Beatrice Molle-Haran and ‘Txetx’ Jean-Noël Etcheverry are being tried on 2 and 3 April at the 16th chamber of the Paris Criminal Court. The trial began at 13:30 a.m. and an hour earlier the defendants at the entrance, the witnesses, as well as some of the most prestigious representatives who have applied for the exculpation and have come to cover.

Both defendants have been protected not only in the Basque Country but also internationally, and in the French State the question of pacifiers has also been relevant. Cécile DuatoThe former French minister in the authority of Holland criticizes on social networks that the judgment is a “farce” and thanks Molle, Etcheverry and the pacifiers of the Basque Country for the work done. Prominent French intellectuals have also published an opinion article in the newspaper Le Monde saying that the trial is “absurd” and have called for the issue to be dealt with politically and not legally.

A number of trade unions and agents who were part of the Social Forum have also thanked and supported the work of peacemakers in the cause of ETA’s disarmament and called for the exculpation of Etxeberri and Molle. On April 3, meetings will be held in the seven capitals, under the motto La exculpación, to definitively open a new era in Euskal Herria.

ETA disarmament

Molle and Etcheverry are accused of having and transporting weapons and explosives from a “terrorist organization”. Sitting on the bench of the defendants for their participation in the Luhuso operation, fundamental to the disarmament of ETA. They were arrested in December 2016, so the trial comes after seven years.

Prior to the trial, Mixel Berhokoirigoin, Mixel Bergouignan and Michel Tubiana, the peacemakers who were arrested for participating in the Luhuso operation and those who died before the trial were recalled. All three have been recognised.

The two defendants have defended their participation in the Luhuso operation and their main objective was to lead ETA’s disarmament. The French and Spanish governments had the process blocked since the 2011 Aiete Declaration and the peacemakers wanted to mediate. His work was fundamental.

Asked the facts that gave them the ETA guarantee, the two defendants replied that the final cease-fire was announced and immobilized in recent years. Etcheverry has reiterated that if he had the opportunity to re-do the operation of Luhuso, proud of what he did, society has conveyed to them its messages of thanks: “Luhusoko channelled the change of attitude of the French Government. This allowed April 8.” He recalls that what they are accused of in the Luhuso operation, the transport of weapons and explosives, have done so in the future without any judicial consequence and with the guarantee of the French police.

Beatrice Molle-Haran and ‘Txetx’ Jean-Noël Etcheverry are declaring from 13:30, answering the questions of the Prosecutor. Then it is for the witnesses and on 3 April the case will continue at the Paris Court. There, journalists such as Ekhi Erremunerdegi, Maite Ubiria or Ihintza Arrieta are being monitored extensively.