The workshop on March 24th focused on the recent bombings in Madrid. Hilary, Carly and Nick wrote a statement from the perspective of one of the perpetrators. Emma wrote from the perspective of a bishop giving a speech at a private meeting of the clergy.
The cause is the most important thing, its bigger than individuals. They’re expendable, the cause is the main thing you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. Too bad for the eggs. Especially the smug, got-it-all complacent people who think they’ve the right just to calmly get on with their own lives, while we struggle for the cause. I’m prepared to die for the cause. There’s always a risk, handling explosives � tricky, fiddly work, that’s the worst bit really � but it pays to take care � then I can make more raids, plan more attacks. A dead freedom fighters no good to anyone, but I can keep fighting for the cause if I live. Got no family, got no ties, nobody wants me, I don’t need none of them � fighting for the cause is enough for me. Hilary Hillman
I am a member of the Basque separatist movement called ETA. We were behind the bombing of the Madrid trains. I tell you this freely, because we want you to know the lengths we are prepared to go to to achieve our aims. But don’t be too quick to condemn us � you live in an independent state. You cannot imagine what it is like to be a subjugated people. You cannot imagine what it is like to want to be free. We want independence from Spanish oppression. We are not Spanish. We do not want to be forced to submit to Spanish rule. As far as we are concerned, they are an occupying force. We are fighting to free our people. I’m not going to try and justify what we did by saying that it was a good thing to do. It wasn’t. But it was necessary. You must understand the difference. Moral arguments pale into insignificance against the ideal of liberty. The war in Iraq and the chaos in the Middle East has detracted attention from our movement, and we need publicity if we are to get anywhere. The Spanish aren’t just going to give us independence just like that � we have to fight for it. The civilian casualties were an unfortunate consequence, but look at the publicity it got us! Surely the government will take us seriously now. Perhaps we will do this again. The cause must come first. But we are not terrorists. Remember this: you take your freedom for granted. We have to fight for ours. Carly Hilts
The main aim for the Church following this attack must be to ensure that the people of Spain do not lose their faith in God. People are bound to ask, where was God in this attack? Why did he let innocent people die? The y must be reminded that God will always be there, or that they can take comfort in that knowledge. I think that we can all assume that this was a religious attack � ETA will want to claim some responsibility for publicity but an Arabic tape was found with some detonators in a nearby van, and so I think we must look to Al Queada for answers. Since the war with Iraq following September 11th, a Muslim attack on a Western Christian Economy, there have been calls by fanatics for Muslims to defend their faith in a holy war. Spain is a Catholic country and we must also protect our faith � we are now seen as a potential terrorist target against Christianity. The people of Spain need their faith in God now more than ever, and we have to help them. Emma Hilts
It wasn’t me, I am innocent. I am not involved. You know that in your hearts but now you have to make your minds believe it. The people of this country already know who was to blame, look at how they have thrown out the government, the politicians who are themselves criminals. They support war and murder every day. The have ordered the killing of civilians both at home and abroad. Look what they did in Iraq, look what they are doing in the Basque region. Open your eyes and see who is the real enemy of the people. And in the end, only God will be the true decider. Nick Barber