Spanish authoritarianism risks return to violence

Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Jose Zapatero's strategy for dealing with Basque nationalist demands for self-determination have been found wanting as ETA have announced its ceasefire will end today.

Gerry Adams has said that the Spanish government and ETA should return to the negotiating table, stating 'The lessons of the Irish peace process and indeed every conflict resolution process throughout the world tells us that it is now important to redouble efforts to put the process there back on track."
"All sides should show restraint and do everything in their power to ensure that a process is put in place which can allow this conflict to be resolved peacefully through genuine dialogue and engagement.'

ETA is reported as having said 'minimum conditions for continuing a process of negotiations do not exist'. The Socialist government's willingness to open discussions with those seeking Basque self-determination is broadly welcome but Zapatero has failed in his commitment to openness, having sought to conduct the negotiations whilst also suppressing the movement's democratic electoral efforts.

Batasuna, the leading political party demanding Basque self-determination and liberation, was declared illegal by the Spanish Parliament in 2003 claiming they were the political wing of ETA and prevented from reorganising under any other name. Since then, lists of electoral candidates under various different names - whether in local or regional elections - have repeatedly been declared illegal as 'fronts for Batasuna'. This May the courts banned two separate lists in local elections and more recently, the Basque nationalist youth organisation Segi has seen leading members jailed. The authoritarian decision to suppress legitimate electoral activity by Basque nationalists, effectively declaring their political aims illegal as a result, is the key failing of the Spanish government and has meant any negotiations were bound to end in failure.