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Banning political parties that support terrorism

As some might have heard, the Spanish government and judiciary have suspended for 3 years a political party, Batasuna, for supporting the terrorist group ETA. Some are also seeking that the party is permanently disbanded. The full story can be found here .

I must say I have mixed feeling about this. From a purely democratic point of view this has to be wrong. Batasuna receives about 10% of the votes of the Basque electorate and under democratic rules has the right to exist. However this party is nothing but ETA's puppet. Many of its leaders/MPs are ex-members of ETA (some with convictions for various crimes) and indeed a few of them are still actively involved with the terrorists. They collect ransom and extortion money on behalf of ETA, pass on logistical information and not only refuse to condemn but glorify every last murder, car bomb and kidnapping committed. In addition, items found in Batasuna's headquarters include guns and explosives destined for the terrorists.

It's interesting to see that some newspapers in Britain have compared this situation with Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, wondering what would have happened if it had too been banned by the British government. Predictably the Telegraph has not been that hostile to the banning of Batasuna, and the Guardian has criticised the move more vigorously. Just wondered what people's opinions here are.
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think its wrong to ban a political party for its views, even if they are supporting terrorism.

    If any of its members commit a crime then they can be prosecuted and sentanced, and you cannot stand for election if you are in prison.


    If they do not have support from the people then they will not be a party for long.
    If they have enough support to keep running then the "terrorists" message must be agreed with by some people in the nation, and if people agree with it then they should be allowed to vote in that favor. Banning the party would be like saying "you are not allowed to have this political view".
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    IIRC, Sinn Fein was banned for a time. My Irish history is a little hazy: can anyone confirm/refute my recollection?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Prove it. Prove they do. Beyond all reasonable doubt.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think this move can only encourage terrorism.

    If the Basque separatists have a political voice (i.e. through the Batasuna party) then the Spanish government is in a stronger position to condemn terrorist acts committed in the name of this cause, as the terrorists have a legitimate political party to represent them and should therefore have no need to resort to violence. If the peaceful, democratic way of expressing themselves is taken away, the next obvious outlet for their political beliefs is violence.

    Also, banning the party will give the separatists more cause to resent the Spanish government, more reason to believe they are not being listened to on a central level etc etc.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    An idea that the Spanish have trouble comprehending, is perhaps just letting the Basque region have its independance.

    The difference between NI and The Basque region is that the numbers of people in NI wanting independance are relatively small, the numbers in northern Spain are quite high.

    I believe terrorist action is the wrong way to go, perhaps if they stop paying their taxes, start to demand a referendum or something similar?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The situation in the Basque country is certainly different to that of Northern Ireland. There is no religious conflict; society it's not divided in two camps that hate each other.

    The funniest part is that ETA was initially formed to fight the tyranny of Franco, and a lot of people in the rest of Spain supported their fight against the dictator. Once the bastard died and democracy was restored, ETA decided not to disband and demanded an independent Basque state, killing civilians as well as the police and the military.

    At present about 52% of the population would want to see an independent Basque state, against 48% who wouldn't. It has always been roughly half and half. It is only 10% of the population who supports campaigning for an independent state by terrorist means. The other 90%, including most of those who want independence, reject ETA and Batasuna and are actually sick to their stomachs of them.

    Whereas I believe independence would ultimately be harmful for both the Basque Country and the rest of Spain, if the majority of the population wants out then they should be allowed to have a vote on it. I'm not sure banning Batasuna is a smart move. I guess the Spanish- including most of the Basques are sick of the killings, especially when there is no conflict or cultural divide between the Basque region and Spain and there are already several democratic and peaceful political parties campaigning for an independent Basque Country.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Banning any political party just gives ammunition to the terrorists. If they dont have a voice, no matter how hideous the words it speaks are, then they will just get more support. It is not up to a democratic nation to decide who it wants to listen to.

    For that same reason Sinn Fein, the UDP and the BNP should be allowed a voice in Britain, no matter how disgusting their message is.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I feel annoyed at the banning of this party, or other parties that support terrorism, communism, fascism, socialism, or any other 'ism' you'd like to list who are banned.

    Do we see the banning of the Democrats and Republicans in the US for while being in Government, supporting Terrorist activities throughout the world? I dont think so. There should be no double standards.

    If people don't agree with the parties stance then it will soon die, if the people do agree then it shows there is a problem that must be fixed. I agree that 'terrorism' in effect, is wrong, but swerving away from Spain here, what do people in such regions as Israel and Palestine have left to do? They are persecuted for wanting an indipendant state (the palestinians) and so their last resort is to use 'terrorism' as a means to freedom.

    In a true democratic society, which many countries say they are under, the populace should have the right to speak, think what they like. The banning of parties is totally wrong.

    And on a similar note : In Germany it's ILLEGAL to believe/think that the holocaust didn't happen. Thats like saying its illegal to believe in Creationism or Evolutionism either way. I dont agree with the Nazi's of world war 2 and i do believe the Holocaust occured, all evidence leads to that, but for the right to THINK something differant be taken away by the government? Even if your wrong? .. Is bloody fascist.

    Sorry for the rant.

    Drum
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    As Voltaire said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Its not illegal to hold an opinion, it is illegal to incite violence because of it. But thats by the by, thinking the holocaust didnt happen isnt an opinion, its a mental illness. Its like holding the opinion that we are all super-evolved forms of gorgonzola cheese.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit, in Germany it IS illegal to believe the holocaust didn't occur. A guy was jailed a few weeks ago for publically saying that he didn't believed it occured. He was jailed for 9 months or so. HE was not preaching to people, some official at the school he taught at asked and he said he thought it didnt happen. He was not inciting violence and all he was doing was answering a question. And Kermit, thats a bit harsh automatically saying he has a mental illness. He just has differant thoughts, i could say Creationists have a mental illness but i don't. It's their belief so let 'em have it i say.

    Drum :crazyeyes
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Outlawing a political party simply because a government disapproves of its views is contrary to the principles of a liberal democracy. The notion of pluralism dictates that all political views, idelogies, etc. be fairly and justly represented.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Whats harsh about it? If I started saying I was a lump of cheddar cheese Id be sectioned as undeniable proof is that I am human. Whats the difference with people who deny the Holocaust? Creationism is different as its not conclusively proved or dis-proved, same with most things. I doubt it was 6 million Jews committing suicide to make the Germans look bad, dont you?

    Its not illegal to hold the opinion, its illegal to spread it. He publically spread it, so he should either be jailed or sectioned.
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