This file is a mirror of EUSKAL HERRIA JOURNAL by Basque Red Net.

ETA's Communique Announcing Its Decision To End Unilateral Ceasefire

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna's Communique to Euskal Herria

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna wants to tell the Basque people its opinion and decision. Given the seriousness of this decision we will attempt to explain as briefly and clearly as possible the reasons which made possible to begin the political process.

In September last year, the mechanisms used by Spain and France to place obstacles to our freedom failed, and Euskal Herria was on the eve of a new situation:

• The Moncloa Estatute [Baskongadak's estatute of autonomy] and Nafarroa's special laws did not satisfy the desire of the Basque people for freedom; at the same time, a desire for institutional recognition was present in Lapurdi, Baxenafarroa and Zuberoa.
• The strategy of crushing failed: the pro-independence Abertzale Left maintained its option for a free Euskal Herria, in spite of the repression exercised against its political force: the politico-military boards of Madrid, Ajuria Enea [in Baskongadak], and Iruña [in Nafarroa] did not offer alternatives to the Democratic Alternative of the Abertzale Left.
• A desire for peace based on a political solution was present in Basque society.
• And finally, the various [Basque nationalist] political forces (PNV, EA, ELA) who in 20 years were satisfied with the little bit agreed by Spain and France, and collaborated with them, started to show a desire for changing the situation.

That is, we think that the option to replace the old politico-juridical framework designed during the reform of the dictatorship and in existance for the last 20 very long years, and the decision to take steps in favor of a new politico-juridical framework based on a democratic option for Euskal Herria, is ripe.

This context made possible for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna to propose an agreement to the PNV and EA in the summer of 1998.

According to this agreement, the signatories [PNV, EA, ETA} agreed to take steps that would bear fruit in support of a sovereign and unique institution comprising the entire Euskal Herria. In this sense, they agreed to seek for some minimum points that would support the rights and interests of Euskal Herria and the basic needs and interests of the Basque people.

On the other hand, PNV and EA agreed to break off relations with Spanish political forces against Euskal Herria; and Euskadi Ta Askatasunak would announce an indefinite interruption of its actions. This was a secret accord that set a trial period of four months.

PNV and EA accepted and signed the accord. Taking their signatures as the starting point, ETA guided the initiative in effect during this year.

The maximum qualities of the Initiative are:

• a new hope and energy emerged in Basque society.
• the Accord signed in Lizarra on the 12th of September [1998] by political, social, and labor union forces, identified the political root of the conflict between Euskal Herria and Spain/France, and proposed a methodology entirely democratic for its solution.
• the creation of the first national institution of modern times comprising the entire Euskal Herria.

That is, to manifest the political nature of the conflict and to design its solution, by activating the various forces in Basque society.

During the first months of the Initiative, a basic change in the political situation took place. But after four months, things started to change, and the Initiative was facing an impasse. In our opinion, the reasons for this change are as follows:

• the political tempest after the good results achieved by the abertzale left [Euskal Herritarrok] in the October elections, and the first meeting of Udabiltza [national Basque assembly] highlighting the viability of the Initiative, turned on the red light of the Spanish and the French governments who then tried to stop the process with a repressive reaction; detentions, torture, and the murder of [ETA] fighter Ttotto.
• the strategy of the PNV and EA highlighted the parties' interests in the June elections.

Spain's pressure on the PNV and EA attempted to change the nature of the Initiative:

They tried to turn a process of nation-building into a peace process without content, and to drown the abertzale left in the political "normality," with the obstinate and evil intention of turning the "provisional" interruption of ETA's actions into "permanent" and "irreversible."

During last summer it was noted that the process was blocked and poisoned.

ETA had, and has, the firm intention of taking this process to the end when it started out the Initiative last year. Therefore, we proceeded to indentify the difficulties and problems of the Initiative:

• on the one hand, the secret nature of the [PNV, EA, ETA] accord generated confusion with its content and the function of the Lizarra-Garazi Accord, and at the same time it had a negative identification.
• and as we stated already, the attempt to distort the content of what was signed by the PNV and EA, and to present the process of nation-building to the Basque people as a "peace process" for the disactivation of the mechanisms of the struggle, used in the defence of the abertzale left.

In ETA's opinion, this attempt was manifested in the lack of will by those participating in the process to bring the critical mass in Euskal Herria to a democratic situation and to activate all the forces.

We made an analysis of the process and saw that the accord signed in the summer of 1998 has not been implemented (in respect to the concrete steps to be taken, and to breaking off relations with the Spanish political forces), and deliberated over the interruption of actions that we proposed in September 1998; and [ETA] told this to the PNV and EA in the summer of 1999, already four months ago.

It was made clear that the process was facing an impasse, but no effective political proposal was made. PNV and EA gave importance to the current framework, sticking to the Moncloa estatute, and not to the initiatives for a new politico-juridical framework.

Seeing that there was no political proposal or concrete strategy at a time in which the future of Euskal Herria was on the table, ETA highlighted the need for political proposals, and came up with one.

Briefly, this is ETA's political proposal: that the people of Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Lapurdi, Nafarroa and Zuberoa choose freely and democratically a sovereign constitutional parliament in one unique circumscription encompassing all Euskal Herria. That is, that the vote cast by each Basque citizen ought to count the same value in all of Euskal Herria.

In this context, and considering the strength and stability of the various institutions that would emerge from this constitutional processs, ETA would make the decision to end its armed struggle, used in the defense of the rights of Euskal Herria.

Many of the political, social, and labor union forces in Euskal Herria know this proposal. Moreover, the police have had the texts of ETA's debates, which were given to the media and the leadership of the political parties. Thus, ETA proposed to the PNV and EA to reach a new accord based in this democratic proposal. PNV and EA have not yet given a concrete response.

Euskal Herria has made some progress walking the road to freedom. As always, the key to that progress has been the struggle, the quiet work, and facing up oppression with all the means we have.

However, during this last year, the abertzales [Basque nationalists] are again talking and working together and we must continue to do it but, in the meantime, Spain and France continue with their occupation, attacks, and repressive dominance; and the forces in Euskal Herria are not sufficiently activated to face that attack and to continue walking the road to nation-building.

Therefore, the process that started last year is blocked and poisoned, and in that context, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna has made the decision to reactivate its armed struggle given its compromise on the defence of Euskal Herria.

More concrete initiatives are needed, as well as more strength, to end the process initiated last year; and we call on the Basque people to continue their work of nation-building, facing up the enemy and re-enforcing the basic pillars of our nation.

The ceasefire that was in effect since September 18, 1998, is over.

Beginning December 3, 1999, it will be up to Euskadi Ta Askatasuna to inform its operational commandos when to start to carry out actions.

Long Live the Basque Country!

Long Live a Socialist Basque Country!

Euskal Herria, November 1999
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA)

Translation by Olatz Arkauz for Euskal Herria Journal