After Fighting For Independence For 60 years, Spain's Basque Separatists ETA Has Officially Disbanded All Of Its Structures

CNN: Basque separatist group ETA announces full dissolution

ETA, the Basque separatist group that killed around 850 people during its half-century campaign for independence from Spain, announced its full dissolution, Spanish media reported.

The declaration was made in a letter dated April 16 and sent to a number of political institutions, Spanish news agency EFE reported. The announcement had been expected, and came just over a year after the group handed over its weapons, following a 2011 ceasefire.

ETA, which stands for "Euskadi Ta Askatasuna" or "Basque homeland and freedom," was founded in 1959 in response to the frustration felt by Basques during the repressive regime of General Francisco Franco. Its aim was to gain independence from Spain and establish a state in the north of Spain and southwest France.

The group released a statement last month in which it apologized to the families of its victims, adding that it accepted "direct responsibility" for its crimes.

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WNU Editor: 60 years of

bloodshed. 853 killed and thousands wounded. Good riddance I say.

More News On Spain's Basque Separatists ETA Officially Disbanding All Of Its Structures

ETA militants declare end to armed fight for Basque homeland -- AP
End of ETA met with both relief and resentment in Basque Country -- Reuters
Basque Group ETA Disbands, After Terrorist Campaign Spanning Generations -- New York Times
Basque ETA separatists announce they are 'completely' dissolving -- DW
Key dates in history of Basque group ETA -- AFP
ETA’s bloody history: 853 killings in 60 years of violence -- AP