HISTORY OF SPANISH TERRORISM
February 15, 2006

A second bomb placed by ETA went off yesterday in Spain. This causes no end of sadness to me.

The situation in the Basque Country is complicated. Historically the Basque have never been independent, at least not within the past 2,000 years. However, even though they were part of a kingdom or a principality, they maintained their own language and customs. Generally, if they were left along in their mountains, they was little conflict. However, Francisco Franco is misguided attempt to "unify" a country which historically was made up several countries with their own languages (yes there are at least 3 with dialects on top of that) and customs moved to suppress all the native languages that were not Castilian, which would be Catalan, Vasco (or Euskadi), and Galego with related languages such as Asturiano and Valenciano. Additionally, much (though not all) of the Basque Country and much of Cataluna opposed Franco. After the Spanish Civil War, Franco was brutal in his suppression.

ETA was created in July of 1959. Its initials stand for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (Vasque Country and Liberty). It is telling that its first victims were supporters of Franco who were on a train on their way to San Sebastian to celebrate the anniversary of the Franco's Uprising. Franco's rebellion against the Republic of Spain started the Spanish Civil War and brought fascism and dictatorship to the country. Without a doubt the efforts of ETA were against the repressive and fascist regime, the culmination of which was the spectacular assasination of Carrero Blanco in December of 1973 (he was in a car that was blown over a building that was six stories high). Even after Franco died in November of 1975, the attacks continued. In fact, only 45 persons were slain by the ETA during the dictatorship, but well over 700 have been killed while Spain has been a democracy.

I grew up in a terrorized Spain in the 1970s with the ETA blowing up buildings and attacking police precincts with submachine guns. You did not walk in front of a government building if you could help it, especially that of the infamous Guardia Civil, and you did not walk in front of a police station. If you saw an unattended parcel anywhere public – you ran away as fast as you could. I will never forget when, on a Sunday afternoon, the ETA set off a bomb in a crowded café on Claudio Coello causing 12 deaths and 80 injuries. I was waiting for my bus in the northern part of the city, La Plaza Castilla where the hospital of La Paz was, and watched ambulance after ambulance carrying the wounded.

A general amensty to members of the ETA who had been arrested during the Fransco regime was granded in 1977, but the attacks did not stop. Spaniards, unlike Americans have experienced terrorism over more than thirty years, and have a clear idea what it is like to live under that type of oppression.

Currently, the matters have become complicated and issues are no longer clear-cut. During the 1960s and 70s, the Basque Country became heavily industrialized and many Spaniards from other parts of the country moved to that region. Today, as much of a third of the population is not Basque. Additionally, over the past decades many Basque have moved into other regions of the country. I have an aunt by marriage whose Basque grandfather moved to the Province of Cadiz after the Civil War. His decendants are numerous - but are they Basque or are they Andaluz? Most of them, though not all, feel that they are Andaluzes and Spaniards, not Basque.

The PSOE came to power in the 1980s (Party of the Spanish Socialist Worker) and attempted to address the issues related to self-determination of the Regions. Spain was organized into semi-autonomous regions or Regiones, each with their own parliament. The Regiones were Andalucia (the largest to the south), Cataluña, Valencia, Castilla/Leon, Extremadura, Galicia, Asturias, Catabria, Las Vascongadas (The Basque Country). By right, not only could the inhabitants speak their regional language if they so choose (something completely prohibited under Franco), but the regional language was taught in the schools, and there were was guaranteed broadcast media in that same language.

There was also general amnesty given which many former fighters took advantage and became civilians trying to live normal lives. However, the more extreme members of the ETA did not take kindly to their members leaving, particularly those who were higher up the hierarchy. A member Dolores González Cataraín 'Yoyes', left the organization in 1980 and was living abroad. After she took the amnesty granted by the Spanish government, she returned home with her five year old child in 1986. Shorly after her return home, graffiti appeared proclaiming her a traitor. One morning when she when to market with her little child, she was gunned down, still holding her son’s hand. This horrified the general population and its many supporters.

Additionally, since the 1980s, ETA started behaving more and more like organized crime. They would kidnap businessmen and hold them hostage for huge sums of money. ETA kidnapped the father of Julio Iglesias, Dr. Julio Iglesias Pugo in 1982 and held him for a month. Another example, in 1995 or 1996, a Basque factory owner, well liked by his workers was kidnapped. A ransom of 4 American Million Dollars was demanded. The family, even if they sold the factory would not have the amount required. The employees demonstrated, the people of Bilbao and in other cities around the country demonstrated, politicians of all political persuasions publicly and privately begged that the ETA release this man. They did not, somehow through incredible fund raising and borrowing the man’s family and friends came up with the four million. The man was released after months and months of captivity. He had lots many kilos and was in poor health. The only motivation for this kidnapping was to raise money to finance more killings. These killings unfortunately involve more than soldiers or policemen of a no-longer repressive regime, but also professors, judges, elected officials, and even the head of Basque Socialist Party who was slain within 100 meters of the Basque Parliment. The ETA actively suppresses any dialogue or discussion that that does not fall within their boundaries of complete independence.

Those who criticize ETA or refuse to pay its "revolutionary tax" face harassment, kidnapping or even death. The campaign of terror ETA is waging for the independence of seven Basque provinces (the three comprising the autonomous Spanish region of the Basque Country, Navarra, and three French provinces). This inclusion of French territory makes a referrendum even more complicated.

The general population has reacted in opposition to ETA with various non-violent organizations, Elkarri, Manos Blancas, Basta Ya! and so on. They are argue that independence cannot be won by terrorizing the population and by killing civilians. Under the current climate, if a referendum were held could a terrorised people vote as they really want? Free dialogue is necessary so that the Basque can vote by understanding not only all the advantages and but also the disadvantages of being independent. If the ETA disbanded and the non-violent pro-independent groups continued, independence by referedum would certainly be legitimate.