Thereīs little doubt now weīre already in the middle of a negotiation process which has been going on for some time.
Iīve been quite confused about one question: what should we be ready to give up and what not in order to stop violence (from terrorism to blackmail to street-vandalism, all by ETA)?
I think I found my answer. It is a matter of whether you should allow people to use violent and criminal means to get what they want. A very clever guy said once that if you are too involved in something to be objective about making up your mind about it, create an hypothetical case with similar characteristics.
Letīs say there was a right-wing terrorist group in Spain that, since Francoīs death, had killed almost 700 people (lower than 850 killed by ETA because itīs been killing longer) in order to prevent an authonomical organisation of the State. Letīs say some region and/or the national government were preparing a law to decrease regionsī rights, and, seeing this historical opportunity, they proclaim a cease-fire and start a negotation, proclaiming beforehand they havenīt given up any of its claims, donīt regret the use of violence and donīt ask for forgiveness.
Mr. Zapatero: give ETA no more than you would give them.