Thousands join anti-ETA march

MADRID, Spain -- Thousands of anti-ETA demonstrators have marched through the Basque city of San Sebastian in protest at the killing of a Spanish navy cook.

Ramon Diaz Garcia was laid to rest earlier on Saturday in a private ceremony near the city where he was killed in a car bomb attack on Friday.

Politicians immediately pointed the finger at ETA, which claimed responsibility for 23 killings in 2000.

The protest, led by politicians and members of the victim's local trade union, wound its way slowly and in virtual silence through San Sebastian. At the front, a huge banner read: "ETA no. Peace and Freedom."

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The silence was broken only twice by chants of "Freedom!."

"This is a united response, looking to strengthen what unites us in defence of the right to life, in defence of human rights and against violence," Basque government spokesman Josu Jon Imaz said. State television estimated the crowd at between 15-20,000.

At least another 130 silent gatherings were held outside town halls across the Basque country and elsewhere in Spain. The ritual has become Spain's sombre routine reaction to each ETA killing.

Spain's centre-right government has vowed to continue its strong anti-separatist stance with support from the leading opposition Socialists. Officials say they see no end to the bloodshed in the short term.

Last year was ETA's bloodiest since 1992 in its campaign for an independent Basque state straddling northern Spain and southwestern France.

ETA has killed about 800 people since 1968. Political groups close to ETA usually win about 15 percent of the Basque vote.

The group often targets politicians as well as members of the security forces and judiciary. But Diaz Garcia was the latest in a long line of civilians killed for having links with what ETA calls "occupying forces."

ETA usually waits weeks or months before claiming responsibility for its attacks. Friday's bombing would be its first killing in 2001, following two similar but failed bombing attempts in northern Spain this week.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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January 24, 2001
ETA admits killing ex-minister
January 15, 2001
Police seize key ETA suspects
January 11, 2001

PNV
Basque Red Net
Association for Peace in the Basque Country
Governments on the WWW: Spain

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