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.

Suspected ETA Military Chief arrested in France

French authorities have detained a man who they believe is one of the top commanders in the Basque separatist organisation ETA.

Alejandro Zobaran Arriola was among four people arrested on the Dutch-French border by French police. All four are suspected memebrs of ETA while Arriola is believed to be the current Military Commander of the armed organisation. According to local media, a number of firearms along with ETA documents were found in a building that was raided.

ETA called a permanent ceasefire in January and has called for negotiations with the Spanish government. This has been refused and has lead to fears that the group may call off it's cessation and launch further attacks on Spanish targets.

The majority of the Basque Country is located in Spain with a smaller part in southern France. ETA usually targets members of the Spanish security forces along with infrastructure and commerical targets.

Four suspected ETA members arrested

Four people have been arrested and a quantity of explosives have been seized in the Basque Country.

The Spanish government has claimed that a major operation targeting suspected ETA members is underway. The two men and two women were arrested in the northern town of Vizcaya earleir today. Up to 200kg of explosives were also seized.

ETA declared a permanent ceasefire in January however this has been rejected by the Spanish government who say they want the group to disband and hand over all of it's weapons.

Victims of ETA violence have called for a new pro-Independence political party to be banned as they believe the party is the new political wing of the armed group. However this has been rejected by the party who say they reject all forms of violence.

Spain's Attorney General to ask judges to ban pro-Independence Party

Spain's attorney general is going to ask the courts to ban the new political party "Sortu", claiming that it is nothing more than a re-packaged version of Batasuna - the political wing of the Basque separatist group ETA.

The Supreme Court will rule next week on whether they party should be legalized. Sortu claims it rejects all forms of violence however Spanish police have said that there is ample evidence to prove that it is the political wing of the banned Basque militant group. Batasuna was banned in 2003 after it was accused of acting as the political arm of ETA.

Basque local elections take place this coming May. ETA declared a ceasefire in September and in January confirmed that the ceasefire is intended to be permanent.

Basque Rebels call permanent ceasefire

Basque Separatist group ETA have declared a permanent ceasefire today.

The group, which has waged a violent 40 year campaign for Basque Independence has declared that this truce will be "internationally verifible", indicating that it may be willing to put it's arsenal beyond use. Late last year, supporters of the militant group announced the creation of a new political party which would oppose violence.

Spanish government officials responded to the statement saying that "while it was not bad news" it did not go far enough. The Spanish government wants ETA to declare a permanent end to it's armed campaign.

ETA may be behind robbery

The Basque militant group ETA may be behind an armed robbery in south-east France, police say.

Three masked gunmen tied up an employee of the Impuls company in Bourg-de-Peage last night before stealing thousands of cards which contain built-in microchips and seven printers. The man was not injured. The cards and printers are used by the French government to produce identity cards for it's citizens.

ETA members have been known to use false documents when travelling.

The group has been on ceasefire since early September while it's supporters have formed a new political party which opposes violence.

New Basque Nationalist Party to be launched

 

The banned political wing of Basque militant group ETA is to announce the formation of a new political party on December 10th, it has emerged.

ETA's political wing, Batasuna, has been banned since 2003. Under Spanish law, any party which does not condemn militant attacks carried out by separatist groups can be accussed of "supporting terrorism" and therefore banned.

It is understood that the group will be called Abertzale Left and will support Basque Independence through purely peaceful and political means. The timing of the announcement is expected to tie in with an expected ETA statement in December which will announce a permanent end to the groups armed struggle.

Jailed Batasuna leader Arnoldo Otegi has said that peaceful means is the only way to achieve independence. Otegi is serving a two year sentence for "glorifying terrorism".

ETA suspect deported from Mexico

A man wanted by Spain in relation to ETA activities has been handed over to Spanish authorities by Mexican police.

Juan Carlos Rekarte Gutierrez has been wanted in Spain in connection to an attack on the Union and Phoenix building in Pamplona in 1987. During the attack, a Press Merchant was killed. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the Basque separatist group ETA.

Mr. Gutierrez was arrested in Mexico on Monday following a tip-off to Spanish police, he had entered Mexico illegally and it is unclear how long he was resident there.

ETA called a ceasefire earlier this year and it is expected to announce a permanent end to it's armed campaign in the coming months.

Brian Currin calls for unconditional ETA surrender

South African lawyer and international conflict resolution expert Brian Currin has called on ETA to surrender it's weapons unconditionally and declare a permanent end to it's armed campaign.

Currin said that if ETA called a permanent end to violence, their political wing, Batasuna, would be legalised.

He also played down the suggestion of an amnesty for political prisoners stating that
"it is difficult to find a balance between the victims and the causers of violence".

It is unlikely that ETA would declare a permanent ceasefire without their 800 or so poltiical prisoners being offered amnesty.

ETA may announce permanent cessation of violence by Christmas

The President of the Basque Socialist Party (PSE) has said that he believes the Basque separatist group ETA will announce a permanent end to their armed campaign by Christmas.

Jésus Eguiguren said that if a permanent end to violence was declared, Batasuna (ETA's political wing) would be legalised.  Eguiguren also said dialogue between the government and separatists was needed to bring about an end to the military side of the conflict.

ETA has been on ceasefire since this summer although it has refused to announce a permanent end to violence. The group has been fighting for the last 40 years for an independent Basque Country in Northern Spain. Independence is desired by a large proportion of the Basque people, although only a small amount support the use of arms to achieve this.

Basque youths arrested

At least 13 suspected members of the Basque political youth group SEGI have been arrested in raids this week.

SEGI is classified as an illegal organisation in Spain and is considered to be the youth wing of ETA or at least a "recruiting ground" for the organisation. Most commentators consider SEGI to be little more than a political youth group who are supportive of ETA and Basque Independence.

All of the suspects were in their early 20's and are to be transferred to Madrid for questioning.

Basque separatist group ETA is currently on ceasefire however the Spanish government is thus far refusing to negotiate with the organisation.