Maria Soledad Iparraguirre
Maria Soledad Iparraguirre Guenechea, known as "Anboto", "Elizabeth" and "Marisol", (b.
25 April,
1961,
Eskoriatza,
Gipuzkoa) is accused of being one of the most important members of the
Basque separatist group
ETA, its highest-ranking woman.
Anboto was born to a militant
Basque nationalist family. Her father, mother and siblings have been accused of providing safe-houses to ETA members on the run.
Accused of involvement in at least 14 murders, Iparraguirre was arrested on
October 3,
2004 by the
French police in
Salies de Bearn near
Pau during an operation against ETA's logistical apparatus, making 21 arrests. She was captured with her partner
Mikel Albizu Iriarte ("Mikel Antza"), suspected of being ETA's top political leader, and their young son. They found four zulos (caches) with a vast quantity of armaments, much greater than had been estimated to be at ETA's disposal; they also managed to turn up information about ETA's printing of an internal newsletter, but nothing leading to any major bank account or other horde of money.
The operation was considered one of the most successful since
Bidart in 1992. As of October 2004, it appears that these measures will result in ETA leadership moving into different hands; it is too soon to evaluate the consequences. The Spanish authorities say Anboto was ETA's "number 2" and ran its military operations and its extortion unit, which demanded protection money from businesses and individuals - money then used to finance ETA attacks.
Spain has sought the extradition of Mikel Antza and Anboto via an
Euroorden.
Following her arrest, local politicians, including those of the
EAJ-PNV, from Anboto's hometown, Eskoriatza, passed a motion expressing solidarity with her family, attracting criticism in other parts of Spain.
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Basque nationalism
