Basque Bodyguards - Spain

July 2001
Over 1,000 bodyguards are employed in Spain, most in the Basque capital San Sebastian. But to escape a bomb blast you need luck more than anything, as local councilor Lizarrga discovered. 4.5 kgs of dynamite exploded outside his window "If someone had been sleeping here he would not be alive today". Politicians who criticize the armed separatists live under constant threat. "24 hours a day I must accept that someone wants to kill me", says Maria San Gil. As chairman of the Spanish people's party in San Sebastian she is seen as a "representative of Spanish power" and thus high on the hit-list. She refuses to keep quiet, despite the strain on her personal life: "It is very difficult to maintain a normal relationship with your children if you are constantly accompanied by 4 bodyguards."

A timely piece on terror as a political strategy.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Basque
• Bodyguards
• Bomb
• Blast
• Journeyman
• Pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[TajikRaven]

well if u see historically there was one Ossetia then it was divided between GSSR and RSFSR...

[TSsharaba]

@TajikRaven

the south ossetians can go where they came from and fight for their independence their :@@

and theirs no such thing as South Ossetia

This land belongs to georgians and will always be ours

Think first before commenting

[TajikRaven]

Could anyone describe the definition of "terrorist" to me please!!

Cuz i always though that a person who fights for his liberty and freedom for his/her nation is called a hero/freedom fighter/mujahiddin not a terrorist...

So, if Palestinians, Bosquese, S. Ossetians fight for their independence and freedom they are called terrorists...

it's sad!

[nachopulp]

The sound is horrible!

[Souliban]

@Wendylaca They dont want be independent,..The most of them love Spain,..they are as spaniards as castillians,catalans,andalusia­ns,...learn spanish history,...The Basque´s gobernement isnt independence,.....Spain is a united kingdom with more than 4 diferent cultures and languages,....An we live in peace in a wonderful country,...

[Wendylaca]

Give the Basque their Freedom!!!!

[bradgotch]

After what the basques experienced during the civil war is there any wonder why they hate the spanish. Gora Euskadi!

[raulmali]

Sorry but the Basque capital is not San Sebastian, is Vitoria.

[pumasporvida]

bueno creo que llegas al extrimo con ese commentario, no todos toman esos pasos...claro que en cada grupo ay fanaticos, pero creo que ETA en el inicio solo querian libertad de tener/vivir sus tradiciones y lengua.

[Shinmadoridoniana]

te sorprendería saber lo que conozco a San Gil y también lo fácil que eres de manipular que incluso con un titular al que le falta la mitad: de "con Franco vivíamos en paz" a "con Franco vivíamos en paz pero no había libertad. Yo no quiero paz, quiero libertad" ¿Es lo mismo?

PD: Ya no soy de Nuevas.