Sabino Ormazabal: A Legacy of Civil Disobedience and Reconciliation

• Sabino Ormazabal, a dedicated activist for civil disobedience and peaceful resistance in the Basque Country, has died following a severe accident.
• His work focused on building bridges between opposing sides, rejecting violence, and promoting human rights-based reconciliation.
• He was a key contributor to the 'Eraikitz' process in Errenteria, which aimed to address the consequences of political violence and document human rights violations from 1956 to 2012.

Activism and Philosophy

• Ormazabal was involved in various anti-nuclear and anti-militarist movements, including the struggle against the Lemoiz nuclear plant and the insubordination movement against compulsory military service.
• He consistently prioritized civil disobedience and non-violence, famously arguing that violence destroys everything it encounters and urging the reversal of polarization.
• He avoided dehumanizing language, viewing political opponents as potential partners for dialogue rather than enemies to be silenced or excluded.

Legal Challenges and Political Commitment

• In 2000, he was caught up in the '18/98' macro-trial and sentenced to 9 years in prison under the 'Todo es ETA' (Everything is ETA) judicial doctrine, despite his clear opposition to ETA's violent actions.
• He served as a municipal councilor in Errenteria after the 2011 elections, where he worked with EH Bildu and IU-EB to transform the town into a model of coexistence after the end of ETA's armed activity.
• He collaborated with Argituz and Bertha Gaztelumendi to author 'Hacia una memoria compartida,' a report documenting historical human rights violations and acts of violence in Errenteria.

Legacy

• Ormazabal is remembered for his dissent, his willingness to challenge internal political circles to maintain his principles, and his commitment to building a shared future through broad dialogue and empathy.