Basque separatists declare ceasefire | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

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Basque separatists declare ceasefire

Basque separatist group ETA declared a ceasefire Sunday in its bloody 42-year campaign for a homeland independent of Spain, vowing to give up guns and bombs to seek a democratic solution.

ETA, blamed for the deaths of 829 people in attacks on Spanish targets, said it decided several months ago that it "will not carry out armed offensive actions.'' It did not specify if the ceasefire was temporary or permanent.

ETA made the announcement in a video sent to the BBC and pro-independence Basque daily Gara, showing three people in berets and yellow hoods sitting at a table flanked by Basque flags and an ETA symbol on the wall behind.

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Writer: AFP News agency
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  • Bubba

    Discussion 1 : 05/09/2010 at 10:25 PM1

    During the Franco period the Basques were ruthlessly oppressed. They had every right to fight an armed struggle against the fascists.

    In recent years the government has already show its willingness to accord a certain amount of independence. That is why the armed branch of the separatists has become weakened.

    Thailand would do well to think about this in the south. The more Muslims are suppressed the more they will fight. But giving them their own language, education and a fair share of the wealth and possibly a certain amount of self rule the extremists there could also be weakened.

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