Politics

A group of high-profile international figures who helped broker solutions to the Northern Ireland conflict and South Africa's apartheid said on Thursday that "ETA has no intention of committing or organizing acts of terrorism or violence in the future" and that "ETA's ceasefire and the end of violence is part of an irreversible process".

The six members of the International Verification Commission added that "through direct contacts", they have received assurances that the armed Basque group is "committed to both of its declarations: the ceasefire of January 2011 and the definitive end of armed violence in October of the same year".

As well as having "direct contact" with ETA, the IVC has also met political and social agents from the Basque Country (PSE-EE, PNV, abertzale left political parties), trade unions (UGT, CCOO, ELA, LAB), business associations (Confebask), representatives of the Church and relevant authorities of the Basque country.

At these meetings, the IVC was informed that all assassinations, bombings, attacks, threats and extortion have ceased since the ETA declared a ceasefire on the 8th of January 2011 and a definitive end of violence on the 20th of October of 2011.

However, the IVC points out that "ETA remains a clandestine and armed organization. As such, it continues to commit illegal acts such as the falsifying of documents and the maintenance of arms caches. Although these acts are illegal they are not necessarily related to the preparation of violent acts".

In this sense, the International Verification Commission has informed ETA that "the continued possession of arms and explosives, especially if it involves the carrying of personal weapons, can give rise to potentially dangerous situations".

The members of the IVC also mention "isolated incidents of kale borroka disorder" that are not "directly related to the ceasefire". The IVC also takes note of fundraising taking place for prisoner’s families.