Editing ETA (separatist group) (section)

==Structure==
[[File: ArmaTiroPumEtaMilikiliklik26 8.jpg|thumb|ETA members fire blanks during the [[Euzko Gudarostea|Day of the Basque Soldier]] of 2006]]

ETA changed its internal structure on several occasions, commonly for security reasons. The group used to have a very hierarchical organization with a leading figure at the top, delegating into three substructures: the logistical, military and political sections. Reports from Spanish and French police point towards significant changes in ETA's structures in its later years. ETA divided the three substructures into a total of eleven. The change was a response to captures, and possible infiltration, by the different law enforcement agencies. ETA intended to disperse its members and reduce the effects of detentions.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The leading committee comprised 7 to 11 individuals, and ETA's internal documentation referred to it as {{lang|eu|Zuba}}, an abbreviation of {{lang|eu|Zuzendaritza Batzordea}} (directorial committee). There was another committee named {{lang|eu|Zuba-hits}} that functioned as an advisory committee. The eleven different substructures were: logistics, politics, international relations with fraternal organisations, military operations, reserves, prisoner support, expropriation, information, recruitment, negotiation, and treasury.<ref>[http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/pg060323/actualidad/politica/200603/23/ECD_eta_funcionamiento.html POLÍTICA – ETA ha modificado su estructura interna por motivos de seguridad]. ''El Correo Digital'' (1 December 1997). Retrieved on 30 January 2011.</ref>

ETA's armed operations were organized in different {{lang|eu|talde}}''s'' (groups or commandos), generally composed of three to five members, whose objective was to conduct attacks in a specific geographic zone.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} The {{lang|eu|talde}}''s'' were coordinated by the {{lang|es-ES|cúpula militar}} ("military [[cupola]]"). To supply the {{lang|eu|talde}}''s'', support groups maintained [[safe house]]s and {{lang|es-ES|zulos}} (small rooms concealed in forests, [[garret]]s or underground, used to store arms, explosives or, sometimes, kidnapped people; the Basque word {{lang|eu|zulo}} literally means "hole"). The small cellars used to hide the people kidnapped are named by ETA and ETA's supporters "people's jails".<ref name="La Razón Técnico">''[http://www.belt.es/noticias/2004/octubre/21/eta_zulo.htm «El técnico» construyó loss zulos de ETA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508174944/http://www.belt.es/noticias/2004/octubre/21/eta_zulo.htm |date=8 May 2008 }}'', [[La Razón (Madrid)|La Razón]], 18 October 2004.</ref> The most common ''commandos'' were itinerant, not linked to any specific area, and thus were more difficult to capture.<ref>Riding, Alan. (11 July 1992) [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0D7143DF932A25754C0A964958260 OLYMPICS – OLYMPICS – Keeping Terrorism at Bay in Barcelona – NYTimes.com]. New York Times. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.</ref>

Among its members, ETA distinguished between {{lang|es-ES|legales}}/{{lang|eu|legalak}} ("legal ones"), those members who did not have police records and lived apparently normal lives; {{lang|es-ES|liberados}} ("liberated members") known to the police that were on ETA's payroll and working part-time for ETA; and {{lang|es|apoyos}} ("supporters") who just gave occasional help and logistics support to the group when required.<ref>{{cite book|author=Wayne Anderson|title=The ETA: Spain's Basque terrorists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZ5TNlhO5V8C&pg=PA42|access-date=30 January 2011|date=January 2003|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3818-6|pages=42–}}</ref>

There were also imprisoned members of the group, serving time scattered across Spain and France, that sometimes still had significant influence inside the organisation; and finally the {{lang|es-ES|quemados}} ("burnt out"), members freed after having been imprisoned or those that were suspected by the group of being under police surveillance. In the past, there was also the figure of the deportees, expelled by the French government to remote countries where they lived freely. ETA's internal bulletin was named {{lang|eu|[[Zutabe]]}} ("Column"), replacing the earlier one (1962) {{lang|eu|[[Zutik (publication)|Zutik]]}} ("Standing").{{cn|date=April 2024}}

ETA also promoted the {{lang|eu|[[kale borroka]]}} ("street fight"), that is, violent acts against public transportation, political parties' offices or cultural buildings, destruction of private property of politicians, police, military, bank offices, journalists, council members, and anyone voicing criticism of ETA.{{cn|date=April 2024}} Tactics included threats, graffiti of political mottoes, and rioting, usually using [[Molotov cocktails]].{{cn|date=April 2024}} These groups were mostly made up of young people, who were directed through youth organisations (such as {{lang|eu|[[Jarrai]]}}, {{lang|eu|[[Haika]]}} and {{lang|eu|[[Segi (organization)|Segi]]}}). Many members of ETA started their collaboration with the group as participants in the {{lang|eu|kale borroka}}.{{cn|date=April 2024}}