Basque ETA offers ceasefire in video
Source: Agencies |
September 6, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The Basque separatist militant group ETA declared a ceasefire in a video statement issued yesterday, suggesting it might turn to a political process in its quest for independence.
The video, which appeared in Basque newspaper Gara's website and was also made available to the BBC, showed three masked militants making a statement in Basque. Gara accompanied the video with a transcription of the statement in Basque and Spanish.
There was no immediate response from Spanish government.
"ETA makes it known that as of some months ago it took the decision to no longer employ offensive armed actions," the statement said, suggesting it is ready to pursue a "democratic process," in trying to achieve its goals.
ETA is seeking an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France. It is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States. It has killed more than 825 people since the late 1960s.
The militant group has declared ceasefires before, but none of them has led to the end of Europe's last major armed militancy.
The group last announced what it called a "permanent ceasefire" in March 2006, but on December 30 of the same year the organization set off a powerful car bomb at Madrid's Barajas international airport that killed two people.
There was no immediate reaction from the Spanish government on the latest offer. After the December 30 bombing the government said it will not negotiate with the group again.
The video, which appeared in Basque newspaper Gara's website and was also made available to the BBC, showed three masked militants making a statement in Basque. Gara accompanied the video with a transcription of the statement in Basque and Spanish.
There was no immediate response from Spanish government.
"ETA makes it known that as of some months ago it took the decision to no longer employ offensive armed actions," the statement said, suggesting it is ready to pursue a "democratic process," in trying to achieve its goals.
ETA is seeking an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France. It is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States. It has killed more than 825 people since the late 1960s.
The militant group has declared ceasefires before, but none of them has led to the end of Europe's last major armed militancy.
The group last announced what it called a "permanent ceasefire" in March 2006, but on December 30 of the same year the organization set off a powerful car bomb at Madrid's Barajas international airport that killed two people.
There was no immediate reaction from the Spanish government on the latest offer. After the December 30 bombing the government said it will not negotiate with the group again.
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