Turkey: an event commemorate GN Saibaba

 

 translation of a report published by Yeni Demokrasi.

“Lal Salam Saibaba!”

On October 17, a memorial event organized by Partizan for the Indian Maoist GN Saibaba took place in Istanbul.

After 10 years in prison, Saibaba was released, but suffered health problems due to the severe tortures he faced in prison and died after an operation. At the event, Saibaba was honored as a symbol of the immortal people’s fighters in India.

The commemoration began with a minute of silence for Saibaba, the CPI (Maoist)’s martyrs and all revolutionary martyrs. The speeches highlighted the attacks by the reactionary Indian State aimed at destroying the Maoists and indigenous peoples and made a call for Maoist unity.

Partizan’s speech emphasized: “Saibaba has been internationally recognized as a human rights defender since the 2000s. He stood up for the defense of democratic rights, the just struggle of the people and against the oppression of political prisoners. In 2005, he joined the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) to defend democratic rights.” The speech continued by describing the torture Saibaba suffered during his detention.

The prison stay was summed up with the words: “During his imprisonment, Saibaba was subjected to numerous tortures. Despite his 90 percent disability, his wheelchair was taken away from him. The living conditions for Saibaba were extremely poor. Saibaba and other political prisoners then began a hunger strike. The hunger strike was successful and Saibaba got his wheelchair back. Saibaba never gave up his resistance and his fight. In prison he continued his revolutionary work.”

LET US DEFEND THE INDIAN REVOLUTION

“Today, despite heavy losses, the Indian revolution continues with a tough fight. This year the reactionary Indian State has carried out all kinds of attacks, but the Maoists are organizing and continuing the revolutionary struggle. Saibaba was part of this struggle and revolution. Preserving his memory and honoring him means standing up for a classless, borderless and exploitation-free world. Saibaba, who has always stood by the oppressed peoples and their just interests, is immortal.” With these words the speech ended.

The memorial event ended with applause.

(Istanbul)