“Monaghan was not at home yesterday..”
Some intriguing connections revealed in an Irish Times report today, as Spanish authorities seek Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos – who was freed from a Spanish prison on 2 August after serving 21 years for the murders of 25 people. The request comes as a number of suspected members of the Basque separatist group Eta were arrested following a series of terrorist attacks in Spain. From the Irish Times report.
The Dublin address for the wanted man stated in yesterday’s court petition is the home of James Monaghan, a member of the Colombia Three. The court petition has been seen by The Irish Times. The man at the centre of the case is Inaki de Juana Chaos. The 52-year-old was sentenced to 3,000 years in prison for a series of 25 murders in the 1980s. He was released from prison after 21 years on August 3rd and flew to Ireland the next day.However, on his release he wrote a letter expressing his support for the continuation of Eta’s Basque separatist terrorist campaign. The letter was read at a meeting and also published in a pro-Eta newspaper. Mr De Juana Chaos is now wanted for the crime of “terrorism apologist”, a serious offence in Spain punishable by a custodial sentence. The Dublin address stated in the petition by Judge Eloy Velasco at Madrid’s special terrorist court is in Killester, Dublin 5. Monaghan was not at home yesterday to answer questions about the latest developments in the case in Spain.
Update According to the iol report
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said Gardaí would give whatever support they could in the hunt for Inaki. “As far as I’m concerned and the Government is concerned, Ireland should not have terrorists, either indigenous or foreign, on our shores,” he said. “If any request comes from any other country in relation to their own terrorists who are running around the world, we will cooperate as we always do.”
Adds And from the BBC report
There have been reports in the Spanish media that Mr Chaos has fled the Republic and may be hiding in Northern Ireland, with sympathisers in the republican movement. Traditional Unionist Voice leader, Jim Allister MEP, said Basque separatists had many links with Sinn Fein. “If Sinn Fein has any semblance of support for the rule of law then let them hand over this internationally wanted terrorist,” he said. Sinn Fein has said that Mr Chaos has nothing to do with them.
More In The Times report.
A non-story – isn’t it enterely possible that Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos and James Monaghan met each other through an international bird watching enthusiasts’ association and pledged to meet up should Jose ever find himself on the emerald isle….no need to jump to conclusions on this!
“Chaos” is a good name for a “Terrorism apologist”.
I think that I should much rather be branded a “terrorism apologist” by this draconian Spanish law that prohibits open debate than be known as a supporter of a regime that prosecutes its people under such laws. In the first case I should merely be an innocent victim of Alice in Wonderland state repression in the second I should be a supporter of state repression and a willing apologist for the state’s right to terrorise those who would think and speak freely.
Rory: I think that I should much rather be branded a “terrorism apologist” by this draconian Spanish law that prohibits open debate than be known as a supporter of a regime that prosecutes its people under such laws.
Easily achieved. Just write a letter calling for a repeat of the Dublin and Monaghan bombs. That would put you on the same moral and legal footing as Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos and demonstrate your solidarity. You might have to stay out of Spain for a while, of course.
Old trick. Guilt by association.
One thing that appears to be lost in this debate, is the position of Sinn Fein. Thos ewho can remember Catriona Ruane’s spirited “Bring them back home” campaign etc, where the innocence of the Columbia three was protested. Its now bacome pretty clear that James Monaghan, one of this that Ms Ruane extolled the virtue of, has links to not only the FARC, but now we also see Eta. Surely some questions need to be asked of the Education Minister in light of this.
http://the-dark-eleventh-hour.blogspot.com/2008/09/time-to-pretend-again.html
“Mr De Juana Chaos is now wanted for the crime of “terrorism apologist”, a serious offence in Spain punishable by a custodial sentence.”
If that was a crime in Northern Ireland – and it should – the Executive wouldn’t be able to meet because of the DUP’s gift of a veto to SF/IRA over all business but because half the cabinet would be behind bars.
The links between the Provos and their buddies in international terrorism are, once again, clear for all to see. Doubtless Peter and the gang will try to ignore this if possible.
Move along-no story here…
Birds of a feather………………..
If these Spanish laws were applied here there would be no agreement and no Executive. Members of the DUP and SDLP would be locked up alongside Sinn Féin, the PUP and quite possibly the UUP. Anyone in the Alliance party who has even had a slight smirk when England lost a football match could expect a knock on the door under laws like these.
This law is an absolute ass and along with the ‘Ley de Partidos’ which has caused numerous Bssque political parties to be banned, is just used a political tool to keep the uppity Basques in their place.
De Juana has done his time for the lengthy list of crimes he committed – what is happening now looks an awful lot like harassment.
As far as politics here are concerned it is a red herring. The septic nature of Basque / Spanish politics gives only an idea of where we could have ended up.
‘The links between the Provos and their buddies in international terrorism’
To say nothing of certain govts and their own terrorism….
