Yesterday a lot of people (between 200,000 and 1,000,000 according authorities) demonstrated in Madrid against the Government policy on the negotiation with ETA.

The call to demonstrate was made by the Terrorism's Victims Association and seconded by the victims' associations of the bombings of New York and London.

They claim that the Government should not negotiate but the disolution of ETA, without paying any political price for it.

Fernando

If talking to ETA (hard though it may be) provides a step along the pathway to peace, surely it is worth taking that step. There is a similar situation in Northern Ireland where at least we no longer have bombs going off. Of course it will be hard to see convicted murderers leaving jail after only 7 or 8 years.

The suggestion that the government should just demand the dissolution of ETA is fanciful. ETA may not be able to "win" by their despicable acts of violence, but they can certainly maintain the violence over many years. No-one will gain from a resumption of not talking to ETA + resumption of armed struggle. It's not a perfect solution, but if both sides are willing to make concessions, a peaceful outcome is possible. Or are the demonstrators in Madrid against a peaceful outcome?

To both of you, thanks for sharing both sides of this issue. Topic Closed.