We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THE BASQUE GROUP ETA announced it would put its arsenal of weapons “under seal” and “out of operational use”, in a move towards a historic disarmament by western Europe’s last major violent separatist movement.
In a statement published in the Basque newspaper Gara, dated February 24, ETA confirmed an earlier announcement by international monitors that the group had begun giving up its arms.
The separatist group said the gesture would create a climate of “security” in the Basque Country and clear the way for a solution dealing with “all the consequences of the political conflict.”
ETA appeared to be referring to the imprisonment of its members in French and Spanish prisons. The group has long sought the transfer of these prisoners closer to home as a condition for negotiating its disbandment.
A commission monitoring a ceasefire in ETA’s decades-long campaign on February 21 released a video of black-masked members of the group presenting to monitors revolvers, a rifle, bullets and explosives.
“The commission has verified that ETA has sealed and put beyond operational use a specified quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives,” the body’s spokesman, Ram Manikkalingam, told reporters in the Spanish Basque city of Bilbao.
“The commission is confident that this step is significant and credible. We believe that it will lead to the putting beyond operational use of all ETA’s arms, ammunition and explosives,” the Sri Lankan spokesman said.
Spain’s conservative government shrugged off the move by ETA, which is classed as a terrorist group by the United States and European Union.
It does not recognise Manikkalingam and his International Verification Commission.
“We do not need these international verifiers,” said Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz.
Spanish media derided the move as a “farce” and said the cache surrendered was ludicrously small.
“The quantity of arms, I think, is partly the result of the fact that they had to do this under clandestine conditions, so I don’t think it’s insignificant at all,” said Manikkalingam.
ETA is blamed for the deaths of 829 people in a four-decade campaign of shootings and bombings for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France.
The Spanish and French governments refuse to negotiate with ETA, which has been weakened over recent years by the arrests of its senior leaders in the two countries.
Only about 30 of its active members are thought to be still at large.
In October 2011 it announced a “definitive end to armed activity” but refused to formally disarm and disband.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This is a really important and brave move by the basque seperatist movement, and one that would have happened a long time ago if the Spanish Government had agree to talks. Instead of helping a peace process the Spanish Government is ignoring every move and initiative, from every quarter. Not only that but they are arresting. And locking up young political activists that have nothing to do with ETA.
There needs to be a peace process and there needs to be international pressure put on Spain to participate.
More info http://www.basquepeaceprocess.info/
There should be no peace with terrorists, look at the shape of NI since this so called peace process. They tend to see a peace process as a victory and a surrender by those they were fighting against.
Are you anti-Irish anti-GFA bigots going to hijack this article
Irish not unionist or loyalist throes idiots are just as bad as your crowd. Just can’t bring yourselves to admit the Irish hate you and British you shall remain :D
My crowd ? Explain
FOH. You’re an invasive species on this island.
Im not anti-Irish. I am anti-GFA though.
Jamesy
Why are you anti-GFA ?
Im anti-GFA because its a load of nonsense, I feel that every month theres another dig being taken at my community. Its as if the conflict is still raging but our side are standing there with their hands tied behind their backs and can do nothing.
Jamesy is the north not a better place because of it no bombings no shootings you talk about digs don’t the nationalists have to out up with ridicules marching that’s done just to annoy them
How is it done to annoy them, is republican marching done to annoy me?
You do realise that marching is a two way thing dont you?
James, I’ve no doubt that your a normal and decent person and that your experiences colour your view of peace processes, however sticking your head in the sand is neither progressive nor clever.
There has been an armed conflict in the Basque Country for decades. Some people see ETA as evil terrorists and some see the Spanish state as the primary aggressors. The fact is that both were involved in abductions, murders and all the badness that comes with prolonged armed conflicts.
Supporters of Basque insependence will say that ETA were legitimate, and those favour Spanish rule believe that the state is legitimate.
The fact is that these two sides will never agree but any movement than makes the conflict more civil and ultimately peaceful is a good thing. To pretend that the conflict doesn’t exist, or is wholly the fault of one side is simplistic and will do nothing to secure peace.
The basque independence movement has been clamouring for a trilateral and internationally monitored peace process for a decade, but the current Spanish government has stalled and frustrated the process at every turn.
It takes courage, compromise and understanding by everyone in order to bring about peace. ETA has been proactive but without movement from the Spanish and French nothing much more will happen.
