Basque citizen fears kidnap returned to Spain for terrorist trial

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, January 27, 2003 - 3:09:03 PM By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

National Assemblyman Israel Sotillo has taken up the cause of Basque citizen, Arturo Cubillas, who fears he will be kidnapped and returned to Spain for trial and claims that the Venezuelan State Political & Security (DISIP) Police has placed him under surveillance and more disturbingly still, has sighted Spanish secret service agents with them.

Cubillas has been resident in Venezuela since 1989 and is married to a Venezuelan journalist. Friends warn that Cubillas could be arrested and deported before he has a chance to argue his case.

• Two Basques, accused of belonging to the ETA separatist group, were whisked off to Spain within hours of their arrest.

The irony is that Cubillas enjoys the support of the government Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) party. Nevertheless, Assemblyman Sotillo has asked the Ombudsman’s Office to monitor Cubillas’ case.