MEANWHILE ETA STIRS AGAIN
This has been a bad few months for the Spanish (and French) efforts to combat terrorism. Two erratas (as they are called in Spain) escaped while they were being transported in France.
A poll released today shows that 64% of Basques expect that the ETA will kill again. Another 35% have completely lost confidence that the cease fire in March and the events since then were a prelude the demise of this organization. ETA has not only killed soldiers and policemen, but also targeted academics, politicians, journalists, department store shoppers, and cafe customers.
The bad news begins in October in France, when 300 rifles, 50 handguns and various municions were stolen by 5 individuals confirmed to be members of the ETA. Also in October, the french authorities discovered a munitions lab in Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry, near the Spanish borders.
About a week ago there was a dramatic escape by two erratas, who shot at two gerdames at a checkpoint who tried to stop them. They were able to elude the gerdames, but one of them kidnapped a woman at gunpoint and forced her to driver him to Nogaro, a town near Tolouse.
On December 24th, an off-duty Basque policeman found a hiding place that contained 50 kilos of explosives. This hiding place had been used recently and was near Bilbao. Another hiding place, but abandoned was found by the Guardia Civil in the province of Guipuzcoa. Just a week before, the Guardia Civil dismantled a homemade bomb on the train tracks in the province of Navarra.
A few days ago, Rajoy, the head of right leaning party, the Partido Popular or PP, demanded that the political arm of the ETA, Batasuna no be allowed to run for office until the ETA is disolved. The ruling party, PSOE headed by Zapatero wants to continue having a dialogue with the ETA.
The King called for unity in dealing with the terrorist organization and all parties agree (except for Batasuna) that there cannot be a normal political life, if one political party has a violent and armed organ to effectuate its wills.
This has been a bad few months for the Spanish (and French) efforts to combat terrorism. Two erratas (as they are called in Spain) escaped while they were being transported in France.
A poll released today shows that 64% of Basques expect that the ETA will kill again. Another 35% have completely lost confidence that the cease fire in March and the events since then were a prelude the demise of this organization. ETA has not only killed soldiers and policemen, but also targeted academics, politicians, journalists, department store shoppers, and cafe customers.
The bad news begins in October in France, when 300 rifles, 50 handguns and various municions were stolen by 5 individuals confirmed to be members of the ETA. Also in October, the french authorities discovered a munitions lab in Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry, near the Spanish borders.
About a week ago there was a dramatic escape by two erratas, who shot at two gerdames at a checkpoint who tried to stop them. They were able to elude the gerdames, but one of them kidnapped a woman at gunpoint and forced her to driver him to Nogaro, a town near Tolouse.
On December 24th, an off-duty Basque policeman found a hiding place that contained 50 kilos of explosives. This hiding place had been used recently and was near Bilbao. Another hiding place, but abandoned was found by the Guardia Civil in the province of Guipuzcoa. Just a week before, the Guardia Civil dismantled a homemade bomb on the train tracks in the province of Navarra.
A few days ago, Rajoy, the head of right leaning party, the Partido Popular or PP, demanded that the political arm of the ETA, Batasuna no be allowed to run for office until the ETA is disolved. The ruling party, PSOE headed by Zapatero wants to continue having a dialogue with the ETA.
The King called for unity in dealing with the terrorist organization and all parties agree (except for Batasuna) that there cannot be a normal political life, if one political party has a violent and armed organ to effectuate its wills.
In the United States, We have already seen want can happen when one party has a slime machine to give it an edge (McCain and Murtha can tell you all about Rovian tackits and the machinery that made it posible). What would happen, if armed attacks would happen? It would be death of liberty, the death of democracy. That is why there can no referendum in the Basque Country while ETA continues to exists.
posted by Crystal Grace Rutherford @ 2:21 PM
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