News, January 2005

Historic ETA leaders call a halt to 'military action'

2nd November. On a day when terrorism is the nº1 issue in the US election, and the same day that another bunch of suspected terrorists have been arrested, six historic leaders of ETA (all currently serving jail sentences) have called for an end to their reign of terror. In a nutshell, they admit that this is the worst moment in ETA's history and there seems no point in attempting to continue their political struggle by armed means. They would now prefer to see their political wing take up the struggle for the independence they so desire for their country.

The signatories of the letter are: Iñaki Arakama Mendia ('Makario'), Francisco Mujika Garmendia ('Pakito'), Iñaki Bilbao Beaskoetxea ('Iñaki de Lemona'), Carlos Almorza Arrieta ('Pedrito de Andoain'), Kepa Solana Arrondo y Koldo Aparicio Benito.

Pakito was the band's leader until arrested in 1992, when Mikel Antza took over.

They say in their communiqué: 'In the current circumstances, the armed struggle which we are conducting at present is not working.'

It appears that the letter was written even before the fall of the leadership reported in another article on this page. Thus it is clear that these leaders recognise that there is little left of ETA to continue with their fight and that in any case it has failed to produced the results they had hoped for.

We thank you for praying for the situation of violence in the Basque Country. Continue to pray that this letter would produce a true end to this situation and that a new political solution can be worked out for the good of all in that region and that it will equally be recognised by the remainder of Spain.