ETA terrorists jailed for 20 years

A FRENCH court sentenced former ETA military chief Txeroki, to 20 years in prison.

Miguel de Garikoitz Azpiazu Rubina, nicknamed Txeroki, faced several charges, including the kidnap in France of a Spanish couple and their son in 2007.

Three more ETA members, including Mikel Carrera Sarobe “Ata,” received the same sentence.  Six other accused were jailed for between eight and 18 years.

Txeroki, arrested in France in 2008, was tried in absentia by the Spanish courts in 2011.  He was found guilty of 20 attempted assassinations and received a 377 year sentence.

Txeroki and the other nine members of ETA’s military set-up used the Paris trial to send out the message that ETA wants three-way negotiations with the Spanish and French governments.

At the start of the trial, Txeroki read out a statement, calling on the French government to seize the opportunity to resolve the Basque conflict.  He also expressed regret for the victims of the attacks.

Txeroki and Ata now face another trial, beginning in Paris on April 2.  They will be tried for the murder of two Guardia Civil officers in Capbreton in December 2007.