European Communist Initiative: The pandemic reveals the criminal inadequacy of health systems in all capitalist states

Statement by the European Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties on the new outbreak of the pandemic:

The new outbreak of the pandemic throughout Europe is a reality that did not come out of thin air. The claims of the bourgeois governments that they “took measures” and “shielded the public health systems” after the first wave of the pandemic, as well as that “in the course of the pandemic the EU wised up and stands in solidarity with the peoples”, are myths.

Following the new wave of the pandemic, all these claims are day by day revealed and bankrupt. The increase in deaths, cases, and intubated patients reveals the responsibility of the EU and the government directions over time, which left the public health systems destitute of staff, infrastructure, ICUs, reagents, and tests.

Russia: Communists restored damaged monuments of Lenin

With the decisive intervention of communists and the local society two previously damaged monuments of Vladimir I. Lenin were restored in the Russian regions of Belgorod and Perm Krai. 

In the village of Gorki, Krasnensky District in Belgorod Region, a bust of Lenin which was dismantled in 2013 by the local administration, was restored on October 23rd in a ceremony attended by cadres and supporters of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). 

U.S. genocidal blockade against Cuba causes 5 billion dollars in damages in a year — Full Report

The US Blockade on Cuba, according to international law, has been a criminal and genocidal act since its inception almost 60 years ago, but its extreme reinforcement and cruelty amid the COVID-19 pandemic has no precedent, said Cuban Foreign Minister.

In presenting on Thursday the annual report on the blockade's impact on the island, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said that estimates of damages surpass the 5 billion dollars.

"From April 2019 through March 2020, the blockade has inflicted losses to Cuba estimated in 5 500 million dollars. This is the first time that the blockade's damages surpass the 5 billion in a year, and that's a very conservative estimate," said the minister.

Italy's Unione Sindacale di Base (USB): Ten years of class-oriented, independent and internationalist activity

This year marks the 10th founding anniversary of Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), Italy's independent, class-oriented trade union. In a message for the 10th anniversary the USB points out: 

"We could not celebrate together the tenth anniversary of USB, we do it now with this video that traces some important moments of our existence.

From the first congress, that of the unification between RdB and Sdl Intercategoriale, to date, thousands of initiatives, struggles, conferences, participation in international events have marked our first ten years.

KKE on Golden Dawn trial verdict: "No room for complacency. Fascism is the true offspring of this rotten system"

The Golden Dawn Trial in Greece, the largest trial of Nazis since the Nuremberg trials, has come to an end. In a historic verdict announced on Thursday, the Athens Court of Appeal ruled that 38 of the 50 defendants found guilty will go to jail, among which are 13 former MPs in the Greek parliament.

Among those the court has ruled should go to prison for their participation in Golden Dawn, which has been ruled a criminal organisation in the guise of a political party, are its leader Nikos Michaloliakos, current MEP Yiannis Lagos, and former MPs Ilias Kasidiaris, Christos Pappas, Ilias Panagiotaros, Giorgos Germenis and Artemis Matthaiopoulos, who were all found guilty of running a criminal organisation.

Koba is back: Stalin statue to be erected in South Ossetia

A three-meter monument, dedicated to the legendary Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, will be erected in the village of Tsorbisi, in South Ossetia. The initiator of the project is Dzambolat Tedeev, head coach of the Russian national freestyle wrestling team.

The statue, made by Ossetian sculptor Ibragim Khayev, will be placed in Tsorbisi's Stalin Square, the construction of which had also been financed by Tedeev.

Although Stalin, whose actual name was Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, was an ethnic Georgian born in Gori, many people in North and South Ossetia regard him an "ethnic Ossetian". 

John Reed - author of the "Ten Days that Shook the World": 100 years since his death

John Reed's name has been inextricably linked to the events of the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution. His book “Ten Days that Shook the World” is a first hand experience of the Revolution that changed the course of human history.

Reed was born on October 22, 1887 in Portland, Oregon. He attended Portland public schools and graduated from Harvard University in 1910. Soon after his graduation he began working as a journalist in various publications including the American Magazine and the The Masses. 

Justice for María Florencia Gómez — Argentine communist activist murdered in Santa Fe

A young and politically active woman, member of the Communist Party of Argentina and staunch supporter of women's rights, María Florencia Gómez Pouillastrou was murdered last Monday in Santa Fe. The lifeless body of the 35 years-old activist was found on a rural road in the town of San Jorge with signs of head injury caused by a strong blow.