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-seen-through-a-syrian-lens-unknown-americans-are-provoking-civil-war-in-iraq-475889.html
I wonder where the Yanks learned this tactic from?
A 3000 year conviction reduced to 21 years. I see the Spanish system has striking similarities.
The same mechanism that allowed that to happen will honestly not really care where he lives.
I’m guessing, if they can really be bothered that is, he will get 15 minutes community service or asked to stand in the naughty corner for a while.
I’ll bet Mr Monaghan cam speak more Spanish than he lets on!
It is right to judge people by the friends they have.
SF have bad judgement.
In the note attributed to him, De Juana reportedly described late ETA leader Txomin Iturbe as “a great man” and made use of a Basque expression meaning to kick the ball forward – a phrase that has been interpreted as calling for a continuation of ETA’s armed campaign.
Hardly explicit stuff is it but more than enough when you’ll prosecute for any reason.
The Spanish govt. seems intent on proving that constitutionalism wont work by their actions on the Basque referendum and by their repression of every party that wants full Basque independence they are really walking themselves down the road of further conflict. Its a pity that they are being so obdurate about it. The only out might be the europena court ruling the referendum legal as a consultation and that beginning a new period of genuine dialog
“It is right to judge people by the friends they have.
SF have bad judgement.”
It is right to judge parties by the people they go into coalition with. The DUP and UUP…
“As far as I’m concerned and the Government is concerned, Ireland should not have terrorists, either indigenous or foreign, on our shores,”
How did he say that with a straight face?
…and how did you write that, Half Pint, while yet knowing how affectiatious it was?
The issue here is not what Pete baker would have it to be. This is not about Senor de Juana Chaos nor less about Mr James Monaghan, nor even less about all the prejudices that either of these names or mention of FARC or ETA or PIRA might raise in readers’ minds. It might be thought that the real issue here is that a man might be sought to be arrested and prosecuted under such a law as this.
I can only but imagine that a great English lawyer such as Sir Thomas More would have seen such as this Spanish trickery as example of that very law which must be avoided in order that, by ensuring that the Devil himself is protected by law, then so is the most innocent.
No terroists on the shores of Ireland?
Where would all the ex-ruc and british army regulars go
Rory
“The issue here is not what Pete baker would have it to be.”
Still mind-reading I see.
It doesn’t work, you know.
“This is not about Senor de Juana Chaos nor less about Mr James Monaghan..”
Actually, it is. And their connections and where those connections lead.
And, yes, it’s also about the Spanish request to Interpol based on that Spanish legal system.
All mentioned, I believe, in the original post.
Why wasn’t a European Arrest Warrant issued?
You are right, Pete. I was wrong.
Indeed it is about all those things of which you spoke. And for all that it remains that what is most important, arising from that demand of Spanish law, is protection of the citizen against dangerous law whereby none is safe. I am sure that you will join me in calling for the rescinding of this law, else who knows, a man may be prosecuted for advocating all sorts of ideas that threaten the peace of the mighty. Imagine, Pete, if I were to be proclaimed rightful king, (donations welcome for the ferry), even a quiet, respectful fellow such as yourself might fall afoul of my baleful mood on a bad day.
There was a suggestion in one report last night that he may have headed north of the border after it was suspected of being in Dublin a couple of days before.
This could be fun.
“The Spanish govt. seems intent on proving that constitutionalism wont work by their actions on the Basque referendum and by their repression of every party that wants full Basque independence they are really walking themselves down the road of further conflict.”
Indeed they should do what has been suggested for years. Recognise the Basques, separate them from spain formally with frontiers , withdraw taxation and support let the Basques buy out spanish interests and allow spain to tell them to fuck off
Can’t see Sarkozy agreeing to that !
Rory: I can only but imagine that a great English lawyer such as Sir Thomas More would have seen such as this Spanish trickery as example of that very law which must be avoided in order that, by ensuring that the Devil himself is protected by law, then so is the most innocent.
He was flexible enough, I am sure. For instance, I expect he became much less enthusiastic about the laws on heresy when the wind changed.
He was at least fairly consistent in his opposition to freedom of speech, for Prods,at any rate.
I’ve often wondered why, whilst the Basque region straddles the French-Spanish border, ETA’s campaign has (as far as I’m aware) been restricted to Spain, and France has avoided being a target. Can anyone enlighten me?
Probably because the ETA campaign took off during the Franco years, when Spain was ruled by an autocratic military dictator. This gave the ETA a measure of sympathy for their actions from the public at large.
However, the ETA campaign intensified after the transition to democracy, especially when the socialist Spanish government formed death squads in the form of the GAL.
Probably, France was regarded by ETA as a “safe-haven” across the border for R&R;and logistics activities. I bet the ETA didn’t want to dirty their rice bowl by stirring things up in the French Basque region.
I note that in recent years, French police have been raiding and arresting Basque activists and militants on this side of the border. Maybe they were more tolerant in the 1970s & 80s.