BBC News - Basque group Eta says armed campaign is over

Transcription

1/3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15393014?print=true
20 October 2011 Last updated at 17:35 GMT
Basque group Eta says armed campaign is over
The Basque separatist group Eta says it has called a "definitive cessation" to its
campaign of bombings and shootings.
In a statement provided to the BBC, Eta called on the Spanish and French governments to
respond with "a process of direct dialogue".
The declaration, if followed through, would bring an end to Eta's campaign of violence,
which has lasted more than 40 years and killed more than 800 people.
The Spanish government has not yet responded to the announcement.
Analysts say it is likely to react with caution, and repeat its call for Eta to disarm and
disband.
They say Eta has been badly weakened by a security crackdown in recent years.
The declaration follows a conference this week in the Basque Country, attended by
international statesmen including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and
protagonists in the Northern Ireland peace process.
They called on Eta to lay down its arms.
The BBC's Madrid correspondent, Sarah Rainsford, says the event was so carefully
choreographed that this move from Eta was widely anticipated.
Ceasefire broken
20/10/2011 20:27
2/3
In its statement, Eta said "a new political age is opening" in the Basque Country.
"We face a historic opportunity to obtain a just and democratic solution to the age-old
political conflict," it said.
"Eta has decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity. Eta makes a call to the
governments of Spain and France to open a process of direct dialogue which has as its aim
the resolution of the consequences of the conflict and thus the conclusion of the armed
conflict. With this historic declaration, Eta demonstrates its clear, firm and definitive
purpose."
The announcement - provided to the BBC as well as to the Basque outlet Gara - is the
latest step in what Eta claims is a transition to peaceful methods.
In September 2010, it announced, again to the BBC, a decision not to carry out further
attacks.
In January this year, it declared a permanent and "internationally verifiable" ceasefire.
Spain's Socialist government has continued to insist that it will not negotiate on demands
for Basque self-determination until Eta disbands.
The government is cautious about engaging in another peace process, after the last one
failed.
It opened contacts with Eta when the group called a "permanent" ceasefire in 2006, only to
break it by bombing an airport car park in Madrid, killing two people.
The group has also abandoned previous ceasefires.
Inigo Gurruchaga, of El Correo, the most prominent newspaper in the Basque Country,
says Eta simply used previous truces to reorganise and rearm.
But this time appears to be different, he says.
Not only has there not been a killing for more than two years, but businessmen have
stopped receiving demands for a "revolutionary tax", and there have not been street
protests by Eta supporters for several months.
The group is also widely considered to have been seriously weakened, by a concerted
Spanish and French crackdown.
20/10/2011 20:27
3/3
Dozens of Eta militants, including successive leaders, have been arrested and jailed, and
analysts say the group realises its days are numbered.
More Europe stories
Extra euro crisis summit called
[/news/business-15393260]
EU leaders are to hold another summit by Wednesday at the latest, because they will not be able to agree a rescue
plan on Sunday.
Man dies as fighting grips Athens
Saab wins private equity lifeline
BBC © 2011 The BBC is not responsible for the content
of external sites. Read more.
20/10/2011 20:27
Basque group ETA ends armed independence campaign, calls on Spain,...
1/3
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/basque-group-eta-ends-...
Back to previous page
By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday,
October 20, 10:08 PM
BILBAO, Spain — The Basque militant group ETA
called an end to a 43-year violent campaign for
independence Thursday and said it now wants talks with Spain and France — a groundbreaking move that
could pave the way for ending Europe’s last armed militancy.
ETA had already declared a cease-fire last year — one of nearly a dozen over the years — but up to now
had not renounced armed struggle as a tool for achieving an independent Basque state, a key demand by
the Spanish government. The group made the latest announcement to Basque daily Gara, which it
regularly uses as a mouthpiece.
The Basque country is a small but wealthy and verdent region of northern Spain, with its own distinct
culture and an ancient language that linguists cannot trace and sounds nothing like Spanish. Under the
dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, who was obsessed with the idea of Spain as a unitary state and
suppressed Basque culture, ETA emerged as a national liberation movement in the late 1960s.
It was most violent in the 1980s, staging hundreds of shootings of police and politicians and even
occasional indiscriminate bombings of civilians.
But in more recent times it has been decimated by arrests and weakening support from Basques with little
stomach for terrorism after Sept. 11 and the Madrid train bombings of 2004 by Islamic militants. It has not
killed anyone in Spain in two years, and was reportedly down to as few as 50 fighters, many of them
young and inexperienced.
In many ways Thursday’s announcement was the culmination of a drum roll that has sounded for years.
“ETA has decided on the definitive end of its armed struggle,” the group said in the statement. “ETA calls
upon the Spanish and French governments to open a process of a direct dialogue.”
ETA, which has killed 829 people in bombings and shootings since the late 1960s, is classified as a
terrorist organization by Spain, the European Union and the U.S. Its first killing was in 1968.
The statement made no mention of what the group intended to do with its weapons.
Some kind of announcement from ETA has been expected as part of what seemed to be a carefully
choreographed process. It began a year ago when its political supporters renounced violence, ETA called a
cease-fire and international figures like former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan this week attended a
20/10/2011 23:03
Basque group ETA ends armed independence campaign, calls on Spain,...
2/3
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/basque-group-eta-ends-...
conference that called on ETA to lay down its weapons.
Basque newspaper Berria showed video and still photos of three hooded ETA members wearing berets
and masks with their fists in the air after reading the statement. They also shouted in favor of Basque
independence, suggesting they have not completely given up the fight.
The statement made no mention of dissolving outright and unconditionally as the government has
demanded, and asserted what it says is the right of the Basque people to decide their own future — the
status quo as part of Spain or independence.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hailed the news as a victory for Spanish democracy. In a
brief appearance before reporters, however, he made no mention of prospects for dialogue with ETA.
Talks in 2006 went nowhere and ETA ended a cease-fire after just a few months.
Zapatero’s Socialist party is expected to lose general elections scheduled for Nov. 20. So it is likely up to
the conservative Popular Party to decide how to proceed now.
Zapatero credited his and previous governments’ fight against ETA, police and soldiers who have died in
it, and thanked France for its collaboration. He remembered all the people killed in ETA shootings and
bombings, and their families.
“They will be with us always. They will be with future generations of Spaniards,” he said.
Zapatero’s former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the man most people credit with
coordinating the legal and police battle to bring ETA to its knees, said, “If only this day had come before.”
Rubalcaba stepped down as minister recently in order to run as candidate for the Socialist party in next
month’s general elections. Zapatero is not running for re-election.
Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy, who is widely expected to become the next prime minister, said his
party welcomed the news but said Spain would only be fully at ease when ETA disbands.
“We think this is a very important step but Spaniards’ peace of mind will only be complete with the
irreversible disbanding of ETA and its complete dissolution,” he added.
The ETA statement said talks with Spain and France — the independent homeland the group has fought to
create includes part of southwest France — should address “the resolution of the consequences of the
conflict.” This language usually refers to the around 1,000 ETA prisoners held in Spanish and French jails
and ETA weapons.
The announcement came just three days after several international figures, including Annan and Ireland’s
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, attended a conference on ETA in the Basque city of San Sebastian and
called on the group to end the violence.
Adams welcomed ETA’s statement Thursday.
“We called upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action and to
request talks with the governments of Spain and France to address exclusively the consequences of the
conflict,” Adams said.
“I believe that their statement today meets that requirement and I would urge the governments of Spain
and France to welcome it and agree to talks exclusively to deal with the consequences of the conflict,” he
said.
_____
Woolls reported from Madrid. Ciaran Giles and Alan Clendenning contributed from Madrid.
20/10/2011 23:03
Basque Separatist Group ETA Declares Halt to Violence - NYTimes.com
1/3
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/world/europe/eta-basque-separatis...
Reprints
This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to
your colleagues, clients or customers here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article. Visit
www.nytreprints.com for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now.
October 20, 2011
Basque Separatists Declare Halt to
Violence
By JOHN F. BURNS
LONDON — After nearly half a century of violence in its struggle for independence in the
traditional Basque homeland in Spain and France, the separatist group ETA declared a
unilateral end to its campaign of bombings and shootings on Thursday, saying it wished to seize
a “historical opportunity to reach a just and democratic resolution” of the conflict.
The group’s announcement of “the definite cessation of its military activity” came in the form of
a written statement and an accompanying video that was made available to The New York
Times and the BBC in London under an embargo stipulating that the statement not to be made
public until 6 p.m. British time, 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in the United States. ETA’s
officials said they planned to release the statement simultaneously to two sympathetic Basquelanguage newspapers , Garra and Berria, published in San Sebastian, the political center of the
main Basque homeland in Spain.
The video showed the statement being read in Spanish by one of a group of masked and hooded
men, and intermediaries with access to ETA identified the men as members of the group’s
General Command.
The announcement was carefully choreographed to follow an appeal to ETA issued by a group
of informal peace negotiators who met in San Sebastian on Monday. Those negotiators, who
included Kofi Annan, the former secretary general of the United Nations, and Gerry Adams, the
leader of the Irish nationalist group Sinn Fein, said in their statement that “it is time to end, and
possible to end, the last armed confrontation in Europe.”
Although the announcement met longstanding demands from the Spanish and French
governments, the United Nations and human rights groups for an end to the violence that has
characterized the militants’ struggle, it appeared to fall short of guaranteeing that the armed
struggle would never resume. For one thing, the ETA statement, far from renouncing the
group’s goal of independence, reasserted it emphatically, with the commanders joining at the
video’s end with traditional ETA rallying cries reaffirming their demands for freedom.
“The fight for independence for the Basque homeland goes on!” they cried.
Analysts who have followed ETA’s course in recent years said another cause for wariness about
the group’s intentions lay in the fact that it has made previous cease-fire declarations that have
been quickly abandoned, most egregiously in 2006, when a truce declared after negotiations
20/10/2011 20:50
2/3
with the government of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez failed and ETA militants mounted
a deadly car bomb attack at Madrid’s main international airport. Last January, ETA declared a
“permanent cease-fire,” which some analysts said on Thursday was broadly similar, if less
comprehensive, than the declaration of the end to armed struggle in its new declaration.
Against this, some Spanish commentators said the declaration amounted to a recognition by
ETA’s commanders that the group had effectively been routed by a harsh crackdown mounted
in recent years by the Spanish and French governments, with a leading role played by Nicolas
Sarkozy as France’s interior minister until 2006, and as the French president since then. With
hundreds of its activists rounded up and imprisoned, some estimates have said that ETA, in
recent times, has had only 50 active militants capable of mounting an attack.
Skepticism about the announcement also centered on the fact that Spain’s Socialist government
and the main center-right Popular Party, which is a strong favorite to win a general election on
Nov. 20, appeared to have played no part in the behind-the-scenes preparations for the ETA
announcement.
Indeed, the Popular Party, which appears headed for an absolute parliamentary majority in the
election, has strongly opposed any quick peace deal, insisting that ETA not only renounce its
violence and disarm, but dissolve on terms to be negotiated with the authorities in Madrid.
In addition, the ETA statement, contrary to demands that have been made by the Madrid
government, offered no apology to the victims of its past actions. According to tallies kept by
Spanish human rights groups and others, these include at least 800 people who have been
killed, many of them in bombings and shootings that have occurred outside the main Basque
population centers in southwest France and northeastern Spain. On the contrary, the ETA
statement emphasized the “violence and oppression” it said had been inflicted on its followers
and on the Basque population.
“In response to violence and oppression, dialogue and agreement ought to characterize the new
era,” the ETA statement said, according to an unofficial translation of the statement’s original
Spanish version. “The recognition of the Basque homeland and respect for the popular will
should prevail over the attempt to impose. This is the desire of Basque citizens.”
In the statement’s key passage, it added: “ETA has decided the definitive cessation of its
military activity. ETA calls on the governments of Spain and France to open a process of direct
dialogue whose objective is the resolution of the consequences of the conflict and thus the end
of the armed confrontation.
“Finally, ETA calls on Basque society to involve itself in the process of solutions to construct a
situation of peace and liberty,” the statement said.
The ETA commanders appeared to have based their declaration on a formulation suggested by
the peace negotiators. In the key passage, the commanders used almost identical wording to
that used by the negotiators when they urged ETA in their statement to make “a public
20/10/2011 20:50
Basque group ETA announces end to campaign of violence - CNN.com
From Al Goodman, CNN
2011-10-20T17:45:13Z
Madrid (CNN) -- The Basque separatist group ETA announced Thursday a "definitive cessation of its armed
activity," according to an ETA statement published on the website of Gara, a newspaper that the group has
used to convey messages in the past.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Spain, the United States and the European Union, ETA is blamed for
more than 800 deaths in its long fight for an independent Basque state that it wants carved out of a section of
northern Spain and southwestern France.
