Will it be the luck of the Basques?
There has been a lot of talk in the media about the recent announcement by the IRA to disarm. Many hope that this will be a final sign for ETA to give up the armed struggle.
Any move towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict is welcomed, and yes, a lot of parallels can be drawn in regards of the two struggles.
Ironically enough, Rodriguez Zapatero who claims to be all for dialogue, issued an statement that just doesn't make sense according to an article appeared at Deutsche Welle:
Look, the article goes into it:
There has been a lot of talk in the media about the recent announcement by the IRA to disarm. Many hope that this will be a final sign for ETA to give up the armed struggle.
Any move towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict is welcomed, and yes, a lot of parallels can be drawn in regards of the two struggles.
Ironically enough, Rodriguez Zapatero who claims to be all for dialogue, issued an statement that just doesn't make sense according to an article appeared at Deutsche Welle:
Spanish politicians of all hues were quick to welcome the IRA move. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called it "great news," but was quick to add that the situation in the Basque region is very different from Northern Ireland.Correct Mr. Rodriguez Zapatero, it is very different, and it is mainly because of the arrogant and repressive approach by Madrid to the issue.
Look, the article goes into it:
It is true that the IRA's political wing, Sinn Fein, was a vital part of that peace process. But in Spain, the political wing of ETA, Batasuna, was banned two years ago. The party's supporters -- numbering up to 15 percent of voters in the Basques -- say the ban curtails their basic democratic rights and makes dialogue and a peace process impossible.On the other hand, Batasuna, unlike Sinn Fein, has never been able to distance itself from its militant wing. On numerous occasions Spanish courts have proven Batasuna's involvement in funding and supporting ETA violence.
It boils down to this; Spain's strategy is simple, criminalize everything and anything Basque. Not only political parties like the current ban on Batasuna or the push to ban EHAK, but also schools, newspapers, radio stations, unions, human rights organizations, you name it.
A country like Spain, with so many Fascist skeletons in the closet, banning a political party, is not exactly what you can call a move towards dialogue, mostly because after three years no trial has been scheduled and no solid evidence against Batasuna has been presented to the public.
A country like Spain, with so many Fascist skeletons in the closet, banning a political party, is not exactly what you can call a move towards dialogue, mostly because after three years no trial has been scheduled and no solid evidence against Batasuna has been presented to the public.
At least that blood thirsty beast by the name of José María Aznar is not calling the shots any more, so yes, there is hope.
But I guess we need to wait and see.
* As I mentioned the article "ETA to Follow IRA Move to Disarm?" appeared at Deutsche Welle, but it can also be found at Artxiboak.
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It boils down to this; Spain's strategy is simple, criminalize everything and anything Basque. Not only political parties like the current ban on Batasuna or the push to ban EHAK, but also schools, newspapers, radio stations, unions, human rights organizations, you name it.
ReplyDelete-- Man, that's a really simplistic analysis. Spain as a whole has a common strategy against poor Basque Country? That's typical nationalist propaganda. Batasuna was banned because it was part of terrorist band ETA. You know that and everybody knows that.
A country like Spain, with so many Fascist skeletons in the closet, banning a political party, is not exactly what you can call a move towards dialogue, mostly because after three years no trial has been scheduled and no solid evidence against Batasuna has been presented to the public.
-- You're right on that. There are many fascist skeletons in Spain -- Basque County included. Remember the Carlists? No solid evidence against Batasuna? That's a flat-out LIE! There were members of ETA in Batasuna!!! Don't you know Josu Ternera!!!
At least that blood thirsty beast by the name of José María Aznar is not calling the shots any more, so yes, there is hope.
-- Aznar is a lot of things, but a "blood thirsty beast" he's not. ETA members are that. You seem to hate Aznar more than those guys. Damn, why am I not surprised?
AGUR!
eljorje@hotmail.com
Thanks for your input, but regarding Batasuna, I stand by what I said, when Madrid demonstrates that it is in fact the political wing of ETA in a court of law with solid evidence, that way I will refer to them as that, in the mean time, they are a political party accused of being ETA's political wing, and since I do believe in democratic principles like the presumption of innocence, well, is up to Madrid to come up with the burden of evidence.
ReplyDeleteAfter the veredict on Segi and the other youth organizations those who think like me stand the higher ground.
The blood of Angel Berrueta smears Aznar's hands.
He is a blood thirsty beast.
Berrueta fue el pro-etarra al que asesinó un policía en una panadería, no? Qué tiene que ver Aznar con eso?
ReplyDeleteCon respecto a lo de Batasuna, pues yo no sé que más pruebas necesitas. Recuerdas que la Mesa Nacional del partido estuvo en la cárcel porque cedió su espacio electoral a ETA? Y como estás hay muchas. Ahora, si no lo quieres ver... Ya sabes lo que dicen: no hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver.
AGUR!