ETA attacks: the farewell push?
Monday, August 3, 2009 @ 2:46 PM
THE two bombs that left two dead and over 60 people injured this week have taken Spain by surprise.
While the Spanish government had feared some activity to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of Basque separatist group Eusakdi ta Askatasuna (Basque Homeland and Freedom), the attacks nonetheless came as a shock.
This is largely as the regime seemed to be faltering, losing support among followers and finding it increasingly difficult to generate fear across the nation.
It was 50 years on Friday since a group of left wing radicals broke-off from the Basque Nationalist Party to establish the more militant ETA.
Born under the shadow of General Franco, the group’s original fight was to protect the region’s culture and language from the brutal encroachment of the fascist dictator.
Since then, the mission has expanded as the group has fought long and hard at securing independence for the Basque region, an area with a population of over two million people sitting between France and Spain.
The battle has left over 800 people dead.
Read the rest of the article at The olive Press