Asturian-American Migration Forum

How do you Forum members in Asturias and Spain feel about the Basque ETA movement? We have not touched upon this subject, and with terrorism running rampant in the world, where do the Basque fit in and the ETA organization with terrorism?

Are the ETA terrorist, or patriots seeking independence from Spain, or just seeking more local authority and control while remaining a part of Spain. How is France helping to control the ETA in France to help curtail their activities in the Basque region of Spain.

How will Zapatero manage Spain's response to the ETA movement? How will that compare to Aznar? Seems like this is a critical issue for Spain.

Just listening to the news and as I understand it, the Basque blew up a power transmission line between France and Spain, and have announced more action towards the provisional and central government.

Ken,
I believe most of us consider ETA plain and simply a terrorist group. They say they seek independence, but you don't shoot innocent people in the neck, blow up shopping centers, etc. to gain it.
The Basque Country as such has never existed historically, thus their independence would be a secession, nor more and no less, and could lead to a Civil War, like the one in Yugoslavia.

The Basques themselves don't know if they're coming or going. They're making up a lot of stories based on some delirious writings by some pre-fascist nationalist called Sabino Arana who died about 100 years ago.

Luckily the latest DNA mapping is proving that at least those living near the coast are not genetically different from us other, mortal folks of the Atlantic rim, and that in fact the true Basques may be those of the Pyrenees (Andorra, etc.) until now considered Catalans. I think that if this is confirmed it would be a riot!

I honestly believe they've already gotten the word and that's why ETA is in clear retreat.

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Ken,
creo que la mayoría consideramos a ETA sencillamente un grupo terrorista. Dicen que lo que quieren es la independencia, pero eso no se consigue disparándoles en la nuca a inocentes, o volando centros comerciales, etc.
El País Vasco como tal nunca existió historicamente, por tanto su independencia sería simple y llanamente una secesión, que podría desembocar en una guerra civil, como en Yugoslavia.

Los propios vascos no saben si van o si vienen. Se están inventando un montón de historias basadas en los escritos delirantes de un nacionalista pre-fascista que se llamaba Sabino Arana y murió hace unos 100 años.

Por suerte los últimos mapas de ADN muestran que al menos los del Cantábrico no son geneticamente distintos del resto de los mortales de la Cornisa Cantábrica, y que de hecho los auténticos vascos podrían ser los de los Pirineos (Andorra, etc.), a los que hasta ahora se considera como catalanes. Creo que si esto se confirma sería para troncharse de risa!

Estoy convencida de que ya se han enterado y por eso ETA está claramente en retroceso.

Terechu, I do hope the ETA is in retreat, as I believe ETA could threaten the future stability of an unified Spain. As I am sure there are other groups and individuals who would like to see their regions of Spain become independent counties, so I have read. Any opinions on the other regions and groups supporting independence?

¡Puxa Asturies!

I am myself an Asturian nationalist. I don`t especially yearn to see an Asturian seat in the UN council, but I would be happy if Spain quitted being seen as a "nation" but rather as a confederation of free nations; God knows, maybe that way we would be able to convince Portugal to join us again!
I don`t like the idea of a Spanish identity and a Spanish culture relentlessly promoted by the media and the government in Madrid. I am Asturian and that is enough for me.
We nationalists are, however, a small minority here.
I think the shrinking of ETA is a good example of the only solution against terrorism: don`t respond to terror with terror, don`t declare states of siege in the area, just keep arresting and imprisoning proven terrorists, and soon or late they will lose support. The dissapearing of ETA and the IRA is good news for all peace-loving people.
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Por lo que me toca, yo soy un nacionalista asturiano. No es que desee desesperadamente un escano para Asturias en el consejo de la ONU, pero si que me gustaria que Espana dejase de verse como una "nacion", para convertise en una confederacion de naciones libres. Sabe DIos, tal vez asi podriamos convencer a Portugal de que se nos volviese a unir!
No me gusta la idea de una identidad espanola o una cultura espanola promovidos incesantemente desde el gobierno y los medios de comunicacion. Yo soy asturiano y con eso me basta.
Los nacionalistas, no obstante, somos solo una pequena minoria aqui
Creo que la decadencia de ETA es un buen ejemplo de la unica solucion contra el terrorismo: no contesteis al terror con el terror, no declareis estados de sitio en la zona, simplemente seguid deteniendo y encarcelando a los terroristas convictos, y tarde o temprano perderan apoyos. La desaparicion de ETA y el IRA es una buena noticia para todas las personas amantes de la paz.

And there is a MASSIVE difference in being a peaceful nationalist who works with diplomatic means to affect change than being a cowardly terrorist who blows up trains full of innocent people....