KKE Europarliament Delegation: Solidarity with the FARC-EP political prisoners in Colombia

The Delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in the European Parliament issued the following statement:

"We express our solidarity with the dozens of FARC-EP fighters and other political prisoners who have launched a hunger strike in Colombia's prisons for their release.

We denounce the Colombian government which while relying on its Agreements to maintain the status of persecution, repression and terrorism, continues to hold thousands of political prisoners imprisoned despite its commitments.

Poland towards fascistization? Parliament passes law envisaging the demolition of Soviet monuments

Members of a Polish neo-fascist group giving
the Nazi salute.

Anti-communist, reactionary hysteria in Poland continues...

According to the Russian news agency TASS, the lower house of Poland’s parliament, the Sejm, voted on Thursday to introduce amendments to the country’s de-communization law, envisaging the demolition of Soviet-era monuments, including memorials in honor of the Red Army. "The law has been passed," the press service of the Sejm confirmed to TASS.

Tsipras' government dismisses 10,000 workers, promotes privatization in garbage collection

Sanitary workers protesting near the Acropolis
in Athens.

Why there are tones of garbage in the streets of Athens and other Greek major cities these days? The answer is because the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government- within the framework of its anti-people, anti-workers policy and following the demands of the EU strategy- moves towards the dismissal of 10,000 sanitary workers, while it promotes the privatization of the garbage collection sector in municipalities. 

Greece's local authority staff union federation POE-OTA launched a protest last week, after a court ruled against the new extension to late 2017 of the short- term contracts of more than 10,000 people working in trash collection in municipalities throughout Greece.

On the dangerous and provocative remarks by New Democracy's Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Adopting the "arguments" of Golden Dawn's neo-Nazis, the president of the centre-right New Democracy (ND) party Kyriakos Mitsotakis made some dangerous and provocative remarks blaming the "Left" as the one responsible for "terrorism" in Greece. 

In an article published on 'politico.eu' under the title "Greece fears revival of far-left violence", Mitsotakis fully adopts the rhetoric of Golden Dawn's fascist thugs: “We are the only country [in Europe] that has domestic terrorism of the extreme left” said Mitsotakis who tried to downgrade the criminal activity of the Nazi Golden Dawn. 

Joseph Stalin is the "most outstanding" world figure according to the Russian people

Despite years of severe anticommunist-antisoviet bourgeois propaganda, a significant number of the Russian people express admiration and respect for the great Bolshevik leader.

Source: Russia Today.

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin has once again been named the most oustanding world figure by Russians. Vladimir Putin shared second place with poet Alexander Pushkin. Among non-Russians, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton made the top 20.

Stalin, Putin, Pushkin, and Vladimir Lenin took the top three positions in a Levada Center poll which asked Russians to name the “most outstanding people of all times and peoples.” The poll results were published on Monday.

The poll surveyed 1,600 people in 137 places across Russia and was in free form – respondents weren’t given any suggestions for answers.

KKE: Message of internationalist solidarity to the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV)

Source: inter.kke.gr.

Dear comrades,

The KKE expresses the warmest comradely greetings of the Greek communists to the 15th National Congress of the PCV .

Our parties all these years have developed very close, bilateral comradely relations of cooperation. We have met together in the efforts to overcome the difficulties, for the theoretical and ideological regroupment of the international communist movement, the reinforcement of Marxist-Leninist orientation in its ranks, for the creation and publication of the International Communist Review. We have waged battles together to defend the communist identity of the IMCWP and to preserve its communist characteristics. We have devoted significant forces to developing the anti-imperialist struggle and solidarity, to strengthening the international anti-imperialist organizations.

Patras' communist mayor Peletidis in the forefront of the popular struggle against unemployment

Back in March 2016, the communist (KKE-backed) mayor of the city of Patras Kostas Peletidis had initiated the Patras to Athens 220km march against unemployment.

This year, the mayor who is always by the side of the working class and the people of his city, undertook a similar initiative by organizing an anti-unemployment demonstration in order to raise the public awareness on the issue. 

