Basque Separatists

Basque Separatists are natives of the Basque region who are campaigning for national sovereignty and cultural independence from the surrounding nations of Spain and France. In the past 30 years, the campaign has taken both a political route and a terrorist route to achieve its goal.

The Basque people have lived in the western region of the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France since the Middle Ages. They speak their own language, Euskara, which is one of the oldest languages in Europe, and maintain a degree of ethnic insularity. They were independent throughout the 1700s; around 1800 they were divided, to be partly ruled by both France and Spain. Almost immediately, a strong separatist movement was formed that still exists today. Resentful that they were no longer self-governed, the Basque Separatists formed a political party called the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), held widespread protests, and committed a variety of violent acts. Although the movement consists of Basques from both neighboring countries, the Spanish separatists were and currently are more active than the French. Spain has resisted granting full independence to the Basque region because it contributes to the gross domestic product and offers valuable resources.

When dictator General Francisco Franco formed the Spanish Republic in 1931, he stripped those in the Basque region of many of their civil rights, including the right to use their language. After Franco's death, the Basques refused to ratify the Spanish constitution that both restored the monarchy and established democracy until Spain conceded them the right to have their own limited government. The Basque region has since elected its own parliament to govern various affairs. However, they are not completely autonomous, and many Basques still desire absolute freedom from Spain.

The Euskadi ta Askatasuna (ETA), or Basque Fatherland and Liberty, is a terrorist group of radical separatists that have killed more than 800 people in various bombings, kidnappings, assassinations, and robberies. In particular, the ETA targets members of the People's Party of Madrid and others that advocate the unity of Spain, such as King Juan Carlos. In the year 2000, a youth wing of the ETA called Haika was formed from a merger of Spanish pro-Basque independence youth group Jarrai and its French counterpart Gasteriak, and they have increased the violent activity in France. Spain and France have recently augmented their efforts to apprehend the Basque terrorists.

In the Basque parliament elections of May 2001, moderate members of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) won more seats in the regional Parliament than any other political group, including the political wing of ETA. This election was seen as an indication that the Basques are ready to pursue their separatist goals through more peaceful measures.