In a statement, the Communist Party of Argentina and the Communist Youth Federation announced the tragic news, expressing their firm conviction that justice will be done and the perpetrators of the crime will be punished.

Veteran Polish communist Kazimierz Jarzębowski dies

The Communist Party of Poland (KPP) and the country's workers movement mourn the death of veteran communist and long-time activist Kazimierz Jarzębowski. Born in January 1923, Jarzebowski began his communist activity before the Second World War. 

In January 1941, on his 18th birthday, he fled to the USSR in order to support the anti-fascist struggle. He returned to occupied Poland a few months later, in June, and was arrested by the Nazis for his anti-fascist activities, including helping Soviet prisoners of war. Subsequently Kazimierz Jarzębowski was deported as a forced labourer to Germany. 

New Communist Party of the Netherlands: The consequences of the pandemic for the people and government's response

In a declaration the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN) and its youth wing, the Communist Youth Movement (CJB), refer to the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in the country, the consequences of the new economic crisis and the response of the Dutch government which takes measures in order to safeguard the capital's interests.

The declaration reads:

The number of hospital admissions and deaths caused by the coronavirus is rising rapidly. Meanwhile, increasingly more people are feeling the consequences of the new economic crisis. Among workers, students, and pupils, there is a lot of uncertainty about the second wave and the economic crisis, as well as what this will mean for their job or education. The government, however, refuses to offer solutions and leaves everything to ‘individual responsibility’. Only big capital can count on the government for generous support.

Mass protests by trade unions throughout Greece: Struggle against anti-people measures and repression

Thousands of people participated in the nationwide demonstrations organized by trade unions affiliated with PAME in Athens, Thessaloniki and other Greek cities on Tuesday 13th October. 

 

Workers, self-employed people, unemployed men and women, students and pensioners sent a powerful message of unyielding collective struggle against anti-worker measures and repression. 

In Athens' Syntagma Square, thousands of protesters demanded protection measures for the people's lifes and rights, including the shielding of hospitals and the public health system, the need for hiring more teachers and cleaning staff in public schools, cheap and safe public transport, policies against unemployment and dismissals, collective agreements and strengthening of the labor rights.

Hands Off Polish communists! Demarche by KKE and KNE to the Embassy of Poland in Athens

On Monday 12th October, a delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth wing KNE, headed by Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, MEP of the Party, visited the Embassy of Poland in Athens and held a protest in solidarity with the Communist Party of Poland and its newspaper “Bzrask”.

Both the CP of Poland and the editorial board of “Bzrask” have been the target of persecutions by the Polish authorities under the accusation of “publishing propaganda in favor of totalitarian regime”. The Katowice Court has announced that it will issue a decision on Tuesday 13th October 2020. 

International Communist Review held teleconference on Venezuela: Speech by PCV General Secretary Oscar Figuera

On the 9th of October, the International Communist Review (ICR) successfully organized a teleconference in solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), the working class and the people of Venezuela. 

 

The teleconference was attended by representatives of the following parties-members of the ICR: Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Communist Workers Party of Spain (PCTE), Socialist Party of Latvia, Communist Party of Mexico (PCM), Hungarian Workers 'Party, Union of Communists of Ukraine, Communist Workers' Party of Russia Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV). 

The participant parties adopted a resolution expressing their solidarity with the PCV and the Venezuelan people.  

U.S. Elections 2020: Trump must be defeated

FREEDOM ROAD SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION 

(FRSO):

TRUMP MUST BE DEFEATED

President Trump is a right-wing reactionary and dangerous fool to boot. He promotes an agenda of racism, inequality and discrimination. He puts kids in cages and then laughs about it. From Palestine to the Philippines he has shown himself to be an enemy of the peoples of the world, including those of us who live in the United States. Trump’s talk about “America First” is chauvinist trash, a banner under which to enrich the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. The trash needs to be taken out, as soon as possible, and this November at the latest. 

100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Australia

On October 30^th, 2020, the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) will mark its 100th anniversary. The Party was founded at a conference on 30^th October 1920 at the Sydney Trades Hall as response to two factors – the appalling conditions of the working class and the inspiration of the revolutionary developments in Russia with the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution. It was the outcome of the experience gleaned in the struggles of the labour movement from 1890 to 1920 and was one of the decisive revolutionary acts of the Australian working class.