On June 25 2017, a major demonstration was carried out in Patras at the initiative of the municipal authorities with the slogan "Work for all, Work with rights." The demonstrators began from Patras' city center and reached the Rio-Antirio bridge covering a distance of approximately 9km. 
 

Thousands of protesters sent a clear message for work, for measures to protect the unemployed and their families, for projects that the people need, for an increase of spending on social policy, for the satisfaction of the needs of the people today.

As the communist mayor of Patras, Kostas Peletidis, stressed: "We do not believe that with such actions we will overturn the wave of unemployment and poverty that are surrounding us, but we want our people to raise the level of their demands, to advance their just cause and project their needs that are just and realistic, to decisively target the real enemy, bourgeois politics and its power." 

The mobilization was supported by dozens of trade unions from the region.

With info from 902.gr & inter.kke.gr. 

"Neither soil, nor water to the murderers of the people": Huge rally against NATO in Thessaloniki

"Neither soil, nor water to the murderers of the people" and "with the workers of all countries, for a world without exploitation, wars and refugees" were the major slogan of the massive anti-imperialist demonstration organised by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Thessaloniki. Thousands of protesters of all ages, from all over Greece but also from abroad, joined their voices against imperialism, its wars and interventions. 

Tripartite Summit of Greece-Cyprus-Israel: Who will be benefited from this "strategic partnership"?

Source: inter.kke.gr.

Another link in the chain of plans and antagonisms that are dangerous for the peoples

On 15/6 the 3rd Greece-Israel High Level Cooperation Council and the Tripartite Summit of Greece-Cyprus-Israel were held in Thessaloniki with the participation of the Prime Ministers A. Tsipras and B. Netanyahu and the Cypriot President N. Anastasiades.

The discussions and decisions taken there reflect the government's goal regarding the geo-strategic enhancement of local business groups, the interconnection of capital from the three countries and the expansion of their joint business activity, mainly regarding energy resources and transport routes.

"NATO Killers Go Home": Trade Unions to raise their voice against imperialism in Thessaloniki

Large banner on the facade of the Thessaloniki
Labour Center calls for participation in the events.

The All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) continues the initiatives of common, unified workers’ struggle against NATO, against imperialism, its wars and interventions. After a series of international events, PAME is organizing a two-day event of Anti-War, Anti-Imperialist Action of Trade Unions of the Balkan and neighboring area.

Monday and Tuesday, June 19-20 were days of massive campaign in the workplaces against imperialism. Especially, as June 20 is the World Refugee Day, and Action Day of the European Regional Office of the WFTU in Solidarity with the Refugees, Against NATO and Imperialism. In this context there were visits to Refugee Camps and hosting facilities

PAME Executive Secretariat, on Monday, June 19, held a Press Conference to inform on the Program and aims of the 2 Day Anti-Imperialist Activities of PAME, the international support and its charter of demands. 

SYRIZA: The "left" servants of NATO

By Nikos Mottas*.

In the name of the so-called “geostrategic enhancement” doctrine of the country and following the path of the previous governments of New Democracy and PASOK, the SYRIZA-ANEL government has been proved NATO's "best student". Since its formation on January 2015, the governmental alliance between the social democratic SYRIZA and the nationalist ANEL party has aligned itself with the dangerous plans and goals of the imperialists.

KKE: "The 65.6 million refugees are victims of a system that brings war, horror and death"

Giant banners raised by the KKE at the
Acropolis, in support of the refugees, Oct. 2015.

In a statement regarding the World Refugee Day, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out the following:

"The 65.6 million refugees and domestically displaced people are not just a "humanitarian crisis". It is the tragic confirmation of the actual character of a system which, when it cannot give solutions to its contradictions by crushing peoples' rights, resorts to war sowing horror, death and refugees. The imperialist war crushes whatever imperialist peace leaves intact. 

The SYRIZA-ANEL government, which cultivates the myth of the supposedly humanitarian stance towards the refugees, isn't innocent. It is responsible for the entrapment of 62,000 refugees in (mainland) Greece and the double entrapment- under miserable conditions- in the islands. It brought the special NATO naval force in the Aegean, using the refugees and immigrants as a pretext. It gives 2.4% of the GDP, 4 billion euros every year- stealing from workers, unemployed, pensioners, young people- to the murderous NATO machine. 

