Top IRA commander calls on Spanish government to act over ETA ceasefire

A former leading member of the Provisional IRA has called on the Spanish government to move quickly to secure a lasting peace in the Basque Country.

Seánna Walsh, a former Officer Commanding IRA prisoners in the notorious Long Kesh prison, writing in IRIS Magazine said the Spanish government was still wedded to the "old agenda of repression and denial".

Seánna Walsh reads a statement on behalf of the IRA's ruling Army Council in 2005 announcing that the organisation is ending its armed campaign

  In October of this year the Basque armed separatist group, Euskadi ta Askatasuna (ETA) announced that its armed campaign was over and that the struggle for Basque Independence would continue through purely peaceful political means. So far the Spanish government has refused to negotiate with the organisation

"The Spanish government must be made to recognise that the alternative to compromise is more of the same old cycle of conflict and war, repression and guerrilla warfare - indefinitely." said Walsh

He also added that a complete end to the military conflict and a move towards a political struggle can only happen when the Spanish government begin by granting concessions such as releasing sick prisoners, repatriation of prisoners to the Basque country and the formulation of a release programme for ETA and other political prisoners.

The release of prisoners would be a major step out of bloodshed and repression and into a new future, he said.