ETA and Spain's socio-political baggage

by Brian

Our friend Jon's comment about ETA being a group of freedom- fighters as opposed to a terrorist organization prompted me to give the topic some more context. ETA- also known as the Basque separatist movement- has a long history in Spain's politics, which I was reminded of as we walked through a special exhibit in the Reina Sofia and in discussion with Breiana.

During my first trip through Spain in the late 90's ETA was known for blowing up cars and causing general mayhem in provinces other than el pais vasco- their homeland. Most Spaniards felt that ETA had no moral compass and was killing people at random, and in fact many innocent people died through ETA's actions. At that time the country was in denial about its history. Franco died in 1975 and the new government had decided not to continue his fascist ideologies but instead to give the provinces more power through designation as autonomous regions; perhaps as a plea for people to try to forget what had happened to them and move the country forward. Most areas were fine with the new terms but the Basque region, whose people suffered horribly under Franco, was not.

It is important to make a distinction between the Basque people and ETA. The Basque people see themselves as separate from Spain. They have their own language, their own customs, food, even their own blood type. Many believe that the Basque settled the area before Spain and France had even begun to define their borders. In response to the Basque belief in their independent heritage, during the civil war Franco asked Hitler to firebomb a small town called Guernika. Pablo Picasso's rendering of the event is the most important and viewed work in the Reina Sofia- Madrid's museum of modern art.

Though the new government's tactics to keep things under control worked for a while it didn't last for long. There seems to be a feeling, at least in Madrid, that the old wounds need to be brought to light, to heal. The exhibit that surrounds the Guernika painting consists of newspaper articles, artists' renderings, newsreel projections and photographs of the emotional and physical devastation the Spanish people underwent during the civil war and Franco's rule. And the exhibit is well attended. That said, there are many young people who do not identify with that part of Spain. They look upon what happened with a detached interest.

In terms of ETA, the group's connection to Spain's dark past is again showing itself. Rather recently the Aznar government outlawed the most popular Basque political party- Batasuna- because it it was believed to have ties to ETA. As long ago the government labeled ETA a terrorist organization, anyone believed to be affiliated is seen as an enemy of the state and subject to arrest. As a result many Basques feel that they have no government representation.

Nowadays ETA seems to be staying out of the newspapers. Attacks are few and far between and those that do take place only occur after fair warning has been given for the innocent to evacuate.

The relationship between the new Zapatero government, ETA, and the Basque region is delicate at best. The region is one of the most economically important in the country, thereby making it very politically valuable. Basques seem to have an ambivalent relationship with ETA. Many feel that the lengths to which ETA has gone to gain independence is too extreme, while they also feel a great urge to have full sovereignty from Spain. As for ETA the government seems to be standing by a current theme in global politics: no negotiation with terrorists.