Thursday's announcement follows a recent push for the group to abandon violence permanently. That push
was led by international figures who include Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams of Northern Ireland and former
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
In its statement, ETA called of "enormous significance" a one-day meeting held Monday in which Adams,
Annan and other leaders met in San Sebastian, a principal Basque city, and called for peace.
After that conference -- which did not include representatives from the Spanish government, the Basque
regional government or the main opposition party in Spain, the Popular Party -- former Irish Prime Minister
Bertie Ahern read a statement calling for ETA to issue a declaration like it made on Thursday.
The leaders also called on the Spanish and French governments to welcome it and "agree to talks
exclusively to deal with the consequences of the conflict."
Police have cracked down in recent years on ETA in Spain and France, leaving it operationally weak.
There have been numerous statements from the Basque group calling for talks or a peace process of some
sort, but all falling short of declaring a definitive end to violence.
The Spanish government has said that since ETA has broken cease-fires in the past, only an authoritative
statement that it is putting down its arms for good will do.
In its statement Thursday, the group outlined why now was the right time to make such a declaration.
"A new political time is emerging in the Basque Country," ETA said. "We have a historic opportunity to find a
just and democratic solution for the centuries' old political conflict."
The group then added that "dialogue and agreement" should predominate "over violence and repression."
ETA urged the Spanish and French governments to conduct "direct dialogue" aimed at addressing
outstanding issues, while calling upon fellow Basques to "commit" to such a process.
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
-1-
3/3
declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action.”
20/10/2011 20:50
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/20/world/europe/spain-eta/index.html?n...
From Al Goodman, CNN
2011-10-20T17:45:13Z
Madrid (CNN) -- The Basque separatist group ETA announced Thursday a "definitive cessation
of its armed activity" in a statement published on the website of Gara, a newspaper that the group
has used to convey messages in the past.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Spain, the United States and the European Union, ETA is
blamed for hundreds of deaths in its decades-long fight for an independent Basque state that it
wants carved out of sections of northern Spain and southwestern France.
Thursday's announcement follows a recent push for the group to abandon violence permanently.
That effort was led by international figures who include Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams of
Northern Ireland and former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
In a nationally televised address hours after the announcement was posted, Prime Minister Jose
Luis Rodriguez Zapatero termed ETA's announcement as being of "transcendental importance"
and a "victory for democracy."
"Ours will be a democracy without terrorism, but not without memory," Zapatero said, referring
to 829 people killed by ETA and their families.
The prime minister praised Spanish police, Civil Guard personnel, the intelligence agency and
judicial authorities "who have contributed to this end." Zapatero also singled out France -- which
has traditionally been used as a rearguard base for ETA -- and its president, Nicolas Sarkozy, for
their assistance.
The prime minister said that it would be up to Spain's next government -- which will be formed
after parliamentary elections on November 20 -- to lead the peace process.
Zapatero, whose popular standing has soured amid Spain's deep economic crisis, is not running
for a third term. Soon after he was first elected, in 2004, the police intensified their crackdown
on the ETA as the group's popularity among some segments of Basque society began to wane.
In its own statement Thursday, ETA called of "enormous significance" a one-day meeting held
Monday in which Adams, Annan and other leaders met in San Sebastian, a principal Basque city
and called for peace.
After that conference -- which did not include representatives from the Spanish government, the
Basque regional government or the main opposition party in Spain, the Popular Party -- former
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern read a statement calling for ETA to issue a declaration akin to
what it made on Thursday.
The leaders also called on the Spanish and French governments to welcome it and "agree to talks
exclusively to deal with the consequences of the conflict."
1/2
20/10/2011 22:29
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/20/world/europe/spain-eta/index.html?n...
Police have cracked down in recent years on ETA in Spain and France, leaving it operationally
weak.
There have been numerous statements from the Basque group calling for talks or a peace process
of some sort, but all falling short of declaring a definitive end to violence.
The Spanish government has said that since ETA has broken cease-fires in the past, only an
authoritative statement that it is putting down its arms for good will do.
In its statement Thursday, the group outlined why now was the right time to make such a
declaration.
"A new political time is emerging in the Basque Country," ETA said. "We have a historic
opportunity to find a just and democratic solution for the centuries' old political conflict."
The group then added that "dialogue and agreement" should predominate "over violence and
repression."
ETA urged the Spanish and French governments to conduct "direct dialogue" aimed at addressing
outstanding issues, while calling upon fellow Basques to "commit" to such a process.
In remarks Thursday night at their respective political party headquarters in Madrid, the two main
contenders to replace Zapatero cheered the development but did not detail what they would do
next if they were to become prime minister.
Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the candidate from Zapatero's Socialist Party who until recently as
Spain's interior minister led the fight against ETA, said the announcement "puts an end to
decades of broken lives." He called unity among Spanish parties and leaders the "key to this
victory," and urged that this unified stance continue.
"Today, the ETA is not the protagonist, because the state of law has won," Rubalcaba said.
Soon after, Mariano Rajoy -- who opinion polls show holds a commanding lead heading into
next month's elections -- said that members of his conservative Popular Party take "satisfaction"
from ETA's decision, which he insisted was not spurred by any political concessions.
Rajoy called the announcement "an important step," while adding that Spain would rest fully
"only when there is the definitive dissolution" of ETA.
Angeles Pedraza, the president of the Association of Victims of Terrorism, offered a similar stance
in stating that her group will be satisfied only when ETA "turns in its guns and disbands." This
sentiment was echoed by the leader of the moderate Basque Nationalist Party, Inigo Urkullu, who
likewise called on the group to "disarm and disband."
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
2/2
20/10/2011 22:29
Basque Group ETA Ends Armed Independence Campaign - ABC News
1/2
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/basque-group-eta-ends-...
By DANIEL WOOLLS
BILBAO, Spain
The Basque militant group ETA called an end to a 43-year violent campaign for independence
Thursday and said it now wants talks with Spain and France — a groundbreaking move that
could pave the way for ending Europe's last armed militancy.
ETA had already declared a cease-fire last year — one of nearly a dozen over the years — but up
to now had not renounced armed struggle as a tool for achieving an independent Basque state, a
key demand by the Spanish government. The group made the latest announcement to Basque
daily Gara, which it regularly uses as a mouthpiece.
The Basque country is a small but wealthy and verdent region of northern Spain, with its own
distinct culture and an ancient language that linguists cannot trace and sounds nothing like
Spanish. Under the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, who was obsessed with the idea of
Spain as a unitary state and suppressed Basque culture, ETA emerged as a national liberation
movement in the late 1960s.
It was most violent in the 1980s, staging hundreds of shootings of police and politicians and even
occasional indiscriminate bombings of civilians.
But in more recent times it has been decimated by arrests and weakening support from Basques
with little stomach for terrorism after Sept. 11 and the Madrid train bombings of 2004 by Islamic
militants. It has not killed anyone in Spain in two years, and was reportedly down to as few as 50
fighters, many of them young and inexperienced.
In many ways Thursday's announcement was the culmination of a drum roll that has sounded for
years.
"ETA has decided on the definitive end of its armed struggle," the group said in the statement.
"ETA calls upon the Spanish and French governments to open a process of a direct dialogue."
ETA, which has killed 829 people in bombings and shootings since the late 1960s, is classified as
a terrorist organization by Spain, the European Union and the U.S. Its first killing was in 1968.
Some kind of announcement from ETA has been expected as part of what seemed to be a
carefully choreographed process. It began a year ago when its political supporters renounced
violence, ETA called a cease-fire and international figures like former U.N. Secretary General
Kofi Annan this week attended a conference that called on ETA to lay down its weapons.
Basque newspaper Berria showed video and still photos of three hooded ETA members wearing
berets and masks with their fists in the air after reading the statement. They also shouted in favor
of Basque independence, suggesting they have not completely given up the fight.
The statement made no mention of dissolving outright and unconditionally as the government has
demanded, and asserted what it says is the right of the Basque people to decide their own future
20/10/2011 23:15
Basque Group ETA Ends Armed Independence Campaign - ABC News
2/2
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/basque-group-eta-ends-...
— the status quo as part of Spain or independence.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hailed the news as a victory for Spanish democracy
In a brief appearance before reporters, however, he made no mention of prospects for dialogue
with ETA. Talks in 2006 went nowhere and ETA ended a cease-fire after just a few months.
Zapatero's Socialist party is expected to lose general elections scheduled for Nov. 20. So it is
likely up to the conservative Popular Party to decide how to proceed now.
Zapatero credited his and previous governments' fight against ETA, police and soldiers who have
died in it, and thanked France for its collaboration. He remembered all the people killed in ETA
shootings and bombings, and their families.
"They will be with us always. They will be with future generations of Spaniards," he said.
Zapatero's former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the man most people credit with
coordinating the legal and police battle to bring ETA to its knees, said, "If only this day had come
before."
Rubalcaba stepped down as minister recently in order to run as candidate for the Socialist party
in next month's general elections. Zapatero is not running for re-election.
Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy, who is widely expected to become the next prime minister,
said his party welcomed the news but said Spain would only be fully at ease when ETA disbands
"We think this is a very important step but Spaniards' peace of mind will only be complete with
the irreversible disbanding of ETA and its complete dissolution," he added.
The ETA statement said talks with Spain and France — the independent homeland the group has
fought to create includes part of southwest France — should address "the resolution of the
consequences of the conflict." This language usually refers to the around 1,000 ETA prisoners
held in Spanish and French jails and ETA weapons.
The announcement came just three days after several international figures, including Annan and
Ireland's Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, attended a conference on ETA in the Basque city of San
Sebastian and called on the group to end the violence.
Adams welcomed ETA's statement Thursday.
"We called upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action
and to request talks with the governments of Spain and France to address exclusively the
consequences of the conflict," Adams said.
"I believe that their statement today meets that requirement and I would urge the governments of
Spain and France to welcome it and agree to talks exclusively to deal with the consequences of
the conflict," he said.
—————
Woolls reported from Madrid. Ciaran Giles and Alan Clendenning contributed from Madrid.
20/10/2011 23:15
Basque separatists ETA end armed struggle - Europe - Al Jazeera English
1/4
News
In Depth
Africa
Americas
Programmes
Asia-Pacific
Video
Blogs
Central & South Asia
Business
Europe
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/10/201110201829708922...
Weather
Sport
Middle East
Europe
Top News
Muammar Gaddafi killed as Sirte falls
Basque separatists ETA end armed struggle
Accounts emerge of Gaddafi's final moments
Armed group ends its violent independence campaign and calls on Spain and France to open direct peace
talks.
70
Libya Live Blog
Libyans celebrate Gaddafi's death
Analysis: Reactions to Gaddafi's death
Last Modified: 20 Oct 2011 19:39
Like
Watch Live
8
3
Share
Email
Print
Share
Feedback
Europe
Basque separatists ETA end armed struggle
Greek parliament approves austerity plans
Turkey continues attacks on Kurdish fighters
French first lady gives birth to baby girl
Serbs refuse to remove Kosovo barricades
What's Hot
Viewed
Emailed
7 Days
Footage shows Gaddafi's body
Gaddafi's death: World reaction
Obituary: Muammar Gaddafi
The men who crashed the world
Tea Partiers: The self-hating 99 per cent
What does Gaddafi's fall mean for Africa?
Al Jazeera English: Live Stream
Footage shows Gaddafi's body
The homepage of Basque newspaper Gara with the announcement of the end to 50 years of armed struggle [Reuters]
Basque separatists ETA have called an end to its decades-long armed struggle, according to a statement
published by the group in Basque language newspaper Gara.
Thursday's announcement followed a peace conference in the Basque country on Monday at which international
leaders and former politicians appealed to ETA to end its fight to carve out an independent Basque homeland from
parts of southern France and northern Spain.
"ETA has decided the definitive cease of its armed activity. ETA calls upon the Spanish and French governments to
open a process of direct dialogue with the aim of addressing the resolution of the conflict," it said in a statement.
NOW
NEXT
[ In 54 mins ]
NEWSHOUR
News
Today's Schedule
In a televised address, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the prime minister, said the move was a "victory for
democracy".
"With the restraint that history imposes on us, we are today living legitimate satisfaction over the victory of
democracy, law and reason," Zapatero said in the brief appearance before reporters.
"It is a satisfaction in mourning for the pain caused by violence that should never have happened and that should
never happen again," he added.
"Ours will be a democracy without terrorism, but not a democracy without memory. The memory of the victims, of
each of the 829 deadly victims and their families, that of so many injured that bore the unfair and abhorrent blow of
terror, will be with us and with future generations of Spaniards forever."
Some mainstream Spanish politicians and press had poured scorn on both Monday's peace conference and the
conclusions it reached, with most Spanish newspapers denouncing it as a ruse by ETA's banned political wing to
attract international attention and strengthen its hand in possible future negotiations.
