Too many times in its bloody history, Eta’s “permanent” ceasefires have been empty gestures, often breached almost as soon as they were declared. However, the “definitive cessation of military activity” that Eta announced last week is empty for a different reason: after 52 years and 829 killings, the violent Basque separatist group is all but spent.
Impressive co-operation between French, Spanish and Basque regional police has taken its toll. Eta has been thoroughly penetrated by the security services, and lost pretty much all of its plausible leaders over the past seven years. By some estimates, fewer than 50 active members remain at large. By contrast, 699 etarras are held in Spanish and French jails.
