The terrorist hasn't been freed. He has finished his time in prison and has been sent home to finish his sentence under controled house arrest. All these arrangements are within the law. Everybody with ability to read and willingness to listen to the judges and the Spanish government knows this. The debate and protests that the Popular Party has started and ignited are senseless populist propaganda. They have no respect and deserve no respect from all World's democrats. Spain's democracy is young... too young... and the Popular Party is a clear example of populist garbage... a shame to any democracy. Feeling sorry for Spain.
Hans from London

Hans, London, UK

The solution to this neverending conflict will only be as simple as letting the Basque people decide by themselves what they want to be.
If so much people in Spain cannot understand this simple right, how are they going to understand more complicated issues like: freedom of speech, freedom of information, freedom of ideas... It seems unbeliebable to see how the Popular Party in Spain has used all possible media (criminalizing political parties, saying "lies" on TV, making use of victims, etc) to win elections. For peace´s shake, I hope they never win the elections because the "peace hope" of many democrats would be destroyed. Freedom for the Basque Country".

Edu, Bilbao, Basque Country

He did pay because of his actions, as the spanish judgement decided.
His prision years are finished, so now he must be free.

There is no other political view.

Martin, Euskal Herria, Basque Country

Why only free terrorists after they begin a hunger strike?

Any killer, rapist, child abuser, thief or criminal can start a hunger strike and ask to be freed based on the decision of Zapatero's government!!!

Pau Elena, Barcelona,

British people, please imagine that the killers who put the bombs in London in the Underground, or the people who took the planes in 11/9, survived after these attacks. Imagine that these people to be free decided to start a hunger-strike. Do you think that the british or the US government would let them go home?. Would you imagine Osama going home after a hunger strike?. The truth is that this man has killed 25 people and tonight is having a party with his relatives and friends. The Spanish Goverment has let him to go home. The Socialist Goverment has forgotten the people who have died during these years for Spain and the democracy.

Javier , Madrid, Spain

One group of people insists he's served his sentence, the other insists he has not. This should be easily settled, folks; what does the actual documentation say?

Michael, Pueblo, CO. USA

Kate form California is one of those Americans that have an overly romantic view of the world as soon as is not in their backyard. You the Guantanamo people are going to tell us about Spain in the 80's. Spain in the 80's didn't have dead sentence, Spain in the 80's didn't have prison camps, military trials, or invaded any one.

Dejuana your hero killed not only military and policeman (they seem not to count as humans to you), but also their families and any one around. When a council member of the city of Seville and his wife were gunned down in front of their baby girls he said he was so happy watching their suffering in TV that he was fed for a month. Go and write love letters to Ted Bandit or George Bush to entertain your odd interest and live our democratic country be.

Julen M., Bilbao, Spain

Those expressing humanitarian concerns as the justification for this terrorists release wilfully ignore the culture of death that permeates modern Spain. El Pais dedicates full pages of coverage for people wanting euthanasia, the government turns out en masse to pro euthanasia film premieres. Fully formed foetuses are routinely butchered in Barcelona clinics: the only requirement is money. So where does the sudden concern for this man's life come from? Not humanitarian concerns, but political party interest. It is said Zapatero is after the Nobel Peace Prize. His hubris may well prove his undoing though.

Maria, Lérida, Spain

Spanish government is the most cowardly of the world, Democracy never should cave under terrorist groups.¡VIVA ESPAÑA!

Ricardo, Spain, Toledo, SPAIN

Maria seems to have a funny opinion about democracy. Why shouldn't people be able to criticise a government's blatantly clumsy "anti" terrorist policies? Just or unjust this serial killer has yet to serve his sentence for death threats. When a government gives in to blackmail it is paving the way for disaster. Mr Zapatero has proved to be a very spineless leader. A couple of bombs put him in his place very easily: Atocha led to the withdrawal from Iraq. Now an unrepentant murderer cowes him into granting him his demands by going on a diet. Is this the stuff that statesmen are made of? Oh for the days of Churchill, de Gaulle, Thatcher.

