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A Farewell to Arms in Spain

A violent group that has terrorized southern Europe vowed to lay down its weapons last week. In a videotaped statement, masked members of the terrorist organization ETA declared "a permanent cease-fire as of March 24, 2006." ETA attacks have caused more than 800 deaths.

ETA stands for "Basque Homeland and Freedom" in the Basque (bask) language. The Basque country is a region in northern Spain and southwest France. The Bosque people have historically sought an independent homeland. But since the 1960s, ETA extremists have used violence to make known their demands. Though ETA still seeks a separate homeland, the group now intends to fight for it using words instead of weapons.

Spain's prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, was optimistic, but cautious. "Any peace process after so many years of horror and terror will be long and difficult," he said. People across Spain celebrated as news of the cease-fire spread. "It's amazing! I hope to God it's true," says Sandra Dorada, who lives in Madrid. This is the first time ETA has declared a permanent cease-fire, so many hope that this time the violence will end for good.

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