ETA called a "permanent and general ceasefire" in January and said that it could be verified by the international
community.
The group has been under pressure from ex-members of their political wing and ETA prisoners to definitively lay
down arms, although it did not give any details of a possible decommissioning of arms in its statement.
More than 850 people have been killed since ETA launched its armed campaign in the late 1960s.
20/10/2011 23:05
STLtoday - Associated Press - News
3/6
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_SPAIN_BASQUE_PEACE?...
P-D Store
Today's Deal
Today's Deal Blog
Homes
Place an Ad
Search Homes
Mortgage Guide
Broker Directory
Agent Directory
Your Next Home
New Home Folio
What Did It Sell For
Autos
New
Used
Certified
Research
Services
Dealer
Specials
Videos
Reviews
Jobs
Salary Wizard
Cost of Living Wizard
Post a Resume
Search Jobs
Employers Post a Job
Work at the P-D or SJ
Home / News / Associated Press
Oct 20, 4:05 PM EDT
Basque group ETA ends armed independence campaign
By YESICA FISCH and DANIEL WOOLLS
Associated Press
BILBAO, Spain (AP) -- The Basque militant group ETA called an end to a 43-year violent campaign for independence
Thursday and said it now wants talks with Spain and France - a groundbreaking move that could pave the way for
ending Europe's last armed militancy.
ETA had already declared a cease-fire last year - one of nearly a dozen over the years - but up to now had not
renounced armed struggle as a tool for achieving an independent Basque state, a key demand by the Spanish
government. The group made the latest announcement to Basque daily Gara, which it regularly uses as a mouthpiece.
AP Photo
The Basque country is a small but wealthy and verdent region of northern Spain, with its own distinct culture and an
ancient language that linguists cannot trace and sounds nothing like Spanish. Under the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco
Franco, who was obsessed with the idea of Spain as a unitary state and suppressed Basque culture, ETA emerged as a
national liberation movement in the late 1960s.
World Video
It was most violent in the 1980s, staging hundreds of shootings of police and politicians and even occasional
indiscriminate bombings of civilians.
But in more recent times it has been decimated by arrests and weakening support from Basques with little stomach for
terrorism after Sept. 11 and the Madrid train bombings of 2004 by Islamic militants. It has not killed anyone in Spain in
two years, and was reportedly down to as few as 50 fighters, many of them young and inexperienced.
Advertisement
In many ways Thursday's announcement was the culmination of a drum roll that has sounded for
years.
"ETA has decided on the definitive end of its armed struggle," the group said in the statement. "ETA
calls upon the Spanish and French governments to open a process of a direct dialogue."
ETA, which has killed 829 people in bombings and shootings since the late 1960s, is classified as a
terrorist organization by Spain, the European Union and the U.S. Its first killing was in 1968.
choreographed process. It began a year ago when its political supporters renounced violence, ETA
called a cease-fire and international figures like former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan this week
20/10/2011 23:18
4/6
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_SPAIN_BASQUE_PEACE?...
attended a conference that called on ETA to lay down its weapons.
Basque newspaper Berria showed video and still photos of three hooded ETA members wearing berets and masks with
their fists in the air after reading the statement. They also shouted in favor of Basque independence, suggesting they
have not completely given up the fight.
Photo Gallery
Plane crash in
Madrid
The statement made no mention of dissolving outright and unconditionally as the government has demanded, and
asserted what it says is the right of the Basque people to decide their own future - the status quo as part of Spain or
independence.
Latest News
A glance at Basque
militant group ETA, its
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hailed the news as a victory for Spanish democracy. In a brief appearance goals
before reporters, however, he made no mention of prospects for dialogue with ETA. Talks in 2006 went nowhere and
Basque group ETA ends
ETA ended a cease-fire after just a few months.
armed independence
Zapatero's Socialist party is expected to lose general elections scheduled for Nov. 20. So it is likely up to the
campaign
conservative Popular Party to decide how to proceed now.
Spewing volcano forces
Zapatero credited his and previous governments' fight against ETA, police and soldiers who have died in it, and thanked Spain to close island port
France for its collaboration. He remembered all the people killed in ETA shootings and bombings, and their families.
Volcanic eruption alert on
"They will be with us always. They will be with future generations of Spaniards," he said.
Spanish Canary Island
Zapatero's former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the man most people credit with coordinating the legal and Spain: bullfighter survives
police battle to bring ETA to its knees, said, "If only this day had come before."
terrifying face goring
Rubalcaba stepped down as minister recently in order to run as candidate for the Socialist party in next month's general
elections. Zapatero is not running for re-election.
Buy AP Photo Reprints
Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy, who is widely expected to become the next prime minister, said his party
welcomed the news but said Spain would only be fully at ease when ETA disbands.
"We think this is a very important step but Spaniards' peace of mind will only be complete with the irreversible
disbanding of ETA and its complete dissolution," he added.
The ETA statement said talks with Spain and France - the independent homeland the group has fought to create includes part of southwest France should address "the resolution of the consequences of the conflict." This language usually refers to the around 1,000 ETA prisoners held in Spanish
and French jails and ETA weapons.
The announcement came just three days after several international figures, including Annan and Ireland's Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, attended a
conference on ETA in the Basque city of San Sebastian and called on the group to end the violence.
"We called upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action and to request talks with the governments of Spain
and France to address exclusively the consequences of the conflict," Adams said.
"I believe that their statement today meets that requirement and I would urge the governments of Spain and France to welcome it and agree to talks
exclusively to deal with the consequences of the conflict," he said.
----Woolls reported from Madrid. Ciaran Giles and Alan Clendenning contributed from Madrid.
© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
20/10/2011 23:18
3/6
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_SPAIN_BASQUES_GLAN...
Place an Ad
Search Homes
Mortgage Guide
Broker Directory
Agent Directory
Your Next Home
New Home Folio
What Did It Sell For
Autos
New
Used
Certified
Research
Services
Dealer
Specials
Videos
Reviews
Jobs
Salary Wizard
Cost of Living Wizard
Post a Resume
Search Jobs
Employers Post a Job
Work at the P-D or SJ
Home / News / Associated Press
Oct 20, 4:29 PM EDT
A glance at Basque militant group ETA, its goals
A glance at the armed Basque separatist group ETA and its conflict with Spain.
--HISTORY - ETA was formed in 1959 during the right-wing dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco. Its name is a Basquelanguage acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, meaning Basque Homeland and Freedom.
---
AP Photo
AIMS - The group wants to create an independent state made up of Basque areas in northern Spain and southwestern
France and parts of the northern Spanish region of Navarra. Many people in those areas speak Basque.
World Video
--VIOLENCE - On Thursday, ETA issued a statement saying it is ending its armed campaign for independence and
called on Spain and France to open talks. After initially seeking its goals through political means, ETA began to resort
to violence, mainly car bombs and point-blank shootings. Its first killing was in 1968. ETA is blamed for 829 deaths.
The group's last deadly attack in Spain was a July 2009 car bomb that killed two policemen on the Mediterranean
island of Mallorca.
Advertisement
--CEASE-FIRES - ETA has announced 11 cease-fires over the years. It declared its latest in September
2010 and went further in January 2011 by saying it was permanent and verifiable by the international
community. Spain's government rejected the announcement and reiterated its demand that the group
simply dissolve. ETA had also declared a permanent cease-fire in March 2006, but negotiations with
the government went nowhere and the group set off a car bomb at a parking garage of Madrid's
airport in December of that year, killing two people who were sleeping in cars.
--POLITICAL SUPPORT - Spain began to ban political parties linked to ETA in 2003, but this year a
party with links to the group was allowed to field candidates in local elections on renouncing
violence. Previously, political groups linked to ETA, such as Batasuna, used to garner around 12
percent of votes in regional elections.
--MEMBERS - During the 1970s and early 1980s, ETA was estimated to have had around 1,000 members, out of a
regional population of some 2 million. In the 1990s, France stepped up cooperation with Spain in chasing down ETA
militants who had traditionally sought refuge there. Authorities claim the group has been reduced to a handful of
Advertisemen
Get the most up to date breaking
new stories as they happen across
the globe...
Choose an industry to view
real-time news organized from
over 25,000 sources...
Recession or not, penny stocks
are the secret to being able to
afford anything you want...
Add Your Link Here
Photo Gallery
Plane crash in
Madrid
20/10/2011 23:19
4/6
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_SPAIN_BASQUES_GLAN...
commandoes with two to three members each.
--PRISONERS - There are now 700 ETA prisoners, including about 550 in Spain. Basques regularly stage protests to
demand that the prisoners in Spain be jailed closer to home.
(This version corrects that cease-fire made permanent in January, number of prisoners to 700.)
© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Latest News
A glance at Basque
militant group ETA, its
goals
Basque group ETA ends
armed independence
campaign
Spewing volcano forces
Spain to close island port
Volcanic eruption alert on
Spanish Canary Island
Spain: bullfighter survives
terrifying face goring
Buy AP Photo Reprints
Read More
Annan, Adams urge Basque
group ETA to end violence
Foreign Premier League
owners eye relegation end
Activision jumps into kids'
game with 'Skylanders'
Oct. 17, 2011 12:50 PM ET
Oct. 18, 2011 3:15 PM ET
Oct. 17, 2011 8:22 PM ET
MADRID (AP) -- Former UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Sinn
Fein leader Gerry Adams and other
delegates to a conference on the
decades-old conflict in Spain's
Basque region on Monday urged
the armed separatist group ETA to
renounce violence....
LONDON (AP) -- Some of the
Premier League's foreign owners
want to abolish the relegation and
promotion system, a senior English
soccer executive said Monday....
NEW YORK (AP) -- To impress kids
these days, it's not enough to make
another video game. Mere action
figures won't do, either. So
Activision is merging the two....
Dan Wheldon, Indy 500 winner, dead
in wreck at 33
Oct. 17, 2011 1:20 PM ET
F1 champs Button, Hamilton pay
tribute to Wheldon
Oct. 17, 2011 1:20 PM ET
Coaches at odds after 49ers hand
Lions first loss
Oct. 17, 2011 1:21 PM ET
UK government considers ban on
squatters
Oct. 17, 2011 12:39 PM ET
Kinder, gentler than Sarkozy:
Socialists' Hollande
ADVERTISEMENT
Oct. 17, 2011 12:38 PM ET
Advertisement
Newscircles are a quick,
convenient way to create and
publish your own customized
news portals...
Discover the best free real-time
news, networking and information
portal on the web...
Recession or not, penny stocks
are the secret to being able to
afford anything you want...
Add Your Link Here!
20/10/2011 23:19
After 43 years, Basques declare violence over - CBS News
2/8
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/20/501364/main20123310.sh...
World Watch "Don't shoot": Qaddafi's last moments 1 of 9
U.S. Sheriff: Big cat bit owner's head after suicide 2 of 9
60 Minutes Overtime "60 Minutes" 2001 interview with Qaddafi 3 of 9
Video Graphic video: Qaddafi's bloody body 4 of 9
U.S. Ariz. man admits to being Super Bowl porn hacker 5 of 9
Gallery The death of Muammar Qaddafi 6 of 9
Entertainment The CBS Eye turns 60 7 of 9
Celebrity Circuit Lohan turned away at morgue after arriving late 8 of 9
60 Minutes Biographer: Jobs refused potentially life-saving surgery 9 of 9
October 20, 2011 2:59 PM
Print
Text
Add Comment Have Your Say
Email StorySend to a Friend
Share ThisTell Your Friends
Tweet ThisTweet This
MoreShare It
20/10/2011 23:21
3/8
This video frame, seen in this March 22, 2006 file photo, which was released by the Basque separatist group
ETA, shows three unidentified people with their faces covered, wearing Basque berets and seated at a table in
front of an ETA flag with a Basque Country symbol in foreground. . (AP Photo)
(AP)
MADRID - Basque militant group ETA called an end to a 43-year armed campaign for independence Thursday
and now wants to open talks with Spain and France — a groundbreaking move that could pave the way for
ending Europe's last armed militancy.
The group made the announcement to Basque daily Gara, which it regularly uses as a mouthpiece. ETA declared
had already declared a cease-fire, but up to now had not renounced armed struggle as a tool for achieving an
independent Basque state — a key demand by the Spanish government.
"ETA has decided the definitive cease of its armed activity," the group said in the statement. "ETA calls upon the
Spanish and French governments to open a process of a direct dialogue with the aim of addressing the resolution
of the consequences of the conflict."
The statement made no mention of what it intended to do with its weapons.
ETA has been seriously weakened in recent years by wave after wave of arrest of members and even five of its
leaders. It has not killed anyone in Spain in two years, and many reports said it was down to as few as 50
members with the capacity to carry out attacks.
choreographed process. It began a year ago when its political supporters renounced violence, ETA called a
cease-fire and international figures like former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan this week attended a
conference that called on ETA to lay down its weapons.