Phil, Barcelona, Spain

According to some of the commentaries, we could conclude that the Spanish government is not acting in a cowardy or week way.
It seems that many of the people giving their opinions here and in Spain think that the government is risking its own position of privilege.
That makes me think that they are not thinking about making a profit out of this decisions, but of bringing peace to its country.
As things are in Spain, with the popular party critizising every move the government makes, the decision to atenuate De Juana's sentence is a very brave one.

Maria, Barcelona, Spain

I just want to express my deepest sandness on the way the Spanish Government has finally put an end to this "problem". De Juana Chaos is not a common killer, he is a terrorist belonging to a terrorist group, a person who shows no repentance for the murders perpetuated, a person who celebrated with champagne the killing of a young political couple who left two little orphans. What about freeding the killers of the 11-S or of 7-J? I live in the Basque Country and I do not want to bumb into such an inhuman person when having a walk or buying the bread.

In my opinion, Mr. Zapatero's Government has simply caved in to the terrorists. I don't know which would have been the consequences of keeping him in jail, but we are really fed up with being afraid of the reprisals of the terrorists. Yesterday was a terribly sad day for those who believe in justice, for those who have suffered the acts of ETA.

Sonia Gonzalez, Bilbao, Spain

As a Spanish national, I am personally quite ashamed at the weak and coward behaviour evidenced by Spain's Government in this affair, as well as the way it deals in recent times with ETA and the "peace process".

Of course a sizeable percentage of citiciens in Spain, essentially those which vote the Socialist and regional nationalist parties, share these Government policies. This makes this whole matter even more revolting.

As a result, many of us like me who reside outside in the CE or the USA are thinking of never coming back to Spain until a new goverment policy (probably under a non-PSOE rule) is put in place.

Jose Sanchez, Paris, France

Sandy:
Remember this bloodthirsty, unrepentant killer has served his sentence. Remember there have been other assassins that have been released at the end of their terms. Remember that with the Popular Party at government this man was moved to the peninsula to get closer to the Basque Country as a "means to get closer to ETA" and make conversations easier.
Remember that all parties in power have tried to negociate peace with ETA and paid a price for it.
This is the first time a party has used terrorism to attack the gobernment. Not even Fraga, who was a minister of Franco, ever used terrorism as a political weapon agains the rightful gobernment.

Maria, Barcelona, Spain

Fernando, you are appealing to democracy, so you shouldn’t tell Kate to be quiet, she is giving her opinion and it is an opinion many Spanish people share.
The truth is that De Juana Chaos was judged at a time the law that was applied to terrorist assassins was one coming from 1973 (with Franco at power), which contemplated at most 20 years in prison with reductions for good behaviour, prison work or studies.
This man served his sentence and was due to be released two years ago. As Kate says he was irregularly kept in Prison accused of threats that were posed on several newspaper articles. This was a farfetched way of preventing the criticism of public opinion, that had been raised by artificial means by the Popular Party.
We all know that when the Popular party was in government, other assassins had been released without much ado. Now things are different, the Popular Party wants to win the next general elections and the are using terrorism as one of their main means, contrary to the pact all parties have always respected, not to use terrorism as a political weapon.

Maria, Barcelona, Spain

By caving in to the basque terrorists, Zapatero might have signed his own political death sentence.

Pete , Pembroke Pines. Fl, U.S.A.

zapatero's weak government gives in to a bloodthirsty, unrepentant killer who has now abandoned his "hunger strike". ETA's point of view is that if you don't think as they do then they simply shoot you in the back of the head. I have lived here in Spain since 1983 and have seen these gun toting murderers operate for years. Remember MIguel Angel Blanco, the victims of terrorism have always been the innocent bystanders. ETA must be delighted that now all they have to do is play up to the media as poor misunderstood freedom fighters....rubbish,

sandy thorne, palma, mallorca spain

Kate from California are you mother, sister, or familiar of one of the 25 people killed by De Juana?.
Do you live in Spain?. Do you Know what is a Democratic Country? Have you listened something about Human Rigths? Then please is better to be quiet.

fernando, santander, spain

Inna, he is not being rewarded. He is being released, as he should have already been, for serving his prison term, according to Spanish law. Why is this so difficult to grasp?

