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28 / 07 / 2004
Leading journalists meeting at the Forum agree that the situation in the basque region has improved but disagree about the peace process
Journalists José María Calleja, Pedro María García Larragán, Gorka Landáburu, Isabel San Sebastián, José Félix Arzurmendi and Martxelo Otamendi took part in a roundtable discussion entitled Euskadi: An Opportunity for Peace at Forum Barcelona 2004. Despite their differing opinions, they all referred to the new situation in the Basque Region with optimism and used the recent meeting between the leader of the Basque Region, Juan José Ibarretxe, and the prime minister of Spain, José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, after three years of silence between the bodies they represent, as an example. However, they had no qualms about expressing their differing views on how to bring peace to the Basque Region.
More information about Special 141 Questions: 'Euskadi: an opportunity for Peace' Round Table
Each of the journalists participating in the round table discussion on creating peace in the Basque Region made an opening statement expressing their point of view and feelings about the current political situation. José María Calleja, editor in chief of CNN Plus, described it as “compulsive optimism”, which he justified by stating: “I believe that we are better off now, even though the Basque Region is the only territory in Europe where freedom does not exist.” He argued that, “journalists fear the editor in chief” and, after referring to the fact that the Basque flag, ikurriña, was hoisted at a recent meeting between Ibarretze and Zapatero, he pointed out that many believe “the evil no longer reside in La Moncloa.” As regards ETA, Calleja mentioned that the terrorist organization’s most recent murders took place in May of last year and that after March 11, “it has become increasingly difficult for them to kill.”
Pedro García Larragán, of Radio Euskadi, also admitted to being “more optimistic than before.” He stated that we are standing before a wonderful opportunity to reach the necessary political agreements: “We have been discussing the Ibarretxe Plan for months now without pointing any guns.” He also mentioned the recent hoisting of the ikurriña, and rejoiced over how things have changed and referred to the former president Azar by stating: “When you lose your manners you lose your sense of reason.” Larragán said that, as far as he sees it, “people in the Basque Region don’t have a problem with living together.” He pointed out that, “the problem is that victims are put into one group and the victimizers into another.” This arouses suspicion, because “anyone who is not forced to have a bodyguard is doubted.” Despite his optimism about the future, García Larragán stated that, event hough they lack the support of society, “ETA is going to keep killing.”
Gorka Landáburu, director of Cambio 16 and victim of an ETA attack three years ago, was "moderately optimistic." In accordance with Pedro García Barragán's appraisal, he said that the terrorist organization will attack again although he also said that "the group is weaker than ever due to mobilization in the Basque society." Despite this, he said many people in the region must go everywhere with bodyguards: "This is ETA's great victory. They have important sectors of Basque society very scared. Constantly living in semi-freedom is very hard." He assured that the solution will come when the violence disappears. He emphasized the fact that, "Batasuna should cut the umbilical cord linking them to ETA." In regards to the last general elections, he said that there are now many possibilities for dialogue, "not so much because the PP lost but due to the fact that Aznar is out of Moncloa."
Isabel San Sebastián, from the El Mundo, disagreed with García Barragán on social problems in the Basque region: "I have rational indications that he is not condemned to death by the terrorists." José Félix Azurmendi, director of EITB Internacional, rejected the observation. "He is threatened by ETA," he confirmed. Previously, Isabel San Sebastián had defended the position of 200,000 people who have left the region due to threats they received, "we can't expect everyone to be as heroic as Gorka Landáburu." She was surprised that "Aznar is blamed for everything and no one mentions ETA or the parties that break the law." She reiterated the fact that "Aznar opened his arms to the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV)" and that they responded by "negotiating secretly with ETA and facilitating the Estella Pact." Pacto de Estella». Isabel San Sebastián also felt that the situation is improving: "We are doing better, among things because due to the Parties Law street resistance has gone down and because ETA cannot take the political pressure." In regards to any process of dialogue, she said that would only be possible "under conditions of equality, free from threats."
José Félix Azurmendi, director of EITB Internacional, declared that his optimism is based on the fact that everything possible has already been done to keep the situation from improving." Among other "scandalous" actions he cited the Parties Law because "it strikes against human rights; it's an unacceptable law and any serious jurist would see it that way." He said that the issue of whether there is a Basque problem beyond ETA should be addressed, and in regards to this issue, he asked why people were so nervous about the last truce signed with the terrorist organization. In regards to the Ibarretxe Plan he asked what the problem is with discussing a project for a federal state.
Martxelo Otamendi opened his speech by saying, "the Basque conflict is older than ETA, which is its tragic consequence” and he explained the steps that should be followed for peace in the region: “Recognizing the existence of the conflict; the end of violence by ETA and the Spanish state; opening dialogue; recognizing Euskalherria and the legitimacy of all political options and accepting that the future depends on the will of the majority of Basques”. Otamendi, who was jailed for his presumed links to ETA as the editor of the newspaper Egunkaria, shut down by Spain's Supreme Court, described the Intxaurrondo cartel of the Spanish civil guard as "the largest center of torture in Europe" and confirmed that "a year ago they tortured me like an Iraqi." According to Otamendi, the decrease in assassinations “is not only due to political pressure on ETA" while he pointed that for the future, "there is a new will; we need a new way."
During the debate, Calleja said that the Basque region "has more autonomy than ever before, but everyone is angry." He said that the conflict is consubstantial to humans but "but that doesn't mean that we should kill each other because we think differently." Getting back to the ETA attacks he pondered what would become of nationalism without the assassinations of important political figures from the PP and PSOE. He said that the Basque region projects itself as a place "where people kill" and referred to the PSOE's action of going to the table with ETA in order to end terrorism: "ETA did not want to resolve anything. They are insatiable," he concluded.
Pedro García Larragán was wary about the future: "The solution is tricky. What do we do if the Ibarretxe Plan is passed on the Basque parliament but rejected by Congress?" Later on, in regards to the "reproaches people against one another" García Larragán emphasized the beginning of reconciliation -"that has nothing to do with political agreement"- will be possible when "the suffering of others is recognized, regardless of political persuasion."
Gorka Landáburu mentioned that he called for the Basque problem to be solved immediately after the terrorist attack he was a victim of. He insisted that, “political consensus among the parties is possible, even though it ca never be reached one-hundred percent.” In his opinion, the Ibarretxe Plan will fail because it is unilateral and does not take into account a large part of Basque society.
Isabel San Sebastián pointed out that ETA’s arguments are very much in line with the Ibarretxe Plan. She argued that, “whatever solution is decided should never put us in greater conflict than what we are in now.” She insisted that any agreement that is reached should require the majority of the Basque people. She added that “the Guernika Statute was accepted by 80%” and that dialogue should be carried out “without any further deaths.”
José Félix Azurmendi stated that the Ibarretxe Plan “is nothing to write home about, but it does provide an opportunity for debate.” Azurmendi alluded to the transition in his assessment of the current situation: “It hasn’t gone too badly, but we must not forget that we inherited the current monarchy from the Franco era and that the leader of one of Spain’s autonomous communities was a minister of the Franco government.”
Martxelo Otamendi pointed out that, “the Ibarretxe Plan is not set up to resolve the conflict, but to establish new ties between the territories.” He denounced the “adamant attitude” shown by some of the Spanish media. “The Spanish state-run media seriously lack democracy,” said Otamendi in relation to the absence of commentators that are sympathetic to Basque nationalism in. As regards his own approach, Otamendi said: “I am an pro-independence because I feel like it.” When the debate turned to how to heal the wounds inflicted by the so-called Basque conflict, he said: “Nobody can ask me to become reconciled with the Civil Guard because they tortured me.”
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