Outline the Basque conflict: include the issue, group, campaign, and the situation

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• The Issue.
• Basque separatists want a homeland completely independent of Spain.
• The nationalists control a semiautonomous Basque parliament, but they are divided in their desire for autonomy.
• A substantial minority of Basques want to remain united with Spain.
• The Group.
• Although the Basque region has never been independent, it has its own language and culture.
• Francisco Franco, the Spanish dictator, tried to crush Basque culture and force the Basques to become Spanish.
• The Campaign.
• The Basque Nation and Liberty (ETA) began a campaign against Spain in 1959.
• The group was responsible for assassinating Franco's probable successor and many other officials.
• They agreed to a cease-fire in 1998 but broke the treaty a year later.
• The Spanish government has given the Basques regional governing authority, and Basques use their own language and run their own schools.
• The majority of Spaniards believe the ETA to be the most important issue in Spain, and both Basques and Spaniards are tired of ETA violence.
• Spain also has a strong jihadist movement, but there is no connection between the jihadists and the ETA.
• The Situation.
• The ETA agreed to a second cease fire but resumed violence after 2006 ceasefire.
• Spanish and French police forces increased their intelligence operations resulting in a number of arrests in late 2009 and early 2010
• By most estimates, the ETA had gone into decline.