Orain Herria, Orain Bakea:1 Local Perspectives from Basque Nationalists
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Orain Herria, Orain Bakea:1 Local perspectives from Basque nationalists on a lasting peace in the Basque Country. Student: Mar-Lisa Ras Student number: S4518063 Supervisor: B. Bomert Human Geography: Conflicts, Territories and Identities Radboud University Nijmegen Date: 25-01-2016 Words: 40,000 1 Basque for: Now the people, now peace. I Abstract For many years there has been a conflict in the Basque historic regions. However, a definitive ceasefire and the start of a decommissioning process announced by ETA changed perspectives and paved the way for a peaceful future. This research focuses on the perspectives of Basque nationalists about a lasting peace settlement in the Basque historic regions. Qualitative research, including semi-structured interviews, participant observation and small talk, was done in the Basque historic regions. This research shows that Basque nationalists all believe there is a political conflict which manifested itself in violence from ETA and from the Spanish state. As a consequence society is divided socially and politically and many people have suffered from human rights violations. According to Basque nationalist informants in this research, a peace settlement is needed and should include decommissioning, negotiations, condemnation of any type of human rights violations, transitional justice, reconciliation and the right to decide. II Preface I would like to thank the people who made it possible to write this thesis. First of all I would like to thank all the informants for their contribution, for sharing their stories and opinions with me, for making time, and for helping me to understand the situation. Without them this thesis would have been incomplete. Many thanks also to all my family and friends, who always supported me and believed in me. My deepest gratitude goes to my dad, my hero, my role model and the man who always motivates me. And my mom, who always takes care of me and supports me in everything I do. Thanks to Jamil, who supported me, believed in me, and motivated me to do my work. Thanks to Abdelrahman, Diewertje and Milou, who always listened to me and made sure I never gave up. Finally, thanks to Unai for having a critical look at my work. A special thanks to all my Basque friends who always give me the feeling to be part of their family. The people who made me write this thesis and the people who always let me travel back to my second home. Especially Mikel and Arantza, the two most amazing Basque friends a person could wish for. They support me anytime I travel to the Basque Country and give me the feeling that I am a part of their family. Mila Esker! Thanks to Iker, Isidor and Isa who shared their valuable time with me and inspired me. They are the reason that I am writing this thesis and I will dedicate it to these special people who will be in my heart forever. Ezin da hitzekin esan zenbat maite zaitudan. Faltan botatzen zaitut! Without these people it would be impossible to write this thesis. To all: Mila Esker! III List of Abbreviations AAA Alianza Apóstolica Anticomunista ATE Anti Terrorismo ETA AVT Asociación de Víctimas del Terrorismo BVE Batallón Vasco Español COVITE Colectivo de Víctimas del Terrorismo CPT Coordinadora para la Prevencíon de la Tortura CUP Candidatura d’Unitat Popular EA Euskal Alkartasuna EAJ-PNV Eusko Alderdi Jeltzalea-Partido Nacionalista Vasco EH Bildu Euskal Herria Bildu EPPK Euskal Preso Politikoen Kolektiboa ETA Euskadi Ta Askatasuna ETA-m ETA militar ETA-pm ETA político-militar GAE Grupos Armados Españoles GAL Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación HB Herri Batasuna IU Izquierda Unida MLNV Movimiento Libertad Nacional Vasco LOPP Ley Orgánica de Partidos Políticos PP Partido Popular PSE-EE Partido Socialista de Euskadi- Euskadiko Ezkerra PSOE Partido Socialista Obrero Español PSN Partido Socialista de Navarra UPN Unión del Pueblo Navarra UPV Universidad del País Vasco IV Table of contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................. I Preface .................................................................................................................................................. II List of abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ III Table of contents .................................................................................................................................. IV Table of figures and tables .................................................................................................................. VI 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research objective ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Research questions ........................................................................................................................ 6 1.3 Scientific and social relevance ...................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Thesis outline ................................................................................................................................ 8 2. Theoretical framework ................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Peace ............................................................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Peacebuilding .............................................................................................................................. 11 2.3 Lasting peace ............................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Political amnesty and decommissioning of weapons ......................................................... 13 2.3.2 Transitional justice ............................................................................................................. 14 2.3.3 Reconciliation ..................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.4 Shared identity and the importance of memory .................................................................. 19 2.4 Political settlement of the conflict ............................................................................................... 20 2.4.1 Right to self-determination ................................................................................................. 20 2.5 The Basque case ......................................................................................................................... 22 3. Methodology..................................................................................................................................... 24 3.1 Semi-structured interviews .......................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Participant observation ................................................................................................................ 26 3.3 Small talk ..................................................................................................................................... 26 3.4 Informants ................................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Sampling ............................................................................................................................. 28 3.4.2 Location of the interviews .................................................................................................. 29 3.5 Ethical considerations .................................................................................................................. 29 4. The historical context of the Basque conflict ................................................................................ 31 4.1 Spanish unitary nationalism vs. Basque nationalism ................................................................... 31 4.2 Ethno-political conflict ................................................................................................................ 32 4.3 Historical background ................................................................................................................. 33 V 5. The interpretation of the Basque conflict and its consequences ................................................. 40 5.1 Origins of the conflict .................................................................................................................. 40 5.2 Consequences .............................................................................................................................. 41 5.2.1 ETA violence and state violence ......................................................................................... 41 5.2.2 Todo es ETA ....................................................................................................................... 45 5.2.3 Prisoners ............................................................................................................................ 47 5.2.4 Political division ................................................................................................................