Eta declares permanent ceasefire

BBC | March 22 2006

The Basque separatist group Eta has declared a permanent ceasefire.

The group has been fighting for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and south-west France for nearly four decades.

It is blamed for killing more than 800 people in that time, many of them Spanish police, judges and politicians.

In a statement released to Basque media, Eta said its objective now was "to start a new democratic process in the Basque country".

"At the end of this process, Basque citizens will be able to have a voice and the power to decide their future.

"An end to the conflict is possible today and now," it said. "This is the hope and desire of Eta."

The announcement said the ceasefire would begin on Friday 24 March.

It was made first on Spanish Basque radio and TV outlets, and then carried by the online version of the Basque newspaper Gara, the usual vehicle for Eta statements.

First step

The group's activities have been waning, with the number of bombings falling in recent years. The last deadly Eta attack was in May 2003.

In the 1970s Eta killed 100 people or more every year.

There has been a series of bombs in recent weeks but the BBC's correspondent in Madrid, Danny Wood, says Wednesday's announcement could be the first step towards a formal peace process between the group and the Spanish government.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has said a permanent end to hostilities by Eta is a condition for any talks between the organisation and the government.

A spokeswoman for the government said it was "analysing" the statement.

Wave of arrests

Eta, which is classed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, declared a full ceasefire in 1998.

The truce was rescinded a year later, and Eta embarked on a renewed bombing campaign.

However, Spanish and French police responded with a wave of arrests which were said to have hit the organisation hard.

Some analysts said its campaign became virtually untenable after the bomb attacks on Madrid in March 2004, blamed on Islamic extremists, that killed nearly 200 people.

Widespread revulsion at those attacks made deadly violence politically unthinkable for Eta, they said.

---------------------------------------------------

Please help our fight against the New World Order by giving a donation. As bandwidth costs increase, the only way we can stay online and expand is with your support. Please consider giving a monthly or one-off donation for whatever you can afford. You can pay securely by either credit card or Paypal. Click here to donate.

FAIR USE NOTICE