2017 was possible thanks to a tacit pact between the French government and Justice, but that agreement was not reflected in any written document.
Morvan, who would later become Director General of the National Police, confirmed the existence of this agreement between both parties. He said that when Etcheverry contacted him in March 2017 to discuss his plans to transfer ETA’s arsenal, he communicated this to then Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who gave his approval, but with a clear slogan : “Nothing should happen.” without the judicial authority being continuously informed.”
The trial comes six years after ETA’s disappearance and when two of the five activists arrested in Luhuso in 2016 (Mixel Berhokoirigoin and Mixel Bergougnan) have already died. The fifth person arrested, Stephane Etchegaray, was acquitted by the French anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office. The trial ends this Wednesday.
The ‘artisans of peace’ have received support from numerous public, political and social figures. 4,000 people have signed a statement in his defense. Today, meetings will also be organized by various trade unions and social agents in front of the town halls of the Basque capitals. They will take place at 12:00 noon in Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, San Sebastián and Pamplona, and at 7:00 pm in Baiona, Maule and Donibane Garazi.
Source: EITB
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
