RunningWithBulls.com - The curse of Sanfermin

ETA, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, the Basque armed speratist organization, yesterday released a permanent ceasefire. El País call it a “permanent ceasefire”.

The news was released to Gara (or Gara), ther Basque newspaper. Gara is the usual voice channel for ETA related announcements.

While it is not the first time ETA have called a ceasefire (most recent was 1998, which was ended with another), it is the first time it is a full ceasefire.

ETA released a statement explaining the ceasfire stating “to foster a democratic process in the Basque country, in order to build a new structure in which all our rights as a people are recognised”

They called on the Spanish and French government “not to put any limits on such a process and to accept its outcome.”

They asked for a “positive response to this new situation” and an end to “repression”.

Exactly what repression they talk about confuses me. None more than any other autonomous region has been under, if you can call it repression.

If they are talking about the historical repression from Franco, well, I think every community and town was repressed just about as much as the Basques were.

Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (Centre left PSOE), the current Spanish Prime Minister, responded with caution and prudence. I guess he has to.

When he announced early last year that he was starting talks with ETA, PP (Centre right) party leader Rajoy blasted him for talking to assassins, killers, murderers. I guess stock answer for the PP. PP’s previous leader, Jose Maria Aznar, was ousted when, hours after the Madrid bombings of May 11th, he blamed ETA almost straight away.

This has now brought conspiracy theories out, that PSOE, certain members of the police and Muslim groups conspired to remove PP from government. This I am not sure about, but, well its possible.

No conditions have been put on the ceasefire, something that might be seen as a get out clause for them. No-one has built on this point, maybe they are waiting to see what the outcome is.

Zapatero would do well to be cautious. There is an election in the next 2 years, and if he goes ahead to strongly on this, he risks loosing (even more) support from the Spanish people.

Rajoy accused Zapatero of “reviving an organisation already virtually defeated by police operations”. This partly is true. ETA’s strong membership of the 70s and 80s is well down to double, possibly triple figures.
The most of their heavy-weight members are either dead, or in jail in France or Spain, of exiled to South America.

Zapatero should tread gingerly as the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), an organisation who represents many, but not all, of ETA’s victims and their families, have the backing of the PP.

If (when) Zapatero begins discussions with ETA on how to bring a full and final ceasefire (and ultimately the disbanding of ETA officially), he will no doubt have to begins talk about releasing ETA prisioners, and allowing exiled members to return to the Basque region.

What else does ETA have to negotiate for? Already the Spanish constitution is under review. This will give the autonomous regions even more control over their taxes, and administration (look at Catalonia..). ETA do not have too many chips on their side. Maybe they sense the end is coming and they are trying to get what they can, while they can. I don’t know.

AVT will not allow happen what happened in Ireland with IRA prisoners, particularly the events surrounding the killing of Garda Jerry McCabe. These IRA members were not fighting the “repressors”. They were fighting “their own side.” (You know what I mean).

AVT are a very powerful group and have a lot of powerful backers, PP being one.

As much support Zapatero has lost, even within his own ranks, if he can appease both side, and give AVT, the Spanish people, *and* the Basque people most of what each other wants, he may regain some support.

AVT statement claiming the ceasefire was the product of “trickery and blackmail” doesn’t help. But I guess once they come around to the possibility of talking with the other side, it would be productive.

Barbara Durkh of MEP, whose husband, PSOE leader Enrique Casas was assassinated by Basque radicals, said that the “permanent ceasefire is enormously hopeful news for all Spanish and European citizens”.

This morning on Morning Ireland, I heard the news that Father Alec Reid, a priest from Belfast, who was a figure in the Irish peace process (and if my memory is right, was part of the documentary about Basque people, country and politics “Euskal Pelota - La piel contra la piedra”) had assisted in the discussions which brought about ETAs statement.

Although many people disagree that the Basque conflict is similar to the Irish one (which is partly true), both have the same side affects: one group of people, supported by one side, kill and torture another group of people, supported by another. Both believe each is right.

Someone said “its funny that a group who says they are Marxists, communists take support from the church. ETA are about power and control, and the majority of the power is with the church.”

This is partly true (from what I know). Yes ETA say they are Marxists. But then why were they supported (sometimes very strongly) by the Catholic church in the Basque region? At the time, some of these religious people were interested in seeing a seperate Basque state. This drove them to support ETA.

Similarities are seen in Ireland too. Who remembers the Priest from the South who was allegedly gun running for the IRA?

The most important part is, it doesn’t matter who gets the ceasefire called, and how they called it. Whats more important is that ETA stay to it.

Media links: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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