Kate, California, USA

Bravo, Rob, that is it exactly.
The rules are the rules, and the fact that Spanish officials created something out of nothing (I've read the english translations of his articles , too) in order to keep him in jail, while letting the killers of government-sponsered GAL out of prison early for health reasons just shows the double standard used. Don't Spanish officials constantly talk about living by the rule of law??

ATV is not just a political group, it is a PP group. The true victim's groups, like the one that formed after the March 11 bombings in Madrid, denounce the ATV as a mouthpiece of the Partido Popular.

Also, people need to read up on what it was like living in the Basque Country during the 1980's when he commited these assassinations against police and army. It was very, very nasty, made today's political and social climate seem like a tip toe through the tulips.

Kate, California, USA

Zapatero came into power by appeasing Al Quaeda, is it any wonder he appeased ETA?

The man was on a hunger strike. His life was in his own hands, not the government's. Apparently, this murderer is serving out the 'last year of a life sentence' - hello? Life means LIFE.

Europeans are fools. Maybe everybody in your jails will go on a diet. Then, you'll only be menaced by skinny criminals.

M. Fernandez, San Francisco,

Do the Basque people deserve a state (as do all other peoples in this world)? Of course they do.

Should the Basque "miltiants" (why is the t-word prohibited?) be rewarded acting like their brethren totalitarian genocidal militants the world over? No, of course not.

Why is this so difficult to grasp?

Inna, Sacramento/California,

Still I don't understand, Why Europe are searching for join and to be a Big Europe, and Catalonians and Basques are searching for separate.- Neither, I don't understand, Why they want Spain pay Social delivery, army and Hospital cost? Maybe, they are thinking that Spain are crazies and they are very intelligent.... And the worst is that Mr. Zapatero belive this...

Gonzalo, Alicante, Spain

Today Zapatero have freed a "beast" but that beast is not De Juana, the beast will be the anger,sad and fury of those victims and their familys that always belive in Justice and never commited a single act of revenge.¿And how we now look at their eyes and convince them that they must still beliving in Justice?
I just can say them:
The spanish people, will be always with you, and treason commited today for the socialist goverment will never be forgotten, they'll pay the price in the next elections.

kchoperro, madrid,

Just I ask myself: How it's the price of kill some body? - For 25 peoples, De Juana Chaos, just have 3 years and 114 days of hunger-strike (not true... he eates jam and sandwich). In this case, 43 days per each victim. Spain begins to look like a republic of Central Africa, thanks given to Mr. Zapatero.

At same time I think... What made ETA for Mr. Zapatero? How promisses gived Mr. Zapatero to ETA for excused them allways?

I hope, yours not think that all spanish are so stupid than Mr. Zapatero.- (Also called "Mr. Bean" for similar look ;-)

Gonzalo, Alicante, Spain

From his statements about the victims this man has what the law calls "an abandoned and malignant heart." The only way he should be released would be either under the Jordanian system--where he is available and the relatives of the victims have 24 hours to exact retribution--or if he performes some community service that might give him a sense of humility--perhaps working in a childrens oncology ward. That this man is a "hero" to the separatists should perhaps be used in a publicity campaign against them. Something like "You are judged by your heroes......"

USAgina, Wyomissing , USA

One thing is to preach idealistic intagibles at the UN that bring a smirk to politicians present, another is this. Forget about ETA - which Head of State is now going to take Zapatero seriously? How can he possibly defend Spain´s interests abroad?

De Juana walked out of the ambulance on his own two feet. How sick could he be? He was caught naked with his girlfriend in hospital (who by the way was never searched on the way in or out, govt orders). Will The Times keep reporting when 10 other prisoners start a hunger strike or will it lose interest?

Clara, Madrid, Spain

Zapatero is doing the right thing, to open a solution in peace.

francisco, Madrid, Espa^na

It is really not all that surprising when a soft nation acts soft, as when a hard nation acts hard. When one reads the history of the rise and fall of nations, one thing is paramount, that the ascent is always characterize by a strong, hard and uncompromising attitude. The descent is recognized by liberal, weak, humanistic attitudes. Western Europe is definitely on the descent (not included Great Britain), and Spain is one of its softest members. The United States is definitely on the ascent still, and the most representative of a hard state. Australia is another hard state.

