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There is one thing I don’t quite understand…

The Basque separatist terrorist organisation Eta has announced a permenent ceasefire. If this is genuine and this holds, and Eta genuinely does stop killing people, then this is obviously good thing. One minor issue though.

The ceasefire will come into effect on Friday, the statement said.

Why the delay, precisely? Are they planning on blowing some people up tomorrow for old times’ sake? Do they have some semtex that they haven’t used that they don’t want to waste? Enquiring minds do want to know.

5 comments to There is one thing I don’t quite understand…

  • ETA may not have perfect communication between cells. Setting a future date for the ceasefire leaves time for everyone to get the word. Even between formal militaries ceasefires are usually not immediate just for that reason.

  • Thon Brocket

    Tactics. If the Spanish government responds the wrong way, they have a little time to pull back from the ceasefire without losing face. Which makes it a surprisingly short lead time.

  • Young Fogey

    We’ll find out soon enough anyway.

  • Yeah, they do rather have a sense of drama when they are doing these cease-fire things.

  • Jacob

    Deas this “cease fire” apply to the Spanish police too ? Will they be obliged to stop pursuing terrorist-murderes who committed crimes in the past ?