A Legend called Mikis Theodorakis

Mikis Theodorakis, 91, conducting his song "Arnisi" (Denial) at the end of an emotional concert at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. An one-thousand-member choir, numerous musicians, soloists, opera singers, actors and 50,000 spectators paid tribute to Greece's legendary composer.

The KKE slams Trump's announcements, stands in solidarity with the Cuban people

In a statement regarding the declarations of Donald Trump about the U.S. policy towards Cuba, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

"The KKE condemns the recent announcements of the President of the USA regarding the policy towards Cuba, his intention to continue and strengthen the policy of intervention in Cuba's internal affairs and to maintain the criminal blockade by the USA despite international outcry.

Communist Party of Turkey (TKP): Trump’s Cuba policy is a product of despair

TKP: Trump’s Cuba policy is a product of despair.

On June 16, US President Donald Trump cancelled ex-President Obama’s policy to advance bilateral relations with Cuba and announced the new Cuban policy of his government.

The speech of Trump will go down in history as a disgrace not only for its content based on lies and distortion, but also for its arrogant, pretentious, ugly and menacing tone, which reflected all the aspects of the degenerate bourgeois political culture. 

KKE GS Dimitris Koutsoumbas: "The Greek people do not believe anymore the fairy tale of Mr.Tsipras"

Visiting the city of Patras, where he met with the city's communist mayor Kostas Peletidis, the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas made the following statement:

"The Greek people do not believe anymore this oft repeated fairy tale which Mr.Tsipras and his government repeat, that the people's sacrificies finally have results, that development will come and will be for their benefit. The huge sacrifices that the Greek people done, do and will continue doing, under the policies of governments so far, are for the interests of the big capital, of a few monopoly groups. This is the essence of that and our people are kneeling, bleeding and will continue doing so under the lasting memorandums and the new measures that are coming". 

Source: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

Greek soldiers declare NATO forces "unwelcome"

THEY ARE NOT WELCOME!

With an open letter, soldiers from military camps in Evros and Thrace in Greece express their protest against the facilitations that Greece's Armed Forces provide to NATO's exercise "Noble Jump". 

More speficially, the soldiers denounce the SYRIZA-ANEL government for providing Greek "territory and waters" to NATO's forces and underline that the governmental policy consists "a provocation for the soldiers, who are children of the Greek people, especially after the reactions of soldiers and the popular movement which, for at least 20 days, with statements, demonstrations, reports and letters from Greece and Cyprus, have expressed their opposition to NATO".

"The United States is not in a position to give us lessons": Cuba responds to Trump's provocations

Declaration of the Revolutionary Government of Cuba.

Havana, June 16, 2017.

On June 16th, 2017, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in a speech full of hostile rhetoric, which recalled the times of the open confrontation with our country, pronounced in a Miami theater, announced the policy of his Government to Cuba that reverses progress achieved in the last two years, after the presidents Raul Castro Ruz and Barack Obama on December 17th, 2014 announced the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations and begin a process towards the normalization of bilateral ties.

In what constitutes a setback in relations between the two countries, Trump made a speech and signed a directive policy called "Presidential Memorandum of National Security on Strengthening US Policy towards Cuba", stating the elimination of individual "people-to-people" educational exchanges and greater oversight of US travelers to Cuba, as well as the prohibition of the economic, commercial and financial transactions of US companies with Cuban companies linked to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and Intelligence and security services, all with the aim of depriving us of income.

Serbia to sue NATO over damages caused during the 1999 bombing

Belgrade in flames, March 1999.

According to Sputnik International, Serbia has launched a team of lawyers tasked with the preparation of a lawsuit against the imperialist alliance of NATO over the damage it caused to the country during the 1999 bombing. 

