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11 July 2005
BILBAO — The Basque terrorist organization ETA has expelled six members who called for peace talks with the government.
The six are serving prisoners including ex-leader Francisco Múgica Garmendia, alias ‘Pakito’, who said in a statement the armed struggle was “contradictory” to the movement’s aims.
The explusion has been seen as the work of ETA’s hardline faction which appears to be opposed to dialogue with the government.
Antonio Camacho, Spanish secretary of state for security, said the move revealed “divisions” within the terrorist organisation.
In May, the Spanish parliament agreed to hold talks with ETA providing the Basque terrorist group laid down its arms.
Meanwhile, it emerged ETA had warned the International Olympic Committee it would carry on attacks against Madrid if it was granted the 2012 Games.
The July edition of the ETA internal publication Zutabe includes the text of a letter the group sent IOC president Jacques Rogge of Belgium, IOC vice presidents and all members of the evaluation committee, the body charged with weighing the advantages of the various cities vying to host the Games in 2012.
According to the bulletin, the objective of the letter was to “influence the selection process,” so that Madrid would not be picked as venue for the games. Last week, the IOC voted to award the 2012 Summer Games to London.
In the letter, sent before a car bomb went off near the capital’s La Peineta stadium on 25 June, ETA reminded recipients of its most recent terrorist acts in Madrid.
ETA will keep striking at “Spanish interests on all Spanish territory, including Madrid,” the letter said.
Since 1968, ETA has killed more than 830 people in its violent campaign to carve out an independent Basque nation from parts of northern Spain and south-western France.
The group, whose bombings are usually preceded by telephoned warnings, has often targeted hotels and other parts of the profitable Spanish tourist industry.
[Copyight EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news