ETA returns?

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Friday August 18, 2006 15:16

by iosaf

¿or did they never go away?

(Reference to Editorial matters removed from beside author name)
The armed group of basque seperatism has made a statement on its view of the current peace process in the Basque region and the Spanish state. A statement which has alarmed many in that is indicates a return to violence. ETA speaks of a process in crises and complains of "continuing state attacks on the Basques" & speaks of its right to "respond" to such attacks and concludes that the Spanish state is not observing the conditions of the ceasefire.

The statement made this morning follows 4 others after the "total cessation" of March 22nd. In which 3 ETA members read for a TV audience of 30million a 261 word statement which saw the word "democratic" used 5 times. Each supplemental statement has concerned some element of the basque seperatist agenda such as prisoners, a call (rejected) to France to join a table of negotiation & the residual (irrendist) claims on the region of Navarra. However, this morning's is the first to threaten renewed armed action.

The statement follows an independence rally in San Sebastian last week. It is too early to speculate whether it amounts to rhetoric or actually is sabre rattling.

the statement in euskara with local independence community comments :-
http://berria.info/edizioa_ikusi.php?id=16220
analysis from the same basque organisation
http://berria.info/edizioa_ikusi.php?id=16223

Local indymedia reaction (in spanish)
http://euskalherria.indymedia.org/eu/2006/08/31176.shtml
http://euskalherria.indymedia.org/eu/2006/08/31177.shtml
______________________________________________________________________________
The 22nd of March statement

this is the statement in euskara
http://www.berria.info/eta_agiria.php
this is the statement in catalan
http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=1799249
the statement in castellano may be read under the line in blue
"Texto íntegro del comunicado de ETA, recogido de la página web de "Gara":
http://www.lavanguardia.es/web/20060322/51238509049.html

article on that statement
http://indymedia.ie/article/75012

Comments (1 of 1)

ETA returns? (the comment)

Sun Aug 20, 2006 17:37

This article (by me not some impersonator) is a comment on the news that ETA have threatened renewed violence.

it may in due time take it place as a comment to the article
http://indymedia.ie/article/77962

Both HB and Zapatero have resonded to the last statement by ETA.
& some clarification has emerged to help us speculate whether the 5th communication since the ceasefire of March 22nd is rhetoric or sabre rattling.
For their part HB wish blame the socialist government of the Spanish state for placing obstacles in the way of the peace process.
It's been months since noted pacifist RC Belfast cleric Alec Reid joined with SF MEP's to walk the independence march circuit of the Basque.

It's also been a few years since the last ETA ceasefire and table of negotiation with the then Aznar government which occured in the same year as the orginial power sharing agreement in the northern Ireland statelet. I personally believe the comparisons between both problems is facile and serves little purpose.

To engage in the "democratisation" process ZP says, HB must rename and reconstitute and reject violence. HB accuse the state of not doing enough in its executive wing to stop the relentless judicial action on the seperatist group. The man in the illustration was put to trial together with his wife this summer. He had been extratited from France after his arrest in 2001.

On the ground in the Basque many talk of crises, but to an Irishman that seems normal - peace processes are about replacing one type of conflict with another. I can not second guess ETA. But I believe the process will continue and not too many holidays will be spoilt. A personal irony considering my better half was in the basque during the last demonstration & had her luggage robbed.

They put him in a glass box to show telly he was dangerous. He said it was a farce kickboxed the window. Look! he's dangerous they said & gave him 50 years.