The team will include the best lawyers from Serbia, as well as from the EU, Russia, China and India and will be headed by prominent Serbian lawyer Srdjan Aleksic. "We want to bring to trial the NATO states that participated in the aggression against Yugoslavia. These are 20 states that directly or indirectly participated in it. The lawsuits will target directly each of these states," Aleksic told Sputnik Serbia.

KKE blasts Tsipras' government for accomplishing "dirty missions against the people"

Source: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

After the decision of Thursday's Eurogroup, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement:

"Yesterday's Eurogroup welcomed and ratified the antipeople measures of the second review and the 4th memorandum- the largest package of measures, as it characteristically says- confirming that the SYRIZA-ANEL government is the government of "dirty" special missions against the people.

Carolus Wimmer: The Great October Revolution and its Influence on Latin America

The Great October Revolution and its Influence on Latin America.

By Carolus Wimmer* / Source: International Communist Review, Issue 7, 2017.

I) Introduction

The hundredth anniversary of the Great October Revolution comes in the midst of a counteroffensive by imperialism and the forces of reaction against the social and political advances of the working class. In these conditions, it becomes especially important to deliver the objective truth about the first victorious proletarian Revolution, its historic global importance for the world’s worker movement, for the struggles to liberate the oppressed peoples from imperialism, and ultimately for all humanity.

"The Greek people do not owe any debt"- KKE MEP Sotiris Zarianopoulos at the EU Parliament

Source: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

"The people do not owe any debt to pay for. The disengagement from the EU, the overthrow of the capital's authority, under workers power is the only way for their survival" underlined Sotiris Zarianopoulos, MEP of the KKE (Communist Party of Greece) during the discussion for the "Deepening of the EMU by 2025" at the European Parliament plenary.

More analytically, Zarianopoulos said:

"As an interstate alliance of the capital, the European Union cannot overcome capitalism's DNA: assymetry of economic devepoment and social exploitation. A part of monopolies and states promote even further the (EUs) unification, under one or many speeds, strengthening of european semesters, connection of the capital's financing with the intensification of antiworkers reforms. They are competing with other parts which develop centrifugal trends, protectionism, expressed through bourgeois euroscepticism. 

Poland: Promoting fascism through anticommunist legislation and history's falsification

In a statement, the Communist Party of Poland (Komunistyczna Partia Polski) denounces the attempts of the Polish state- supported by various institutions and the Catholic church- to falsify history and erase the crimes of fascism from the public memory. 

Changes of street names carried out under the “Decommunisation Act” serves the purpose of falsifying History in the interest of the ruling right wing. Historical policy implemented by the state institutions discriminates, on political grounds, anyone associated with communism, regardless of his/her significance or achievements. The list of toponyms that are to be changed is still expanding and includes not only those directly involved in the communist activity.

Cuba honors the 89th anniversary of Che Guevara’s birth

Source: Granma via Guevaristas.org.

SANTA CLARA– The presence of Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara in this city will be remembered with a series of activities this June 14, on the occasion of the 89th anniversary of his birth.

In the early morning, 39 children and young people from two local schools named after the guerrilla leader will carry out the traditional exchange of floral wreaths at the Memorial where his remains and those of his fellow comrades in arms in Bolivia rest, explained Yoel Padrón, head of the Young Communist League’s (UJC) Ideological Department in Villa Clara.

This ceremony will be followed by a march of the people of Santa Clara from Antonio Maceo Park, led by young workers from factories founded by the Heroic Guerrilla in this city.

Workers Against Imperialism: Large anti-NATO rally to be held in Thessaloniki, Greece on June 24th

"WITH THE WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, FOR A WORLD WITHOUT EXPLOITATION, WARS AND REFUGEES".

Within the framework of the Two-day Balkan Anti-War and Anti-Imperialist Action of Trade Unions, which will take place in Thessaloniki on 24-25 June 2017, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) calls for mass participation in a large anti-imperialist, anti-NATO rally that will be held in Greece's second largest city on Saturday 24th June. Numerous labor centers, workers' unions and branch trade unions from all over the country will gather in Thessaloniki, in order to participate in a demonstration outside the city's NATO headquarters (NRDC-GR) on the 24th of June. 

