:For other meanings of ETA, see Eta.
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, or ETA, (the name means "Basque country and freedom"), is the name of a Basque paramilitary group that seeks to create an independent state for the Basque people, separate from neighboring Spain and France. In the Basque language, Euskara, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna translates to "Basque Fatherland and Liberty" (or "Basque Country and Liberty"). ETA is officially considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. Its symbol is a snake wrapped around an axe. ETA's motto is Bietan jarrai ("Keep up on both") referring to the two figures in the symbol, symbols of secrecy/astuteness (snake) and strength (axe).
The organization was founded in 1959 and changed rapidly from a group advocating traditional cultural ways to an armed resistance movement which fought a guerrilla war against the Spanish security forces. This change may have been motivated by General Francisco Franco's suppression of the Basque culture.
1 Context
ETA forms part of what is known as the Basque National Liberation Movement ( Spanish Movimiento de Liberación Nacional Vasco, MLNV), consisting of several distinct organizations embracing left Basque nationalist politics (Spanish: izquierda nacionalista vasca, Basque: Ezker abertzale, often seen in the mixed-language izquierda abertzale). Among these are ETA, BatasunaBatasuna Unity is a Basque political party based mainly in Spain but with a French presence, which is presumed to be associated with the Basque separatist armed group ETA. Their relation is similar to that of Northern Ireland's Sinn Fein and the IRA., Euskal HerritarrokThe group called Euskal Herritarrok is often referred to as the political arm of ETA., Herri Batasuna, and the associated youth group Haika (previously known as Jarrai , then Segi ), the union LAB , Gestoras pro Amnistía and others. All of these are generally identified with the KAS Alternative described in the next section.
ETA is believed to be financed principally by a so-called " revolutionary tax ", paid by many businesses in the Basque Country and enforced by the threat of assassination. They also kidnapIn criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away of a person against the person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment (confinement without legal authority) for ransom or in furtherance of another crime. In the terminology of the common la people for ransomThe term ransom refers to the practice of holding a prisoner to extort money or property extorted to secure their release, or to the sum of money involved. Holding people for ransom has occurred throughout history. In 78 BC, pirates of modern-day Turkey c and have occasionally burgled or robbed storehouses of explosives. They have often maintained large caches of explosives, often in France rather than within the borders of Spain.
As of the end of 2003, ETA have killed 817 people, of which 339 were civilians, including children. [1]
1.1 Social support
During the Franco era, ETA had considerable public support (even beyond the Basque populace), but Spain's transition to democracy and ETA's progressive radicalization have resulted in a steady loss of support, which became especially patent at the time of their 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t kidnapping and assassination of Miguel Ángel BlancoSpanish Basque local politician kidnapped and assassinated 12th July 1997 by ETA. His kidnap and brutal murder caused a huge outpouring of grief in Spain, after his body was found with his hands tied behind his back and 2 bullets in his head.. Their loss of sympathizers has been reflected in an erosion of support for the political parties identified with the MLNV.
In recent years, their supporters are clearly a minority in the Basque region. According to the Euskobarómetro [2], a sociological poll (conducted by the Universidad del País Vasco ) of various matters in the Spanish autonomous community of Basque Country (País Vasco), as of May 2004 a significant number of Basques support some or all of ETA's goals, but few support their violent methods:
- 33% favor Basque independence, 31% federalism, 32% autonomy, 2% centralism. (2% undecided or not answering)
- Asked whether they agree or disagree with the statement, "Today in Euskadi it is possible to defend all political aspirations and objectives without the necessity of resorting to violence, 87% agree and only 4% disagree (9% undecided or not answering). In fact, 33% of those who identify politically with Batasuna actively agreed with the statement.
- Asked directly about their views of ETA, 60% rejected ETA totally and another 18% identified themselves as former ETA sympathizers who no longer support the group. Another 13% agreed with ETA's ends, but not their means. 3% said that their attitude towards ETA was mainly one of fear, 2% indifference. Only 2%, all identified with Batasuna, gave ETA support even as mild as "justified, with criticism. 2% were undecided or did not answer. Even within Batasuna, 63% rejected ETA's violence.
The poll does not cover Navarre or the Basque areas of France; Basque nationalism is weaker in those areas.