However, ETA in its statement made no mention of dissolving outright and unconditionally as the government
has demanded, and asserted what it says is the right of the Basque people to decide their own future — the status
quo as part of Spain or independence.
Still, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hailed the news as a victory for Spanish democracy. In a brief
appearance before reporters, however, he made no mention of prospects for dialogue with ETA. Talks in 2006
went nowhere and ETA ended a cease-fire after just a few months.
Zapatero's Socialist party is expected to lose general elections scheduled for Nov. 20. So it would be up to the
conservative Popular Party to decide how to proceed now.
20/10/2011 23:21
4/8
The ETA statement said the talks with Spain and France — the independent homeland the group has fought to
create includes part of southwest France — should address "the resolution of the consequences of the conflict."
This language usually refers to the around 1,000 ETA prisoners held in Spanish and French jails and ETA
weapons.
ETA has killed 829 people in bombings and shootings since the late 1960s. It is classified as a terrorist
organization by Spain, the European Union and the U.S.
The announcement came just three days after several international figures, including Annan and Ireland's Sinn
Fein leader Gerry Adams, attended a conference on ETA in the Basque city of San Sebastian and called on the
group to end the violence.
"We called upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action and to request
talks with the governments of Spain and France to address exclusively the consequences of the conflict," Adams
said.
"I believe that their statement today meets that requirement and I would urge the governments of Spain and
France to welcome it and agree to talks exclusively to deal with the consequences of the conflict," he said.
Recommend
Be the first of your friends to recommend this.
© 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed.
Add Comment Have Your Say
Email StorySend to a Friend
Share ThisTell Your Friends
Tweet ThisTweet This
MoreShare It
Popular Now in World
32 Photos
Bhutan prepares for a royal wedding
13 Photos
Day in pictures
20/10/2011 23:21
irishtimes.com - Eta says armed struggle is over - Thu, Oct 20, 2011
1/1
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1020/breaking55_...
Thu, Oct 20, 2011
The Basque armed group Eta has issued a statement saying it is ending its 43-year armed campaign for
independence, and calling on Spain and France to open talks.
The announcement, published in Basque language newspaper Gara, follows a peace conference in the
Basque country on Monday.
International leaders and ex-politicians – among them former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Sinn Fein leader
Gerry Adams - appealed to Eta to end its fight to carve out an independent Basque homeland from areas
of northern Spain and southern France at the conference.
"Eta has decided the definitive cessation of its armed activity. Eta calls upon the
Spanish and French governments to open a process of direct dialogue with the aim of addressing the
resolution of the conflict," the group said in a statement.
Three masked ETA members sat behind a table to read a statement in an online video and raised their fists
in the air at the end of the statement. The group has come under pressure from its own political arm and
former members, now in prison, to disband.
Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the statement from Eta was of "transcendent
importance” and marked the “victory of democracy”.
"This has been possible thanks to the mettle and strength of Spanish society, guided by the rule of law,
which triumphs today as the only possible way for people to coexist," Mr Zapatero said.
"Our democracy will be one without terrorism, but not one without memory."
Eta called a permanent ceasefire in January which was dismissed by Mr Zapatero as meaningless unless
they turned in arms.
The group has not killed anyone since March 2010 when a French police officer was killed by members of
the group leaving the scene of a robbery. Spain's government says Eta has killed 829 people during its
decades of guerrilla activity.
Mr Adams immediately welcomed Eta’s statement. “[The] next steps should be about promoting
reconciliation, addressing the issue of victims and recognising that a serious effort has to be made to heal
personal and social wounds,” he said in a statement.
“There are other issues which will need to be addressed and which can act as confidence building
measures within the process. For example, among these are the issue of prisoners and of demilitarising the
environment and of respecting and acknowledging the democratic rights of all political parties and treating
them as equals.”
Agencies
© 2011 irishtimes.com
20/10/2011 23:09
Eta declares halt to armed conflict | World news | The Guardian
1/2
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/20/eta-spain/print
Printing sponsored by:
Basque separatist group renounces use of arms after year in
which it has observed unilateral ceasefire
Read the full text of Eta's ceasefire statement
Giles Tremlett in San Sebastian
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 20 October 2011 18.48 BST
larger | smaller
Half a century of bloodshed in the Basque country has come to a historic close after the
separatist group Eta finally renounced the use of arms and sought talks with the
Spanish and French governments.
Three leaders in masks announced that the group was calling a final halt to the use of
bombs and bullets in a video on the website of the Basque newspaper Gara.
"Eta has decided the definitive cessation of its armed activity," they said. Eta was
following a peace script put together with the help of mediators led by the former UN
secretary general Kofi Annan, after a year in which it had observed a unilateral
ceasefire.
The Guardian revealed exclusively on Monday that a definitive end to Eta's armed
campaign, one of Europe's bloodiest, was due to be announced this week, in response to
a petition from Annan's group and following pressure from Eta's political allies in the
so-called "Basque separatist left".
Annan's group made its petition late on Monday, urging Eta to make "a public
declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action". Leaders of the separatist left
publicly backed the call the next day.
Eta's swift response suggests that separatist-left politicians such as Rufino Etxeberria
and Arnaldo Otegi, both of whom have served Eta-related prison terms, exercise
growing power over the group, according to sources close to the negotiations.
They also suggest that Eta's leaders have lost not just power over their political allies,
but also the support they once enjoyed among the 10%-20% of Basques who
traditionally voted for pro-Eta parties.
It was not immediately clear how the governments of Spain and France would react to
Eta's request for negotiations that it said should address "the resolution of the
consequences of the conflict … to overcome the armed confrontation".
That is taken to mean, among other things, talks about the future of the 600 Eta
members in Spanish and French jails.
The Spanish government will also come under immediate pressure to legalise the
Batasuna party and other separatist organisations that were banned for being Eta fronts.
Socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero might be tempted to start talks
before his term in office ends at a general election on 20 November.
Although his government did not meet Annan when it travelled to San Sebastian on
Monday, observers speculated that group members – including former Norwegian
prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland – would not have gone to Spain without
20/10/2011 22:38
Eta declares halt to armed conflict | World news | The Guardian
2/2
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/20/eta-spain/print
government consent.
The regional prime minister of the Basque country, fellow socialist Patxi López, has
already suggested that Eta prisoners be moved to prisons closer to their families.
The centre-right People's party, led by Mariano Rajoy, which has traditionally been
tough on Eta, is expected to win a landslide on 20 November – giving it the task of
dealing with the issues that are left over.
It will come under fierce pressure from Eta victims, including the families of PP
politicians it has killed, not to concede anything to the group.
While other members of Rajoy's party have insisted that they will accept nothing less
than Eta's surrender and dissolution, he has not commented publicly.
"He is a perceptive, intelligent and responsible person," said Brian Currin, the South
African lawyer who has done much of the mediating work. "I am sure he will take the
step to lead this process to its natural conclusion."
The announcement came 53 years after Euskadi ta Askatasuna, which means Basque
homeland and freedom in the region's Euskara language, was founded by young
separatists while Spain was ruled by the military dictator General Francisco Franco.
The group has killed 830 people in bomb and gun attacks across Spain since it claimed
its first victim, a civil guard police officer gunned down in Adona, near the northern
Basque city of San Sebastian, in 1968.
Most of its victims, however, died in the years after Spain's transition to democracy and
the approval of a statute of partial self-government for the region in 1979.
The group has been seriously weakened by police action in recent years, and some
observers claim it has simply been defeated.
© 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
20/10/2011 22:38
Basque Group Ends Independence Campaign -- Printout -- TIME
1/2
Back to Article
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,2097442,00.html
Click to Print
Th u rsday, Oct. 20, 2011
By AP
(MADRID) — Basque militant group ETA called an end to a 43-year armed campaign for independence
Thursday and now wants to open talks with Spain and France — a groundbreaking move that could pave
the way for ending Europe's last armed militancy.
The group made the announcement to Basque daily Gara, which it regularly uses as a mouthpiece. ETA
declared had already declared a cease-fire, but up to now had not renounced armed struggle as a tool for
achieving an independent Basque state — a key demand by the Spanish government.
"ETA has decided the definitive cease of its armed activity," the group said in the statement. "ETA calls
upon the Spanish and French governments to open a process of a direct dialogue with the aim of
addressing the resolution of the consequences of the conflict."
The statement made no mention of what it intended to do with its weapons.
ETA has been seriously weakened in recent years by wave after wave of arrest of members and even five
of its leaders. It has not killed anyone in Spain in two years, and many reports said it was down to as few
as 50 members with the capacity to carry out attacks. (See photos of the youth protest in Spain.)
choreographed process. It began a year ago when its political supporters renounced violence, ETA called
a cease-fire and international figures like former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan this week attended
a conference that called on ETA to lay down its weapons.
However, ETA in its statement made no mention of dissolving outright and unconditionally as the
government has demanded, and asserted what it says is the right of the Basque people to decide their
own future — the status quo as part of Spain or independence.
Still, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hailed the news as a victory for Spanish democracy.
In a brief appearance before reporters, however, he made no mention of prospects for dialogue with ETA.
Talks in 2006 went nowhere and ETA ended a cease-fire after just a few months.
Zapatero's Socialist party is expected to lose general elections scheduled for Nov. 20. So it would be up to
20/10/2011 23:07
Basque Group Ends Independence Campaign -- Printout -- TIME
2/2
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,2097442,00.html
the conservative Popular Party to decide how to proceed now. (See photos of Pope Benedict in Spain.)
The ETA statement said the talks with Spain and France — the independent homeland the group has
fought to create includes part of southwest France — should address "the resolution of the consequences
of the conflict." This language usually refers to the around 1,000 ETA prisoners held in Spanish and
French jails and ETA weapons.
ETA has killed 829 people in bombings and shootings since the late 1960s. It is classified as a terrorist
organization by Spain, the European Union and the U.S.
The announcement came just three days after several international figures, including Annan and
Ireland's Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, attended a conference on ETA in the Basque city of San
Sebastian and called on the group to end the violence.
"We called upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action and to
request talks with the governments of Spain and France to address exclusively the consequences of the
conflict," Adams said.
"I believe that their statement today meets that requirement and I would urge the governments of Spain
and France to welcome it and agree to talks exclusively to deal with the consequences of the conflict," he
said.
Daniel Woolls and Alan Clendenning contributed to this report.
See TIME's Pictures of the Week.
See the Cartoons of the Week.
Click to Print
Find this article at:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097442,00.html
Copyright © 2011 Time Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Privacy Policy | Add TIME Headlines to your Site | Contact Us | Customer Service
20/10/2011 23:07
ETA announces 'definitive cease' to armed struggle - Telegraph
1/3
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8839572/E...
The Basque separatist group ETA has announced a “definitive cessation” to its campaign of
violence in what could be an end to a four decade campaign that has claimed more than
800 lives.
Basque separatist ETA spokesmen in 2003 Photo: AP
By Fiona Govan (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/fiona-govan/) , Madrid
7:00PM BST 20 Oct 2011
8 Comments (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8839572/ETA-announces-definitivecease-to-armed-struggle.html#disqus_thread)
In a statement ETA called on the Spanish (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain) and French
governments to respond with “a process of direct dialogue”.
“ETA has decided the definitive cease of its armed activity,” the group said in a statement issued in Basque,
Spanish, French and English on the website of Basque newspaper Gara, the usual mouthpiece for the terrorist
group. It also released the declaration in full to the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15395157) .
“ETA calls upon the Spanish and French governments to open a process of a direct dialogue with the aim of
addressing the resolution of the consequences of the conflict and, thus, to overcome the armed confrontation,” it
said.
“Through this historical declaration, ETA shows its clear, solid and definitive commitment.”
But in this latest communique ETA appeared to fall short of announcing plans to hand over its weapons.
20/10/2011 22:43
2/3
ETA declares ceasefire (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8250229/ETA-declarespermanent-ceasefire.html)
New Basque party banned over links to ETA (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain
/8404217/New-Basque-party-banned-over-links-to-ETA.html)
ETA urged to declare end to violent action (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain
/8833017/ETA-urged-to-declare-end-to-violent-action.html)
ETA: from student group to Basque bombers (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain
/8839645/ETA-from-student-group-to-Basque-bombers.html)
In a surprise move, the Spanish government went further than expected and welcomed the move as a positive
step.
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish prime minister, declared the announcement a “victory for democracy,
law and reason”, but said the 821 victims would never be forgotten.
“Ours will be a democracy without terrorism, but not without memory,” he said.
“At this time I think in particular about the Basque society. I am sure that from now onwards, they will finally enjoy
a society which is not dependent on fear or intimidation; a society truly free; a society in peace.”
The declaration had been anticipated following a peace conference in San Sebastian on Monday in which
international negotiators called for ETA to give up its arms.