"Hırsız, katil Erdoğan": Turkish protesters sentenced to imprisonment for... defaming President Erdogan!

According to soL international, 10 protestors- including 3 members of the Turkish Communist Party (TKP)- were sentenced to imprisonment on June 9th for having held a press statement to protest the Islamic State's bomb attack on October 10, 2015 outside Ankara central railway station.

More specifically, some protestors, including members of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), made a press statement in October 2015 in Turkey’s western city of Manisa to protest the Islamic State's bomb attack that killed more than 100 people and wounded many hundreds during the mass rally of political parties and trade unions with the title of “Labor, Peace and Democracy”. The attack became the deadliest terror attack in modern Turkish history. 

London Calling: Britain's Communist Parties react on the outcome of the General Elections

Note: In this blog we are highly critical about Jeremy Corbyn, who we regard as a political representative of social democracy. Mr. Corbyn and his politics have nothing to do with marxism-leninism; on the contrary, we view Corbyn's leadership and the Labour Party in general as a bourgeois political power which, like the Tories, aims to manage the capitalist system. However, despite any disagreements and with full respect to their choice, we present the reactions of the British Communist Parties on the outcome of the recent elections. 

Political Knavery: SYRIZA government crushes people's rights, votes for extra austerity measures

"Butchers" of pensions, salaries, workers rights.
PM Alexis Tsipras (right) with Finance Minister
Euclid Tsakalotos.

With the 153 votes of the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government's MPs, Greece’s parliament approved on Friday a handful of additional antipeople austerity measures demanded by creditors in order to unlock more than €7bn of aid and complete a much delayed second review of the so-called bailout progam. 

Once again, the government of Tsipras proves its role in doing the "dirty job" on behalf of the creditors and the big Capital. 

The extra austerity measures, which were added to draft legislation on fishing regulations in an attempt to speed up their passage through parliament, are related to further cuts in pensions and "freezing" of the collective contracts until 2022, taxation issues and electronic auction of properties. 

43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival: The Communist Youth of Greece to honor October Revolution's centennial

KNE-Odigitis Festival (Archive photo).

In Defense of Communism with info from 902.gr.

For more than four decades, the KNE-Odigitis Festival, organised by the Communist Youth of Greece (youth wing of the KKE), consists a major annual cultural and political event. 

This year, the KNE-Odigitis festival will honor the Great Socialist October Revolution, using as a major slogan the lyrics of the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky: "100 years since the October that shocked the world "the future will not come on its own… If we do not also take measures". 

Communist Party of Sweden (SKP): Report on the 37th Congress

Sveriges Kommunistiska Parti (SKP)

A brief report on the 37th Congress.

The 37th congress of the Communist Party of Sweden was held May 26th – 28th. The entire congress was characterised by lively discussions and good comradeship. Each congress is a milestone in the development of the party, and the 37th congress was no exception to this.

КОММУНИСТИЧЕСКАЯ ПАРТИЯ ГРЕЦИИ (КПГ) : ПОЛИТИЧЕСКАЯ РЕЗОЛЮЦИЯ 20-го СЪЕЗДА

ПОЛИТИЧЕСКАЯ РЕЗОЛЮЦИЯ 20-го СЪЕЗДА КПГ.

С 30 марта по 2 апреля в штаб-квартире Центрального комитета КПГ прошел 20-й съезд КПГ.

20-й съезд утвердил тезисы ЦК, включающие в себя отчетный доклад о деятельности партии и политические задачи на период до 21-го съезда, приняв во внимание обсуждение и одобрение тезисов общими собраниями первичных партийных организаций (ППО) и конференциями. Также был утвержден доклад ЦК к 20-му съезду и отчетный доклад Центрального комитета экономического контроля (ЦКЭК).

Statement of the CC of the KKE regarding the latest dangerous developments in the Middle East

Source: 902.gr / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

In a statement regarding the latest developments in the Middle East, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) stresses the following:

"Yesterday's US bombings against forces of the Syrian army, combined with the diplomatic crisis in Qatar and today's attack in Iran's Parliament, consist a dangerous escalation of the imperialist interventions and competitions in the region of Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

Precisely these interventions of the USA-NATO-EU, in their antagonism with other powers in the broader region, such as Russia, are the ones which led to the dismemberment and destabilization of countries, the support of jihadist groups like ISIS, aiming at the control of the natural resources and energy routes of the region.

