Basque guerrilla group ETA rejected Spanish government proposals for limited reforms of the constitution on Saturday and said it was time to push for Basque self-determination. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero -- elected in a surprise victory days after al Qaeda-linked train bombings in March -- has proposed limited reform of the statutes governing Spain's autonomous regions. Spain's regional governments have power over issues such as education and health care and the Basque country, with its own police force, enjoys the highest degree of autonomy.
Basque broadcaster EiTB said on its Web site that its radio station Euskadi Irratia had received a statement from ETA saying the proposed reforms to the statutes governing regional autonomy were not what the Basque country needed. EiTB quoted the statement written in Basque as saying: "it is time to defend the right to self-determination which is protected by international law." The guerrillas also said in the statement they were willing to reach an agreement that respected the rights of the Basque country. Last month local media reported rumours that ETA was planning to call a ceasefire, but so far none has been announced. |