NewsMan, where are you when such news is breaking?
If it turns out to be true that is the best news for Spain since Francos death: In a communique on Thursday the Basque terrorist organization ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna – Basque Fatherland and Freedom) announced a "definitive halt of (its) armed activity" and calls for a "political solution of the conflict". It is widely believed here that this long expected announcement is fruit of the ceaseless police pressure in all fronts (the frequency with which every new "military commander" of ETA got detained has risen dramatically, 3 successors were caputred just in 2011) and of waning support in the Basque society.
OTOH, nobody believes it fully, yet, as ETA has a sad history of breaking its last three announced "infinite" ceasefires in 1998, 2008 and 2010, and there is a tremendous amount of "show" involved:
The background is our election campaign scenario (we have general elections on November 20th) and it is widely believed that the Socialist Party PSOE - who according to all polls due to its horrific economic crisis management will be facing a deadly blow which will probably give absolute majority to our right center PP - plays its last trump card and that this has been carefully planned and arranged.
E.g., beginning of last week we saw state receive a group of high "mediators" including Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan and former prime ministers Bertie Ahern and Gro Harlem Brundtland of Ireland and Norway. Those self proclaimed "mediators" issued a statement in which they said "We believe it is time to end, and it is possible to end, the last armed confrontation in Europe. We call upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action".
In my ears this sounds almost offensive, because elevating the indiscriminate blowing up of civilians to the level of an "armed conflict" means apologetically taking sides for ETAs´view of things. Anyway three days later did as the "mediators" had asked.
Still, even in this I feel disgusted, as ETA still sits on a high horse even in defeat. In their communique they bemoaned the loss of its own militants - but had no word for its 829 victims: "The cruelty of the fight has taken away the lives of many of our comrades. Many others are still suffering in prison and in exile". They also ask for a state pension for the "warriors" widows and families, again no word about what they would do for their victims families (lets not forget they make around estimated 150 Million Euros a year from their "revolutionary tax" that they press out at gun point from the Basque firms and society). Just have a look at the three masked clowns and their pathetic announcement (
here, with English subtitles) and you see what I mean.
Anyway, that politicians, police officers, journalists and company CEOs for the time being can just mount their car without having to search it intensively beforehand is definitievely good news. The future will show how serious this is to be taken, at least for the moment the 100.000 state paid body guards are not yet sent off to the dole queue...
Rattler
