Eta

Eta

What are peoples views on the Basque separatist group?

Re: Eta

Estimated time of arrival is a shit name for any terrorist group

Not sure about their politics tbh, but I was in Spain a few years back, saw one of their bombs go off. Bad shit.

Re: Re: Eta

I don't have enough knowledge on specifics but I reckon everybody should have the right to be independantly governed as long as they have a decent enough infrastructure in place.
However, I could never agree with any policy that involves terrorist acts toward a civilian population as a means to an end.

Thats about it from me, please don't ask me to digresse.

Re: Re: Re: Eta

I agree with that. But the basque region has been given partial autonomy. They have their own parliament, and make laws on their own region, and control their own education system and taxes etc. Plus the basque language is taught and encouraged in schools. But in my opinion, they've taken the wrong action to get full independence. Governments rarely bow to terrorist threat. The spanish government has tried to meet like for like, employing basque-specific anti-terrorist agents, who've so far killed 28 suspected eta members (the hardcore membership is allegedly only 20). And all 23 members of eta's political party have been jailed by the government for 7yrs.

Seems like both party's in the wrong, and both are equally stubborn.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Eta

I disagree strongley... Look at nrothern Ireland.

Terrorism is used to draw attention to the cause, then when enough interest is generated terrorist parties switch to political tactics... The IRA have huge power and influence in northern ireland now, I personally think northern ireland will eventually join the republic... But even if that doesn't happen the fact remains the IRA is a powerful political force.

The same was seen in Palestine/Israel (although there has been huge slippish in recent years).

Terrorism is an extremely effective and powerful political tool.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Eta

I'm not denying that the IRA are a strong political force, but is that directly attributable to their terrorist activity, or is it because of what they stand for, and the thousands of sympathisers who agree with them?

Eta's terrorist actions have been equally as appalling as those in Ireland, yet eta has a few tens of hardcore members, and only several hundred supporters.

If the majority of the Basque region wanted independence to the extent ETA wanted it, they would most likely get it through democratic means. I can't think of any cases in the democratic western world where the majority of a region wants to be independent but isn't.

ETA's methods are deplorable.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Eta

The IRA are only the current force they are because of the terrorist activities... governments don't just hand over independence.

Terrorism attracts international attention, international attention pressures governments into reconsidering their position... The two go hand in hand.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Eta

You're not wrong, but i wouldn't necessarily say you're right either. Think it's a bit different in Ireland.

they need to chill the fukk out, and stop bomming stuff. Anyone else in the world would be happy to live in spain, or even france. they are just pissed off cos they have big noses.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Eta

don't really agree with that, how many ex-british colonies have been granted independance?

if it is abundantly clear that the most of the general population want independance then most rational 1st world goverments would grant it as they stand to gain nothing by opposing it.

I'm not big on basque politics, btu ti was my understanding that almost half of the population wanted independence and it was business that was opposing force.. i could be wrong though - reading up now

this is exactly the same as nrothern ireland... if I'm right.

Dont mention noses

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Eta

It has fuck all to do with the states population and everything to do with international pressure... There are exceptions to this like when Labour handed back India... But most countries want to reep the rewards of governing countires:

Northern Ireland, Azores, Chechnya, Sahrawi Republic, Corsica, Kashmir, Abkhazia, Palestine are some fine examples fo this happening.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Eta

all fine examples of western governments not handing back independance when the majority of the state so wish.

think you missed my point entirely, i was referring specifically to countires with long traditions of democracy, not those that have been involved in political turmoil or dictatorship within their recent history.

countires like spain and the united kingdom, stand to gain nothing by refusing independance to a state that so wishes to be.

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Azores is under Portugese rule, Corisca - France, Chechnya - Russia... Now the reasons for not giving them independce vary... from economic reasons (oil and such) too political reasons (they'd lose an election in their own country as that country doesn't want to give independence...

But the reality is that throughout history time has proven that countries hate granting independence.

Attack on Madrid's rail system has been blamed on ETA

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3500452.stm

Tho it has been suggested it could be Arab based

As a result of this all four Spanish teams in UEFA cup action tonight have asked for their matches to be postponed

The leader of Batasuna, the political arm of eta, has released a statement saying that he doesn't believe eta were responsible for todays atrocity. Apparently eta usually give phone calls to warn targets, and have never done anything on this scale before.

Al Quaida have been linked, possibly their first attack in Europe.