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ETA (separatist group)

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A commemorative plaque in Madrid, Spain, marking the anniversary of a historical figure.

ETA, short for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, meaning 'Basque Homeland and Liberty,' was a group that worked for Basque independence in Spain and France. It started in 1959 when Spain was ruled by a strict leader, and many Basques wanted more rights and freedom for their homeland. Over time, ETA became a hidden group that used serious actions to make their point, which caused many problems and sad events in the area.

The group stopped its armed activities in 2011 and fully ended in 2018. Many countries, including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and the European Union, called ETA a terrorist group because of its actions. Even though some people felt strongly about their cause, the world generally agreed that using violence was not the right way to solve problems.

ETA had a special motto, "Bietan jarrai," meaning "Keep up in both," showing a snake around an axe in its symbol. This represented their two ways of working: politics and armed struggle. After many years and several pauses in their activities, ETA finally gave up all its weapons and ended its group completely in 2018. Today, many of its former members are in prison in different countries.

Structure

ETA was organized in a very strict way at first, with one main leader at the top and teams below for different jobs like planning, fighting, and politics. Later, police from Spain and France caught many members, so ETA changed its structure to make it harder for police to find them. They split into eleven smaller groups.

The top group had between 7 and 11 members and was called Zuba. There was also an advice group called Zuba-hits. The eleven groups did different jobs, like getting supplies, making plans, talking to other groups, fighting, supporting prisoners, getting money, sharing information, recruiting new members, negotiating, and keeping money.

ETA’s fighting teams, called talde__s, had three to five members each and were told what to do by the cúpula militar. Support teams kept safe places and hidden spots for storing weapons or holding people. These spots were called zulos.

Members of ETA were divided into different types: those with no police record, those known to police, and those who helped only sometimes. There were also members in prison and others who were freed or watched by police.

ETA also encouraged young people to cause trouble in public places, damage property, and write political messages on walls. They used things like fire bottles and sometimes rioted. Many young members started by doing these activities before joining ETA.

Ideology

ETA began as a group that wanted Basque independence and later added ideas about fairness and equality. They believed strongly in protecting Basque culture, language, and workers' rights. They thought the government was unfair to Basque people and wanted to change this through their actions.

The group mixed different beliefs, including ideas about freedom for national groups, support for workers, and respect for religious traditions. They felt that the Spanish government did not treat Basque people well and that changes were needed to improve life for everyone in the Basque region.

Political support

The political party Batasuna aimed for the same goals as ETA but did not oppose their actions. It was previously known as Euskal Herritarrok and Herri Batasuna, and was banned by the Spanish Supreme Court for being against democratic rules. It often got between 10% to 20% of the votes in the Basque Autonomous Community.

Batasuna was seen as the political side of ETA. After investigations, the Supreme Court of Spain declared Batasuna illegal in 2003 because of its links with ETA. The Spanish Cortes passed a law to ban political parties that use violence for their goals. Batasuna denied being linked to ETA, but some of its leaders had connections with the group.

A new party called Aukera Guztiak was formed for elections in 2005 but was also banned. Later, another group called EHAK stepped in to support the same ideas. In 2011, a party named Sortu was created, which did not support violence, but it was also banned for being linked to ETA.

Social support

Graffiti in Pasaia (2003). "ETA, the people with you" on the left, and Batasuna using several nationalist symbols asking for "Independence!"

As time passed, support for ETA and its related parties decreased. This became clear after a serious event in 1997. In 1998, Euskal Herritarrok got 17.7% of the votes, but by 2001, this dropped to 10%. There were concerns that banning parties might hurt rights, and some said that many innocent people were arrested.

Clerical support

ETA was started by students from a seminary and got help from Basque priests during tough times under Franco’s rule. Priests helped hide weapons and teach members about Basque culture. The Basque clergy supported ETA’s ideas, seeing their fight as a way to freedom. Some important church leaders spoke in support of ETA, though this caused disagreement.

Opinion polls

In 2009, a survey showed that 64% of people in the Basque area fully rejected ETA. About 13% used to support them but didn’t anymore. Ten percent agreed with ETA’s goals but not their methods. Only 1% fully supported ETA. Even among Batasuna voters, almost half did not support ETA’s actions.