It is the latest move in a process which could see the end to the last armed struggle in Europe.
The terrorist group announced a “permanent ceasefire” in September last year but the Spanish government
insisted it meant little unless accompanied by disarmament.
The declaration follows a conference this week in the Basque Country, attended by international statesmen
including Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, and protagonists in the Northern Ireland peace process.
The conference called on ETA to lay down its arms and for the government of Spain to open negotiations.
Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, yesterday welcome the response and urged Spain and France to accept
the announcement and agree to talks.
Mr Adams said the parties involved had to focus on reconciliation, victims and healing personal and social
wounds caused by the violence, while Madrid needed to take confidence-building steps.
“I would urge the governments of Spain and France to welcome it and agree to talks exclusively to deal with the
20/10/2011 22:43
3/3
consequences of the conflict,” he said in a statement.
Spain’s Socialist government has been cautious about engaging in negotiations since the last “permanent
ceasefire” ended abruptly with a bomb at Madrid airport in December 2006, killing two people and injuring
hundreds.
The group has also abandoned previous truces, instead using it as an opportunity to reorganise and rearm.
But the organisation, which calls for an independent homeland encompassing parts of southwestern France and
northeastern Spain, has been badly weakened by a security crackdown in recent years.
Cooperation between French and Spanish authorities have resulted in a series of arrests crippling the
leadership of the organisation and seizing their arms caches.
The last fatal attack on Spanish soil was in August 2009 and earlier this month the group announced it would
stop demands for a “revolutionary tax” levied on Basque businesses.
Several hundred ETA prisoners have publicaly called for the group to give up the armed struggle.
© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2011
20/10/2011 22:43
Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuter...
1/1
http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE79J66R20111020
» Print
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to colleagues,
clients or customers, use the Reprints tool at the top of any article or visit: www.reutersreprints.com.
Basque separatists ETA say end armed struggle
2:10pm EDT
By Jonathan Gleave
MADRID (Reuters) - Basque armed separatists ETA have called a halt to 50
years of armed struggle, the group said in a statement published in Basque
language newspaper Gara.
The announcement follows a peace conference in the Basque country
Monday when international leaders and ex-politicians appealed to ETA to end
its fight to carve out an independent Basque homeland from areas of northern
Spain and southern France.
"ETA has decided the definitive cessation of its armed activity. ETA calls upon
the Spanish and French governments to open a process of direct dialogue
with the aim of addressing the resolution of the conflict," the group said in a statement
Spain's interior ministry declined to comment immediately on ETA's announcement. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodgriquez
Zapatero's office said on Twitter he will make an announcement at 2 p.m. EDT.
Mainstream Spanish politicians and press poured scorn on Monday's peace conference and the conclusions it reached. Most
Spanish newspapers denounced it as a ruse by ETA's banned political wing to attract international attention and strengthen its
hand in possible future negotiations.
ETA called a "permanent and general ceasefire" in January and said it could be verified by the international community. The
group have been under pressure by ex-members of their political wing and ETA prisoners to definitively lay down arms.
ETA, which has killed more than 850 people in its struggle for a Basque homeland, did not give any details of a possible
decommissioning of arms in its statement.
(Reporting By Jonathan Gleave; Editing by Robert Woodward)
© Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own
personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or
similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are
registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world.
Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant
interests.
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to colleagues,
clients or customers, use the Reprints tool at the top of any article or visit: www.reutersreprints.com.
20/10/2011 20:51
An Phoblacht » Gerry Adams welcomes ETA announcement » Print
1/1
http://aprnonline.com/?p=87177&print=1
- An Phoblacht - http://aprnonline.com -
Gerry Adams welcomes ETA announcement
Posted By aprn On October 20, 2011 @ 6:08 pm In BREAKING NEWS,International,News | No
Comments
COMMENTING on this evening’s
statement by the Basque armed
organisation ETA, Sinn Féin President
Gerry Adams TD said:
I welcome the decisive and positive
terms of ETA’s response to Monday’s
‘Declaration’ in Donostia-San
Sebastian by the International
Conference Group.
[1]
Basque nationalist leader Arnaldo Otegi and Gerry
Adams at the 2007 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis
Following our deliberations, the
International Group expressed the
opinion that “it is possible to end, the last armed confrontation in Europe”.
We called upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all
armed action and to request talks with the governments of Spain and France to
address exclusively the consequences of the conflict.
I believe that their statement today meets that requirement and I would urge the
governments of Spain and France to welcome it and agree to talks exclusively to
deal with the consequences of the conflict.
These next steps should be about promoting reconciliation, addressing the issue of
victims and recognising that a serious effort has to be made to heal personal and
social wounds.
There are other issues which will need to be addressed and which can act as
confidence-building measures within the process.
For example, among these are the issue of prisoners and of demilitarising the
environment and of respecting and acknowledging the democratic rights of all
political parties and treating them as equals.
At a time when Batasuna is banned and leaders like Arnaldo Otegi – who is totally
committed in my view to peace – are imprisoned, the use of confidence-building
measures by the Spanish state is very important.
BBC: Basque group Eta says armed campaign is over [2]
Article printed from An Phoblacht: http://aprnonline.com
URL to article: http://aprnonline.com/?p=87177
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://aprnonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/otegi-adams-main.jpg
[2] Basque group Eta says armed campaign is over: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worldeurope-15395157
Copyright © 2010 An Phoblacht. All rights reserved.
20/10/2011 20:44
ETA announces 'definitive end' to armed struggle
1/2
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/21/c_131203338.htm
Home Page | Photo | Video | Most Popular | Recommended | Special Reports | Weekly Review | Topics | EXPO 2010
Make Us Your Home Page
Services | Database | Markets | Weather | Site Index | RSS | Feedback
Global Edition | China | World | Business | Culture & Edu | Sports | Entertainment | Science & Technology | Health | Travel | Odd News
World
| In-Depth
Most Searched： •9/11 attacks •Gaddafi •Mubarak •Syria •UK riots
Video
>>
ETA announces 'definitive end' to armed struggle
Feedback
English.news.cn 2011-10-21 01:40:44
Print
RSS
MADRID, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Basque separatist group ETA on Thursday announced 'definitive end' to
its armed struggle for the independence of the Basque region in the north of Spain and the southwest
Japanese PM arrives in
Seoul for summit talks
Death of Gaddafi's
youngest son confirmed
of France.
Photos
>>
The declaration, sent to the BBC and also published by Basque newspaper GARA at 19:00 local time,
ends over 40 years of conflict which have claimed over 800 lives.
ETA's communique comes just four days after a peace conference, held in the city of San Sebastian
and attended by people such as former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Sinn Fein leader Gerry
Adams, called for the group to definitively end all violence.
Clinton warns to pursue
terrorists on AfghanPakistan borders
Libya's Muammar Gaddafi
dies of wounds, NTC field
commander tells Xinhua
The declaration follows ETA's announcement of a ceasefire in January of this year, while the last
assassination by the group in Spain occurred on June 30, 2009, when a car bomb in Mallorca killed
two civil guards.
The group has been under severe pressure from both Spanish and French security forces in recent
years and currently has over 700 members in jail, while 50 suspected ETA members have been
NTC commander confirms death of
Gaddafi's son Mutassim
Muammar Gaddafi dies of wounds
detained since the announcement of January's ceasefire.
Clinton warns to pursue terrorists on
Afghan-Pakistan borders
Meanwhile members of the independence-seeking left wing Izquierda Abertzale in the Basque region
Turkey launches cross-border operation in
fight against PKK rebels in N. Iraq: PM
Syria welcomes visit of AL ministerial
committee
have also been pressuring ETA to definitively end its armed struggle.
The Izquierda Abertzale has increasingly come to see the political route as a more effective route to
independence, an opinion backed up by the fact that the electoral coalition 'Bildu' was the second most
voted for party in the Basque region in the local and regional elections held this May.
ETA's declaration appears to recognize the change in Basque society, as well as the benefits of this
week's conference.
"ETA considers that the international conference held recently in Euskal Herria (Basque country) is an
initiative of great political transcendence. The agreed resolution brings together the ingredients for an
integrated solution to the conflict and has the support of large sectors of Basque society and of the
Special Reports
>>
Occupy Wall
Street: the
wake-up call
Palestine's UN
bid, a bumpy
road ahead
international community," reads the communique, which continues "In Euskal Herria, a new political
age is opening. We face a historic opportunity to obtain a just and democratic solution to the age-old
political conflict."
"Dialogue and agreement must characterise the new age. The recognition of Euskal Herria and
respect for popular will must prevail over any imposition. This is the will of the majority of Basque
citizens."
ETA called on the Spanish and French governments "to open a process of direct dialogue which has
as its aim the resolution of the consequences of the conflict and thus the conclusion of the armed
conflict."
Future debates will almost certainly consider major questions such as allowing Basque prisoners to
serve their sentences in prisons either in or close to the Basque region, the groups recognition of its
victims and whether or not ETA is prepared to hand over its weapons.
Editor: yan
Related News
Home >> World
Feedback
Print
RSS
20/10/2011 23:36
Le Monde.fr : Imprimer
1/1
http://www.lemonde.fr/imprimer/article/2011/10/20/1591629.html
ETA annonce la fin de son action armée
LEMONDE.FR | 20.10.11 | 19h21 • Mis à jour le 20.10.11 | 20h02
omme cela était pressenti depuis plusieurs semaines, l'organisation séparatiste basque ETA a annoncé, jeudi 20
octobre, "la fin définitive de son action armée" dans une vidéo diffusée par le
journal basque Gara.
Selon le texte publié par Gara, l'organisation armée basque annonce qu'elle a pris cette décision historique et affirme "son
compromis clair, ferme et définitif" de "dépasser la confrontation armée". Avec cet objectif, ajoute Gara, ETA "lance un
appel aux gouvernements d'Espagne et de France pour ouvrir un processus de dialogue direct" afin de trouver des
solutions "aux conséquences du conflit".
829 MORTS
En outre, ETA "considère que la conférence internationale qui a récemment eu lieu au Pays Basque est une initiative de
grande importance politique". Lundi, à Saint-Sébastien, une conférence, réunissant notamment l'ancien secrétaire général
de l'ONU Kofi Annan et le président du parti nationaliste nord-irlandais Sinn Fein Gerry Adams, avait appelé ETA à "l'arrêt
définitif de la violence" et à "demander le dialogue avec les gouvernements espagnol et français".
>> Lire Une
conférence internationale appelle l'ETA à renoncer à la violence
Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, ex-ministre de l'intérieur et candidat à l'élection du 20 novembre, avait répété à plusieurs
reprises ces derniers jours que l'annonce de la fin de l'organisation était imminente. L'organisation avait annoncé le 10
janvier une trêve "générale et permanente".
Considérée comme une organisation terroriste par l'Union européenne et les Etats-Unis, ETA est tenue pour responsable
de la mort de 829 personnes depuis sa création.
LeMonde.fr
© Le Monde.fr
|
Fréquentation certifiée par l'OJD
|
CGV
|
Mentions légales
|
Qui sommes-nous ?
|
Charte groupe
|
Index
|
Aide et contact
|
| Abonnements
Journal d'information en ligne, Le Monde.fr offre à Publicité
ses visiteurs
un panorama complet de l'actualité. Découvrez chaque jour
toute l'info en direct (de la politique à l'économie en passant par le sport et la météo) sur Le Monde.fr, le site de news leader de
la presse française en ligne.
20/10/2011 20:25
L'ETA dépose les armes «définitivement» - Libération
2/5
http://www.liberation.fr/monde/01012366891-l-eta-depose-les-armes-d...
L'ETA dépose les armes
«définitivement»
7 commentaires
L’organisation armée basque ETA a annoncé jeudi «l’arrêt définitif de son
activité armée» après plus de 40 ans de lutte pour l’indépendance du Pays
basque qui a fait plus de 800 morts, dans un communiqué publié par le
journal basque Gara sur son site internet.
Cette déclaration intervient alors que les pressions politiques se sont
multipliées sur l’organisation, à l’approche des élections anticipées du 20
novembre en Espagne pour lesquelles l’opposition de droite est donnée
largement favorite.
VOS ANNONCES
«ETA a décidé l’arrêt définitif de son activité armée. ETA lance un appel aux
gouvernements d’Espagne et de France pour ouvrir un processus de
dialogue direct qui aura comme objectif la résolution des conséquences du
conflit et, en conséquence le dépassement de la confrontation armée»,
indique l’organisation.
«A travers cette déclaration historique, ETA montre son engagement clair,
ferme et définitif», assure l’organisation armée.
Elle «considère que la conférence internationale qui a récemment eu lieu au
Pays Basque est une initiative de grande importance politique», ajoute le
texte.
