Sir - Dr Carmen Oroz de Kelly (November 6th) thinks that my reference to ETA's "Democratic Alternative" video (October 28th) was ambiguous. Since I described it as a "so-called Democratic Alternative", I would have thought it was obvious that I did not take the title at face value. In the same article, I clearly described ETA as a terrorist organisation. It does not necessarily follow, though, that the entire central committee of Herri Batasuna (HB), the political coalition which attempted to broadcast the video, should be jailed for collaboration with terrorism. However, that is a matter of opinion, which the Spanish Supreme Court must shortly decide.
Opinion is free, but facts are precious. Dr Oroz de Kelly is inaccurate is saying that this video was broadcast by Spanish national television. The station rejected it on legal advice, though it was exhibited at HB election rallies. However, the video she goes on to describe so vividly, showing images of Nazi atrocities fading into images of Mr Jose Maria Aznar, was widely broadcast - but was not produced by ETA at all. It was produced by the Socialist Party, which had governed Spain for the previous 13 years, for the general elections in March 1996. Many people here, including some Socialist Party members, found its attempt to smear Mr Aznar's conservative Partido Popular as fascist to be crude and offensive, and it was withdrawn. Nevertheless, few critics of the video would go as far as Dr Oroz de Kelly in saying that it "would be illegal in every civilised country". Nor has anyone suggested that the Socialist central committee should go to jail for broadcasting it. - Yours, etc.,
From Paddy Woodworth