DATE=7/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SPAIN PROTESTS (L)
NUMBER=2-264956
BYLINE=GIL CARBAJAL
DATELINE=MADRID
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Demonstrations and silent vigils took place in
various parts of Spain today to protest a wave of
terrorist attacks blamed on the pro-independence group
ETA. The former governor of the Basque province of
Guipuzcoa was murdered Saturday. Spain's two major
parties have responded to the killing by increasing
pressure on the pro-independence but moderate Basque
Nationalist Party to break with ETA's political wing
which has been a part of the regional government. Gil
Carbajal reports from Madrid.
TEXT: Reacting to an intense wave of terrorist
attacks in the past two weeks, thousands of Spaniards
marched into the streets to protest against the Basque
separatist group ETA. Saturday, suspected ETA gunmen
shot and killed Juan Maria Jauregui, a Socialist party
member and former governor of the Basque province of
Guipuzcoa. He had held that post in the mid-90's and
had advocated negotiations with ETA. He also
contributed to uncovering the so-called "dirty war"
waged by security officials against the separatist
organizaiton. He was the second fatality in a series
of terrorist attacks over the past two weeks.
Demonstrations and silent vigils took place in
Pamplona, Zaragoza, Valladolid, Madrid, Malaga, and
Seville. The biggest rally took place in the northern
city of San Sebastian were political leaders joined
some 20-thousand protesters.
The rally was supported by all the political parties
represented in the Basque regional parliament with the
exception of ETA's political wing Euskal Herritarok.
/// OPTIONAL /// At the head of the demonstration in
San Sebastian was Juan Jose Ibarratxe, the chief
minister of the Basque regional government ruled by
the pro-independence Basque National Party or PNV. He
was flanked by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the newly
elected Secretary General of the main opposition
Spanish Socialist Workers Party, Javier Arenas, the
Secretary of the Popular Party currently ruling Spain,
and representatives of other parties represented the
regional parliament. /// END OPTIONAL ///
In past anti-terrorist demonstrations the Socialist
and Popular Parties have refused to march alongside
the Basque Nationalist Party or PNV because it has
been ruling the region with the support of ETA's
political wing. Nevertheless, the two parties continue
to exert pressure on the PNV to break with Euskal
Herritarok.
Early Sunday, Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria
Aznar, expressed his condolences to the wife and 19-
year-old daughter of Mr. Juaregui, whose body lay in
state at the Socialist Party headquarters in San
Sebastian. Afterwards Mr. Aznar met with Socialist
leader Luis Zapatero. In statements afterwards both
leaders called on the Basque Nationalist Party to
break the so-called pact of Lizarra by which it rules
the Basque regional government in collaboration with
ETA's political wing. Mr. Zapatero said that recent
events had placed an enormous responsibility on the
PNV to break the Lizarra pact.
/// OPTIONAL /// Prime Minister Aznar spoke in similar
terms and warned those who gave the orders to kill,
thosed who did the killing and those gave the killers
political support, that they had reason to be worried
and they would soon see why. /// END OPT ///
On Friday, two ETA members were arrested in Zaragoza.
Found in their apartment were plans to assasinate the
city's mayor. Sunday, the mayor led his city's
protest against the current wave of terrorist attacks.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GC/KBK
30-Jul-2000 19:06 PM EDT (30-Jul-2000 2306 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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