Farewell to Gorostidi

The Basque Country is mourning the departure of one of its great leaders.

Here you have the note that appeared at EITb:

Prominent leader of leftwing nationalist HB dies at 62

Prominent leader of the leftwing nationalist, Jokin Gorostidi, has died today at the Donostia hospital, in the Basque city of Donostia-San Sebastián, where he was admitted last Friday March 21. He suffered a heart attack which produced him a deep coma when he was travelling from Deba to Donostia-San Sebastián by train, EiTB has said. The trial was then postponed until May 8.

Born in the Basque town of Tolosa in 1944, he was married to the former leader of HB, Itziar Aizpurua. Both lived in Deba since the 80s, a town in the province of Gipuzkoa.

Gorostidi, who was sued in the summary 18/98, was to testify last week. He was one of the 15 ETA members tried and condemned to death charged with the "Burgos affair" in 1970 under the Franco regime.

The leftwing nationalist leader was a mechanic by profession, but started his political militancy within the trade union Comisiones Obreras, before becoming member of the Basque armed group ETA in the 60s. He was arrested in the Basque town of Eibar, and was one of the 15 ETA members who were condemned to death in 1970. After the amnesty, he became member of the leftwing nationalist HASI and was one of the founders of the Herri Batasuna party, being part of its National Committee until 1992.

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