Yet another controversial topic: ETA

17 Oct 2011

ETA has once again made headlines in Spain--this time for a proposed complete disarming.

For those who are not familiar with ETA, I'll give you a short description of what I know about this group. Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) is a Basque nationalist group created in 1959 that has fought the Spanish government for independence of Basque Country from Spain. Since its inception, ETA has been responsible for nearly 900 deaths. While there have been ceasefires over the years, no real progress towards peace has been made


However, the latest news is that ETA may be permanently disarming. Today, a peace conference took place in San Sebastian--with leaders (and former leaders) like Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein and ex-United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan present. The conference issued two statements: one to ETA, asking them to disarm permanently; the second to the French and Spanish governments, asking them to be open to talks with ETA to resolve the conflict.


Many people are skeptical of talk of a ETA disarmament. ETA has initiated ceasefires in the past and failed to keep their word. Even if they promised to stop the violence, there is no guarantee that it will last.

Others wonder how all these international figures think that they can comment on the situation here in Spain. In fact, I read a number of editorials that criticized these foreign leaders. These ex-leaders see the surface of the problem--that there is this conflict between ETA and the Spanish and French governments. However, they don't really know the history, the general opinion of ETA in Spain, or the victims of ETA. If you know Spanish, you should definitely read this article. It's pretty scathing! Here's a little segment:

• "Los mediadores... han venido a España como quien va a una tierra sin ley y sin orden, a proponer una solución indigna a lo que han llamado conflicto, y han tenido la desfachatez de dedicarse a dar consejos rimbombantes y vacíos, que, ¡oh casualidad!, favorecen las estrategias de ETA para una desaparición tan falsa como gloriosa, y que resultan conformes con los ilusos y cobardes planes de paz del zapaterismo, de un Gobierno desprestigiado, roto y sin autoridad alguna."
•  The mediators... have come to Spain like he who goes to a land without law and order, in order to propose a humiliating solution to what they have called a conflict, and they have had the audacity to dedicate themselves to giving grandiose and empty suggestions, that coincidentally, favors the strategies of ETA for a disappearance as false as it is glorious, and conforms with the naive and cowardly plans of Zapaterian peace, of a discredited government, broken and without any authority."

Others are saddened and angered by talks of an agreement with ETA. These are the people who have lost a friend or family member to ETA. They want to see the ones responsible for their pain held accountable.

At this point, ETA has only offered an end to the violence. However, people expect ETA to respond to this statement from the peace conference within a week.