A poll in 2006 showed that 88% of Basques thought all political groups should talk to each other. Sixty-nine percent wanted the results of such talks to be decided by a vote. Fewer people in Navarre and the Northern Basque Country supported these ideas.

History

During Franco's dictatorship

ETA began as a student group called Ekin in the early 1950s. It was officially founded on July 31, 1959, by students who were unhappy with the moderate approach of the Basque Nationalist Party.

Federico Krutwig, the anarchist theorist of the ETA. He sought to move Basque nationalism away from its ethnic and religious origins.

The group held its first meeting in Bayonne, France, in 1962. Over time, ETA developed Marxist and third-worldist ideas, which shaped its political views. During this time, ETA carried out its first killing in 1968 and planned the assassination of a key political figure in 1973.

During the transition

After Franco's death, Spain moved toward democracy. During this time, ETA split into two groups. Both continued their activities. The years 1978 to 1980 were particularly active for ETA.

Memorial plate at the place of the assassination of Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco

Under democracy

In 1985, ETA carried out a bombing in Madrid. In 1986, a group called Gesto por la Paz was formed to protest against political violence. In 1988, Basque political parties signed an agreement to work toward ending ETA's activities.

In 1992, key leaders of ETA were arrested, leading to changes in the group's structure. In 1995, ETA proposed a peace plan, but it was rejected by the Spanish government. In 1997, a council member was kidnapped and later found dead, sparking large protests.

2006 ceasefire declaration and subsequent discontinuation

In 2006, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire. However, this ended after ETA carried out a bombing at Madrid's airport in December 2006.

2008 to present

In 2008, ETA carried out several bombings in northern Spain. In 2009, a key leader was arrested, weakening the group. In September 2010, ETA declared a new ceasefire, stating a desire to use peaceful methods.

2011 permanent ceasefire and cessation of armed activity

In January 2011, ETA declared its ceasefire permanent. In October 2011, ETA announced an end to armed activities. In April 2018, ETA announced that it had fully dissolved all its structures and ended its political efforts.

Victims, tactics and attacks

Victims

ETA targeted many different groups over the years. They attacked military and police officers, both active and retired. Sometimes, attacks on police buildings also hurt families living there, including children. They also threatened business owners to pay money, or else face serious harm. Politicians, judges, teachers, and journalists were also at risk. Some attacks were meant to damage important places, like railways or shopping areas. Sadly, some of these bombings hurt innocent people who were just passing by.

Tactics

ETA used many ways to carry out their attacks. They shot people directly or used car bombs, which could explode when a target started their car or drove past a hidden device. These bombings sometimes hurt family members or others nearby. They also sent anonymous threats, demanded money from businesses, kidnapped people, and stole weapons and explosives to use in their attacks.

Activity

ETA was a group that wanted to make the Basque Country independent. They used violent actions against people they saw as enemies of the Basque people. Over many years, they hurt and killed many people, including civilians. Most of their actions happened in the Basque Country region of Spain.

The group's ability to carry out these actions grew weaker over time, especially after the 2000s. Better cooperation between French and Spanish police, along with advanced tracking methods, helped stop many of their leaders. ETA's activities were mainly focused on Spain, especially in the Basque Country, but they also operated in other parts of Spain and sometimes in France to get weapons.

Basque nationalist context

ETA was seen as part of the Basque National Liberation Movement. This movement includes many different political groups that share similar ideas about Basque nationalism, often called Ezker Abertzalea in the Basque language. Some of these groups are the political party Batasuna, the youth group Segi, and the labour union Langile Abertzaleen Batzordeak (LAB).

There are also Basque nationalist parties that want independence but do not support using violence. These include EH Bildu, EAJ-PNV, Eusko Alkartasuna, Aralar, and in the French Basque country, Abertzaleen Batasuna. Some left-wing parties, like Ezker Batua and Batzarre, support the right to self-determination but do not want independence.

French role

ETA members often found safe places in France, especially in the French Basque Country. The leaders chose to live there because it was safer, with less police pressure than in Spain. For a long time, the French government did not strongly oppose ETA, partly because during Franco's regime, being caught could lead to very serious consequences in Spain.

Later, in the 1990s, France began working more closely with Spain to stop ETA. This included quickly moving captured members to Spanish courts, following rules set by the European Union. Many of ETA's top leaders were caught in France, where they planned their actions after crossing from Spain.

