By: Hector Rosenius

In 1959 a group of young, Basque nationalists founded Euskadi ta Askatasuna (ETA), translated, Basque homeland and freedom. ETA is one of the most feared as well as one of the most powerful terrorist groups in Europe that focuses on one main political goal. For years ETA has terrorized the Spanish state demanding an independent country. The Spanish state themselves have reacted with violence resulting in hundreds of arrests and assassinations. Until now the Spanish government has agreed with a lot of ETAs demands but the terrorism wont stop until the Basque country has acquired full independence. ETA are fighting for a solid cause but their violent methods of terror have to shift to more peaceful ways in order to gain more local and national governmental support, increase international support, and it would help save a lot of innocent lives. The Basque region deserves to be independent. The Basque country is located in the area of northern Spain and a small part in south west France. The Basques have their own traditions, national dress, developed their own culture and are more or less self-governing. The two main cities are Bilbao and San Sebastian. The Basques have dreamed of an independent country since 60 years and have since then fought with terror against the Spanish state. During the reign of Franco the Basques lived in fear every day, thinking what the mad dictator would come up with next. During the Second World War Franco was aided by Mussolini and Hitler. On April 26 1937 German planes bombed the Basque town of Guernica. Then in June Bilbao, the last Basque stronghold fell to the iron fist of Franco. So the Basques have had quite a history of war and the attacks of Eta doesnt make it much better. Eta does not have a main leader. Most likely they always elect a leader for a short period of time so the police wont be after one particular man. Generally there are always two people carrying out an attack, sometimes more. Most of the time they are successful with their plots but it has happed that the police has figured them out before they are able to detonate or carry out any other attacks. Eta mostly

hides in the mountain areas of the Basque region, knowing that their fellow countrymen will give them plenty of warning if the police seems to be getting too close. Eta s attempts to gain independence has been mainly unsuccessful. They have not gained a lot of support at a local and nation level. When in 1961 ETA began with their first attack, Spain got nervous that their would be more attacks. Indeed they were right and the attacks keep coming, resulting in hundreds of deaths. By doing that, ETA supporters turned against them stating that they agree with their goals but not with their methods. This definitely decreased their popularity. Last year, on October 5 2010 they Eta declared a ceasefire and then January 2011 they said that they would completely renounce violence. This is good because it would give some time for eta and the Spanish government to discuss this problem. Secondly they might even gain some support both nationally and internationally. Eta is specialized mainly in car bombing. They have mainly focused on the capital Madrid, Barcelona and touristic parts of Spain to attack the touristic economy. Still the tourists are coming in their thousands, mainly from the UK. Zrich international school has not reacted to this problem and travels every year with an approximated 100 kids to Granada and Crdoba. These areas have never been affected by eta attacks so there should be no bigger threat. Over the years Eta assassinations have resulted in more than 800 deaths. On December 20 1973 two Eta members assassinated Prime Minister Admiral Lewis Carero Blanco by planting a bomb in an underground tunnel. Blanco, his bodyguard and his driver where killed instantly. Eta has done a lot of these kind of attack in to in able to try and spread awareness that you could be next and they wont stop terrorizing Spanish citizens until they have achieved all of their goals. Eta mainly attack police men to mostlikley try and show and bigger aspect of what is happening. By giving up violence they would help saving hundreds of innocent lives. They would not only save lives. They would also save the pain and mother, a father, a friend or any other relatives would have to go through. Its a stab to the heart, where the wound will never heal. The Basque country deserves to be and independent country and its quite selfish of the Spanish government to keep that small piece of land witch they dont nessiseraly need against a group of people who have been fighting for it and are longing for their independence so

desperately. For 60 years now have the Basques have struggled to gain their independence. These are things that are Etas main problem. Eta is using too violent ways to gain the Spaniards attention but it they would renounce violence, they might have a bigger chance of maybe even gain some Spanish supporters.

There are many different thoughts and many different methods have been tried by eta to gain independence and many different methods have been tried out by the Spanish to stop Eta from gaining independence. There are a lot of eta supporters who support they cause with one hundred percent but have absolutely no interest in the way that they are trying to active their mission. The Basque region is a very small part of Spain and there are very little people who understand why Spain wont give independence to this so desperate country. Anyhow, many people think that eta now had ended their violent campaigns completely and that Eta and the Spanish government might find an agreement to this problem. Many people are convinced that the Basque region will be independent, by the end of the decade.

Bibliography

ETA Terrorism part one of two. DVD. alanheat3, 13,8,2011. ETA Terrorism part two of two. DVD. alanheat3, 13,8,2011. "What is eta ." 2002. BBC. 5,20,2012 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worldeurope-11183574>. "ETA." Wikipedia. 2012. . 5,20,2012 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETA>. "Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) (Spain, separatists, Euskadi ta Askatasuna)." council on forghin relations. 2011. 5,20,2012 <http://www.cfr.org/france/basquefatherland-liberty-eta-spain-separatists-euskadi-ta-askatasuna/p9271>.

"Euskadi Ta Askatasuna." wikepedia . 2011.5,20,2012 http//:de.wikipadia.org/wiki/eusk adi-ta-ankatasuna