Terrorist Designation of Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) Leader Jurdan Martitegui Lizaso

The snake represents

political struggle while the

axe stands for armed

struggle. They are inter-

twined to show that the

two types od struggle are

inseparable.

The Department of State has designated Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) leader Jurdan Martitegui Lizaso under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. As a result of this designation, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Jurdan Martitegui Lizaso has any interest is blocked and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him. This action will help stem the flow of financial and other assistance to this ETA leader.

Martitegui’s status as a long term ETA member and his engagement in terrorist activities such as murder, bombing, recruiting, training, and providing logistical support for a terrorist organization, constitute a threat to U.S. interests. Martitegui actively participated in ETA’s Vizcaya Command, a group responsible for numerous terrorist acts including the 2006 bombing of Madrid’s Barajas international airport parking garage.

ETA, designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997, is responsible for killing more than 800 civilians, police, and military personnel, while injuring thousands since it formally began its campaign of violence in 1968. ETA has primarily used bombing and assassinations, targeting Spanish government officials, security and military forces, politicians, businessmen, judicial figures, journalists, and tourists.

Note: The ETA is a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla army operating in parts of Spain and France.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons