High Court judge, Baltasar Garzón, went one stage further today in the fight against terrorism by banning all activities by Askatasuna and Demokrazia 3 Milioi (D3M) for a total of three years, which could be extended to five.

Last Thursday the Constitutional Court ruled that no members of either group could be included in the list of candidates for the upcoming Basque regional elections, but today's declaration suspends 'each and every' activity that could be undertaken by either Askatasuna or D3M between now and March 1st.

The judge also ruled that the headquarters and offices of both groups were to be closed down, as were their websites and that they were no longer permitted to operate as political parties or organisations of any type either on a national or international level.

In addition, in the 80 page document published today, judge Garzón ordered all Askatasuna and D3M accounts and funds to be frozen and banned them from any further financial activities as well as banning them from organising demonstrations, marches or any other public act or any type of propaganda.

Both the Ministry of the Interior and the Police Headquarters in Pamplona have been officially informed of the decision so that all legal means available will be used to enforce the ruling.

Garzón maintains that ETA and Batasuna created the Askatasuna 'brand' in 2001 so that it could be used to replace their political wing at the time, Herri Batasuna and that it had been reactivated now in order to have a presence in the March 1st elections.
 
'It is an adequate legal response to the specific dynamics of an organisation like Batasuna-ETA, that gets integrated using methods that are clearly mafioso, disguised by complex and shadowy financing mechanisms, systematically evading the law, at  promoting acts of violence, then at the same time either silencing or orchestrating them for their own illegal ends and against the basic principles the rule of law', concluded Garzón.