Eduardo deSevilla-Pierce, Atlanta, USA

what i know is that this person has done his sentence and he must be out from prission... by the other hand, hi is not a martir, and is not going to be... everybody must know that he has done the strike for us, for the justice and supporting the proccess, he is and he will be a patriot for us... we are just asking for the respect of the decision of the basque country... for our decision to be free or just even to be what we cannot be because of the spanish and the english goverment!
fight for your right!
forward for freedom!

alain, santutxu, basque country

Zapatero, does not have the cohonbes to be a leader in these troubled times. Spain needs a leader with courage and foresight and not too much ambition.

Tony C, Seattle, USA-Washington

Why Spain has released this man?

Very simple.
He has served his sentence and was due to be released two years ago. However, the Spanish state claimed that he made threats in two newspaper articles. I have read the articles published in December 2004. They are still on the Gara website and a simple Google search will come up with them. The articles (in Spanish) are harmless. No threats and no glorification of terrorism.

This man has been handed an extended prison sentence only because of his profile. If the Spanish public is outraged, it shows their double standards: General Galindo and Vera were killers and torturers and were released early -yet the Spanish public did not seem to bother. This puts the Spanish state in the same democratic league as Turkey, China and Egypt.

There is a political conflict that will only be resolved when the Spanish state acknowledges the right of self-determination of the Basque people, like any normal democracy (Canada, UK) would do.

Rob, Glasgow/Barcelona, Scotland/Catalonia

Ok, Zapatero had not to do it. But, Spain had lost the battle before. Because if DeJuana dies, he is a hero; and if Dejuana is freed, he is a hero. Do you know what is the worst torture for this 'man'? When nobody speaks about him -newspapers, radios, television- he isn't feel good. Ok, come on, forget DeJuana... make him hurt.

Sircocsav, Valladolid, Spain

I can´t believe it. A person who has killed 25 people has smiled about the tears of spaniards´ . I don´t know -because the times is so interested in that person. i´m sure that if a spanish newspaper did the same about a islamic terrorist of 7- J woudn´t be funny.

javier, zaragoza, spain

I can't believe it, Thanks Mr Zapatero for do it, but the next elections we'll go you down. In Spain there ins't justice. ETA win us step by step, The spanish govern sells all spanish people and laughs.

I can't believe 1000 people killed in our memory, I think this situation only happens in Spain, i'm sure. It's a disgrace.

José, Madrid, Spain

It's not right to let a killer go free early. I don't care what the reasons are. He killed those people and he should have to serve his time. What would happen if we let all prisoners go everywhere cause they might die.

Heidi Ross, Ohio, USA

I just want to say that this is one of the saddest days in living memory in Spain.

Jean, Málaga, Spain

" He may be forced to live in a sympatheric country such as Cuba or Venezuela" (Thomas Catan)
Short comment: Just now thousands of ETA supporters are ready to welcome De Juana as a heroe. ETA HAS WON ANOTHER BATTLE TO THE SPANISH DEMOCRACY THANKS TO ZAPATERO.
Which country are you writing about Mr. Catan? Is it really Spain and the Basque Country?

Gaspar Mairal, Zaragoza,

Contorversil news from Spain...

adrian, cardiff, uk

ETA is not a separatist group, but a terrorist group, like Al-quaeda, or IRA. Please, don't make this terrible mistake. In Spain, it hurts to hear or read calling ETA as a separatist group, making it more legitimate. 812 people have been killed by this terrorist group. In 1997 Miguel Angel Blanco was killed by ETA because the government didn't accept the blackmail of bringing all the terrorists to Euskadi. Now Zapatero betrait all those innocent people.

PD: Sorry for my English.

Fran, Murcia, Spain

Only because of the 11-M bombs, Zapatero is now our President. It's easy to understand that he is used to terrorism, and as terrorism helped him, he is now paying back some favours.
This is the most ashaming thing he has done, but wait and see....next step is.......now everything is possible, ETA is governing this country.

