In what is known as the peace process, there is much talk of “truth, justice and reparation”. Of course they are OK: all three are necessary. But the fourth leg is missing for non-violence to be lasting: the guarantee that violence will not be used again, Egundo never again under the title.

Where this guarantee is offered to society, each of them shall be liable for its own. The Government of Spain should provide guarantees that prevent the re-use of State terrorism and that prevent torture and ill-treatment by State police forces. It should recognise that state terrorism has violated rights, caused suffering and extended violence. The Basque Government, for its part, must ensure the transparency of the Ertzaintza's action: do not abuse it, do not isolate it, do not consider it suspicious because of the clothing a group of citizens has or because of the language they use. The Government has to acknowledge that this has been done, because the truth demands it. As well as the violation of rights and suffering. In order to investigate the Ertzaintza itself, it is necessary to set up an independent group of Ertzainas, whose role will be to investigate complaints brought by the Ertzainas. Learn from experiences that increase external control (in the police in England and Wales, or in the Netherlands, for example) and bring them here. The Abertzale left, for its part, must give a guarantee that in the name of leftist independence violence will not be used to achieve political objectives. There are, of course, several ways of doing this, but I think we have to start with a basic reflection: it was decided to use weapons to resolve the political conflict, and that decision was not inevitable, but one of the options. But with arms the political conflict was not resolved: independence and the right to decide have not been achieved. Now that it has been decided to leave the arms, the political conflict has been maintained. Consequently, it can be said that the use of armed struggle has not solved the fundamental political problem, and has caused suffering to this people, and more problems, precisely the problem of the victims, prisoners, escapes and weapons that must be solved in what is known as the peace process.

Why is the “never again” guarantee important? Because, if not, it will be a matter of time for a group of citizens to decide that without political violence the political conflict cannot be resolved, and that it will be re-used. This is happening in Northern Ireland, where violence has not completely disappeared and they are dealing with what could happen on the centenary of the Easter revolt. Let us remember that in Northern Ireland an agreement was signed to put an end to the armed struggle, which involved the establishment of a route for the release of prisoners and the convening of a popular referendum: all this was not enough, because I believe that it has been left without a basic reflection: the use of political violence does not solve the problem that is wanted to be solved, and generates more suffering and more problems.

Finally, a clarification of the verbal times I have used: I do not expect any guarantee or reflection from the Spanish Government, insofar as I do not expect any step at this time after the end of the armed struggle. But yes, the Basque Government and the Basque Left. And I hope that we can move forward without waiting for the Spanish Government, waiting for each other, without looking at each other. Guarantee, because everyone has to give their own to Basque citizenship.