Foro Ermua
Encyclopedia
The Foro Ermua is a Spanish civic association, the membership of which is composed of Spanish citizens (most of them living in the Basque Country). It was founded on the thirteenth of January, 1998; its current president is Mikel Buesa.
The organisation states that its formation was brought about by the murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco
, a conservative politician in Ermua
in Biscay
, by members of the Basque independentist terrorist group ETA
. (This assassination had taken place on 12 July 1997, several months before the Foro Ermua was founded.) Prior to the Forum's official foundation, Blanco's murder also resulted in a local movement called espíritu de Ermua, or "Ermua spirit," which was a general feeling of solidarity that sprung up amongst many local people after Blanco's kidnapping and death. Members of the organisation consider it's foundation to be an attempt to continue the 'Ermua spirit'.
The organisation views it's activities as democratic in nature and in line with the existing structures of the Spanish state, in contrast to what they describe as the "nationalistic fascism" of ETA's views http://www.foroermua.com/english/about.htm. Although they do not openly align themselves with any political party it's members tend to be associated either with one of the two conservative Spanish parties; the People's Party (Spain)
or Union, Progress and Democracy
, or are independent conservatives.
The forum lists the following objectives:
, have accused it of being a front for conservative Spanish political forces opposed to Basque Self-determination
, independence and Nationalism
.
The Abertzale
left have drawn attention to many aspects of what they consider to be the hypocritical nature of the organisation's targeting of ETA, which they consider to be a conscious extension of it's Conservatism
and Spanish nationalism
. For example; they point out the atrocities carried out under the Fascist regime of General Franco for which no-one was ever held responsible, Spanish Imperialism
during the Iraq War and elsewhere, the Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación
, a state sponsored, extrajudicial far-right death squad that operated in 1980's as well as other perceived injustices such as the Spanish Constitution of 1978
which was written during the Spanish transition to democracy
when the generals and politicians of the former regime (commonly referred to as the Búnker
) exerted significant pressure on those drafting the document contributing to a clause which prohibits Self-determination
or independence for any of the historical Nations of Iberia, including the Basque Country.
The organisation states that its formation was brought about by the murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco
Miguel Ángel Blanco
Miguel Ángel Blanco Garrido was a local Spanish politician for the People's Party, who was kidnapped and subsequently executed by the Basque terrorist group ETA.-Early life:...
, a conservative politician in Ermua
Ermua
Ermua is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:* * *...
in Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
, by members of the Basque independentist terrorist group ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
. (This assassination had taken place on 12 July 1997, several months before the Foro Ermua was founded.) Prior to the Forum's official foundation, Blanco's murder also resulted in a local movement called espíritu de Ermua, or "Ermua spirit," which was a general feeling of solidarity that sprung up amongst many local people after Blanco's kidnapping and death. Members of the organisation consider it's foundation to be an attempt to continue the 'Ermua spirit'.
The organisation views it's activities as democratic in nature and in line with the existing structures of the Spanish state, in contrast to what they describe as the "nationalistic fascism" of ETA's views http://www.foroermua.com/english/about.htm. Although they do not openly align themselves with any political party it's members tend to be associated either with one of the two conservative Spanish parties; the People's Party (Spain)
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
or Union, Progress and Democracy
Union, Progress and Democracy
Union, Progress and Democracy is a Spanish political party founded in September 2007.It is a progressivist party, between social democracy and social liberalism. One of its goals is to build a federal system for Spain and European Union, with clear responsibilities distributed among local...
, or are independent conservatives.
The forum lists the following objectives:
- To support, to protect, and to promote recognition of the victims of Basque terrorism. (Some members of the Forum have been attacked by ETA themselves; the first president of Foro Ermua, Vidal de Nicolás, is protected by private bodyguardBodyguardA bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
s). - To aid the unity of constitutionalistConstitutionalismConstitutionalism has a variety of meanings. Most generally, it is "a complex of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law"....
forces in Basque CountryBasque Country (historical territory)The Basque Country is the name given to the home of the Basque people in the western Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain on the Atlantic coast....
against Basque NationalistsBasque nationalismBasque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
and IndependentistsAbertzaleAbertzale in the Basque language means "patriot", and it is mainly used to mean "Basque nationalist". It comes from the fusion of aberri with the suffix -zale .Although the term is synonym of "patriot", its common use...
. - To denounce acts of terrorism carried out by ETA forcefully and decisively.
- To avoid any political negotiation between ETA or it's representatives and the government, except for the presentation of an official government order for ETA to surrender and disband.
Criticism
Critics of the Ermua forum, mainly members of the radical pro-independence Basque leftAbertzale
Abertzale in the Basque language means "patriot", and it is mainly used to mean "Basque nationalist". It comes from the fusion of aberri with the suffix -zale .Although the term is synonym of "patriot", its common use...
, have accused it of being a front for conservative Spanish political forces opposed to Basque Self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
, independence and Nationalism
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
.
The Abertzale
Abertzale
Abertzale in the Basque language means "patriot", and it is mainly used to mean "Basque nationalist". It comes from the fusion of aberri with the suffix -zale .Although the term is synonym of "patriot", its common use...
left have drawn attention to many aspects of what they consider to be the hypocritical nature of the organisation's targeting of ETA, which they consider to be a conscious extension of it's Conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and Spanish nationalism
Spanish nationalism
Spanish nationalism is the social, political and ideological movement which has shaped Spain's national identity since the 19th century.Spanish nationalism is not an irredentist nationalism per se, the only territorial revindication identified as actually being "national" as such having been...
. For example; they point out the atrocities carried out under the Fascist regime of General Franco for which no-one was ever held responsible, Spanish Imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
during the Iraq War and elsewhere, the Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación
Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación
Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación were death squads established illegally by officials of the Spanish government to fight ETA, the principal Basque separatist militant group. They were active from 1983 until 1987, under Spanish Socialist Workers Party -led governments...
, a state sponsored, extrajudicial far-right death squad that operated in 1980's as well as other perceived injustices such as the Spanish Constitution of 1978
Spanish Constitution of 1978
-Structure of the State:The Constitution recognizes the existence of nationalities and regions . Preliminary Title As a result, Spain is now composed entirely of 17 Autonomous Communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy, to the extent that, even though the Constitution...
which was written during the Spanish transition to democracy
Spanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
when the generals and politicians of the former regime (commonly referred to as the Búnker
Búnker
The term búnker refers to a far-right faction during the Spanish transition to democracy. The group of hardline francoists opposed political and social reform; the group's steadfast refusal to compromise led to the name of "bunker." Under the presidency of Carlos Arias Navarro, búnker and its...
) exerted significant pressure on those drafting the document contributing to a clause which prohibits Self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
or independence for any of the historical Nations of Iberia, including the Basque Country.