Maria, Madrid, Spain

why should spanish people stand what the british people would never do it ? why should be worry about anyone who wants to kill us just because we are democratic people? why this animal who has killed 25 people has more rights than a normal pick pocket? Many questions come to my mind a nobody gives me any answer . Can anyone help us? PLEASE!!!!!!!

santiago, madrid, sapin

Mr. Zapatero. Which will be your next step? I think you are very coward.

Javier, Mahon, Menorca, Spain

Spain wants to know the truth about the terrorist attack commited on the trains. It is said islamists groups planted the bombs on those trains. However, as the trial is moving on, faked evidences incriminating those islamists groups are falling down. ETA is believed to be behind those terrorist acts, although at this moment no evidence can prove it.

We spanish people will know the truth soon, very soon, maybe sooner that the prime minister Zapatero wishes.

Favors to ETA, 11-M trial... Is it maybe a political price that the govermente has had to pay???

Raul, Madrid / Spain, Sapin

Some days ago Times called De Juana´s rest "his deathbed"... It would be better called his freedom-bed. I just can not remove his words in that article from my mind: “Not being able to live a normal life is very hard. Only those of us who have experienced it can understand it,”. He cut off twenty five lives and so much more of their relatives... And now... what a shame, what a disgrace...

BTW, do you dare to divide his 18 years in Spanish -not like those in South America and so- prison among his twenty five killings?... Anyway, he´s in the streets again, and he has not regret (according to him) of it, at all...

Pepe, Bilbao,

I am so ashamed of being Spanish today... It is a very sad day for all the people that support the victims of such a bloody TERRORIST group.
ZAPATERO: DIMISION!

Pilar, Santander, Spain

The beginning of the end.

Raul, Barcelona, Spain

After 100 days on hunger strike, he steps down the ambulance unaided and walks into the hospital... Yesterday he was having intimate contact with his girlfriend, on TV they have said he should be back to normal after a few days... Give us a break!!!!
Maggie got it right...

Free the Basque Country from Basuqe nationalists, San Sebastian, Pais Vasco

How after 100 days "without eating" can a person stay with his girlfriend 40 minutes in the shower?.This is a shame for Spain

jose estero montero. , sevilla, españa

It is a shame for Spain.

jose estero montero. , sevilla, españa

It's a good new for all we want to solve conflict at Basque country

Jon, Gasteiz, Basque country

By electing socialist/communists to rule their nation, Spaniards should have known that their new rulers thrive on terror. That's the way they were elected by standing by while muslim terrorists blew up the train! Over half raced to the polls to elect the diplomatic socialists to run things.

This is how they run things.

Dr. Lewis C Shigley, Naples, FL USA

Agreed with David R.

Really Pathetic! This individual does not deserve to go home because he has no remorse from any of his crimes. Why the heck should the Spanish Government give him a chance to go free due to a condition he himself provoked? This means that any prisoner in Spain could begin a hunger strike and potentially go home due to humanitarian reasons!!??!!??
By they way Mr. Catan, ETA is a TERRORIST group, not a Basque separatist group. When are you guys up North going to learn?
Finally, I hope this trash would not consider coming to live in Venezuela…with Hugo Chavez, we have enough!!

Edgar, Caracas, Venezuela

It is incredible that a serial killer of a terrorist group, not a basque separatist group as the reporter call ETA, is going to get his freedom. Mr Zapatero has surrended to terrorists. That's because he want to become the president of peace no matter what he has to do. I don't understand why in England they still thinking that this is a poltical problem. It isn't. It is TERRORISM, as simple as that. Mr Zapatero didn't want to me him a martyr but instead he make him a hero

Eduardo Brenes, Santa Ana, Costa Rica

This decision of Mr. Zapatero's Government brings shame on victims of the terrorist gang ETA as well as most of Spaniards including,of course, those who were born or are living in the Basque Country.

Luis, Madrid, Spain

So in Spain if you commit a crime and then go on hunger strike they release you? Tony Montana you got nothing on me, I'm on my way to Spain!!!

Mark, London,

Incredible, a triumph of psicopathic blackmail over democracy. I'm really surporised by the way The Times has reported this whole thing. After killing 25 people a killer goes to freedom after only 18, with no sign of remorse, defiant in the faceof justice and the victims.

