The Spanish have waited for a very long time to hear the announcement by ETA, the armed Basque separatist movement, that it is declaring a permanent ceasefire from March 24. This will be an extremely important milestone if it indeed marks the end of a 40-year campaign of terrorist violence that has left hundreds dead, many of them innocent civilians, and members of the Spanish police and security forces, as well as politicians, judges and journalists considered ”legitimate targets”. It could be the start of a real peace process. Still, previous ceasefires have not held. And the manner of Wednesday’s announcement is a reminder of how hard it will be to inspire confidence, made as it was by three masked men wearing black berets and paramilitary gear that does not betoken a commitment to peace and democracy.
That undoubtedly was the reason for the cautious response by the government of José Luis Zapatero, who has been no less tough on terrorism that his conservative predecessor, José MarÃÂa Aznar. The announcement has been predicted for some months, since ETA, weakened and demoralised by arrests and arms seizures, had endorsed a formula for negotiations announced by Batasuna, its political wing, and urged Zapatero to be Spain’s Tony Blair. Although parallels are often drawn between the Basque issue and Northern Ireland, the big difference is that Sinn Féin has long been involved in politics while Batasuna has been banned and badly weakened as others have garnered support. Peace is likely to boost its position.
The Spanish will have to think creatively to take advantage of this new development. The opposition People’s Party should soften its demand for ”unconditional surrender” and avoid being too emotive about the victims of terrorism. The future, after all, matters more than the past. Bipartisan support will be needed. But the rest of Europe will be cheering loudly if the most vicious of the continent’s remaining separatist movements bows off the stage of history not with a bang, but with a whimper. — Â