Basque: A fertile ground for terror
An ETA terrorist serving 13-year jail term who was released to facilitate IVF treatment has caused outrage among victims of Basque separatist group. This raises question about the measures that the Spanish government has taken to quell ETA menace
ETA has been branded as terrorist organisation by France, Spain, the European Union and America as well. ETA declared a ’permanent ceasefire’ on March 22, 2006 but of course, that was followed by a number of car bombs, which killed scores of people on May 14, 2008. A car bomb killed a policeman and injured four others. The organisation, which has been taking inspiration from the Marxist theories, poses real danger not only to Spain, but also to France and other countries that have frozen their assets. All said and done, ETA is now in a stage of consolidating its forces and even seek international attention to its cause.
The release of a hardened terrorist for a fertility treatment makes one question the very efficacy of anti-terrorist laws and measures. Another incident which caused a furore in Spain recently in August was that of the country’s most notorious terrorist, Iñaki de Juana Chaos, who after serving 21 years of 3,000 years sentence, was released. Is the Spanish government going soft on the Basque rebels? That is a question even many intellectuals are finding hard to answer. The released members have almost always returned to the organisation or at least have been funding ETA. So far, 850 people have been killed in the 40-year fight for an independent Basque country. The murders, of course were committed by Basque terrorists.
The international community, however, does not seem very interested in either Basque or the trouble that Basque terrorists have been creating in Spain. Spain has actively supported the War on Terror but gained little from its participation. The country faces danger not from the Islamic fundamentalists, but Basque separatists who have already created a land of their own in the Basque region, a land that doesn’t exist politically, but reigns supreme in the hearts of Basque people. A region steeped in history and culture, Basque continues to be an enigma and a source of anxiety to Spain. Meanwhile, Beloki must be enjoying her newfound freedom, thanks to the IVF, which was given a green signal by the judge, while the rest of the country shakes its head in disbelief and shock.
.Extremely insightful article!
The whole terrorism issue is so complex. Infact they seem to have found some pretext or the other to spread their tentacles across the globes. National borders have become breeding ground for such activities. Cross-border nexus is quite intriguing...
.Being let off on purpose? I don't understand. Is the Spanish government being blackmailed to do this, or does Juan Carlos have a soft spot for Miss Beloki? (Perhaps coz she currently strikes such a motherly figure)
.Nationalist spirit? Is that the modern term for hatred towards your countrymen? After all, the Basque people have been a part of Spain for as long as anyone can remember. And why has Beloki been released with such a dumb excuse. If this is the Spanish governments way of winning the support of the Basque people, it is beyond idiocy.
."Paris based Geopolitical Drugs Watch (GDW) reports that the ETA has an annual budget of 15-20 billion dollars and they get the money thanks to grug dealings and arms trade. In fact both are inextricably linked. In fact when the Spanish police crack down on drug dealers in Barcelona or Madrid, they can get very good info about the ETA"
Whoa! That sounds like the Taliban that exacts 10% tax from Afghan poppy farmers. The drug trade seems to be funding terrorism, making it plainly criminal any which way you look at it!
Drug somehow seems to be very closely related to terrorism. Every terrorist outfit some way or the other makes money through drug dealing
.Great. So Miss Beloki can get her IVF treatment and while she's out, she could also get her nails done. Ridiculous! And what do they propose be done to her if the treatment is a success? Will she be let out so she can complete the pregnancy outside the jail? And what about when it is time for the delivery? After all, a prison is no place for a woman to give birth, or raise a child! I must remember this if I ever get jailed. Forget pleading temporary insanity; I'll just opt to have a baby. Nothing can be sweeter and more fulfilling, after all.
Ah Thanatos, You will need to make sure you are in Spain and a part of the ETA to be making such claims. If not, insanity claims works well elsewhere. Jokes apart, she is being let off on purpose.
.That is sort of like saying the present generation of Germans should be blamed for what Hitler did to the Jews. When will people realise the past shouldn't be dragged into the present when wars are being fought? Like someone esle here mentioned, it would only start a cycle fraught with more deaths and suffering. And yet, most wars in the mid-east have religious connotations, the Basque people, however, have none.
The Basque people do not consider themselves to be like the rest of the Europeans, who speak Indo-European languages. In fact Basque language isn't related to any in the world and no one knows the origins of the Basque poeple or their language. That makes them have a very strong national sentiment. So in this case, ethnicity if not religion, is the main cause for a desire to break away from Spain.
Tha past can be dragged when there are a lot of people to be drugged and money to be made. ETA makes money through drugs and arms trading. And the Basque people have their nationalist spirit which ETA uses. So, there you go. It is good business for ETA to be rebels.
.With ETA's connection to the FARC, can we say that ETA is quite active in some drug network in Europe?