Youthforoctober.org - A website dedicated to the 1917 October Socialist Revolution

Encouraged by the 13th Meeting of European Communist Youth Organisations held in Istanbul on 24-26 February 2017, the website youthforoctober.org has been prepared in order to inform the world's youth about the political activities honouring the centenary of the Great October Socialist Revolution in many countries of Europe. By publishing the events and manifestation of the contributory European Communist Youth Organisations, we are to strengthen our common struggle.

We call the youth to hold high the flag of October and to join the struggle for socialism!

British Elections: Dear comrades, be aware of social democracy bearing gifts

EDITORIAL

On Saturday 8^th June, the working people of Britain will be called to choose between two versions of bourgeois management: The Conservative Party of Prime Minister Theresa May or the Labour Party of Jeremy Corbyn? Despite their existing individual differences regarding the mix of policies, both parties serve the capitalist system. They are both thoroughly bourgeois parties, fully committed to the goal of promoting the profits of the capitalists.

POLITICAL RESOLUTION OF THE 20th CONGRESS OF THE KKE (Full Text)

Source: inter.kke.gr. 

The 20th Congress approved the Theses of the CC which include the report on the party's work and its political tasks until the 21s Congress, taking into account the discussion and their approval by the general assemblies of the Party's Base Organizations (PBOs) and the Conferences. It also approved the report of the CC at the 20th Congress as well as the report of work of the Central Auditing Committee (CAC).The 20th Congress of  the KKE was held from the 30th of March until the 2nd of April 2017 at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Party.

"You shall not pass!": KKE protesters blocked the road to NATO convoy in Greece

A human chain stood against a NATO convoy on Friday afternoon in northern Greece. Hundreds of KKE and KNE members blocked the road at the tolls of Polymilos in Egnatia motorway, close to the city of Kozani, thus denying the passage to a convoy of 22 NATO vehicles coming from Albania. 

Under the slogans "NATO killers go home" and "Neither soil nor water to the murderers of the people", the KKE protesters demanded the return of the convoy back to Albania. Among the participants in the human blockade were the KKE MEP Sotiris Zarianopoulos and Sakis Vardalis, KKE MP. 

Spain: PCPE continues the struggle under Secretary General Ástor García

KKE's PB member Giorgios Marinos during
his speech (Source: PCPE Twitter).

Info: Rizospastis / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

On Saturday 20^th May the PCPE (Partido Comunista de los Pueblos de Espana) organised in Madrid an internationalist anti-imperialist political event under the title “No water, no soil, no air to the imperialists”. The major speaker was the Secretary General of the CC of PCPE Astor Garcia, while a greeting message was also delivered by  Marina Gómez, Sec. General of the Collectives of Young Communists.

Representatives of the Communist Parties of Italy (Partito Comunista) and Turkey (TKP) attended the event while the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Mexico Pavel Cabrera sent a recorded greeting message. The KKE was represented by the member of the Political Bureau of the CC Giorgos Marinos and Lefteris Nikolaou.

Alexis Tsipras assures industrialists that the anti-people policy will continue

His committment in implementing new anti-people, anti-workers measures Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed at the Hellenic Federation of Enteprises (SEV) annual general assembly on Wednesday. 

Tsipras delivered a speech during an event marking the 100th anniversary since SEV's foundation where he characterized the capitalist recovery of the economy as a "national goal". 

"The future of the economy for many decades will be judged at this time. We must be united before a goal of national importance," Tsipras said. The demand for sustainable growth and a national plan for radical changes had yet to be fulfilled, he said, while the years of crisis had amply demonstrated that the previous production model had failed. This model would have to be redesigned in order for Greece to exit the crisis and the country was now asking its creditors to meet their own commitments, enabling Greece to access the markets on its own merits.