The fight for a separate statehood in Spain by the ETA continues, after the ceasefire agreement was blown to tatters by the Basque separatist group. The Spanish authorities have arrested 23 top rank leaders of Batasuna, the banned political wing of the ETA, while they were holding a secret meeting. The move comes as a big boost to the government of Rodriguez Zapatero, ahead of the elections.
The arrest of the top-rank political leaders of the group comes as a bolster for the Spanish administration that has been for long locked in a spiral of words with the ETA. Batasuna was long seen as a bridge between the warring faction, ETA and the government. However, certain incidents have proved that the faction continues its outside support for the separatist group, supplying them arms and ammunition, under the garb of political tag.
ETA or the Basque separatist group recognized a terrorist group by the Spanish government and the EU has been involved in a number of terror attacks in Spain that have claimed thousands of lives so far. The separatist group was observing a ceasefire with the government, however, after its talks at the negotiating table failed, the peace process was thrown apart and the country became witness to a series of bombings and violent attacks.
As Spain shows its total intolerance to any anti-national activities, it also looks to regaining the popular support, which seems to have been marginalized after a series of attacks. However, this is not the end of the ETA, this is just the beginning of the fall of a banned violent group that tries to disrupt peace in their own homeland, itself fighting for a separate Basque republic. After the arrests of their top leaders, ETA might be compelled either to put a stop on its violent activities or go all-out in its unholy war.
Via: Yahoo