Paris based Geopolitical Drugs Watch (GDW) reports that the ETA has an annual budget of 15-20 billion dollars and they get the money thanks to grug dealings and arms trade. In fact both are inextricably linked. In fact when the Spanish police crack down on drug dealers in Barcelona or Madrid, they can get very good info about the ETA
.You would be surprised to know that ETA itself has had 'fraternal' contacts with the IRA. And the organization itself stemmed from the undemocratic rule during the days of Spanish dictatorship.
.You would be surprised to know that ETA itself has had 'fraternal' contacts with the IRA. And the organization itself stemmed from the undemocratic rule during the days of Spanish dictatorship.
With ETA's connection to the FARC, can we say that ETA is quite active in some drug network in Europe?
It was reported yesterday that Mexican druglords have extended their tentacles to Col,umbia, Argentina, Guatemala and Costa Rica. And apparently, the Government of Columbia reported that the narco-traffickers are buying cocaine from FARC. And the Columbian army has voted to not to attack FARC's 1st front, which was cornered and instead are holding talks to get them to surrender and grant them amnesty. And that is not going to happen. However, ��ngrid Betancourt and other hostages were rescued. So it may just have been a mission to rescue high profile hostages of FARC> They are pretty much alive and kicking.
.There's a gender issue somewhere here. The female was ruled and allowed to go to a hospital. I think, the campaign for gender equality, as well as gender and development, transcends any political leaning. I just find this amazing!
has been clearly abused* sorry typo, and above double posting of the same comment, I apologize.
Perhaps you are right. But is allowing the spokeswoman of a terrorist organization that has been responsible for bombings, shootings, and assassinations across Spain be released from the prison for something that is not a medical emergency? Gender issue has been clearly been abused to let go a hardened terrorist in this case. This could be an attempt to create a favorable opinion among the Basque people about the Spanish law, that it is woman, family-friendly. Just a thought..
.Interesting pov, Mr. Cavale. Are you implying that the Basque people would have received more attention had they belonged to a poorer nation, perhaps a more war-inflicted region like some parts of the mid-east that are always in the news?
Perhaps. The claim for a national land comes from the days of Spanish dictatorship when the basque people were banned from any sort of cultural expression. I would say, more than a 'poorer nation' a nation with religious extremism and that which also has enmities with the western countries themselves, for example the countries of middle east, would have greater interest.
.That is why the vicious cycle of hatred (which is the underpinning concept of terrorism) goes on and on, unabatedly. This terrorist stuff won't end. They have what's called persecution complex.
Right! With all this stuff we hear about radical Islamists, here's an instance for terrorism not to be defined under the aegis of Islam. A breather for them? LOL
You are right G, the terrorists suffer from the persecution complex. Though the Basque Country may be a desire of all the Basque people, terrorism isn't the way to go. This does not even have the radical Islam as a reason to blame!
.Disgraceful and pathetic. Does prison mean you get to live as well as on the other side? Is there no difference which side of the fence you fall on? French prisoners are treated just as well; they get to leave the prison and visit home if they show 'good behaviour'. It is such a shame that Spain has decided to follow in the footsteps of France. Very well written article.
This reminds me of Bertrand Cantat and his days in jail after murdering his girlfriend. I think E.U has been too kind to its prisoners. Perhaps, they must be a little harsher, especially when you are dealing with hardened terrorists.
.Awesome article! I can't believe you have explained the complex and confusing status of Basque so concisely, when it would otherwise take pages and pages. I really admire you style of writing, too. Good job, Mr. Cavale.
Thank you Anna. I will try to write more about Basque. In my opinion, Basque is neglected because it is in Europe. It's ironic in fact.
Sadly, there isn't any. Unless people grow more aware and responsible. Society breeds terrorism
.Very good article, Mr Jaiyant! I almost don't believe that terrorists are being released, this is like say "hey man, you kill hundreds, but that's ok, after all, we have millions more".
To be soft with this kind of thing is very dangerous, cause could be interpretate as a stimulus.
Thank you! It is rather surprising that a hardened terrorist was just released because of the IVR treatment she needed. Or is Elene a victim in a vicious circle of terrorism and governmental policies? Or is it that the ETA has gained back the charismatic spokeswoman it always loved? This is a question the Spanish people have been trying hard to answer.
.Very good article, Mr Jaiyant! I almost don't believe that terrorists are being released, this is like say "hey man, you kill hundreds, but that's ok, after all, we have millions more".
To be soft with this kind of thing is very dangerous, cause could be interpretate as a stimulus.
Hello Fernando, The Spanish government may have been slightly undemocratic in blocking Basque people voting, but the voting was to silently break away from Spain. And that Spain sees as unconstitutional. Juan Jos�� Ibarretxe has a lot of work to do.
Just last month the spanish courts prohibited the basque people to vote in a light and non-biding consultation regarding their political conexions with the rest of Spain.
Maybe the root of terrorism is not in the sometimes harsh responses of some of the people but in the absence of democratic fundamentals in the goverment of some artificial states.
Login
 Login through Social ID
|
