Basque and Spain's conflict?

Question

How is it being resolved?

How did Basque form?

Answer 1

Must agree with nearly all sue says, however it is hardly right to call it a conflict between basque country and spain.

Orginally the Iberian penisular was made up of several distinct kingdoms, Pais Vasco, Catalunya, Galicia, Andalucia, Castilla to name some and all had their own distinct languages. The oldest of these Kingdoms is as Sue says Pais Vasco which origionally (and in a way still does) range from Navarra in modern Spain upto Bayonne in modern France. However over the centuries with conquests, alliances, the creation of the modern France/Spain The Basque country has dwindled to the three main provinces of the area in Spain (Guipuzcoa, Vizkaya and Alava, although some people still believe that Navarra is or should also still be considered Basque as well)

The origional conflict arising in the basque region was the wanting of independence from Spain and France. This turned into the renounded violence we know of today during the Spanish Civil War, when the dictator Franco decided unity was to be enforced, and it was illegal to learn/teach basque, consider yourself anything other than spanish and even forbade Basque names to be given to newborn children (of course it still happened but on Birth certificated the spanish equivilent was used)

This led to the creation of ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, translating into Basque Homeland and Freedom)

Unfortunatly even though they started with a noble cause the bombings/assasinations can't morally be justified. Yes the spanish goverment, military and police forces were also responsible for untold atrocities but was the answer to blow things up? There are arguments for both sides, but personally I think it's wrong.

Present day...Pais Vasco has virtual indepence from Spain with its own goverment, local laws, language etc... much like Scotland and England, but it's highly unlikely they will achieve more.

Thankfully ETA has also declared a permenat ceasefire (March 2006) however like in most situations like this there are and will always be extreamists who won't give up. Saying this...even the everyday Basque population are tired of the violence and don't agree it's the way forward.

Many exteamist/semi-extreamists still march and hold demonstrations mainly to obtain the release of ETA members convicted of crimes as they think they are political prisoners.

(I learn't a lot living in Spain...I lived for three years in a town called renteria, which happens to be the hometown of ETA, and must admit...I loved it. The people are unparalled in their friendliness and openness, I even learn't a little Basque along the way.)

Don't believe everything you read in the newspapers or on tv, cause at the end of the day...they never report all the facts!

Answer 2

The Basque country has been there, essentially, since LONG before Spain was a country.  The Basques are rumored to be true descendants of the Neanderthal people of the region.  The language is not related to any other spoken on Earth.  They are a distinct and proud people, who live in North Eastern Spain and South Eastern France.  

I don't think it IS being resolved.  The Basque country is one of the most economically productive regions of Spain, and if they were allowed to seperate from the country and govern themselves, they would be taking a lot of income from the larger country.

They HAVE been given autonomy (around 1978, I think), and the freedom to speak and teach their own language and practice their own customs, but that doesn't seem to be enough.  They want to be their own country, seperate both from France and Spain.