DATE=12/24/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-224496 TITLE=SPAIN / ETA (L ONLY) BYLINE=GIL CARBAJAL DATELINE=MADRID CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A NEWSPAPER THAT SUPPORTS THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP ETA HAS PUBLISHED WHAT IT SAYS IS A LETTER BEING CIRCULATED BY BASQUE PRISONERS CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THEIR STRUGGLE AGAINST SPAIN'S GOVERNMENT. GIL CARBAJAL IN MADRID REPORTS OBSERVERS SAY THE LETTER MAY INDICATE A SPLIT IN THE BASQUE PRO-INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT. TEXT: THE LETTER SAYS THE ARMED STRUGGLE CARRIED OUT BY THE BASQUE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION ETA IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AND IT CALLS FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. THE PRO-ETA NNEWSPAPER EGIN SAYS THE LETTER IS BEING CIRCULATED AMONG ETA PRISONERS IN FRANCE AND SPAIN. THE LETTER SAYS ETA HAS LOST ITS BATTLE AGAINST THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THE STRONG REACTION WITHIN BASQUE SOCIETY AGAINST TERRORIST ACTIONS. IT SAYS THE BASQUE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT FURTHER BLOODSHED AND THAT IT IS TIME FOR ETA TO RESPECT THEIR WILL. EGIN ALSO PUBLISHED A LETTER BY A CONVICTED ETA MEMBER, JOSE LUIS URRUSOLO. HE CONDEMNS THE ETA MURDER OF A LOCAL OFFICIAL IN A BASQUE TOWN -- A MURDER THAT SPARKED HUGE ANTI-ETA DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT SPAIN, INCLUDING THE BASQUE AREA. IN HIS LETTER, THE BASQUE PRISONER ALSO POINTS TO THE EXAMPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND WHERE THE POLITICAL WING OF THE SEPARATIST IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY IS TAKING PART IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. IN CONTRAST, HE SAYS THE LATEST TERRORIST ACTIONS OF ETA AND THE STREET VIOLENCE CARRIED OUT BY ETA'S YOUTH GROUPS IS STRENGTHENING THE POSITION OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT AND THE RULING POPULAR PARTY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY. IN THE PAST, ETA HAS MAINTAINED A TIGHT IDEOLOGICAL CONTROL CF ITS PRISONERS AND TELLS THEM WHEN TO CARRY OUT HUNGER STRIKES AND OTHER PROTEST ACTION. BUT OBSERVERS SAY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF DISSIDENT VOICES AMONG THEM THIS YEAR INDICATES THAT CONTROL MAY BE LOOSENING. AND THEY SAY THE LETTERS BY BASQUE PRISONERS QUESTIONING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TERRORIST ACTIONS OFFER HOPE THAT THE NEW YEAR MIGHT AT LAST BRING AN END TO TERRORIST VIOLENCE IN SPAIN. (SIGNED) NEB/GC/JWH 24-Dec-97 10:52 AM EST (1552 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America
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