Sir, - Reading Paddy Woodworth's Basque Letter (July 15th), one gets the impression that the "dirty war" launched against ETA by senior figures in the Spanish democratic administration in the 1980s is the main reason behind ETA's killings today.
I don't think that is the case at all. The so-called "dirty war" took place between 1983 and 1987, claiming the lives of 27 ETA activists. During the same period ETA murdered 110 people. Before the beginning of that horrendous campaign of state terror ETA had already murdered 402 people, most of whom were civilians, and had also kidnapped over 60 people. As we can see, ETA's bloody and cruel campaign was not a result of the "dirty war" Mr Woodworth refers to.
In his article Mr Woodworth says he was struck by the courage and dignity of the members of ETA's social base and claims that they are neither psychopaths nor sadists. He even asserts that personal bitterness seemed extraordinarily absent among them. All this is very difficult to square with some facts which ETA and its social base do not deny but of which they feel very proud.
Two weeks ago J.A. Ortega Lara, a prison officer, was freed by Spanish police after ETA had kept him kidnapped for 17 months. During all this time - the same duration as the IRA's ceasefire - Ortega was kept in a tiny hole underground where he could hardly walk three steps or stand up. For 532 days he didn't see the sun and he didn't breathe fresh air.
While Ortega was deprived of the most basic human rights, thousands demonstrated peacefully in the Basque Country demanding his release. ETA's social base organised counter-demonstrations in which they would shout cruelties at the pacifists, such as: "ETA, kill them". Is there any dignity or courage in not only inflicting suffering but also adding insult to those who opposed ETA in a dignified way?
Nine days after Ortega's release ETA kidnapped Miguel Angel Blanco, a 29-year-old Basque councillor. ETA announced that if the Spanish prison's policy was not changed in 48 hours Blanco would be murdered. In response 600,000 people demonstrated in the Basque city of Bilbao demanding Blanco's freedom, thousands more all over the Basque country and the rest of Spain. Once more ETA and its social base didn't listen to the people's voice. Blanco was shot in the head while on his knees. Is there any dignity and courage in that?
Blanco's death has triggered an enormous feeling of disgust and anger. Following his murder 1.5 million people - the equivalent of the whole population of Northern Ireland demonstrated in Madrid against ETA. In the Basque country there have been massive demonstrations as well in which thousands shouted "That's enough" and showed their hands, symbolising that they are clean of blood, something that ETA cannot say. In some cities the frustration has led many people to surround the offices of ETA's political wing and insult them. Nonetheless, the Basque peace movements - who always have condemned the "dirty war", despite having been constantly humiliated and intimidated by ETA and after having suffered its violence for decades - have asked them to stop those protests. I think that's where the real courage and dignity lies. - Yours, etc., ROGELIO ALONSO,
India Street,
Belfast 7.