Our comrade Grigoris Konstantopoulos passed away today, 23 January 2017. It seems unbelievable to us – although for years he had fought against various illnesses – because c. Grigoris was always a symbol of liveliness, inner strength and optimism. That is why our grief is immense.
He was born on 11 February 1945 to a poor rural family of Messinia. He rushed on to life full of entusiasm, against all difficulties, and from his younger years was won over by revolutionary, communist ideas. With these ideas he dedicated his life to struggle and action. Just before the 1967 dicratorship in Greece he moves to Canada where he struggles within the AMEE rank and file. After the dictatorship he returns to Greece where he distiguishes himself as one of the top ranking members of CPG (m-l). He is one of the few CC members that had stood up against the liquidationist line of the party in 1980-1982 and moved on to the reconstruction of the party. All the following years until today Grigoris Konstantopoulos was a leading member of our organization, a cornerstone of its existence with manyfold offering.
Our comrade Grigoris Konstantopoulos was dearest to all members of our party. He was always near the working people and the toiling masses. He was a revolutionary internationalist deeply concerned for the peoples problems and struggles. That is why he was loved and respected by comrades of various organizations he met around the globe representing our organization. He was especially loved and respected by our comrades of TKP/ML with whom our comrade had cultivated close relations supporting them in the very difficult situations they had faced and still face today. Even now, a few months before his death, he went twice to Munich to be alongside the turkish communists on trial there. Our comrade was equally respected by all members of the various greek organizations we had cooperated with in common actions.
In the very difficult situations of today our comrade Grigoris was steadfast for the people power and supported in every opportunity their revolutionary perspective. He was a vanguard revolutionary communist, without illusions about the situation and its demands but also without any yield to the seemingly negative situation.
Our comrade Grigoris is a luminous example of revolutionary and communist dedication. That is why he will always be here with us, our flag and asset, for our organization, for all those who had struggled alongside him and had the fortune to share the wealth of his heart and mind.
Athens 23/01/2017
the Leading Organ of CPG (m-l)
