Spanish Basque separatist group ETA dissolves after 54 years
Source: UPI
The Spanish Basque separatist group ETA said it's dissolving after more than a half-century, during which more than 800 people died amid its campaign.
ETA, considered a terrorist organization by the European Union, sent letters to organizations in Spain's northeastern Basque region last month.
The letters, meant to show the group's decision is "definite and conclusive," said ETA will dissolve all structures and "has terminated its political initiatives." The declaration acknowledges the formal end of its mission.
A formal dissolution ceremony in the French town of Cambo-les-Bains is scheduled for this weekend.
Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/05/02/Spanish-Basque-separatist-group-ETA-dissolves-after-54-years/8701525278803/
IronLionZion
(45,460 posts)But those Catalans are another story
sandensea
(21,639 posts)"They speak Spanish!?" "They're not brown, are they?"
BumRushDaShow
(129,127 posts)That.s pretty significant.
A shame that with all the other insane news going on that this historic event might end up being a footnote of a story.
sandensea
(21,639 posts)That said, it'll be interesting to see how much credit Rajoy - practically a Spanish Trump - will try to take for this development in the meantime.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Thanks, Sandensea.
http://www.dw.com/en/basque-eta-separatists-announce-they-are-completely-dissolving/a-43625162
The separatist Basque movement was created in 1958 as a response to oppression by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. The group, originally gathering youths close to the Basque Nationalist Party, dubbed its self ETA for Euskadi ta Askatasuna or "Basque Homeland and Freedom" in the region's language. ...
The group declared a truce in 2011, handed over weapons in 2017 and apologized to its victims last month. ...
sandensea
(21,639 posts)And thank you for that excellent find.
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)elleng
(130,974 posts)Coventina
(27,121 posts)violence against the Basque people by the Spanish government.
The ETA's acts of terror were always well-publicized.
The Spanish secret police killed far more Basques than the ETA killed their Spanish targets.
I'm not saying it's right, what the ETA did, but only one side of the story was ever told.
sandensea
(21,639 posts)It's no coincidence ETA was formed during the Franco dictatorship.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)These people were one of the most oppressed cultures in modern (20th century) history. What Franco's thugs did to them is called genocide. Sadly, they were never held accountable for the murders of innocents and the wholesale leveling of villages.
Because of the isolation of their homeland, between the countries of Spain and France, high up in the Pyrenees, their language developed independently of those surrounding them. A truly unique language.
ancianita
(36,099 posts)sandensea
(21,639 posts)Above all I hope they'll have nothing but peace from now on.
ancianita
(36,099 posts)CTyankee
(63,912 posts)the Basque town of Guernica. Because of the art, it lives in memory around the world.
sandensea
(21,639 posts)The larcenous little bastard never saw justice for that - at least not in his lifetime.
Coventina
(27,121 posts)That painting changed many lives, and remains one of the greatest answers to brutality ever made.
Wolf Frankula
(3,601 posts)"The armed struggle is over. It is time for political action. Put down the rifle and pick up the ballot." they are saying.
Wolf
sandensea
(21,639 posts)Most Basque people I've known are as shrewd as they are tenacious. Compromise - that most essential of political cards - may be a challenge though.