Passez votre
annonce dans
Libération
Lundi, à Saint-Sébastien, une conférence internationale, qui réunissait
notamment l’ancien secrétaire général de l’ONU Kofi Annan et le président
du parti nationaliste nord-irlandais Sinn Fein Gerry Adams, a appelé l’ETA à
renoncer définitivement à la violence.
Car, selon elle, «la résolution accordée rassemble les ingrédients pour une
solution intégrale au conflit et compte avec le soutien de larges secteurs de
la société basque et de la communauté internationale».
OFFRES D'EMPLOI
+ DANS LA MÊME RUBRIQUE
La Libye célèbre la mort du colonel Kadhafi
Le gouvernement et l’ex-ministre de l’Intérieur, candidat à l’élection du 20
novembre, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba avait répété à plusieurs reprises ces
derniers jours que l’annonce de la fin de l’organisation était imminente.
A Tunis, Ennahda avance ses pieux
Consultez des
milliers d'offres
d'emploi sur Paris
et sa région avec
notre partenaire
La révolution tunisienne à l’épreuve du chiffon
vert
POLITIVOX
Considérée comme une organisation terroriste par l’Union européenne et
les Etats-Unis, l’ETA est tenue pour responsable de la mort de 829
personnes en plus de 40 ans de lutte pour l’indépendance des territoires
français et espagnols du Pays basque, et de la Navarre. Elle avait annoncé
le 10 janvier une trêve «générale et permanente».
(Source AFP)
Abonnez-vous à Libé.fr à
partir de 6€ par mois
Commenter
Devenez non imposable !
ENQUÊTE RENTRÉE
Investissement Locatif: Soyez parmi les premiers à
Bénéficier de la loi Scellier 2011
» Cliquez ici
Avec ING Direct
Ouvrez un Compte Courant : 60€ offerts et la Gold
MasterCard gratuite sans condition de durée
» Cliquez ici
T-shirt ...
39 € -29 %
Jupe Winona ...
24,90 €
Me-Paris
Infinie Passion
Fnac sur Groupon
Un deal Fnac.com sur Groupon ! Découvrez-le vite
» Cliquez ici
Publicité
ARTICLES LES +
VUS
1. La Libye célèbre la mort du colonel Kadhafi
À LA UNE DE LIBÉRATION.FR
2. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy a donné naissance à
une fille
MONDE Aujourd'hui à 13h22 (Mis à jour à 19:36)
3. Si l’on avait fliqué l’enfance des politiques…
La Libye célèbre la mort du
colonel Kadhafi
L'ex-leader
libyen a été tué alors qu'il tentait de fuir la ville
de Syrte, son dernier bastion.
LE RÉCIT DE LA JOURNÉE DE JEUDI
754 commentaires
Faites le test avec
Conso Client et
Libération
4. Hollande et Fillon croisent le fer à distance
SUIVEZ LIBÉ
SUR LE WEB
5. Quand l'UMP met en scène son réquisitoire
anti-PS
Déjà 270000
abonnés !
6. Décès de l'otage française Marie Dedieu
7. Hollande, l’effort tranquille
Libé sur
Facebook
8. L'adresse Hollande2012.fr cybersquattée
9. Hollande, le nom de la rose
10. Le preneur d'otages de Pôle Emploi arrêté
Suivez
@liberation_info
20/10/2011 21:06
1/2
http://www.lesoir.be/outils/imprimer/index.php?story_url=/actualite/m...
Cliquez ici pour reprendre votre lecture
ACTU
MONDE
partager
Tweet
Rédaction en ligne
jeudi 20 octobre 2011, 19:57
L’organisation armée basque ETA a annoncé jeudi « l’arrêt définitif de son activité
armée » après plus de 40 ans de lutte pour l’indépendance du Pays basque qui a fait plus
de 800 morts.
AFP
Cette déclaration intervient alors que les pressions politiques se sont multipliées sur
l’organisation, à l’approche des élections anticipées du 20 novembre en Espagne pour
lesquelles l’opposition de droite est donnée largement favorite.
20/10/2011 20:23
2/2
http://www.lesoir.be/outils/imprimer/index.php?story_url=/actualite/m...
« ETA a décidé l’arrêt définitif de son activité armée. ETA lance un appel aux gouvernements
d’Espagne et de France pour ouvrir un processus de dialogue direct qui aura comme objectif
la résolution des conséquences du conflit et, en conséquence le dépassement de la
confrontation armée », indique l’organisation. « A travers cette déclaration historique, ETA
montre son engagement clair, ferme et définitif », assure l’organisation armée. Elle « considère
que la conférence internationale qui a récemment eu lieu au Pays Basque est une initiative de
grande importance politique », ajoute le texte.
Lundi, à Saint-Sébastien, une conférence internationale, qui réunissait notamment l’ancien
secrétaire général de l’ONU Kofi Annan et le président du parti nationaliste nord-irlandais Sinn
Fein Gerry Adams, a appelé l’ETA à renoncer définitivement à la violence. Car, selon elle, « la
résolution accordée rassemble les ingrédients pour une solution intégrale au conflit et compte
avec le soutien de larges secteurs de la société basque et de la communauté internationale ».
Le gouvernement et l’ex-ministre de l’Intérieur, candidat à l’élection du 20 novembre, Alfredo
Perez Rubalcaba avait répété à plusieurs reprises ces derniers jours que l’annonce de la fin de
l’organisation était imminente.
Considérée comme une organisation terroriste par l’Union européenne et les Etats-Unis, l’ETA
est tenue pour responsable de la mort de 829 personnes en plus de 40 ans de lutte pour
l’indépendance des territoires français et espagnols du Pays basque, et de la Navarre. Elle avait
annoncé le 10 janvier une trêve « générale et permanente ».
(afp)
partager
Tweet
Je me connecte Je m'inscris
Je mets à jour mon compte
Nouveau : changement dans la procédure de connexion. En savoir plus
20/10/2011 20:23
LaLibre.be - Bienvenue sur la Libre Belgique
1/2
http://www.lalibre.be/article_print.phtml?art_id=694725
ESPAGNE
L'ETA annonce l'arrêt définitif de son action armée
AFP
Mis en ligne le 20/10/2011
-----------
L'ETA appelle également l'Espagne et la France à ouvrir un dialogue.
Le groupe basque armé ETA a annoncé jeudi "l'arrêt définitif de son
activité armée", après plus de 40 ans de lutte par la violence pour
l'indépendance du Pays basque. "ETA a décidé l'arrêt définitif de
son activité armée. ETA lance un appel aux gouvernements
d'Espagne et de France pour ouvrir un processus de dialogue direct
qui aura comme objectif la résolution des conséquences du conflit
et, en conséquence, le dépassement de la confrontation armée",
indique l'organisation dans un communiqué publié en ligne par le
journal basque Gara. Très affaiblie, alors que sa vitrine politique au
EPA
contraire gagnait en crédibilité, l'organisation séparatiste née sous la
dictature franquiste n'avait pas commis d'attentat en Espagne depuis 2009 et avait annoncé en janvier un
cessez-le-feu.
Classée organisation terroriste par les Etats-Unis et l'Union européenne, elle est rendue responsable de la
mort de 829 personnes. Ces derniers mois ont été jalonnés de gestes de la part de l'ETA semblant indiquer
que se profilait la fin de la lutte armée, sous la pression de la gauche indépendantiste qui a peu à peu pris
ses distances avec la violence, préférant défendre ses idéaux par les urnes.
Lundi, une conférence réunie à Saint-Sébastien, rassemblant des personnalités étrangères dont l'ancien
secrétaire général de l'ONU Kofi Annan autour de mouvements et partis politiques basques, avait demandé
à l'ETA "l'arrêt définitif de la violence".
Cette conférence avait également demandé à l'ETA de solliciter "un dialogue avec les gouvernements
espagnol et français" et à ces derniers "d'accepter d'engager un dialogue".
Premier pas notable, le 5 septembre 2010 lorsque l'organisation clandestine avait annoncé qu'elle "ne
mènerait pas d'actions offensives armées". Cette annonce avait laissé de marbre le gouvernement socialiste
de José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, échaudé par la fin sanglante de la précédente trêve, avec deux morts
dans un attentat à l'aéroport de Madrid le 30 décembre 2006. "La seule décision qui vaille est l'abandon
des armes pour toujours", avait alors répondu le gouvernement, prévenant aussi qu'il ne changerait "pas
d'un iota" sa politique d'extrême fermeté vis-à-vis de l'ETA. Plus significative encore, l'étape du 10 janvier
2011, lorsque l'ETA annonce un cessez-le-feu "permanent et général", là encore jugé insuffisant par le
gouvernement.
Classée depuis 2001 sur la liste des organisations terroristes par l'Union européenne et les Etats-Unis, l'ETA
est tenue pour responsable de la mort de 829 personnes en plus de 40 ans de lutte armée pour
l'indépendance des territoires espagnols et français du Pays basque, et de la Navarre. Mais les coups portés
par les polices espagnole et française ces dernières années l'ont considérablement affaiblie.
Parallèlement, son bras politique Batasuna, illégal en Espagne depuis 2003 mais désireux de sortir de son
ostracisme électoral, faisait monter la pression pour que le groupe armé déclare une trêve.
En novembre 2010, Batasuna annonçait la création d'un nouveau parti rejetant la violence, point de départ
d'un feuilleton judiciaire qui allait aboutir à la légalisation de Bildu, alliance électorale entre la mouvance
Batasuna et deux partis indépendantistes légaux, Eusko Alkartasuna (EA) et Alternatiba. Bildu a remporté
20/10/2011 22:41
LaLibre.be - Bienvenue sur la Libre Belgique
2/2
http://www.lalibre.be/article_print.phtml?art_id=694725
un succès écrasant aux élections locales du mois de mai, devenant la deuxième force politique du Pays
basque derrière les nationalistes de centre-droit du PNV, s'emparant même de la mairie de Saint-Sébastien,
l'une des grandes villes du Pays basque.
Et à l'approche des élections législatives du 20 novembre, les partisans de l'indépendance espèrent encore
élargir leur audience, réunis dans une nouvelle coalition sous l'étiquette Amaiur.
Ces derniers mois, l'ETA avait encore fait plusieurs gestes, annonçant par exemple fin avril qu'elle mettait
fin aux extorsions, une pratique qui visait les entrepreneurs du Pays basque et constituait l'une de ses
principales sources de financement.
Le 23 septembre, un collectif rassemblant les 700 prisonniers de l'ETA annonçait son intention d'adhérer à
un accord réclamant l'abandon des armes. Créée le 31 juillet 1959 par des étudiants nationalistes
d'inspiration marxiste-léniniste qui accusaient le PNV et son gouvernement en exil "d'immobilisme" face au
franquisme, l'ETA a revendiqué son premier attentat le 7 juin 1968, en tuant un policier de Saint-Sébastien.
Une précédente trêve avait été annoncée le 22 mars 2006, suivie par l'ouverture de discussions avec le
gouvernement Zapatero. Mais neuf mois plus tard, le 30 décembre, l'ETA rompt ce cessez-le-feu en plaçant
une bombe dans un parking de l'aéroport de Madrid, faisant deux morts. Le gouvernement suspend
immédiatement le dialogue, qui n'a jamais repris.
Cet article provient de http://www.lalibre.be
20/10/2011 22:41
Corriere della Sera
1/1
http://www.corriere.it/esteri/11_ottobre_20/eta-lotta-fine_fff8b8e0-fb3...
stampa | chiudi
LA LOTTA ERA IN CORSO DA 50 ANNI
MILANO - L'Eta, il gruppo separatista armato basco, ha proclamato la fine irrevocabile della lotta armata che
conduce da 50 anni e in cui sono morte almeno 850 persone. È quanto ha fatto sapere il gruppo in una nota
diffusa sul quatodiano in lingua basca Gara.
IL COMUNICATO - Nel comunicato, che mette fine a quaranta anni di lotta armata, l'organizzazione terroristica
basca invita i governi spagnolo e francese ad aprire un «dialogo diretto» per trovare una soluzione alle
«conseguenze del conflitto». L'Eta lancia un appello ai governi di Spagna e Francia per aprire un processo di
dialogo diretto che avrà come obiettivo la risoluzione delle conseguenze del conflitto e quindi il superamento del
confronto armato». L'annuncio arriva tre giorni dopo la Conferenza di pace a San Sebastian, cui hanno
partecipato l'ex segretario generale delle Nazioni Unite, Kofi Annan, del presidente dello Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams
e l'ex capo di gabinetto di Tony Blair, Jonathan Powell.
ZAPATERO - L'annuncio oggi da parte dell'Eta della cessazione della lotta armata è «una vittoria della
democrazia, della legge e della ragione» ha detto questa sera il premier spagnolo Josè Luis Zapatero, che ha
definito «di importanza transcendentale» la decisione del gruppo armato.
Redazione Online
stampa | chiudi
20/10/2011 23:24
L'Eta annuncia l'addio alle armi "Scelta definitiva, ora dialogo" - Repub...
