Madrid dismisses ETA call for outside mediators

[bcbm]

25 November 2005

MADRID ? The Basque terrorist organisation ETA has appealed to the international community to intervene to find peace deal with Madrid.

ETA sent a statement to some foreign embassies and news organisations such as the BBC calling on the international community to participate in a negotiated settlement to the conflict, and for more power in the Basque region.

The Spanish government dismissed the new statement from ETA, saying it does not meet expectations.

A senior aide to prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said it does not call for a ceasefire nor does it say the group is renouncing violence.

"It is not the communique that all of us had been hoping for," the aide said, referring to recent speculation in Madrid that a major ETA cease-fire announcement could happen at any moment.

"The government received the statement, studied it, but is not giving it the slightest attention. The only statement we want is one declaring the end of the violence," the aide added.

ETA has been blamed for more than 800 killings in its 37-year fight for Basque independence.

ETA has not killed anyone since 2003, although it continues a campaign of bombings that have caused injuries and property damage this year.

More than 500 ETA prisoners are now in Spanish jails, after police in Spain and France, where ETA terrorists hide out, boosted cooperation in recent years.

[The Grey Blur]

The Spanish cannot hope the Basques will stay quiet for long, if they don't take this chance I wouldn't be surprised to see another bombing campaign become operational.

I've also heard those ETA prisoners are in some of the worst conditions in the world, as witnessed by the death of a Basque in Spanish custody last month.

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna

[bcbm]

Originally posted by Rage Against The [email protected] 29 2005, 03:36 PM
I've also heard those ETA prisoners are in some of the worst conditions in the world, as witnessed by the death of a Basque in Spanish custody last month.
They're lucky to make it to prison. Many ETA volunteers have simply been shot, ditched somewhere remote and then "found" by the police and declared a suicide, despite glaring evidence to the contrary. Not to mention those who are tortured quite brutally. The Spanish state clearly doesn't mind keeping parts of its fascist past.

[Punk Rocker]

A senior aide to prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said it does not call for a ceasefire nor does it say the group is renouncing violence.

The ETA didn't bow down to Franco, so they sure as hell aren't going to bow down now. Obviously the ETA is not going to call for a ceasefire until the Spanish government is willing to negotiate for Basque freedom.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by Punk [email protected] 30 2005, 12:03 AM

A senior aide to prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said it does not call for a ceasefire nor does it say the group is renouncing violence.

The ETA didn't bow down to Franco, so they sure as hell aren't going to bow down now. Obviously the ETA is not going to call for a ceasefire until the Spanish government is willing to negotiate for Basque freedom.
Indeed, though they seem to be winding down somewhat as of late. Still plenty of bombings, but no assassinations. Maybe a tactical switch, following Al-Qaeda's work in Madrid? Its difficult to follow as there is a substantial lack of Basque news in English, especially from the nationalists.