consider this a news flash.
It is the first ceasefire for Spain since 1998
the group issued a partial ceasefire for Catalonia in 2004
http://www.berria.info/eta_agiria.php
this is the statement in catalan
http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=1799249
the statement in castellano may be read under the line in blue
"Texto íntegro del comunicado de ETA, recogido de la página web de "Gara":
http://www.lavanguardia.es/web/20060322/51238509049.html
There is as of yet no english translation. The statement was made through ETA/HB's site "gara" and the pro--independence site "berria" and basque national radio within the last hour.
On March 14th 2006, a new site was launched in the Spanish state listing all who have died from terrorism since 1960.
http://www.testimoniosvictimasterrorismo.com/
1,278 names are on the database.
194 attributed to Al Qaeda
24 to "BVA"
6 to "autonomous anti-capitalist commando"
928 to "ETA"
7 to extreme right / fascists without group
29 to the "GAL"
75 to the "GRAPO"
2 to "jarrai"
2 to "mendeku"
7 to "others" who defied category but were "terrorist"
4 to "AAA"
There is no common memorial. no day of equal remembrance.
In April 2005 regional elections in the Basque yielded these results :-
There was no clear majority, with 100% of votes counted,abstention increased in all three provinces of the Basque Autonomous Communty.
Bizkaia 31%
Gipuzkoa 31.3%
Araba 30.2%
an average of 31% "non-voting" in contrast to 21% in the 2001 elections.
The parties:-
PNV 29 seats down 4 from 33.
PP 15 seats down 4 from 19
PSE-EE
(PSOE) 18 seats up 5 from 13.
EB 3 seats no change.
EHAK 9 seats (party was not formed in 2001 it proxied for HB the illegalised political wing of ETA)
Arala 1 seat no change.
number and % of votes-
PNV/EA -463,873 votes - 38.6% down from 42.7%
PP - 208,795 votes 17.3% down from 23.1%
PSE-EE
(PSOE) 272,429votes 22.6% up from 17.9%
EB 64,931 votes 5.4% down from 5.5%
EHAK 150,188 votes 12.5% (first election)
Aralar 28,001 votes 2.3%
Bake = Paz = Paix = Peace
fly less flags.
talk more peace.