By Prof. JOSE MARIA SISON
Chairperson, International League of Peoples’ Struggle
10 May 2014 21:42
We, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, condemn in the strongest terms the abduction of Dr. GN Saibaba, Joint Secretary of the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), by plain-clothed personnel of the Maharashtra Police on May 9 while he was returning home from Daulat Ram College in Delhi University after examination duty.
Despite his 90% disability and being on a wheelchair, Dr. Saibaba was blindfolded and pushed roughly into a vehicle. The arrest was carried out in a secretive manner within the university premises. It is reported that he is being taken to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra by flight.
Up to this time, he has not been given access to legal counsel and his family members are not informed of his whereabouts. From the moment of his stealthy arrest and rough handling by the police, the basic human rights of Dr. Saibaba are being violated.
The abduction is probably based on a fabricated charge filed by the Maharashtra police which previously conducted a raid and an interrogation of Dr. Saibaba at his residence on the 12th of September and 7th of January. respectively.
According to the RDF, during both the raid and the interrogation, Dr. Saibaba and his family extended their full cooperation with the police and intelligence forces. There is absolutely no reason why the Maharashtra Police should abduct and treat him harshly.
In a similar incident, the police force abducted Jeevam Chandra, President of RDF in Uttarakhand, on 5th of May in Uttarakhand. He was arbitrarily accused of connections with the Maoists and taken to task for calling for the boycott of the elections.
We the ILPS are in solidarity with the RDF and support their campaign for defending human rights, for condemning the anti-democratic attacks on organizations and arbitrary arrests of persons who exercise their democratic rights and for demanding their immediate release.
We call on all our global region committees, national chapters and member-organizations to express solidarity and support for said campaign publicly and to RDF: [email protected]
– See more at: http://www.ilps.info/index.php/en/office-of-the-chairperson/statements-and-calls-to-action/701-condemn-the-abduction-of-dr-gn-saibaba-and-demand-his-immediate-release#sthash.3jJW0Iwz.dpuf