Eta 'ends attacks' on politicians

[Monkey]

Eta 'ends attacks' on politicians

The Basque militant group Eta has said it will no longer attack Spanish politicians, in a statement reported by the Basque newspaper, Gara.

The group said it has closed its "front" against politicians because of changes in the political climate.

Madrid has offered to negotiate with Eta if it lays down its weapons.

The militants, who are blamed for some 800 deaths in their 40-year fight for an independent Basque nation, say they are ready to talk but not to disarm.

A statement issued by the group on Friday stressed that the right to self-determination would have to be central to any peace process.

Protests

Eta's latest statement, issued on Saturday, said it was waiting for the Spanish and French authorities to "respond positively to the will" it had displayed.

The militants' planned Basque homeland encompasses areas of northern Spain and south-western France.

Over the past two years, it has carried out several small attacks without causing any deaths.

Some 250,000 people marched in Madrid earlier in June to protest at Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's offer to negotiate with the militant separatists.

[DonQui]

They are still a terrorist organization that should never be dealt with.

[Englishman]

Unfortunately dealing with them may be the best way to stop death.

[Zim Flyer]

I hate all terrorist organisations with a passion.

Spain under King Juan Carlos is a totally different country then what it was under the Fascist rule of Franco, it is probably one of the most decentralised country's in Europe.

What excuse they had to exist in the past is no longer justified and they should disband forthwith.

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by Zim Flyer

I hate all terrorist organisations with a passion.

Spain under King Juan Carlos is a totally different country then what it was under the Fascist rule of Franco, it is probably one of the most decentralised country's in Europe.

What excuse they had to exist in the past is no longer justified and they should disband forthwith.

yup, but there will always be nutcases out there, like the fringe IRA groups or the NF types who go around attacking asians. however i'm not sure that banning batasuna was the best way to go about things. i have to say tho, often terrorist groups, while acting in an unjustified manner, often have valid and justified aims, like the palestinians or IRA groups back in the bad old days. ETA's aims on the other hand seem ridiculous to me.