Because of this new cooperation, ETA started attacking French police officers and threatening some French judges and lawyers. This was a big change from their earlier quiet presence in the French Basque Country.

Government response

ETA viewed its members in prison as political prisoners. Until 2003, ETA did not allow these members to seek certain prison privileges or early release. Those who did were threatened and sometimes removed from the group.

The Spanish Government passed a law to stop political parties that support violence. This led to the banning of some parties linked to ETA unless they clearly rejected violence. Judges also took action against groups and media thought to support ETA, leading to some closures and trials.

Countries like the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom listed ETA as a group that uses terror. France and Spain worked together to arrest many ETA members. In 2008, important leaders of ETA were arrested in France, which was a major step in stopping the group's activities.

Other related armed groups

Disbanded violent groups

Some groups worked against ETA, while others shared similar goals. These included:

International links

ETA worked with various groups across Europe and beyond. They had contacts with the Provisional Irish Republican Army, exchanging weapons and training. In the late 1960s, they bought weapons through a Portuguese group, and later worked with Portuguese far-left groups.

In the 1980s, ETA got weapons from a famous criminal and teamed up with a Breton group to steal explosives. They also shared information and training with Breton revolutionaries.

There were also links with groups in the Balkans and Colombia. Some Colombian rebels received training from ETA, and there were meetings between the two groups. One report suggested ETA might have helped these rebels with attacks in Europe, though this was denied.

Some former ETA members lived in Cuba under an agreement with the Spanish government. There were also unproven claims that groups in Argentina were connected to ETA and Colombian rebels.

In the media

Films

Documentary films

  • Asesinato en febrero, about the families of Basque politician Fernando Buesa and his bodyguard, both killed by ETA.
  • The Basque Ball: The Skin Against the Stone, (La Pelota Vasca, 2003) about the Basque conflict by filmmaker Julio Medem: interviews about Basque nationalism and politics. Includes testimonials of ETA victims and relatives of ETA prisoners.
  • Perseguidos, where Eterio Ortega and Elías Querejeta interview local councilors threatened by ETA.
  • Trece entre mil [es], the testimony of some of ETA's victims in the last 30 years by filmmaker Iñaki Arteta.
  • 48 horas, about the kidnapping of Miguel Angel Blanco and his murder.
  • ETA. Une histoire basque, about the history of ETA.
  • Chronique Basque, about a Basque politician who is the target of an ETA death threat.
  • Asier ETA biok (Asier and/ETA I, 2013), where filmmaker Aitor Merino explores his relation with his childhood friend Asier Aranguren, who had become an ETA member.
  • El fin de ETA [es], a documentary about the history of ETA.

Other fact-based films about ETA

  • Commando Txikia (José Luis Madrid, 1977)
  • Operación Ogro (Operation Ogre, 1979), Gillo Pontecorvo's film about the assassination of Luis Carrero Blanco.
  • El proceso de Burgos ("The Burgos Trial", Imanol Uribe, 1979)
  • Escape from Segovia (1981), about the Segovia prison break when ETA prisoners escaped from Segovia prison.
  • Proceso a ETA ("The Trial of ETA", Manuel Macià, 1988)[citation needed]
  • Yoyes, María Dolores Katarain, also known as "Yoyes", tries to leave ETA and is killed by her former comrades.
  • El lobo, based on the life of Mikel Lejarza, who, prompted by the Spanish police, entered ETA to be a double agent.
  • Munich (2005), where the squad of Israeli operatives pretend to be members of ETA to avoid conflict with a squad of PLO operatives whilst sharing a neutral safe house.
  • GAL, about the journalistic research leading to the uncovering of the state-supported GAL.
  • Tiro en la Cabeza (2008) ("A bullet in the head"), about the life of an ETA member the day he will kill two Spanish Policemen in Capbreton, France.
  • Una Bala Para el Rey ("A Bullet for the King", March 2009) about ETA's failed plot to murder Juan Carlos I during his holidays in Mallorca in 1995.
  • Maixabel (2021) about the meetings between Maixabel Lasa, widow of an assassinated politician, and the repenting assassins.

Fictional films featuring ETA members and actions

Novels

Related articles

European Union
Spain
France
Madrid

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