Really pathetic.

David R., Boston, USA

Whether we like it or not, it is the right thing to do. Our government has been quite sensible and has decided accurately with firm and legal pace. those who are protesting now did not say a word when the killers from ETA were realeased during Aznar's government. As we can see, they don't care a fig what may happen to DE Juana, they only think in winning the next elections.

Ramon Sánchez, Leganes, madrid

Shame on you, Zapatero, shame on you!!!!!!

Ingrid, Barcelona, Spain, till now

It is hardly surprising. Rodríguez Zapatero caved in to terrorists almost as soon as he made it into government, going against his stated promise and withdrawing troops from Irak unilaterally, in a move that seems to have been designed to appease Islamic terrorists held to be responsible for the Madrid massacres that propelled him into office. Quite what he hopes to achieve by setting this precedent is not clear, but any self-respecting terrorist will be sure to think of blackmailing the government into submission seeing how well de Juana's stunt worked. This is a very sad day indeed in Spain.

Gil, Madrid, Spain

In response to Gary's comment 'Spaniards don't have the balls', there are 2 sides in Spain and unfortunately we are now being ruled by the weak, inexperienced side. Gary is right to show us how Zapatero is presenting Spain to the world. An embarrassment.

hanna, madrid,

Shame.. I'm a spanish, and all I can say is that I'm ashamed....

Only one note to this article... De Juana, the killer, is so ill that he has been caught twice having sex with his girldfriend in the last days, even they had a shower together forty minutes long, yes so ill.

Miguel Angel, Madrid, Spain

first, hugh, it's normal you don't know notjing about Spain's law, De Juana was condemned with the former penal laws that are not in use today, with the penal laws after 1986 he would have passed 40 years in prison.
second, Gary we have been fighting terrorism in Spain for more than 30 years, you can't speak about fighting terrorism because you don't have a terrorist group stablished in your homeland, supported by nearly 200000 people. How you fight terroris? going to a country like Irak that didn't have a problem of islamic terrorism invading that country and contributing to generate nearly 100 dead daily by terrorist attacks? I don't think so

Rafa, Madrid, Spain

Incredible a psicopath on suicide mode has more power than a democratic government. 25 killings less tahn 20 years in jail, Spain what a great country.

Hugh, London,

Another prime example that the Spaniards don't have the balls or fortitude to deal with terrorism. The terrroist now know for certain that all you have to do is give the Spanish a slightly bloody nose and they will run home crying to Momma. They will lock their doors in fear and hope that the bad guys will leave them alone. Well guess what? That's not how things work in my neighborhood and that's not how things work in the real world. You have to stand your ground and fight for your freedom and against those who wish to harm you. Simple as that.

Gary, Bradenton, Florida, USA

thank the times very much .now the people can see that in spain there is no law because only after the times released the interview ,everyone saw thet the state almost kill a person
Spain is playing a dirty work trying to kill basque people that we want only the independence

gorka, bilbao, basque country

Mr Catan is all over the place, and does not seem to be very objective about this subject. I would not have such a journalist covering this topic, it discredits a newspaper such as the times. He dangerously gives more space to ETA's 'feelings' and ideas than anyone elses (ie the victims and democratic spaniards), and worse of all gives those ideas weight and truth, when in spain most are known to be lies.

hanna, madrid,

Mr. Catan, you have sumarized very well this complex situation. In my opinion, the basic problem here is that the law is not good, when a killer of 25 gets free after 18 years. The government has to fulfill the law, it has no option. I hope De Juana will go to the more distant country in the world, and never come back again.

josu, bermeo, basque country

thanks, the times, by becoming the the messengers of the human rights, all the people in the basque country is pleased with you. freedom for the basque country!!!1

antonio, pamplona, basque country

Pedro - this is news. It obviously will make headlines. It neither spreads ETAs message nor has liberated De Juana. Matyrdom or house arrest? He gets off lightly, and Zapatero chose the lesser of two evils.

Danny C, Valencia, Spain

Thanks, Mr Catan. Thanks, The Times. By becoming the messengers of the terrorists, you helped to set a serial murderer like De Juana free.

Pedro Pilse, Valencia, Spain