ETA in Spain  - The Basque Separatist Movement

The government and people of Spain are currently facing an upsurge in violence from the Basque separatist group ETA, a Basque language acronym for Basque Homeland and Liberty, which is fighting for an independent homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France. Founded in 1959 by opponents of the mainstream Basque Nationalist Party during the Francisco Franco dictatorship when ethnic diversity and Basque culture in particular were brutally repressed, the separatist group began engaging in violence in 1968. Among its early victims was Franco's designated successor, Spanish Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco, killed by a car bomb in 1973.

Despite Spain's successful transition to democracy and the establishment of 17 autonomous communities in Spain, including the Basque areas, which enjoy broad autonomy including its own regional government, ETA has persisted in its violent campaign for independence. Through bombings and assassinations ETA has killed some 800 people in Spain. It is now considered the most active armed separatist group in Western Europe following the cease-fire of the Irish Republican Army. ETA finances its activities through kidnappings, robberies and extortion.

Over the years, there have been attempts to bring the Spanish government and the ETA to the negotiating table. But talks inevitably break down with the ETA insisting on negotiating independence and the government discussing only ETA disarmament. In September 1998, ETA announced a unilateral cease-fire and called for negotiations with the Spanish government. After the failure of one round of talks with the government, the group renounced its truce in December 1999 and launched one of its bloodiest campaigns to date, including the assassinations of 19 people. In late October, for example, a suspected ETA car bombing in Madrid killed three people, including a Spanish Supreme Court justice. Generally, ETA's targets are Spanish politicians, civil guard officers and judges, and leading Basque politicians, businessmen and journalists who have come out against ETA violence. In its most recent round of violence, however, ETA appears to be widening its range of targets, setting off car bombs in central Madrid.

Law enforcement authorities in both Spain and France have stepped up their pursuit of ETA terrorists and in a major crackdown in September 2000, French officials arrested ETA's suspected top commander, Ignacio Gracia Arregui, 44, on the French side of the Franco-Spanish border. Under investigation for his alleged role in several ETA killings, Arregui is accused of ordering an assassination attempt on Spanish King Juan Carlos in 1995. Also arrested were several others who are suspected of playing key roles in ETA's forgery and logistical operations. Additionally, Spain's Cabinet recently approved proposals to toughen laws against separatist violence and make it easier to arrest supporters of ETA. At this writing, the reforms face debate in parliament.

The Basque region of Spain is one of the country's wealthiest and most industrialized regions, with its per capita gross domestic product 22 percent higher than Spain's national average. Basques essentially run their own affairs and roughly half of those in the region support mainstream Spanish parties with the other half supporting Basque nationalist parties. The moderate Basque Nationalist Party favors Basque self-determination but rejects violence.

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