Basque separatists ETA declare cease-fire

By Jane Barrett


MADRID - Basque separatist group ETA has declared a permanent cease-fire after almost four decades of attacks in Spain, potentially bringing an end to one of Western Europe's most active separatist movements.


ETA said it hoped the truce, due to start on Friday, would give Basques more of a say in their future but politicians warned the peace process had a long way to go and reminded Spaniards that ETA had broken ceasefires twice in the 1990s.


Three members of ETA, which wants to carve an independent state out of northern Spain and southwest France, appeared on state television in black berets, white hoods over their faces.


"ETA has decided to declare a permanent cease-fire from March 24, 2006," said a woman seated in the middle, under ETA's flag showing a snake twisted around an axe.


"The object of this decision is to drive the democratic process in the Basque country in order to construct a new framework in which our rights as a people will be recognised and to ensure the future development of all political options."


Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who last May offered talks to ETA if it gave up violence, cautiously welcomed the cease-fire and the possibility of peace after a campaign that has killed 850 people.


"After so many years of horror and terror it will be a long and difficult process," Zapatero, who is far more inclined to cede more power to Spain's regions than the previous conservative government, told parliament.


ETA, which means Basque Homeland and Freedom in the Basque language, emerged as a student resistance movement in the early 1960s against the late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.


Recently, the group classed as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and Washington has been weakened by arrests and legal moves against Batasuna, the outlawed Basque party seen as its political wing. Its last fatal attack was in 2003.


Support drained away faster after the 2004 Madrid train bombings by suspected Islamist fundamentalists and last month, thousands demonstrated in Madrid against any talks Zapatero's government might have with ETA.


Independent


It is unclear how many Basques truly want an independent state or whether they would be happy with more power devolved to their autonomous region.


The regional government is currently run by the moderate Basque Nationalist Party, which sits in Madrid's parliament.


"It is the duty of ETA to no longer frustrate the dreams of our people," said Basque government leader Juan José Ibarretxe.


People on the street had mixed reactions to the cease-fire, with many wary of trusting ETA's word and some more hopeful.


"I think this time it is different, because the situation is different. The fight against terrorism has isolated ETA," said Ramon Hernandez, a businessman standing in a Madrid bar.


Analysts pointed out that although ETA stopped short of laying down arms -- Zapatero's condition for talking to ETA -- this was called a "permanent" cease-fire rather than the previous ones which were "unlimited" and "partial".


Batasuna has previously suggested a two-track negotiation -- one between Basque parties on the future of the region and the other between ETA, France and Spain on ending the violence.


French President Jacques Chirac welcomed the cease-fire as "a great hope for Spain and the fight against terrorism" but a foreign ministry spokesman reiterated France would not get involved in a question "which falls under Spanish sovereignty".


Zapatero has ruled out talking about self-determination.


A high court judge will decide on Friday whether to jail Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi for breaking bail terms, which some media have warned could ignite more ETA violence.


- REUTERS