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ETA Agrees to Surrender Some of Its Arms Basque Separatist Group Disables Some of Its Arms, Commission Says
(35 minutes later)
MADRID — ETA, the Basque separatist group, agreed on Friday to hand over some of the weapons that have allowed it to wage a lengthy terror campaign for independence that has claimed more than 800 victims. MADRID — ETA, the Basque separatist group, has disabled some of the weapons that have allowed it to wage a lengthy terror campaign for independence that has claimed more than 800 victims, an international verfiication commission said Friday.
The weapons surrender was corroborated by an international verification commission set up to help broker a Basque peace agreement. The commission called the gesture “significant” at a news conference in Bilbao, Spain, and presented an inventory of the weapons surrendered by ETA, which included a handful of guns and 36 pounds of explosives. The weapons surrender was corroborated by the commission, set up to help broker a Basque peace agreement. The commission called the gesture “significant” at a news conference in Bilbao, Spain, and presented an inventory of the weapons given up by ETA, which included a handful of guns and 36 pounds of explosives.
The commission, however, has never received any mandate from the Madrid government to negotiate with ETA, and since ETA announced a unilateral cease-fire in October 2011, the government has repeatedly insisted that ETA needs to disarm as part of an unconditional surrender, without any outside intervention.The commission, however, has never received any mandate from the Madrid government to negotiate with ETA, and since ETA announced a unilateral cease-fire in October 2011, the government has repeatedly insisted that ETA needs to disarm as part of an unconditional surrender, without any outside intervention.
The Spanish government had no immediate response to the weapons announcement. But speaking on Thursday in Paris before ETA’s weapons offer, Jorge Fernández Díaz, Spain’s interior minister, played down the importance of any partial concession by ETA, saying, “The government will not contribute to any theater staging by ETA.” He added, “To disarm is very easy; it is enough to give the locations where the caches are found.” Much of ETA’s weaponry is believed to be on French soil. The commission said in a statement that it had verified that ETA had “sealed and put beyond operational use” the arms.
The Spanish government had no immediate response to the weapons announcement. But speaking on Thursday in Paris before the announcement, Jorge Fernández Díaz, Spain’s interior minister, played down the importance of any partial concession by ETA, saying, “The government will not contribute to any theater staging by ETA.” He added, “To disarm is very easy; it is enough to give the locations where the caches are found.” Much of ETA’s weaponry is believed to be on French soil.
One of the government’s main concerns has been to prevent the ETA from gaining any political capital out of a weapons surrender, which would then help its members make a smooth transition to the Basque political scene.One of the government’s main concerns has been to prevent the ETA from gaining any political capital out of a weapons surrender, which would then help its members make a smooth transition to the Basque political scene.
At the same time, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been concerned about angering hard-liners who have called on Madrid to stick to its demands for an unconditional surrender by ETA.At the same time, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been concerned about angering hard-liners who have called on Madrid to stick to its demands for an unconditional surrender by ETA.
Next May, in the European parliamentary elections, Mr. Rajoy’s Popular Party will face a challenge from a new rightist party, Vox, which is not expected to become a significant political force but has criticized Mr. Rajoy’s handling of the ETA. Vox was co-founded by José Antonio Ortega Lara, a former hostage of ETA.Next May, in the European parliamentary elections, Mr. Rajoy’s Popular Party will face a challenge from a new rightist party, Vox, which is not expected to become a significant political force but has criticized Mr. Rajoy’s handling of the ETA. Vox was co-founded by José Antonio Ortega Lara, a former hostage of ETA.
The ETA matter has been complicated by the fact that Mr. Rajoy’s government lost an international court case in October that forced Madrid to eventually release about 50 of ETA’s longest-serving prisoners. The releases came after the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, ruled against a Spanish law that had allowed the Madrid government to extend the imprisonment of convicted terrorists and members of ETA.The ETA matter has been complicated by the fact that Mr. Rajoy’s government lost an international court case in October that forced Madrid to eventually release about 50 of ETA’s longest-serving prisoners. The releases came after the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, ruled against a Spanish law that had allowed the Madrid government to extend the imprisonment of convicted terrorists and members of ETA.
Since ETA declared its cease-fire in late 2011, Madrid has continued to pursue its members, in close cooperation with other police forces. Last week, the British police in London detained Antonio Troitiño, who was released in October after the Strasbourg ruling but who is accused by Madrid of having rejoined ETA since.Since ETA declared its cease-fire in late 2011, Madrid has continued to pursue its members, in close cooperation with other police forces. Last week, the British police in London detained Antonio Troitiño, who was released in October after the Strasbourg ruling but who is accused by Madrid of having rejoined ETA since.
The international verification commission that visited Bilbao is led by Ram Manikkalingam, who was previously involved in brokering peace in his native Sri Lanka. The commission was set up in September 2011, shortly before ETA announced its unilateral cease-fire. A spokesman for the commission said it received its funding “from different private and public philanthropic sources,” but could not name them.The international verification commission that visited Bilbao is led by Ram Manikkalingam, who was previously involved in brokering peace in his native Sri Lanka. The commission was set up in September 2011, shortly before ETA announced its unilateral cease-fire. A spokesman for the commission said it received its funding “from different private and public philanthropic sources,” but could not name them.
ETA was formed in the late 1950s and is considered a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union. It has killed more than 800 people in its campaign to establish an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France.ETA was formed in the late 1950s and is considered a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union. It has killed more than 800 people in its campaign to establish an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France.
Still, independent of the cease-fire, ETA has been weakened in recent years to the point that security experts believe that it now has fewer than 50 active militants capable of organizing an attack.Still, independent of the cease-fire, ETA has been weakened in recent years to the point that security experts believe that it now has fewer than 50 active militants capable of organizing an attack.