Welcome to the tuSPAIN weekly review of the Spanish media. Cristina Marquez Arroyo de Camihort has selected a wide range of articles covering general news about Spain, politics, business and culture. We also invite you to view the latest news from Spain (in Spanish) at the web sites of El Pais, El Mundo, ABC and El Periodico

NEWS REVIEW
February 12, 1997

• JUDGE KILLED IN MADRID
• TERRORIST ATTACK
• ETA's REVENGE
• ETA's LEADER COMMITTED SUICIDE
• VIOLENCE IN THE BASQUE REGION
• ARGENTINEAN MEDIATOR FAILED
• CRISIS IN PERU
• UNEMPLOYMENT IN SPAIN
• PLAYERS AND POOLS
• TRIALS FOR THE ATTEMPTED KILLING OF THE KING
• SPAIN AND GIBRALTAR
• SPAIN's OSCARS: THE GOYAS
• SHAKESPEARE IN SPAIN
• DAVIS CUP
• REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA

JUDGE KILLED IN MADRID

A Spanish Supreme Court judge was shot dead in front of his Madrid apartment on Monday, the Basque terrorist group ETA is blamed for the attack. The victim, Justice Rafael Martinez Emperador, 68, was not involved in any cases related to terrorism, but in the Courts having jurisdiction on Labour matters. However, the government blamed the Basque group for the murder due to the ammunition found at the scene. The 9-millimetre shell, is similar to the calibre of ammunition used by ETA, according to government spokesman Mauricio Fernandez.

TERRORIST ATTACK

Francisco Arratibel Martes, a businessman who was victim of a terrorist attack in Tolosa, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Hospital of Asuncion in the same city. He was rushed to the hospital after being shot in his head, according to the Basque Government Deputy Council. The attack took place at 11:30 AM, in front of a house located at Herreros Street, when the victim, who was in disguise, participated in the Carnival celebrations. The unknown assailant shot the businessman at close-range.

ETA's REVENGE

The recent spate of ETA attacks are interpreted as a deadly revenge for the recent jailing of ETA's political wing leaders. The Judicial power will begin an investigation into suspected government involvement in death squads blamed for ETA members during the last decade. The Government assumes that the recent attacks by the terrorist organisation are aimed to intimidate members of the Supreme Court. In the past, ETA has frequently targeted security forces and police in its fight for an independent Basque state. In January, a Spanish army officer was shot and killed in Madrid and the car used by the attackers was blown up nearby injuring another passing officer.

ETA's LEADER COMMITTED SUICIDE

Eugenio Aramburu Landa (also known as Txo), a leader of ETA's political arm Herri Batasuna (HB), was found hanged at his family home in northern Spain, only hours before he was supposed to appear before the Supreme Court, according to the local police. The Basque police department did not specify the cause of death, as they were still investigating the case, it was not confirmed whether it was suicide or not. Meanwhile, Jaime Mayor Oreja, the Spanish Interior Minister cut short a visit to Israel after hearing about the attacks perpetrated in different locations simultaneously, adding that this is obviously the wrong time for government peace talks with the rebels. ETA's reduction on terrorist activities during the last year made officials highly optimistic about a negotiated solution in the Basque region, but the attacks this week diminished these hopes. VIOLENCE IN THE BASQUE REGION

During the last weekend, thousands took to the streets protesting the death of an alleged ETA prisoner, who was found hanged in his cell with his hands tied. The report issued by prison authorities said the prisoner had been depressed for several weeks and had killed himself, but the protesters suspect it was murder committed by the Police officers and supported by the Government. The riots left several people injured and property smashed. ETA's political arm Herri Batasuna (HB) has warned that tension will grow in the region, due to the summons imposed by the Supreme Court to the 25-member leadership charging them with promotion of violence. Five members have already been sent to prison after refusing to appear in court. The radical Basque politicians, who approve violence as a means to achieve their goal of independence, have called on Basques to protest and strike against the Government due to the jailing of their comrades.

ARGENTINEAN MEDIATOR FAILED

It has been revealed that Adolfo Perez Esquivel, the Argentine Nobel prize-winner, failed as a mediator between the ETA and the government of Jose Maria Aznar. Margarita Robles, Judge and former Interior vice minister, admitted that Perez Esquivel had made contacts for negotiations between the government and the terrorist group when she was interior minister, under the Socialist administration of Felipe Gonzalez. According to her, the contacts had not failed, they were interrupted by the current government under the lead of Jose Maria Aznar. According to Ms. Robles, Perez Esquivel personally handed over a letter addressed to Aznar in the Spanish embassy in Argentina during 1996, but the Aznar administration denies that this ever happened.

