E.T.A Campaign: Timeline 1937- March 2004

Under General Franco:

• 1937- General Franco denied to allow Basque Country to be independent in any way shape or form
• 1959- ETA founded to push for independence from Spain.
• 1961- Violence begins when an attempted train derailing by the ETA attacks a train transporting a few politicians.
• 1968- Meliton Manzanas, a  secret police chief in San Sebastian, was the first murder victim of the ETA.

More Violence

• 1973- In  Madrid, Prime Minister Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco is assassinated by Basque nationalist in response to the execution of Basque militants by the Spanish government.
• 1978- ETA steps into politics by founding a branch of the organisation called Herri Batasuna.
• 1980- ETA's bloodiest year. 118 killed.
• 1987- ETA apologizes for killing 21 shoppers in a Barcelona supermarket.
• 1995- A murder attempt is made on the life of Jose Maria Aznar.

New Government

• 1996- Election is one by the Popular Party (right-winged party). The ETA views this as an extension of General Franco's dictatorship..
• 1997- ETA begins campaigning against local Popular Party politicians.
• July- Miguel Angel Blanco is kidnapped and murdered by the ETA. This pushes 6 million Spaniards to the streets in rage.

Leaders Imprisoned

• December- 23 leaders from the political branch of the ETA, Herri Batasuna, sentenced seven years for their involvement in the organisation.
• 1998
• February- New provisional leader for Herri Batasuna elected.

Interactions Between Parties

• March- The main political Parties of Spain (no government involvement) come together to discuss an end to the violence in Basque Country.
• April- Peace agreement signed in Ireland. The Northern Ireland peace process has a strong effect on the ETA. Herri Batasuna branch mentored by Sinn Fein, an Irish strategist.
• June- Manuel Zamarreno, Popular Party Councillor, killed by car bomb.
• September- Announces an indefinite ceasefire set to apply on September 18th.
• 1999
• May- ETA and Spanish government meet in Zurich, Switzerland.
• August- Now Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar wants the ETA to prove its commitment to the cease fire.
• November- Announces an end to the ceasefire. Sparked by "lack of progress" with the Spanish government.

Violence

• 2000
• January & February- To mark the return of their campaign car bombs are set off in Madrid and Vitoria.
• Spring- The Spanish film, "Yoyes" is released. It a fictional production that is based on the life of Delores Gonzalez Catarian a real ETA operative.
• May- In protest of the killing of Jose Luis de la Calle, led by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, thousands of Spaniards held a silent vigil.
• August- Four ETA member die in an explosion do to explosives in the car they were driving. Thousands of people show their support in Bilbao.
• November- King Juan Carlos has reached his 25th year of accession to the throne. Two days prior, in Barcelona, a retired government minister was killed. In his speech he condemns the ETA.

Politicians are Targeted

• 2001
• March- During an ETA attack near San Sebastian, Socialist party politician Froilan Elexpe is shot and killed.
• May- A week before the elections for the Basque parliament, Manuel Jiminez Abad is shot in the city of Zaragoza. He was a Senior Popular Party member.
• November- Judge Jose Maria Lidon (who had put six ETA supporters in prison back in 1987) is shot to death in Bilbao just 24 hours after a car bombing in Madrid that injured 100 people.

The European Union Steps In

• December- ETA is declared a terrorist group by the EU. This is a victory for the Spanish government.
• 2002
• July- 18 million euros in Batasunanian assets are taken from Batasuna by order of  Judge Garzon.
• August- Batasuna is suspended for three years (parliament seeks an indefinite ban) for its involvement with the ETA. Judge Garzon declared them "guilty of crimes against humanity".
• September- Juan Antonio Olarra Guribi was arrested by French police after a joint mission with Spanish police. He is suspected to be the ETA's military leader.
• December- Three days after being captured the suspected logistics chief, Ibon Fernandez, escapes from French police custody.
• 2003
• February- Euskaldunon Egunkaria, the Basque newspapaper, is shut down by Spanish government for speculations on connections to the ETA. The very next day a new paper. Egunero "hits the stands" its headliner reading, "Shut but Not Silenced".
• March- Batasuna is permanently banned by the by Spain's supreme court.
• May- The U.S declare Batasuna a terrorist group (so does the EU a month later).
• A bomb in Sanguesa, northern Spain kills two policemen.
• July- "Trouble in Paradise". More like trouble in Alicante and Belidorm, two Spanish resorts. There bombs go off injuring 13. Five days following this attack a bomb is set off in the Santandor airport parking lot.
• November- Spanish raids are carried out and lead to the arrest of 12 suspected ETA leaders.
• December- Ibon Fernandez Iradi recaptured in Mont- de-Marsan, France.
• 2004
• March- ETA is blamed for the March 11 Madrid bombings. Later linked to Islamic groups.