1/1
http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2011/10/20/news/l_eta_annuncia_l_ad...
1
SPAGNA
Consiglia
176
L'Eta annuncia l'addio alle armi
"Scelta definitiva, ora dialogo"
MADRID - L'Eta ha annunciato in un comunicato pubblicato sul sito del giornale basco
Gara di avere deciso la "cessazione definitiva della sua azione armata" e ha lanciato un
"appello ai governi di Spagna e Francia per aprire un processo di dialogo diretto".
La decisione giunge dopo settimane di pressioni politiche nei confronti
dell'organizzazione in vista delle elezioni del 20 novembre, per le quali il centrodestra
rappresentato dal Partito Popolare è dato largamente favorito. "Con questa dichiarazione
storica", si legge nel comunicato pubblicato su Gara, "l'Eta mostra il suo impegno chiaro,
fermo e definitivo".
L'annuncio dell'Eta arriva tre giorni dopo la conferenza di pace a San Sebastian, cui
hanno partecipato l'ex segretario generale delle Nazioni Unite, Kofi Annan, il presidente dello Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, e l'ex capo
di gabinetto di Tony Blair, Jonathan Powell.
Oltre 40 anni di attentati. Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, che in basco significa "Patria Basca e Libertà", lotta da oltre 40 anni, armi e
dinamite in pugno, per l'indipendenza dei Paesi Baschi, l'angolo nord-occidentale della Spagna al confine con la Francia.
Gli 825 morti attribuiti all'Eta dal ministero dell'Interno spagnolo sono vittime di attentati spettacolari, come quello del 20 dicembre
1973 contro il possibile successore di Francisco Franco, l'ammiraglio Carrero Blanco, che venne raccontato nel film 'Ogro' di Gillo
Pontecorvo. Ma anche di tante azioni contro agenti della Guardia Civil o militari delle forze armate spagnole. Tutto per rivendicare
l'indipendenza dell'intero territorio basco, Euskal Herria, che comprende le province di Vitoria, Bilbao e San Sebastian, la
confinante regione spagnola della Navarra ed i Paesi baschi francesi. Dal 2001, l'Eta figura nella lista delle organizzazioni
terroristiche dell'Unione Europea e degli Stati Uniti. Il suo simbolo è un'ascia intrecciata ad un serpente.
Fondata il 31 luglio 1959 da un gruppo di studenti nazionalisti di ispirazione marxista-leninista che accusava il Partito nazionalista
basco di immobilismo di fronte al franchismo, compì il primo attentato il 7 giugno 1968.
Sua emanazione politica è il partito Batasuna, sciolto dalla giustizia spagnola nel 2003 e attualmente privo di rappresentanti nelle
istituzioni pubbliche.
L'Eta ha annunciato in passato diverse tregue, come quella del 2006, rotta però dopo qualche mese con un attentato. Il governo
Zapatero, dopo un'iniziale apertura, ha sempre dichiarato di non voler trattare con i separatisti senza una rinuncia alla violenza.
Negli ultimi anni le forze di polizia spagnola e francese hanno portato duri colpi all'organizzazione, decapitandola con centinaia di
arresti, 62 solo di capi e dirigenti. Nel novembre 2008, è stato arrestato il capo militare Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina detto 'Txeroki'.
Tre settimane dopo stessa sorte è toccata al suo luogotenente, Aitzol Iriondo detto 'Gurbitz'. Poi é stata la volta del suo
successore, Jurdan Martitegi Lizaso detto 'Il Gigante' per i suoi quasi due metri di altezza. L'Eta non compie attentati dall'agosto
2009 e nel gennaio scorso ha annunciato una tregua.
© RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA
(20 ottobre 2011)
Consiglia
176 persone hanno consigliato questo elemento. Fallo anche tu, prima di
tutti i tuoi amici.
2
1
TAG
Europa, Italia
Divisione Stampa Nazionale — Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso Spa - P.Iva 00906801006
Società soggetta all’attività di direzione e coordinamento di CIR SpA
20/10/2011 22:42
La Jornada en Internet: Anuncia ETA abandono definitivo de su lucha a...
1/2
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2011/10/20/122723612-anuncia-e...
Buscar en:
Noticias de hoy
Impresa
Edición impresa
INICIO POLÍTICA ECONOMÍA MUNDO ESTADOS CAPITAL SOCIEDAD Y JUSTICIA CIENCIAS CULTURA ESPECTÁCULOS DEPORTES
Jueves 20 de octubre de 2011
USTED ESTÁ AQUÍ: PORTADA → 2011 → 10 → 20 → ANUNCIA ETA ABANDONO
DEFINITIVO DE SU LUCHA ARMADA: PERIÓDICO GARA
+/ - AA
93
Anuncia ETA abandono definitivo
de su lucha armada: periódico
Gara
Tras 50 años de actividad, el grupo separatista decidió dejar las armas, según comunicado
citado por diario.
523
2
Email
618
Share
Reuters
Publicado: 20/10/2011 12:27
Madrid. El grupo separatista vasco ETA anunció este jueves que abandona
definitivamente las armas, según un comunicado difundido por el diario
Gara.
"ETA acaba de anunciar que 'ha decidido el cese definitivo de su actividad
armada'", dijo el diario vasco Gara citando un comunicado de la banda
armada.
Mundo
'Estoy libre de enfermedad', afirma
Hugo Chávez
Rebeldes libios narran las últimas horas
de Kadafi
Fin de misión en Libia “esta muy cerca”
tras muerte de Kadafi: OTAN
Celebra Zapatero el cese a las armas de
ETA
Obama: tiene pueblo libio oportunidad
de construir democracia tolerante
Gerry Adams celebra anuncio de ETA;
insta a España comenzar diálogo
Anuncia ETA abandono definitivo de
su lucha armada: periódico Gara
ETA, que ha matado a más de 850 personas en sus 50 años de historia en
pro de un País Vasco independiente, estaba muy debilitada por la actuación
policial en España y Francia, que ha detenido a varios de sus dirigentes más
importantes.
Hallan muerto a hijo de Kadafi en
Sirte: Consejo Nacional de Transición
La banda armada había declarado en enero una tregua "general y
verificable", algo que había sido recibido con escepticismo por las
autoridades españolas, que reclamaban un fin definitivo a la violencia.
La Unión Europea saluda "el fin de una
era de despotismo".
El comunicado de ETA en el que se anunció hoy que abandona la lucha
armada es el siguiente, de acuerdo a la versión divulgada por el portal del
diario vasco Gara: "Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, organización socialista
revolucionaria vasca de liberación nacional, desea mediante esta
Declaración dar a conocer su decisión: ETA considera que la Conferencia
Internacional celebrada recientemente en Euskal Herria es una iniciativa
degran trascendencia política. La resolución acordada reúne los ingredientes
para una solución integral del conflicto y cuenta con el apoyo de amplios
sectores de la sociedad vasca y de la comunidad internacional.
Kadafi gobernó Libia durante 42 años
con mano de hierro
Muere Kadafi en ataque al convoy en
que huía de Sirte
Más comentadas
Muere Kadafi en ataque al convoy en
que huía de Sirte
No soy antiempresario, estoy contra la
riqueza mal habida: AMLO
Aprueban diputados tres años más de
cobros extra a gasolinas
Oct 20 17:14 Gana Sub-15 el Torneo AGS Cup de
Alicante, España
Escapa secuestrado en Chimalhuacán y
liberan a otros dos, tras denuncia
Oct 20 17:12 Suspenden sesión en ALDF por falta
de quorum
En Euskal Herria se está abriendo un nuevo tiempo político.
Estamos ante una oportunidad histórica para dar una solución justa y
democrática al secular conflicto político. Frente a la violencia y la represión,
el diálogo y el acuerdo deben caracterizar el nuevo ciclo.
El reconocimiento de Euskal Herria y el respeto a la voluntad popular deben
prevalecer sobre la imposición. Ese es el deseo de la mayoría de la
ciudadanía vasca.
La lucha de largos años ha creado esta oportunidad. No ha sido un camino
fácil. La crudeza de la lucha se ha llevado a muchas compañeras y
compañeros para siempre. Otros están sufriendo la cárcel o el exilio. Para
ellos y ellas nuestro reconocimiento y más sentido homenaje.
En adelante, el camino tampoco será fácil. Ante la imposición que aún
perdura, cada paso, cada logro, será fruto del esfuerzo y de la lucha de la
ciudadanía vasca. A lo largo de estos años Euskal Herria ha acumulado la
experiencia y fuerza necesaria para afrontar este camino y tiene también la
determinación para hacerlo.
Noticias del día
Oct 20 17:00 Desastroso, negociar con el narco:
McCaffrey
Oct 20 16:37 Avalan en San Lázaro Ley de Derechos
para 2012
Oct 20 16:01 Cuestiona Vázquez Mota métodos de
selección de candidatos del PAN
Añade un comentario...
Publicar como Pello Alvarez (¿No eres
tú?)
Publicar en Facebook
Plug-in social de Facebook
Es tiempo de mirar al futuro con esperanza. Es tiempo también de actuar
con responsabilidad y valentía.
Por todo ello, ETA ha decidido el cese definitivo de su actividad armada.
ETA hace un llamamiento a los gobiernos de España y Francia para abrir un
proceso de diálogo directo que tenga por objetivo la resolución de las
consecuencias del conflicto y, así, la superación de la confrontación armada.
ETA con esta declaración histórica muestra su compromiso claro, firme y
definitivo.
ETA, por último, hace un llamamiento a la sociedad vasca para que se
implique en este proceso de soluciones hasta construir un escenario de paz y
libertad.
21/10/2011 0:24
Imprimir nota
1/1
http://www.telesurtv.net/secciones/imprimir/index.php?ckl=99191
ETA anuncia el cese definitivo de su actividad armada
TeleSUR 20-10-2011
El grupo español Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) anunció este jueves, a través de un comunicado, la renuncia definitiva de las
armas, informó el colaborador de teleSUR en España, Rodrígo Hernández.
“La banda político militar ETA, que lleva años luchando por la independencia del País Vasco, acaba de anunciar el final de la
lucha armada”, reportó el colaborador desde el mencionado País Vasco (noreste) de España.
La denominada organización socialista revolucionaria vasca de liberación nacional en un comunicado, anunció “decidido el cese
definitivo de su actividad armada”.
En el texto instó a los Gobiernos de España y Francia a “abrir un proceso de diálogo directo que tenga por objetivo la resolución
de las consecuencias del conflicto y, así, la superación de la confrontación armada”.
“ETA con esta declaración histórica muestra su compromiso claro, firme y definitivo”, sostuvo el texto de la organización.
La decisión surge después de celebrarse, en Euskal Herria, una Conferencia Internacional de la Paz en donde negociadores
intelectuales le solicitaron a la ETA una declaración de cese definitivo de sus actividades.
Los negociadores internacionales se reunieron a puerta cerrada con representantes de la política y la sociedad vasca en el
Palacio Aiete de San Sebastián.
La organización armada indicó que la mencionada Conferencia “es una iniciativa de gran trascendencia política. La resolución
acordada reúne los ingredientes para una solución integral del conflicto y cuenta con el apoyo de amplios sectores de la
sociedad vasca y de la comunidad internacional”.
En Euskal Herria, espacio en el que la cultura vasca se manifiesta, “se está abriendo un nuevo tiempo político. Estamos ante una
oportunidad histórica para dar una solución justa y democrática al secular conflicto político. Frente a la violencia y la represión, el
diálogo y el acuerdo deben caracterizar el nuevo ciclo”, indicó el grupo español en el texto.
“La lucha de largos años ha creado esta oportunidad. No ha sido un camino fácil. La crudeza de la lucha se ha llevado a muchas
compañeras y compañeros para siempre. Otros están sufriendo la cárcel o el exilio. Para ellos y ellas nuestro reconocimiento y
más sentido homenaje”, señaló.
Por su parte, el presidente del irlandés partido Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, celebró la decisión tomada por el grupo vasco.
“Celebro los decisivos y positivos términos en la respuesta de ETA a la declaración del pasado lunes en San Sebastián", informó
el dirigente republicano mediante un comunicado.
"Después de nuestras deliberaciones, el Grupo Internacional expresó la opinión de que 'es posible poner fin a la última
confrontación armada de Europa", señaló.
Adams recordó que el grupo le solicitó a la ETA “que hiciese una declaración pública sobre el fin definitivo de todas las acciones
armadas y que pidiese hablar con los Gobiernos de España y Francia para abordar exclusivamente las consecuencias del
conflicto".
El dirigente político consideró que el comunicado de la ETA cumple con los requisitos pautados en la Conferencia, en este
sentido, llamó a los gobiernos a celebrar el paso dado por la banda vasca.
teleSUR-Efe-Reuters/yi-LD
20/10/2011 20:58
ETA anunció el fin de la violencia armada
1/2
http://www.clarin.com/mundo/europa/ETA-anuncio-definitivo-acciones...
