International negotiators urge Eta to lay down its weapons, ending with 40 years of continuous violence. Eta is listed as a terrorist group by Spain, the European Union and the United States.The 17th of October a conference took place in the north of Spain, San Sebastian, to deal with the end of the terrorism by Eta. But in the conference neither the Spanish government nor Eta was officially represented, but there were members of the EU and United Nations.
Eta has always been seen as a terrorist group by the Spanish government because they have killed 800 people since the 70s. Therefore actual governments and International Organizations "are fighting" for the ceasefire of this terrorist group as soon as possible. Patxi Lopez, the Socialist leader of the Basque regional parliament, urged Eta and its supporters to "to take advantage of this opportunity, to truly take advantage to put a final end to it".
The Spanish government maintains that they will not negotiate at all with Eta while they hold arms and belief that Eta ceasefire is closer than other times.
I think that this conferences are very helpful for Spain to fight against the terrorism because it is an actual problem for the spanish society. There have been many negotiations among the years to try to finish with this terrorist group but they have never been successful. Foreign support from International Organizations, The European Union and The United Nations hopefully will help somehow to the definitive ceasefire.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15330766
Terrorist band ETA is weaker and closer to its end than ever before. However, the band is still reluctant to officially declare its dissolution.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the utility of this peace conference. However, a moral question immediately comes to my mind: is it fair that we sit down and negotiate with terrorists? I don't think it is. But I also think that the end of ETA, and that all its members pay for what they've done with no concession, is more important than anything else. It is something crucial for the Spanish society for they have already caused too much suffering and death. But their end won't come without pressure from both the police and the authorities. And in this regard, the current government has done more than any other before.