Basque separatist ETA declares ceasefire
ISN SECURITY WATCH (Wednesday, 22 March: 14.24 CET) – The Basque separatist group ETA has declared a permanent cease-fire starting on Friday, according to Spanish media report.
ETA said in statement distributed to Basque radio that its “objective now is to start a new democratic process in the Basque country”.
“The aim of the cease-fire is to promote a democratic process in the Basque country and to build a new framework in which our rights as a people will be recognized,” the statement said.
The group called on the authorities in both Spain and France to respond positively to the announcement.
Peace talks began in May last year, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero indicated last month that he was optimistic about a truce.
Spain’s Socialist government won backing in parliament last year to enter into a dialogue with ETA if the separatists agreed to first disarm.
However, ETA’s Wednesday statement does not mention disarming, reports said.
The group has been fighting for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and southwest France for nearly four decades.
ETA is accused of killing more than 800 people, many of them Spanish police, judges, and politicians, since it began its campaign.
In the 1970s, at least 100 people were killed each year in ETA attacks, but since then the group has carried out relatively small attacks, ensuring no casualties by warning of the attacks beforehand to give police enough time to evacuate the area. The last deadly attack the group carried out was in May 2003.
ETA said in statement distributed to Basque radio that its “objective now is to start a new democratic process in the Basque country”.
“The aim of the cease-fire is to promote a democratic process in the Basque country and to build a new framework in which our rights as a people will be recognized,” the statement said.
The group called on the authorities in both Spain and France to respond positively to the announcement.
Peace talks began in May last year, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero indicated last month that he was optimistic about a truce.
Spain’s Socialist government won backing in parliament last year to enter into a dialogue with ETA if the separatists agreed to first disarm.
However, ETA’s Wednesday statement does not mention disarming, reports said.
The group has been fighting for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and southwest France for nearly four decades.
ETA is accused of killing more than 800 people, many of them Spanish police, judges, and politicians, since it began its campaign.
In the 1970s, at least 100 people were killed each year in ETA attacks, but since then the group has carried out relatively small attacks, ensuring no casualties by warning of the attacks beforehand to give police enough time to evacuate the area. The last deadly attack the group carried out was in May 2003.
posted by Marko at 3/22/2006 08:07:00 AM
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