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| Basque party linked to Eta declares its own dissolution | Basque party linked to Eta declares its own dissolution |
| (21 days later) | |
| A Basque political party which for years allegedly acted as a front for the armed separatist group Eta has declared its own dissolution, marking another step towards a definitive end to violent separatism in the region. | A Basque political party which for years allegedly acted as a front for the armed separatist group Eta has declared its own dissolution, marking another step towards a definitive end to violent separatism in the region. |
| Although Batasuna was banned in Spain a decade ago, the party had remained legal in France – where it continued to demand a separate Basque state made up of four northern Spanish provinces and three south-western French departments. | Although Batasuna was banned in Spain a decade ago, the party had remained legal in France – where it continued to demand a separate Basque state made up of four northern Spanish provinces and three south-western French departments. |
| "We are here to announce the dissolution of Batasuna," Maite Goyenetxe, a Batasuna leader, told journalists in Bayonne, south-west France. | "We are here to announce the dissolution of Batasuna," Maite Goyenetxe, a Batasuna leader, told journalists in Bayonne, south-west France. |
| The announcement came after a Spanish court released one of its leaders, Aurore Martin, on €15,000 bail shortly before Christmas. | The announcement came after a Spanish court released one of its leaders, Aurore Martin, on €15,000 bail shortly before Christmas. |
| Martin had been extradited from France on terrorism charges after Spanish investigators accused her of attending meetings of Batasuna in Spain. She still faces charges of belonging to a terrorist group. | Martin had been extradited from France on terrorism charges after Spanish investigators accused her of attending meetings of Batasuna in Spain. She still faces charges of belonging to a terrorist group. |
| Although Batasuna was legal in France, the country's interior minister, Manuel Valls, had publicly backed the extradition order that saw Martin sent to Spain in November. "There can be no complacency with those who have backed Eta," he said at the time. | Although Batasuna was legal in France, the country's interior minister, Manuel Valls, had publicly backed the extradition order that saw Martin sent to Spain in November. "There can be no complacency with those who have backed Eta," he said at the time. |
| Eta itself announced in October 2010 a definitive end to four decades of terrorist violence that had claimed more than 800 victims, though it has not yet dissolved. Its leadership has traditionally operated from south-west France, but has largely been careful to keep its terrorist attacks to Spanish soil. | Eta itself announced in October 2010 a definitive end to four decades of terrorist violence that had claimed more than 800 victims, though it has not yet dissolved. Its leadership has traditionally operated from south-west France, but has largely been careful to keep its terrorist attacks to Spanish soil. |
| In March 2010, however, Eta members shot and killed a French police officer after he discovered them stealing cars from a second-hand dealership near Paris. | In March 2010, however, Eta members shot and killed a French police officer after he discovered them stealing cars from a second-hand dealership near Paris. |
| Former Batasuna members in the Spanish Basque region now back the legal Euskal Herria Bildu separatist coalition, which won a quarter of votes in October regional elections. | Former Batasuna members in the Spanish Basque region now back the legal Euskal Herria Bildu separatist coalition, which won a quarter of votes in October regional elections. |
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