DATE=8/26/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41223
TITLE=BASQUE SEPARATISM
BYLINE=RICK SALLINGER
DATELINE=BARCELONA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN SPAIN, THE DESIRE BY SOME FOR INDEPENDENCE OF THE
BASQUE REGION HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY TERRORISM. RICK SALLINGER
REPORTS FROM BARCELONA THAT WHILE THE BASQUES HAVE MADE GREAT
STRIDES TOWARD SELF-GOVERNMENT, THAT HAS NOT ENDED THE
VIOLENCE.
TEXT:
/// SPANISH TV NEWS REPORT OF VIOLENCE - FADE UNDER
///
IT IS A MUCH TOO FAMILIAR THEME ON THE SPANISH TELEVISION NEWS --
VIOLENCE IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY. THIS TIME WHEN POLICE ATTEMPTED
TO BREAK UP A FIGHT IN THE NORTHERN SPANISH CITY OF BILBAO, THE
CROWD ATTACKED THEM. MOLOTOV COCKTAILS IGNITED VECHICLES.
SIXTEEN PEOPLE WERE INJURED, INCLUDING FIVE POLICE OFFICERS.
THE INCIDENT WAS JUST ONE OF THE LATEST CONFRONTATIONS IN A
STRUGGLE THAT TURNED VIOLENT DURING THE YEARS GENERAL FRANCISCO
FRANCO CONTROLLED THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT.
THE BASQUE COUNTRY EXTENDS THROUGH NORTHEASTERN SPAIN INTO
SOUTHWEST FRANCE. THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND
CULTURAL IDENTITY. UNDER GENERAL FRANCO THAT CULTURE WAS
REPRESSED. THE PEOPLE WERE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO USE THEIR
LANGUAGE IN PUBLIC.
THERE WAS A STRONG BACKLASH AS THE GROUP ETA EMERGED. ETA'S
DEMANDS FOR INDEPENDENCE WERE ACCOMPANIED BY ACTS OF TERRORISM.
THERE HAS BEEN VANDALISM, KIDNAPPINGS, BOMBINGS, AND MURDERS.
WHEN GENERAL FRANCO DIED, THE GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TOWARD THE
BASQUE REGION CHANGED CONSIDERABLY. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF KING
JUAN CARLOS, AUTONOMOUS REGIONS WERE PERMITTED TO EXIST WITHIN
THE SPANISH GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE.
THE BASQUE COUNTRY NOW HAS ITS OWN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, AND ITS
OWN POLICE FORCE. THE BASQUE LANGUAGE CAN BE HEARD ON ITS
TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS.
SUCH AUTONOMY IS ALSO THE CASE IN THE CATALONIA REGION OF SPAIN
CENTERED IN BARCELONA. THERE, TOO, THE PEOPLE HAVE A SEPARATE
LANGUAGE, CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT, HOWEVER,
THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE RELATED VIOLENCE. THE CATALANS HAVE A
STRONG VOICE IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN MADRID.
BUT AUTONOMY FOR THE BASQUE REGION ALONG WITH A STRONG STANCE
AGAINST TERRORISM HAS NOT SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING THE VIOLENCE
THERE TO AN END.
RECENTLY, THE COUNSELOR OF THE INTERIOR FOR THE BASQUE AUTONOMOUS
GOVERNMENT, JUAN MARIA ATUTXA, WENT ON TELEVISION INDICATING HE
BELIEVED PEACE IS NEAR.
/// ESTABLISH SPANISH TV BROADCAST - FADE UNDER ///
HE SAID POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES OF ETA HAVE GIVEN HIM THE
BELIEF, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE LIVED WITH VIOLENCE FOR A LONG
TIME, THEY MUST BE PREPARED FOR A SUDDEN CHANGE.
THE VERY NEXT DAY THOUGH, THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE CROWD AND
POLICE TOOK PLACE IN BILBAO.
ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR THIS OCTOBER IN THE BASQUE REGION.
THE POLITICAL WING OF ETA IS CALLED HERRI BATASUNA. HOW WELL IT
DOES IN THE ELECTIONS MAY BE SEEN AS A REFERENDUM ON NOT ONLY
THE DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE, BUT THE TERRORIST TACTICS OF ETA.
(SIGNED)
NEB/RS/JWH
26-Aug-98 10:01 AM EDT (1401 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
