ETA stands by end to violence but seeks role in peace plan

To mark the first anniversary of ETA's announcement that it was renouncing violence on October 20, the Basque terrorist group reasserted that it will not break up, and may instead continue as a clandestine organization.

Sunday’s Basque regional elections are the first which have been held without fear of terrorist violence looming over the campaign. The EH Bildu pro-sovereignty abertzale party, an amalgam of leftist groups some of which were once considered illegal owing to their ties with ETA, is expected to register a strong performance.

Shortly after ETA's decision one year ago to lay down its weapons after assassinating 829 people over more than four decades, the leadership decided to put this decision to its grassroots members. A "basic report" that came of that process takes it for granted that this position will be confirmed, but sees ETA as continuing in some form, even in the unlikely event that its historical demand for across-the-board prisoner amnesty is granted.

The report states that "no structure will be developed with the aim of carrying out any armed activity" but at the same time "all means will be put at the organization's disposal to ensure it has the resources it will need at various levels to fulfill its functions throughout the liberation process." ETA feels that it has an important role to play because of its accumulated experience and says its chief goal is to force the governments of France and Spain to sit down for talks "to overcome the armed struggle and its consequences."