KKE Europarliament group asks for the restoration of the Parthenon Marbles

With a question to the European Commission the EU Parliament Group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) asks the full and permanent restitution of the 2,500 year-old Parthenon Marbles, also known as the "Elgin Marbles", which were removed from the Athens Acropolis by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.

As 902 portal reports, the question submitted by KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos reads: 

Turkey: Reactionary attacks against communists will not reach their goals — TKP will continue its struggle!

In a letter addressed to fraternal Communist and Workers' Parties, the International Relations Section of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) refers to a recent malicious attack by reactionary elements against Party members in Istanbul and the role of the governing AKP party. The text is the following:

Dear comrades, 

We are writing this note to inform you about some recent developments and an attack against our party by the reactionary forces.

Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Golden Dawn verdict: "The people must overthrow the system that generates Nazism-Fascism"

The Athens Court of Appeals on Wednesday delivered a historic guilty verdict for the leaders and members of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, finding that they had run Golden Dawn as a criminal organization.  

In a unanimous ruling, Greek justice ruled that Golden Dawn was a criminal organization "wearing the cloak of a political party," in accordance with the indictment in the case.

The court also found the defendant Golden Dawn member, Giorgos Roupakias, guilty of all charges for the murder of anti-fascist musician Pavlos Fyssas and another 15 defendants in the case guilty of acting as accomplices, while acquitting two due to reasonable doubt.

WFTU 75th anniversary was honored in Athens

With a meeting of trade unionists and workers of the industry unions of Athens on October 2nd, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) honored the 75th founding anniversary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). 

The meeting was attended by George Mavrikos, General Secretary of the WFTU, who delivered a speech. 

Giota Tavoulari, President of the National Federation of Workers in Pharmaceutical Industries and Babis Vortelinos, TUI Public Services Vice President, delivered speeches on behalf of Greek Trade Unions.

KKE: Erdogan's decision to open Varosha in occupied Cyprus reveals the hypocrisy of EU-USA-NATO

In a provocative decision the authorities of the illegal state entity of Northern Cyprus announced on Tuesday the opening of the coastal section of the long fenced-off occupied town of Varosha (Famagusta).

Speaking after a meeting in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Cypriot official Ersin Tatar told reporters that "the coast will open to the public from Thursday morning."

McCarthyism is back: Communist Party members from any country are ineligible to immigrate to the U.S.

Senator Joseph McCarthy died in 1957 but the specter of anti-communism has always been alive in U.S. politics. Communist Party members, from any foreign country, are ineligible to immigrate to the United States since the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. 

In a policy alert announcement issued on October 2nd, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated the guidance under which members of a Communist Party are ineligible to immigrate to the country. 

The guidance reads: 

Golden Dawn Trial: "They aren't innocent — Nazis in prison!"

Wednesday 7th October 2020 is going to be a historic day for the world's anti-fascist movement. On that day, at 11 am local hour, the Athens Criminal Appeals Court is going to announce the verdict in the trial of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party – a trial which began in March 2015.

With its ruling the court is called on to decide whether the accused (a total of 69 defendants, including 18 ex-Parliament members) are guilty or not guilty of forming a criminal organization. Based on the evidence presented in the court it is beyond doubt that Golden Dawn – which was elected to the Greek and EU Parliaments in three separate elections - has been a criminal organization that had the legal form of a party enjoying, as a result of that, enhanced constitutional protection.

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU): 75 years of action, with honor and dignity

On October 3rd, the World Federation of Trade Unions celebrates 75 years since its foundation. The largest international workers’ assembly until then took the decision that was indelibly engraved in the memory of the world labor movement, October 3rd, 1945: THE WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS IS FOUNDED at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.

75 years later, the WFTU continues on the same uncompromising path, with unity, class-oriented, with internationalism. 75 years with honor and dignity!

Armenian communists call for an immediate ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The Communist Party of Armenia calls for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia!

On Sunday 27 September, the Azerbaijani armed forces resumed their attack on targets inside Artsakh (the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave) and reignited a dangerous conflict that could quickly escalate and further endanger the peace and stability in the already volatile region. The Communist Party of Armenia strongly and unequivocally condemns the assault by the Azerbaijani military forces and their Turkish backers, as well as the vile rhetoric of their political leaders, which has been consciously directed against the civilians of Artsakh and Armenia.