Jueves 20 de octubre de 2011
Versión para imprimir
Europa ETA
|
España
IMPRIMIR
|
violencia armada
|
fin
20/10/11 - 14:29
Lo hizo a través de un comunicado publicado en un diario vasco. La propia organización separatista califica de "histórica" su
"compromiso claro, firme y definitivo" de "superar la confrontación armada". En sus 50 años de actividad, provocó la muerte de
casi 900 personas.
Por JUAN CARLOS ALGAÑARAZ
Corresponsal en Madrid
La organización separatista vasca, ETA, anunció hoy el "cese definitivo de su actividad armada". En un
comunicado difundido en el diario vasco Gara, convocan al Gobierno español y al francés para "abrir un
proceso de diálogo directo que tenga por objetivo la resolución de las consecuencias del conflicto". El
comunicado supone dejar la lucha armada después de 40 años de acuerdo a lo que solicitaba la
Conferencia de Paz que tuvo lugar hace tres días en San Sebastián.
"ETA ha decidido el cese definitivo de su actividad armada", aseguró la organización en el comunicado. La
institución también hace un "llamamiento a los gobiernos de España y Francia para abrir un proceso de
diálogo directo que tenga por objetivo la resolución de las consecuencias del conflicto y, así, la superación
de la confrontación armada".
Los escépticos destacan que ETA no habla de una disolución. La organización sostiene que abandona la
lucha armada, pero no deja de existir. Tampoco se habla en el comunicado sobre una entrega de armas.
Otra de las preocupaciones es que surja una fractura en la organización y un ala violenta se secesione y
empieza a operar independientemente, reivindicando la lucha armada.
“Con esta declaración histórica ETA muesta un compromiso claro, firme y definitivo y hace un llamamiento a
la sociedad vasca para que se implique en este proceso de soluciones hasta construir un escenario de paz
y libertad". "La lucha de largos años ha creado esta oportunidad. No ha sido un camino fácil. La crudeza de
la lucha se ha llevado a muchas compañeras y compañeros para siempre", manifestó ETA en el
comunicado.
"Estamos ante una oportunidad histórica para dar una solución justa y democrática al secular conflicto
político. Frente a la violencia y la represión, el diálogo y el acuerdo deben caracterizar el nuevo ciclo. El
reconocimiento de Euskal Herria y el respeto a la voluntad popular deben prevalecer sobre la imposición.
Ese es el deseo de la mayoría de la ciudadanía vasca", agregó la organización.
ETA consideró que la Conferencia de Paz de San Sebastián, que estuvo integrada por 50 personalidades
españolas, vascas e internacionales, sirvió como “una iniciativa de gran trascendencia política”.
El ex presidente del Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) y uno de sus líderes históricos, Xavier Arzalluz, había
manifestado la semana que el comunicado final de ETA estaba por llegar.
Una postura similar tenía el ex presidente de Euskadi Antonio Ardanza. “Si el Partido Popular llega a la
Moncloa como anuncian las encuestas, será más radical y beligerante con ellos que los socialistas”, había
manifestado la semana pasada.
Desde agosto de 2009 ETA no ha cometido atentados aunque si se han producido episodios violentos
cuando se han descubierto militantes desplazándose en coches robados. El 10 de enero la organización
terrorista anunció un alto el fuego “permanente, general y verificable internacionalmente".
Pero tanto el gobierno socialista como el principal partido de la oposición, los populares, han reclamado que
20/10/2011 23:25
ETA anunció el fin de la violencia armada
2/2
http://www.clarin.com/mundo/europa/ETA-anuncio-definitivo-acciones...
no basta una declaración que no incluya que ETA se disuelve como organización y que entregara las armas.
http://www.clarin.com/mundo/europa/ETA-anuncio-definitivo-acciones-armadas_0_575942600.html
Copyright 1996-2011 Clarín.com - All rights reserved
Directora Ernestina Herrera de Noble
20/10/2011 23:25
Noticias de Prensa Latina - Zapatero celebra cese definitivo de activida...
1/2
http://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?option=com_content&task=vie...
HOME
Inicio
Noticias
Especiales
Radio
Multimedia
PDA
Publicaciones
Zapatero celebra cese definitivo de actividad
armada de ETA
Inglés
Portugués
Italiano
Ruso
Turco
Jueves
Octubre
2011
Fotos
Contacto
Buscar...
Madrid, 20 oct (PL) El presidente del Gobierno español, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, calificó hoy aquí de
trascendental la decisión del grupo separatista vasco ETA de abandonar definitivamente su actividad
armada.
En un comunicado, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA, Patria Vasca y Libertad, en euskera) anunció esta noche
que abandona de manera categórica sus acciones de medio siglo por la independencia del País Vasco.
La organización llamó a los gobiernos de España y Francia a abrir un proceso de diálogo directo que tenga
como objetivo la resolución de las consecuencias del conflicto, considerado la última confrontación armada
en Europa.
Este paso representa la victoria "de la democracia, de la ley y de la razón", afirmó Rodríguez Zapatero
durante una comparecencia en el Palacio de la Moncloa, sede del poder central, en la que recordó
especialmente a las víctimas provocadas por este diferendo.
"La memoria de cada una de las 829 víctimas mortales y sus familias, de tantos heridos que padecieron el
injusto y aborrecible golpe del terror, acompañara siempre a las futuras generaciones de españoles",
enfatizó el estadista.
El jefe del Ejecutivo ibérico elogió, además, la contribución "a este final de ETA" de las fuerzas de
seguridad, la justicia y los servicios de inteligencia, así como la colaboración de varios países, en particular
Francia, y de la sociedades vasca y española.
www.antiterroristas.cu
MINUTO A MINUTO
17:34 Cinco premios Nobel
exigen libertad de
antiterroristas cubanos
17:27 Brasileñas y mexicanas
discutirán oro de
voleibol de playa
17:25 Osleni Guerrero, medalla
de plata a la
perseverancia
17:20 Confirman 11 países
asistencia a Feria
venezolana de Turismo
17:18 Satisfecho Obama con
muerte de Gadafi
SÍGANOS EN
En una declaración institucional, el líder del conservador Partido Popular, Mariano Rajoy, valoró el gesto de
la agrupación separatista como una buena noticia y un paso muy importante.
Para el máximo dirigente de la principal fuerza de la oposición y favorito en las elecciones generales de
noviembre próximo, la tranquilidad de los españoles sólo será completa cuando se produzca la disolución
irreversible de ETA y su total desmantelamiento.
Su contrincante en esos comicios por el gobernante Partido Socialista Obrero Español, Alfredo Pérez,
indicó que el abandono de la violencia por el grupo armado es un triunfo de la democracia y las instituciones.
Tanto Rodríguez Zapatero como los dos aspirantes a la presidencia del Gobierno español coincidieron en
que la unidad será el único camino a seguir.
Este anuncio se produce tres días después de que una reunión de destacadas personalidades
internacionales, entre ellas el exsecretario general de Naciones Unidas y Premio Nobel de la Paz 2001, Kofi
Annan, pidió a ETA el cese definitivo de su actividad armada.
Con sede en la ciudad de San Sebastián, capital de la provincia vasca de Guipúzcoa, esa cita exhortó a las
autoridades españolas y francesas a dar la bienvenida al fin de la violencia por parte del grupo armado si
así se produjera.
otf/edu
ENCUESTA
¿Considera usted justas las
protestas estudiantiles en
Colombia contra la llamada
reforma de la educación
superior promovida por el
gobierno, de corte
privatizador y de lucro?
Sí, porque las autoridades
del ejecutivo no tienen en
cuenta las opiniones de los
educandos y personal
docente.
No, porque el gobierno tiene
la potestad de realizar
todos los cambios que
quiera y cuando quiera.
No tengo opinión
Votar
Resultados
Lineamientos de la Política
Económica y Social
Video
20/10/2011 23:41
Grupo separatista basco ETA anuncia fim da luta armada - O Globo
1/2
http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/mat/2011/10/20/grupo-separatista-basc...
globo.com
notícias
esportes
entretenimento
vídeos
MUNDO
e-mail
Globomail Pro
Globomail Free
Criar um e-mail
todos os sites
Plantão | Publicada em 20/10/2011 às 18h53m
Reuters/Brasil Online
DÊ SEU VOTO
MÉDIA: 0,0
0
Recomendar
Share
0
Seja o primeiro de seus amigos a recomendar isso.
Por Jonathan Gleave
MADRI (Reuters) - O grupo separatista basco ETA, última grande guerrilha da Europa, anunciou na
quinta-feira o fim de meio século de violência.
A luta do grupo Euskadi ta Askatasuna (Pátria Basca e Liberdade, no idioma basco) pela independência da sua
região, dividida entre o norte da Espanha e o sul da França, já estava bastante enfraquecida nos últimos anos
por causa da prisão de centenas de seus membros e da apreensão de muitas de suas armas.
"O ETA decidiu-se pelo cesse definitivo da sua atividade armada. O ETA convoca os governos espanhol e
francês a abrirem um processo de diálogo direto com o objetivo de tratar da resolução do conflito", disse o
grupo em comunicado difundido pelo jornal basco Gara e em um vídeo na Internet, onde três guerrilheiros
mascarados aparecem lendo o texto atrás de uma mesa, e ao final erguem os punhos.
O grupo vinha sofrendo intensa pressão do seu próprio braço político e de ex-integrantes agora presos para se
dissolver.
Os três militantes que aparecem no vídeo não explicaram se o ETA irá entregar suas armas, algo que o
primeiro-ministro espanhol, José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, diz ser uma condição para qualquer negociação
com o ETA.
O governo espanhol saudou o anúncio. "Isso foi possível graças à bravura e à força da sociedade espanhola,
20/10/2011 23:27
Grupo separatista basco ETA anuncia fim da luta armada - O Globo
2/2
http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/mat/2011/10/20/grupo-separatista-basc...
guiada pelo Estado de direito, que triunfa hoje como a única forma possível para que as pessoas convivam",
disse Zapatero. "Nossa democracia será sem terrorismo, mas não sem memória."
O ETA havia declarado em janeiro uma trégua que Zapatero disse ser insignificante se o grupo não entregasse
suas armas.
O governo socialista é profundamente impopular e deve perder a eleição geral de 20 de novembro, por causa
da indignação popular com a crise econômica e o desemprego. Analistas dizem que dificilmente a
desarticulação do ETA será suficiente para que o PSOE (Partido Socialista) reverta essa tendência.
O ETA não mata ninguém desde março de 2010, quando um policial francês foi assassinado por guerrilheiros
que fugiam após cometer um roubo. O governo espanhol diz que o ETA matou 829 indivíduos desde a sua
fundação, em 1959.
Na segunda-feira, líderes internacionais que participavam de uma conferência no País Basco haviam feito um
apelo para que o ETA abandonasse a luta armada. Mas muitos políticos e órgãos de comunicação criticaram a
conferência e suas conclusões, dizendo que ela havia servido como pretexto para que o braço político dos
separatistas atraísse a atenção internacional e se fortalecesse para uma eventual negociação.
O Partido Popular (centro-direita), favorito nas eleições de novembro, disse pelo Twitter que o anúncio do
ETA só fará sentido se o grupo entregar suas armas.
(Reportagem adicional de Emma Pinedo)
LINKS PATROCINADOS
LeblonSpot Design Hostel
Hostel in Rio de Janeiro, Leblon, Rio's best neighborhood.
www.leblonspot.com
Online Teaching Masters
Earn a Master of Arts in Teaching Online from USC. Learn More Now.
mat.usc.edu/Intl
Hostel in Rio de Janeiro
Cheap, Safe, Well Located Hostel Clean Beds, Big Rooms and Fun!
www.vilacarioca.com.br
Classificados
Procurando
Imóveis? Veja, abaixo, algumas
Vende-se
apartamento
JD. GUANABARA
A partir de R$ 180.000
ofertas para você
Vende-se
apartamento
LAGOA
Aluga-se
apartamento
LAGOA
Mais ofertas de imóveis, carros, empregos ou mix ? Acesse o Zap.
© 1996 - 2011. Todos os direitos reservados a Infoglobo Comunicação e Participações S.A. Este material não pode ser publicado, transmitido por
broadcast, reescrito ou redistribuído sem prévia autorização.
20/10/2011 23:27

BBC News - Basque group Eta says armed campaign is over

Transcription

Similar documents

Øvre pasvik

January 2013 - Delta Kappa Gamma Delta Chapter

Official EurOpEan DEgrEE On EntrEprEnEurial lEaDErship anD

The Gender Politics of Political Violence

2015-10 KD Summer-Fall Newsltr

Identifying the right M2M application platform will be a major and