We publish an unofficial translation of a declaration from Galicia regarding the death of Comrade Xosé Portela:
The death of comrade Xosé Portela has been a very hard blow for our blog and for all the Maoists in Galiza. He always said that a communist had to be an agitator and that's how it was for more than 40 years. From Dazibao Rojo we want to show our humble homage to our comrade and express our most sincere condolences to his family, comrades and friends.
We share the writing of the comrades of the Galician Committee of Support to the People's War, translated by the comrades of the Workers' Revolution.
With deep regret, we communicate the news of the death by cancer of our comrade Xosé Portela on the 4th of July. An indispensable comrade in Galician solidarity with the People's War in India and the struggle of political prisoners, especially Professor GN Saibaba. On behalf of the Galician Committee in Support of the People's War in India, we would like to express our most sincere condolences to his family and friends. We make the words of our comrade Adolfo Naya, published in his Facebook:
Honor and glory to comrade Xosé Portela!
Yesterday, Saturday, July 4th, we received the news that nobody wanted to hear, the death by a damned cancer of our comrade, comrade and friend Xosé Portela.
Chairman Mao Tse-tung said: "At no time and in no circumstances should a Communist place his personal interests first; he should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and of the masses. Hence, selfishness, slacking, corruption, seeking the limelight, and so on, are most contemptible, while selflessness, working with all one's energy, whole-hearted devotion to public duty, and quiet hard work will command respect."
There is no better definition for speaking about Comrade Xosé. He was a true communist. In his last days in the hospital, he was more concerned about his family, his comrades and the struggles around the world than he was about himself, setting an example of dignity and integrity, which only people forged in struggle can show.
He was always concerned about others, always ready to help and fight for just causes, serving the people with all his heart. From his clandestine militancy in the 1970s in the MC, where he made a personal transformation following the teachings of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, to his trade union activism in the CUT, always without giving up his revolutionary ideals. He was always a social activist in the front line and a graphic chronicler with his posters about social movements in the last decade in A Coruña.
From 15M de Monte Alto to the conflict of the Tower of Hercules, from A Coruña in Loita to the Movement of Loita Popular, from Stop Evictions to Elviña Not for Sale, from the C.S. A Comuna to Antifascist Action or the solidarity with the revolution in India or the League of Poor Peasants in Brazil. Always ready to help and fight, always tireless, without wanting any prominence or recognition. A true example of what a communist should be.
Today we lament the loss of a great friend, companion and comrade, but we remain with his communist practice, his teachings and his great heart of solidarity, to continue his dream, ours, a new world without exploitation, oppression, patriarchy and racism.
Thank you comrade for being so, we will follow your example to victory!
Comrade Xosé is present in the struggle!
