Spanish government hiding information about bombings for political gain

All the political parties in Spain, except Partido Popular (PP) and a local Catalunya party are claiming the government is not being entirely truthful about the bombings. Jesús Caldera, Socialist spokesman in Congress, said "we have to remember that ETA usually doesn't lie, and sadly they usually tell the truth".

Organizing Secretary of PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers Party), said "we suspect the government is delaying publicly giving some information" about the authors of the bombings. "The government is hiding information", he added.

The first secretary of the PSC, José Montilla urged the government not to wait until March 14 (election day) to tell the truth, because truth should be above the political interests of the PP.

The president of ICV, Joan Saura says the government has confused society and asked for responsibility and transparence.

Meanwhile, the Basque Attorney General Joseba Azkarraga said he's pretty sure that ETA was not involved in the bombings, and criticized the PP's government for being unable to prevent such a big terrorist attack in Madrid, partly because they were more interested in persecuting political ideas than in caring whether there was the danger of attacks like this.


I took this information from here: http://www.diaridetarragona.com/nouweb/noticia.php?data=2004-03-13&clau=P014-NOT-xxx-N23.not

The translation was done by myself, because I was not able to find anywhere on the Internet this information in English.

You think?

it's more than we did (most Americans that is--internet forums being an exception)

dont trust anything either party says.

and trying to make it last through the election.

Otherwise, the spanish people, who were massivley opposed to the war in Iraq, might understand their fearless leader has made them into a target.

I know it's only speculation. Thanks for bringing this info to the table arcos !

Its just a pity these statements come from political adversaries - is there an official (independent) investigation going on now ?

with banners saying "LIARS"... they have now accepted that there is "at least" an equal chance of ETA or Al Qaeda being responsible.

Ruling party may suffer in poll if al-Qa'ida link is proven
By Tim Gaynor
13 March 2004

<snip>
The Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo - a staunch supporter of the ruling Popular Party (PP) throughout the campaign - said it was important to bring all the evidence to light so that Spaniards can go to the polls knowing who is the author of the massacre.

The party, which is being led into the elections by Mr Aznar's handpicked successor, Mariano Rajoy, had campaigned on its hardline stance against Eta, and for a constitutional model that guarantees Spain's territorial integrity. But if the attacks prove to be the work of Islamic militants, they could be viewed as the price for the government's backing of the US-led war in Iraq.

"If the hell unleashed which burned the whole of Madrid on Thursday is the result of Islamic fundamentalism, we must look at Spain's role in the Iraq war: an involvement which our citizens rejected, a personal decision by the Prime Minister beyond the wishes of the majority," said the commentator Antonio Gala.
/<snip>

and further :

<snip>
Should forensic investigations and security force inquiries reveal today that the attacks were carried out by Eta - a charge denied by the group yesterday - then the PP looks set to seal its lead.
/<snip>

as part of their story on yesterday's marches:

Grieving Crowds in Spain Seethe at Train Attacks
By ELAINE SCIOLINO

Published: March 13, 2004


MADRID, March 12 — Grief and fury blanketed Spain on Friday evening as the country mourned the victims of its terrorist attack and struggled to discover who was responsible....

***

The center-right government continued to assert that the armed Basque separatist group ETA and not Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization, was probably responsible for the attack, although the evidence is confusing and nothing has been ruled out.

The political stakes in uncovering the identity of the terrorists are high. Spain's voters will elect a new government on Sunday. Mariano Rajoy, the handpicked successor of Prime Minister José María Aznar and the candidate of the governing Popular Party, is in the lead. He has pledged to continue the policies of Mr. Aznar, including Spain's full participation in the Bush administration's antiterror and Iraq policies....

***

Mr. Aznar's decision to join the American war effort in Iraq and send 1,300 troops there was overwhelmingly opposed by his people. If Al Qaeda is shown to be involved, perhaps as punishment for Spain's involvement in the war, it could affect the election's outcome.

With the party machine behind him, Mr. Rajoy, an uninspiring candidate and five-time minister, has run an extraordinarily organized campaign. Government and party officials went on the offensive against their political opponents to build the argument that ETA was responsible for the terrorist attacks....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/13/international/europe/13SPAI.html

I hadn't seen this.