ETA lay down their arms after 40 years and more than 820 deaths

[Jom]

The Basque separatist group ETA (Euskadi Ta Azkatasuna - Basque homeland and freedom), has announced it is ending its armed struggle, which has seen a campaign of resistance (against Franco) and terror that has spanned 4 decades.

This declaration has been met with mixed feelings in Spain, as there is no mention of any kind of regret or apology for the loss of life, whilst at the same time it lauds ETA's terrorist comrades who are currently in prison or exile. Ban Ki-Moon has also called for the victims to be remembered. So can this be a lasting agreement? ETA has declared ceasefires in the past, most notably in 2006 when it claimed a "permanent ceasefire", only to carry out a car bombing several months later at Barajas airport.

[Ancient Aliens]

I don't see this as ending the conflict, the region has always been volatile. But we will see...

[Jom]

I don't see this as ending the conflict, the region has always been volatile. But we will see...

The Spanish part of the Basque country is autonomous; it has its own parliament, police force, budget etc. When given that level of autonomy, it makes me wonder why ETA still felt the need to carry out acts of violence within the last few years. Would Spain respect a referendum and vote by the parliament for independence I wonder.

[NotYetRegistered]

It took 40 years for them to realize that harming innocent people isn't going to do much good for their organisation?

[Jom]

It took 40 years for them to realize that harming innocent people isn't going to do much good for their organisation?

Well, the Basque country is autonomous now, but I couldn't say how much of that is due to ETA's campaign of terror.

[Condottiere 40K]

9/11 pretty much screwed most European movements that incorporated "armed struggle" as part of their operations, it just took them ten years and increased cooperation between French and Spanish security apparatus to squeeze them to this involuntary declaration.

[MathiasOfAthens]

No it took them however many years since the death of Franco to realize to continue is futile. The dictator is dead.

[torongill]

Actually pretty much all spanish provinces have their local parliaments, separate budgets, etc. In some ways it's just like the US. Hell, in Catalonia they practically refuse to speak Spanish. You can see it at every post-Barcelona game and it's funny, the interviewer asks Villa/Messi/Pedro questions in Catalan, the footballer responds in Spanish. IT would be funny if it wasn't ridiculous.

As for ETA surrendering, they surrendered because they had allienated almost everyone by their bombing attacks and assassinations. And the cooperation between Portugal, Spain and France definitely helped. And if you see them on TV, most of the ETA activists are youngsters. For a lot of them it's just a very dangerous game and it's not like they can die or something, right? They haven't come to grips with their own mortality.

[Madari]

The finish of ETA´s violence wave is possible because of the persistence of basque society, the agreements between basque and spanish goverments and latest, the legalization of the left nacionalists political - coalition "Bildu" last year.
It has been many years since a great part of the basque society rejected ETA´s activity. Also it is to take in count the victims for both sides and the spanish government have to answer for the victims of both sides. Now is a time of hope for us and for our next generations.

Im so young to speak about the crude situation lived some years ago in the Basque country but now its the chance for democracy and peace.

[Heinz Guderian]

Too many of their leaders and financiers have been arrested. They learnt nothing from the IRA. The whole point of cell structure is you dont get rats ratting out a whole organisational tree. And they would make it really easy for the narcs to track them because they would keep crossing the Spanish/French border without a care in the world. When they had already been ratted out, this would make it so easy for the filth to pull in their entire cell.

So next time: a) dont trust another member so implicitly cos he/she is a Basque, b) take a boat instead of crossing the Pyrenees.

[Jom]

What depresses me the most about this is that, judging from their declaration, they're doing this for all the wrong reasons, in that they're simply stopping because their position has become more and more untenable, and they just don't enjoy the support in the Basque country that they used to. They're not stopping because violence is a waste of life and killing innocents is abhorrent, but rather because it won't get them anywhere.

[Eofor]

What depresses me the most about this is that, judging from their declaration, they're doing this for all the wrong reasons, in that they're simply stopping because their position has become more and more untenable, and they just don't enjoy the support in the Basque country that they used to. They're not stopping because violence is a waste of life and killing innocents is abhorrent, but rather because it won't get them anywhere.

:wub:s stopping violence to further their own ends is nothing new; we should all be glad that a terrorist organization has laid down arms, no matter the reason.

[Phier]

What depresses me the most about this is that, judging from their declaration, they're doing this for all the wrong reasons, in that they're simply stopping because their position has become more and more untenable, and they just don't enjoy the support in the Basque country that they used to. They're not stopping because violence is a waste of life and killing innocents is abhorrent, but rather because it won't get them anywhere.

Most of the time violence is the answer. See the Arab spring for details. It just depends on what side of the cause you are on and the chance of success.

[Jom]

Most of the time violence is the answer. See the Arab spring for details. It just depends on what side of the cause you are on and the chance of success.

How exactly do you compare the Arab Spring, mass popular uprisings, with an organised terrorist group?

[Phier]

How exactly do you compare the Arab Spring, mass popular uprisings, with an organised terrorist group?

You complained about violence, I simply correct what I see as a common misconception. Violence is often the answer. They failed and their chances of success were never great, but had they 'won' odds are their would be statues of the leaders somewhere and kids would be required to learn their names in school.

[Dr. Croccer]

You complained about violence, I simply correct what I see as a common misconception. Violence is often the answer. They failed and their chances of success were never great, but had they 'won' odds are their would be statues of the leaders somewhere and kids would be required to learn their names in school.

They could never have ''won''. The Arab Spring was a completely national revolution, against unpopular regimes. Even if the ETA had the full support of the Basque people, they would only be fighting a far bloodier war against a far less forgiving and equally determined Spain.

Violence is the answer in a completely different and incomparable case, is what you should say.

[John ''True Grit'' Wayne]

I support ETA and there struggle to be there own country

[Halbard]

Pussies. These and the IRA.

Where have all the riots gone? (not counting Greece)

[ivan_the_terrible]

Pussies. These and the IRA.

Where have all the riots gone? (not counting Greece)

Lol 'pussies'. If you feel so strongly about it why are you on a videogame forum writing one-liners and not out in the mountains conducting a terror campaign?

[Halbard]

Lol 'pussies'. If you feel so strongly about it why are you on a videogame forum writing one-liners and not out in the mountains conducting a terror campaign?

Im not Basque. I dont give a crap about them, tbh. Im just bustin' chops.