ETA declares permanent ceasefire

From newspaper GARA English edition:

ETA has decided to declare a ceasefire that is to become operative as of this Friday and will be permanent. The organisation announced the news in a message sent to the on-line edition of the Basque newspaper GARA.

ETA says the decision aims to press forward with the democratic process in the Basque Country in order to build a new framework in which Euskal Herria's rights as a country will be recognised, and ensure that it is possible in the future to develop all the political options.

In the communiqué, ETA (Basque Country and Freedom) states: "[As a result of this process] Basque citizens ought to have a voice and be able to decide on their future". It also observes that the states of Spain and France "should acknowledge the results of this democratic process, without any limitations".

Addressing all organisations, it asks that they respond "responsibly and consistently to this move by ETA" and urges Spanish and French authorities to respond positively.

The armed organisation furthermore urges the citizens of Euskal Herria to "involve themselves in this process and fight for our rights as a people".

ETA also declared an indefinite ceasefire in 1998, starting a dialogue with the conservative government of Jose Maria Aznar. But talks broke down in November 1999 and the following year Eta embarked on a renewed bombing campaign. Let's see what happens this time...

For more information in English: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4832672.stm ,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETA

K.

I will not dance to your war drum...

I will not dance
to your war
drum. I will
not lend my soul nor
my bones to your war
drum. I will
not dance to your
beating. I know that beat
it is lifeless. I know
intimately that skin
you are hitting. It
was alive once
and hunted stolen
stretched. I will
not dance to your drummed
up war. I will not pop
spin break for you. I
will not hate for you or
even hate you. I will
not kill for you. Especially
I will not die
for you. I will not mourn
the dead with murder nor
suicide. I will not side
with you nor dance to bombs
because everyone else is
dancing. Everyone can be
wrong. Life is a right not
collateral or casual. I
will not forget where
I come from. I
will craft my own
drum. Gather my beloved
near and our chanting
will be dancing. Our
humming will be drumming. I
will not be played. I
will not lend my name
nor my rhythm to your
beat. I will dance
and resist and dance and
persist and dance. This
heartbeat is louder than
death. Your war drum ain't
louder than this breath.

Suheir Hammad

It's taken me a long time to decide to start this site. Those who suggested the idea months ago know it... Well, finally, here it is.

I just came back from listening Suheir Hammad in some spoken word event, and thought that would be a good way to start.