Basque Group Calls for Permanent Ceasefire

[pampango]

Source: New York Times

ETA, the Basque separatist group, declared a permanent cease-fire on Monday, raising hopes that Spain’s four-decade old fight against the nationalist organization could be coming to an end. The Spanish government did not provide an immediate response but has in the past been dismissive of such calls by the group, which the European Union and the United States consider a terrorist organization. In September, the government rejected a similar though less wide-ranging cease-fire declaration because ETA had not offered to hand over weapons nor had it described the ceasefire as permanent.

In this latest declaration, ETA said its cease-fire would be “a permanent and general cease-fire which will be verifiable by the international community,” the group said in a statement posted on the Web site of the Basque newspaper Gara. “This is ETA’s firm commitment towards a process to achieve a lasting resolution and towards an end to the armed confrontation.” But Monday’s statement did not mention any surrendering of weapons — a key condition placed by the government. The group also said its ceasefire would depend on the advancement of political negotiations on Basque independence. Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, Spain’s interior minister, has insisted that any cease-fire offer needed to be unconditional.

ETA, a nationalist and separatist organization formed in 1959, has killed more than 800 people since starting a campaign in the late 1960s to establish an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France.

ETA has not killed on Spanish soil in over a year and has instead found itself under increased pressure from political allies to stop the bloodshed, as well as struggling to maintain any operational structure. The group has been considerably weakened by stronger cooperation between Spanish and other police forces, particularly France, with over 30 arrests made last year alone. Last May, for instance, French police arrested near the Spanish border Mikel Kabikoitz Karrera Sarobe, the suspected military leader of ETA, as well as his alleged second-in-command.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/world/europe/11spain.html?_r=1

[AlecBGreen]

1. wait wait wait!

You cant negotiate with terrorists!!1! Right!? Im sure I head that somewhere...

[dipsydoodle]

2. Spain's Basque separatists Eta call 'permanent truce'

Source: BBC News

The Basque separatist group Eta has announced a permanent ceasefire in its fight for independence from Spain.

In a video statement sent to the media, the group said the truce would be "internationally verifiable".

But the Spanish government has rejected Eta's statement, saying it contained nothing new.

Eta's campaign for independence for the Basque region has cost more than 800 lives since 1968 but it called a halt to armed attacks last year.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12151597

[Judi Lynn]

3. K & R.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[littlewolf]

4. this is good news .... I was stationed in Rota ....

and this is very good news ... :D

[many a good man]

5. This is NO news

Cease fire in exchange for independence? They're gasping for air.