ETA like the IRA are scvmbag terrorists, they dont deserve to be negotiated with considering some of the things they done. Irish people and Basque people make a choice, either get on with your life and bother nobody or else join a proscribed terror group and make peoples lives a misery. If you choose the latter then you need to be prepared to reap the whirlwind.
Why don’t you march together as one we have been killing and fighting each other for many many years now. why not become a community that works together for the better of its people no matter their skin colour religious or political beliefs is it to much to put the past behind us learn from it and move on together as a better people and more importantly a community as one
Good idea, maybe you could tell that to the nationalists in Derry and Belfast who are still burning protestants out of areas where they find them as a minority.
Thank you but if we are very honest neither side would have halos glowing over their heads both loyalist and republications are both as equally at fault all this violence nowadays is mostly down to marches banners and graffiti why not both sides create a banner that represents both sides in a peaceful manner simply passing the blame on will stop any progress and we will never get any where meaningful
They need to put their members out of commision as well as the guns.
That is what they forgot here.
Gangsters I tell ye.
Biggest mistake ever, but still time to round up the animals :)
Lordlarry is, without a doubt, ironman.
He’s also a colossal pr1ck.
ETA is trying here give them a chance
The PP government need ETA to blame for all their woes, any protest in Bilbao where a Basque flag is flown is the work of ETA, the Madrid train bombings where the work of ETA in collusion with the socialist party ti overthrow Aznar, The occupy movement was the work of ETA, any new independent political party in the Basque country who wave a Basque flag are ETA and the list goes on and on, and the funny thing is their electorate swallow it,
No doubt Adams & Co will travel over to congratulate fellow terrorists on their surrender :-)
Hi ironman/Kenneth
Clown
I’m sure they will they both trained together to cause crimes against humanity
Change the record FFS! No matter what SHITE you lot continue to spew, it won’t take away from the fact that both the PIRA and ETA have and continue to lead the way in both countries when it comes to conflict resolution, not those and previous governments within both countries, but its people who had no other option but to take up arms and defend their inalienable right for a just freedom! So go ahead and bang out your predictable comeback SHITE! It’s Saturday….. not particularly busy now, could do with a laugh!
Crawl back under your rock Steven , no one cares about the nonsense you spout every time your mouth falls open !!
Some people here think that if you stop murdering people that somehow you are brave. My mind is boggling. Does this mean that if you never murdered anybody that you are a coward.
That will hurt the shinners heads
Every comment you make is about your ming boggling Bagna. Just another troll on the journal.
Ruairi I assure you I am not a magical creature I am very real. I do not know what a ‘ming’ is though. I am still learning.
They should just shoot there self’s in there faces
Themselves in their faces
Glen do you want help getting that stick out of your arse
I think you should just concentrate on your grammar and deal with that chip you have regarding constructive criticism
Grammar shwammar you still knew what it ment
ETA constantly call ceasefires because the Spanish and French governments have a stranglehold of their movements, the reason they’re not taking it seriously as ETA are in all likely hood trying to reorganise
I’m sick of reading the comments of posh snobs on this journal, terrorists ? How do you think the republic was formed ? We just asked the British was it ?
Spain is a democracy since 1978. You can vote a party the support independence since 1978. There were a general amnesty in 1977 of any political prisoner. All ETA members were left scot-free.
Simply no reason except trying to force by terror political ideas.
By the way no comparison with the Northern Irish situation. The only link is the communist link that somehow still remains.
It is illegal for a political party in Spain To even contemplate a referendum on independence, Patxi Lopez was threatened with prison for suggesting such a move, In catalunya the highest ranking military officers offered to take the tanks and soldiers onto the streets to stop Artur Mas and co from debating the possibility of a referendum.
ETA is a terrorist group. As a terrorist group should ask for forgiveness and dissolve. No conditions. Spain as a democratic country might in the future be lenient with their horrible crimes.
What they are doing at present is a charade supported by many international pawns who do not have a clue but support any “independence” from any stablished western government. Probably remnants of the communist defeat or in the Irish case, the IRA defeat.
They didnt get off scot free, the ones who got off Scott free were the francoists who supported the illegal regime benefitted from the amnesty, Just Google the GAL operation that used mercenaries to abduct and murder suspected members of ETA in the 80′s that was sanctioned by the state.
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say