Thousands of people rallied Saturday in Spain's Basque territories demanding reduced sentences for imprisoned members of the terrorist group ETA, according to dpa. The focal point for the demonstrations was the city of Bilbao, where demonstrators demanded that the 650 ETA members imprisoned in facilities across Spain at least be brought back to the region. Many participants argued for a full pardon, reported Spanish media. Many Basques consider members of the ETA, which agitates for an independent Basque country in parts of what is now Spain and France, to be freedom fighters. But ETA is considered a terrorist organization by Spain and most of its allies. The rally was also attended by family members of prisoners, members of citizen's initiatives and members of political parties with links to Basque separatist groups. In total, about 800 ETA members are incarcerated in prisons across Spain, France and Portugal. About 100 have, since being imprisoned, renounced their ties to ETA and urged the group to abandon armed conflict. ETA called a unilateral ceasefire in September, amidst calls from its outlawed political arm, Batasuna, for a complete renunciation of violence. It remains unclear if the ETA ceasefire is indefinite, or if there is a set deadline. Since 1968, the group has been responsible for about 850 deaths.
