Born in Elgoibar, Jon Etxabe Garitazaleia, former priest and former ETA member, died at the age of 90. At thirteen he entered the seminary and studied philosophy and humanities and then entered the priest.

At the age of 20, Franco inaugurated the Seminar of San Sebastian with the presence of Etxabe himself; he told Mikel Asurmendi in this interview of ARGIA that by 1954, "there was, in some way, a Basque nationalist feeling among seminarians, but in the street it was not perceived".

Continue: "I remember Franco on the stage, he gave a speech similar to the sermon, surrounded by soldiers. It passed through the hallway, where they spoke of “Long live the Pope.” Roman Orbe, a Phalangist and professor of theology, was proud to be a supporter of Franco. For the first time, I realized there was a kind of opposition. But the atmosphere was not political, we were not talking about politics. I had my first nationalistic feelings against the regime outside my home."

He entered ETA through a friend who asked him to move a group of ETA members from one place to another and did so as a support. This is how he meets Txabi Etxebarrieta. He defined them as "very hard times," when Etxebarrieta first killed Meliton Manzanas. The excerpt has been taken from the mentioned conversation:

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As a priest, how did he receive the murder of Apples?

It was very hard for me and for everyone. Like the first draws. When ETA started stealing money from banks, people struggled to accept it. Perhaps it was easier to accept the murder of Manzanas than to steal money. When other murders came, it was even harder to admit. I was already in jail.

You've already entered ETA.

After Txabi's death he also collaborated, legally, was not part of ETA. After returning from Barcelona, I realized that the dog was chasing me. Maria Luisa went underground, and then I was told if she wanted to join ETA. I said yes, but the decision was very difficult and very tough.

(...)

A priest is part of an armed gang. What would the bishop think?

I don't know ... Obviously, they would be scandalized in the church. Entering the underground, my reflection was: “According to ecclesiastical doctrine the entrance of a priest into an armed band is a contradiction of Christ. But I'm from this people and I've done this opportunity. I looked at the official church and as a Christian I thought: The church has always taken weapons. The Roman emperor Constantine faced himself when he used violence. A cross appeared to him. Well, something like that. Christians were organized into armed groups and in contact with Constantine. She was about to lose the war and the Christians apoyaron.Tambiin the Middle Ages there were great battles in the Church, armed. For example, the Church authorized the invasion of Navarra.

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Convicted in Burgos

Etxabe was arrested during his flight in Spain in 1969 and tried in the Burgos case. He spent seven years in prison and released in 1976, according to him, with "false amnesty."

After the 6th ETA Congress, he joined the Revolutionary Communist League. He talked about the congress.

"That was my first important theoretical debate. Until then there was no deep political debate. Some were arguing on our behalf, but no decision was taken in the group, because there were no external documents. We then received a lot of information, a lot of trend reports. My fundamental idea was: “The working class liberates Euskal Herria or it is not going to really have freedom. Political independence does not liberate the people.” Armed struggle had no priority for me, independence could be achieved, but not the real freedom of the people. I thought, without being liberating and free workers, this wouldn't happen."