The case against Joxemi Zumalabe Foundation
The Joxemi Zumalabe Foundation promoted civil non-violent disobedience
as way of addressing issues regarding Basque politics, making
available -as Sabino said- "humble resources for social movements
not linked with power". Among the criminal activities that
this group had promoted were to write "Basque republic"
or sticking king stamps upside-down, sending back ppassaports,
etc. The incrimination was related to the conference that this
group organized in May 1999 -Herria mugi!- "Move, People".
Judge Garzón made up that one of the lectures had been
writen by ETA. This was clearly to put away a very dynamic political
group aiming to damage any social support that ETA may have in
the Basque Country. Joxemi Zumalabe is an autonomous and self-funded
organization.
Sabino Ormazabal
Sabino himself had previous persecution as member of the environmentalist
organisms Anti-nuclear Committees (he was next to Gladys del Estal
when this one was shot dead by the police on an anti-nuclear demo)
and Eguzki. Sabino has had a long involvement in different environmentalist
campaigns and had published books on environmental and other political
issues. He was the editor of the environmental supplement Ingurugiroa
on Egin paper (also closed down by the government on the 18/98
summary), the first environmental publication in the Spanish State.
Because of his acknowledged activism he was supported by environmental
organitations and political parties not just in the Basque country
but also from the rest of the state becoming the first campaigner
to be supported by Environmental Democracy (an organization to
support those persecuted for their environmental activities).
Among the first Zumalabe arestees was also the veteran environmntalist
solicitor Pepe Urrunuela, solicitor among others of the Solidari@s
con itoitz direct action group.
Sabino had signed the Zaramaga document together with other Basque
intelectuals who weren't prosecuted for it and who don't consider
themselves near the Basque Separatist movement. In this document
the signaturees stated they thought it would be positive for the
basque conflict the absence of violence and an ETA's permanent
cease-fire. Sabino denied to belong to ETA, Ekin or KAS as he
had being accused of. For more info on the Joxemi Zumalabe Foundation:
