DATE=12/24/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-224496

TITLE=SPAIN / ETA (L ONLY)

BYLINE=GIL CARBAJAL

DATELINE=MADRID

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  A NEWSPAPER THAT SUPPORTS THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP ETA

HAS PUBLISHED WHAT IT SAYS IS A LETTER BEING CIRCULATED BY BASQUE

PRISONERS CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THEIR STRUGGLE AGAINST 

SPAIN'S GOVERNMENT.  GIL CARBAJAL IN MADRID REPORTS OBSERVERS SAY

THE LETTER MAY INDICATE A SPLIT IN THE BASQUE PRO-INDEPENDENCE 

MOVEMENT.



TEXT:  THE LETTER SAYS THE ARMED STRUGGLE CARRIED OUT BY THE 

BASQUE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION ETA IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY 

COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AND IT CALLS FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.  



THE PRO-ETA NNEWSPAPER EGIN SAYS THE LETTER IS BEING CIRCULATED 

AMONG ETA PRISONERS IN FRANCE AND SPAIN. 



THE LETTER SAYS ETA HAS LOST ITS BATTLE AGAINST THE SPANISH 

GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THE STRONG REACTION WITHIN BASQUE SOCIETY 

AGAINST TERRORIST ACTIONS.  IT SAYS THE BASQUE PEOPLE DO  NOT  

WANT FURTHER BLOODSHED AND THAT IT IS TIME FOR ETA TO RESPECT 

THEIR WILL.



EGIN ALSO PUBLISHED A LETTER BY A CONVICTED ETA MEMBER, JOSE LUIS

URRUSOLO.  HE CONDEMNS THE ETA MURDER OF A LOCAL OFFICIAL IN A 

BASQUE TOWN -- A MURDER THAT SPARKED HUGE ANTI-ETA DEMONSTRATIONS

THROUGHOUT SPAIN, INCLUDING THE BASQUE AREA.  



IN HIS LETTER, THE BASQUE PRISONER ALSO POINTS TO THE EXAMPLE OF 

NORTHERN IRELAND WHERE THE POLITICAL WING OF THE SEPARATIST IRISH

REPUBLICAN ARMY IS TAKING PART IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BRITISH 

GOVERNMENT.



IN CONTRAST, HE SAYS THE LATEST TERRORIST ACTIONS OF ETA AND THE 

STREET VIOLENCE CARRIED OUT BY ETA'S YOUTH GROUPS IS 

STRENGTHENING THE POSITION OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT AND THE 

RULING POPULAR PARTY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY.



IN THE PAST, ETA HAS MAINTAINED A TIGHT IDEOLOGICAL CONTROL CF 

ITS PRISONERS AND TELLS THEM WHEN TO CARRY OUT HUNGER STRIKES AND

OTHER PROTEST ACTION.  



BUT OBSERVERS SAY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF DISSIDENT VOICES AMONG

THEM THIS YEAR INDICATES THAT CONTROL MAY BE LOOSENING. AND THEY 

SAY THE LETTERS BY BASQUE PRISONERS QUESTIONING THE EFFECTIVENESS

OF TERRORIST ACTIONS OFFER HOPE THAT THE NEW YEAR MIGHT AT LAST 

BRING AN END TO TERRORIST VIOLENCE IN SPAIN.  (SIGNED)



NEB/GC/JWH



24-Dec-97 10:52 AM EST (1552 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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