wasteofo2 said:The ETA is about 100 years old, it's not a new thing.
misskitty, what I think is ridiculous is why these extremist groups aren't getting their way. If you have a small part of your country, from which unrest and violence comes, and they want to govern themselves, what is the point of holding on to them? The Revolutionaries in Colonial America were considered extremists by England - but with America I can understand why England wanted to keep it, because of it's huge natural resources. Unless the ETA people are like sitting on some hugely valuable natural resources and the governments of Spain and France want to keep these resources within their control, I can't see why Spain or France's governments would want to keep a group of people who have been killing government officials and citizens of both countries, when it seems that they just want independnece. Relinquishing control of these regions would seem to both get rid of a huge problem to Spain and France, but also make a group of people who don't feel represented by the government they're currently under happy by giving them self-determination.
misskitty said:It's not ridculous that these groups want their own countries. What's ridculous is how they are going about it. I understand that these groups are trying to get noticed and get the attention of their governments. It seems like they are going to kill of the entire population of the country they inhabit to get their way. Its not ok to go around killing people to get what you want.
misskitty said:We have the Kurdish, the Irish (who I thought had their own country before England invaded), and now the ETA, amoung others.
misskitty said:Wasn't the ETA also responcible for the train bombing on March 11th 2004 in Madrid Spain? I remember hearing about it and the Spainish government was calling it "Spain's 9/11".
This is getting ridiculous with all these extremist groups demanding their own countries. We have the Kurdish, the Irish (who I thought had their own country before England invaded), and now the ETA, amoung others.
The Spain/ETA conflict refers to the ongoing conflict between the Spanish government and the Basque separatist group, ETA. ETA stands for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, which translates to Basque Homeland and Freedom. The group seeks independence for the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain and southwestern France.
The conflict can be traced back to the late 19th century when Basque nationalists began advocating for an independent Basque state. In the 1950s, ETA was formed as a militant separatist group and began carrying out violent attacks against Spanish authorities. The conflict escalated in the 1960s and has continued for decades.
The conflict is primarily fueled by the desire for independence from the Basque people and the refusal of the Spanish government to grant it. The Basque Country has a distinct cultural and linguistic identity and many Basque people feel that they should have their own independent state. The Spanish government, however, sees ETA as a terrorist organization and has consistently refused to negotiate with them.
The conflict has had a devastating impact on both sides. ETA's violent attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 800 people, including civilians, police officers, and politicians. The Spanish government has also faced criticism for its use of excessive force and human rights abuses in its efforts to combat ETA. The conflict has also had a significant economic impact, causing instability and hindering development in the Basque Country.
There have been several attempts at peace talks and ceasefires between the Spanish government and ETA, but none have been successful in bringing an end to the conflict. In 2011, ETA declared a permanent ceasefire, but tensions and sporadic violence continue to this day. It is unclear if and when a resolution will be reached, but many believe that dialogue and negotiation are the key to finding a lasting solution.