In a major blow to ETA’s military operations in Spain and France, French authorities have detained the suspected military head of the Basque separatist group in the Hautes-Pyrenees region of Southern France. The arrest of thirty-five year old Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina alias ‘Txeroki’ is bound to be a major setback for Eta following the recent capture of the separatist group’s political commander Javier Lopez Pena in May in the city of Bordeaux in a joint French-Spanish operation.

Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina or Txeroki has been blamed for the murder of two Spanish civil guards in France in 2007. The arrest of Mr. Rubina has been hailed as a great victory for both Spanish and French democracies by the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Eta has been waging a 40-year old separatist battle against both Madrid and Paris for a separate Basque nation carved out of northern Spain and southern France. Nearly 820 people, mostly Spaniards have been killed in the conflict which seems to be heading Spain’s way after recent setbacks both politically and militarily for Eta.

Although the arrest of Txeroki has led to rejoice in the Spanish political circles, the BBC reports that Eta is still strong and the arrest of such a high profile military figure could lead to genuine Eta backlash against Spanish and French targets. This thought has been reflected by the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero.

Mr.Zapatero has been quoted as saying, ‘Today Eta is weaker(with the arrest of Mr.Rubina)and Spanish democracy is stronger. Yet, it has not lost its ability to attack all citizens; It has not lost its ability to cause pain; but with this arrest it has suffered a severe blow.’

The French authorities have not revealed much about the arrest but with the operation in Cauerets in the Hautes-Pyrenees region reiterated the excellent co-operation between Paris and Madrid in combating Basque separatist terror. The French Interior ministry released a statement stating, ‘This arrest shows again the resolute commitment of the French police and gendarmerie in the fight against all forms of terrorism and illustrates once again the excellent co-operation between France and Spain in the fight against Basque terrorism.’

Following his arrest, Txeroki will face charges of being directly involved in the shooting of two Spanish civil guard officers during a surveillance operation on suspected Eta members in French town of Capbreton on December 1, 2007. Mr.Rubina was also responsible for the failure of secret talks between the Spanish government and Eta in early 2007.