CRISIS IN PERU

Finally, a member of the Marxist MRTA rebel group who is still holding 72 hostages at the Japanese ambassador's home in Lima and a Peruvian government negotiator will meet face-to-face trying to end Peru's fifty six day siege. In the meantime, the Red Cross officials have raised their flag opposite the residence where the number two leader of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) will meet Domingo Palermo, Peruvian Education minister and representative of President Alberto Fujimori's to negotiate with the terrorists. Juan Luis Cipriani, the Catholic Bishop who has been a key mediator in the hostage crisis, told reporters that he hopes that once and for all they will find a honourable solution to the situation, which has been affecting the Peruvian people for a long time now.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN SPAIN

With 21.8 percent or 13.8 percent of the labour force unemployed, depending on the figures used by the surveys, Spain has a higher unemployment rate than any other Western European country. The conservative minority blame it on the strict labour laws and more than a decade of socialist administration, which discourage employers from hiring new workers. Jose Maria Aznar, President of the Government, has expressed that Spain cannot function in a globally competitive economy or take full advantage of the common European currency planned for 1999 without changing their labour legislation in order to give employers more flexibility. Jordi Pujol, President of the Generalitat, in reference to the proposed changes, said that "The government will probably wait two or three months and then decide what to do," adding that he agreed with the need of cuts in the budget deficit cuts and lower interest rates which could allow Spain to be part of the common European currency.

PLAYERS AND POOLS

Players of the soccer team Sporting Gijon have been highly criticised after winning nine and a half million pesetas ($68,350) by betting that they would lose or draw last Sunday's game with Oviedo. The match ended 0-0. The twenty seven players will have to refrain from participating in the pools, but it's unlikely that they will face disciplinary action from club authorities or from the Spanish soccer federation. The game was played after 13 of the other 14 fixtures on the pools coupon had finished. According to Francisco Luna, one of the players, the bet was not illegal because it was decided by dice. He also pointed out that each player lost 500,000 pesetas ($3,600) in bonuses by not beating Oviedo. The Spanish federation has no rules preventing players from doing the pools.

TRIALS FOR THE ATTEMPTED KILLING OF THE KING

Three suspected Basque separatist guerrillas faced Spain's Supreme Court Wednesday facing charges of plotting to kill His Majesty, King Juan Carlos during 1995. Juan Jose Rego and Jorge Garcia, two of the three defendants, explained that they rented an apartment on the island of Mallorca, with a direct view the king's yacht, adding that they had him in their rifle sights three times. According to Garcia, the killing did not occur because escape plans had not yet been finalised. Both Garcia and Rego said that the "prime targets for ETA were King Juan Carlos, Crown Prince Felipe and Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar." Spaniards, were shocked to learn how close the guerrillas were to assassinating their beloved king, who is quite popular because of his casual style and his role in restoring democracy after the dictatorship of General Franco. The three men, charged with plotting against the crown, illegal association, illegal possession of arms, storing explosives and falsification of official documents, could face up to 39 years in prison if convicted.

SPAIN's OSCARS: THE GOYAS

"Tesis", the movie directed by Alejandro Amenabar's, won the best picture Goya at Saturday's Spanish film awards. The other winner of the night was Pilar Miro's comedy "El perro del hortelano", which also took seven statues. The most applauded Goyas went to Luis Cuenca, best supporting actor for "La buena vida," actor Santiago Ramos for his leading performance in "Como un relampago," and most promising actress and actor winners Ingrid Rubio (Taxi) and Fede Martinez (Tesis). The Goya Ceremony, which is already 11 years old, has often been criticised as a bad imitation of Hollywood's Oscars. But 1997 proved to be an exception. Hosts Carmen Maura and Juanjo Puigcorbe spoke of chronic problems at the local film industry, and Carmen got one of the biggest laughs of the night when she urged movie theatre owners to show some "solidarity" with US producers, considering that US films enjoy "only" a 76% market share in Spain.

SPAIN AND GIBRALTAR

Spain has asked Great Britain to share sovereignty of Gibraltar for up to a hundred years and then hand the colony to Spanish control. Under the proposal, the Spanish flag would fly together with the Union Flag on the Rock, border restrictions would be lifted, and the Crown's Governor would remain. But the idea has been rejected by the Foreign Secretary because the people of Gibraltar want to remain British citizens. Meanwhile, the people of Gibraltar has tried to take both Madrid and London to the European Court of Justice, claiming that the rights of its 30,000 inhabitants were being violated. Peter Caruana, the Prime Minister, complained that the people have been "disenfranchised" and that Spain is trying to isolate the Rock by means of travel and telephone services restrictions. He also complained about SPAIN's position regarding the colony's identity cards. If co-sovereignty proposals are accepted, Spain has said that it would not require citizens of Gibraltar to acquire a second passport.

SHAKESPEARE IN SPAIN

The next Shakespearean Congress of the International Association on Shakespeare will be held in Spain. The event will take place in Valencia, with other exhibitions, conferences and performances in other large cities in Spain. The promotion of the International Festival has begun already, with a presentation of "The Rose and the Thorn", which is actually offered in La Villa de Madrid. The International event will be celebrated during the year 2001.

DAVIS CUP

Australian Open finalist Carlos Moya ended with a straight-sets victory over Hendrik Dreekman on Sunday thus giving Spain an unbeatable 3-1 lead over 1993 champions Germany in their Davis Cup world group first round match. Moya broke Dreekman's serve in the opening games of the first two sets, winning 6-4 6-4 7-5 on clay in Mallorca.

REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA

Real Madrid is eight points over the Barca in the Spanish League. After a 3-2 victory , they extended their lead to eight points over their traditional rival, locally known as the Barca. After this victory, the pressure is on Barcelona if they want to keep pace.
The Spanish Cup quarter-finals will be as follows:.
Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona
Real Betis vs. Rayo Vallecano
Racing Santander vs. Celta Vigo
Las Palmas vs. Espanyol
The first round is scheduled for February 26 and the second one for March 12.