I write as one who has been invited to the Basque Country on many occasions to meet with genuinely sincere individuals and groups who are committed to the search for a just and lasting peace in that beautiful region of Spain. On each of my visits, I have become increasingly aware of many parallels between the situation in that country and the recent history of Northern Ireland.
For all of these reasons I was greatly encouraged by recent news of the long-awaited first step towards the total decommissioning of the weaponry of ETA. Sadly, as I read of the dismissive response of the Spanish Government through Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz, my euphoria was short-lived and was swiftly replaced with a deep sense of concern as well as disappointment. To then read of your governments ‘arrest’ of the Independent International verifiers of this event added to my deep personal concern for the future of the peace process in the Basque Region. Particularly as one of them, Chris McCabe, a highly respected retired public servant from Northern Ireland who, having served as the most Senior official in the Northern Ireland Office, was intimately involved in the Northern Ireland peace process which has brought us to where we now are. Thankfully, after some form of questioning in front of a Spanish Court, he and his colleagues have now been released. But this incident, together with the response from the Interior Minister will have done nothing to assuage the long-running opposition of the Basque people, as well as the Basque separatists, to the attitude your government in Madrid. As in Northern Ireland, we must be very much aware of the impact of an impasse upon a younger generation who, potentially, can be drawn into further conflict.
Initially, I too was surprised and disappointed at the small amount of arms and ammunition which was being put ‘beyond use’. However, what might appear to be a “theatrical gesture” to your government will have represented a huge first step for a paramilitary organisation such as ETA. As in any journey, first steps are the most important and at times the most difficult. For the leadership of ETA to have their first steps dismissed makes it much more difficult for them to follow with what I know they really do wish to do, namely the total and verifiable decommissioning of ALL their weaponry. The need for a positive response to any positive gesture, ceasefire or other, was one of the critical lessons to be learned from our experience in Northern Ireland.
In the resolution of any conflict or dispute there is a principle of ‘reciprocity’. If this is disregarded in the early stages of a process it will falter and collapse. In plain terms, this means that taking the political risk of acceptance of this and any future gesture from ETA will make it much more possible for what you and all right-thinking people everywhere will long for. Therefore, as a well-informed observer of the situation in your country, as well as Northern Ireland and elsewhere, I beg you to reciprocate this first small step with a serious re- consideration of the demands regarding the treatment and repatriation of prisoners. Ideally in discussion with ETA and/or independent representatives and in conformity with European principles of Human Rights. To do so would earn you the support and respect of your European neighbours.
In all of this I am well aware of the hurt and the pain of the victims and survivors of ETA’s campaign of violence. Their voices must also be heard. I can only say that in the verification of our process of decommissioning I was acutely aware of the victims and survivors of our conflict, on all sides. But for me and Father Alex Reid the primary purpose of the exercise was to ensure that there would be no more victims.
As a democratically elected government you will understand that ETA, like any political movement or party , will also have their ‘constituents’ to convince in the taking of what to them will be a bold next step. But ultimately, what matters most is that all parties to a conflict will be prepared to do what is morally right and defensible. That for me was the most important thing I learned from South Africa’s former Prime Minister, F.W.deClerk, who spoke to us of what for him began as a very reluctant journey. This for us was the template for our peace process in Northern Ireland. To do what is right, as distinct from what might be seen as politically expedient. I beg you, as I do ETA, to consider this in your search for a resolution to your conflict.
As for us , almost forty years of unresolved conflict is forty years too long. I have good reason to believe that what might appear to you to be an inconsequential act of decommissioning is in fact a highly symbolic indication of intent. I urge you to accept it as such. I fully recognise that what I am calling for may well involve political risk for a duly elected government. There may well be disappointments and ‘let-downs’, starts and stops, from one side or the other. These are the risks one must take. But the risks of not doing are likely to be much greater than the risk of a positive, albeit cautious, response.
And most importantly of all, do not consider ‘talk’ as capitulation. In any conflict, domestic discord or political struggle, there is no alternative to dialogue.
With understanding and sincerity,
Harold Good
