ETA Support Still Active in Spain, Victim Group Warns

The victims' association Covite, led by Consuelo Ordóñez, has reported that social support for the terrorist group ETA remains active across Spain. The group documented 374 public acts of support, ranging from street marches to festive gatherings.

Specifically, the organization warned that homenages paid to Txiki and Otaegi contribute to the legitimization of the terrorist group. These acts of support are reportedly taking place openly in the streets, including specific cultural displays such as the 'aurreskus'.

The victims' collective Covite has raised an alarm regarding the persistence of pro-ETA sentiment in the public sphere. Presided over by Consuelo Ordóñez, the group asserts that the legacy of the terrorist organization is being actively maintained through various public displays.

According to the report, there have been 374 documented instances of what the group terms 'social support' for ETA. These activities are not hidden but are conducted openly in the streets.

The forms of support identified by Covite are varied and include:

• Street marches and processions
• Graffiti and painted slogans
• Festive events and celebrations
• Traditional Basque dance performances ('aurreskus')

This widespread activity suggests a coordinated effort to keep the memory and ideology of the group alive within the community.

Central to Covite's warning are the specific homenages directed at Txiki and Otaegi. These individuals are significant figures within the history of the group, and honoring them is viewed by the victims' association as a direct attempt to rehabilitate their image.

The group argues that by celebrating these figures, the perpetrators are effectively legitimizing the actions of the terrorist band. This process of legitimization is seen as a dangerous step in the current social climate.

Consuelo Ordóñez and Covite maintain that these acts go beyond simple historical remembrance. They view them as active political statements that endorse the violence of the past.

The findings presented by Covite highlight a complex reality regarding the aftermath of terrorism in Spain. Despite the official cessation of ETA's activities, the social and cultural echoes of the conflict remain.

The presence of 374 documented acts indicates that the issue is not isolated but widespread. The use of traditional cultural elements, such as the aurreskus, to convey political messages complicates the distinction between cultural expression and political agitation.

For victims' families, these public displays represent a continued source of pain and a barrier to full reconciliation. The report serves as a call to address the persistence of these sentiments in public life.

The report issued by Covite paints a concerning picture of the current state of affairs regarding ETA's legacy in Spain. With 374 documented public acts, the group insists that the threat of ideological legitimization is very much alive.

By focusing on the homenages to Txiki and Otaegi, Covite aims to highlight the specific mechanisms through which this support is propagated. The warning serves as a reminder that the fight against the legacy of terrorism extends beyond military or police action into the cultural and social spheres.