Cyprus: The 23rd Congress of AKEL kicked off in Nicosia

Under the slogan "Force of struggle - Force of change", the 23rd Party Congress of AKEL (Progressive Party of Working People) began its works on Friday in Nicosia, Cyprus, with the participation of more than 1,200 delegates. 

The three-day Congress will conclude on Sunday 4 July.  

The first day of the Congress included the opening address by the member of the Political Bureau of AKEL Nicos Ioannou and the introductory speech of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of AKEL Andros Kyprianou. 

Greek and Turkish young communists to meet in Lesvos

Dimitris Koutsoumbas (KKE) and Kemal Okuyan (TKP)

Greek and Turkish young communists, members and friends of the KKE and the TKP, are going to meet on July 9-11 in the island of Lesvos (Lesbos), at the 30th Anti-imperialist Camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).

KNE organizes this year's Anti-imperialist camp in Mytilene, Lesvos, under the slogan: “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”.

The two-day events will conclude with a large political rally on Saturday 10 July, at 8 pm, at Sappho's Square in Mytilene. A speech will be delivered by Nikos Abatielos, Secretary of the Central Council of KNE. 

USA: More than 40% of Americans view socialism positively

Despite the decades of persistent and severe anti-communist propaganda by the bourgeois mechanisms in the United States of America, more than 40% of adult U.S. citizens view socialism in a positive way.

According to a recent survey conducted by Axios/Momentive, socialism has positive connotations for 41% of adult U.S. citizens, 2 per cent up since 2019.  Furthermore, Socialism has positive connotations for 60% of Black Americans, 45% of American women and 33% of non-white Republicans. Those numbers have grown over the past two years from 53%, 41% and 27%, respectively.  

Communist and Workers’ Parties strongly denounce NATO's aggressive agenda

In a joint statement Communist and Workers' Parties strongly denounce the aggressive plans of NATO confirmed in the recent Summit in Brussels and warn that the "NATO 2030" strategic agenda is a "preparation for war". The full statement reads:

The peoples must strengthen the struggle against NATO and imperialist plans

Cancel Canada Day: Communist Party of Canada says "July 1 is not a day for celebrations"

Τwo discoveries this year of the unmarked graves of hundreds of Indigenous children are sending shockwaves across Canada and throughout North American Indigenous communities. The children, who were students at residential boarding schools from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, died far from home after having suffered brutal abuse and neglect. For decades, Indigenous children in both Canada and the United States were taken away from their families and sent to boarding schools, where they were forced to assimilate to Euro-American culture.

NATO 2030 strategy is a preparation for war, says KKE MEP

The “NATO 2030” strategy is a proof of the fierce competitions between USA-EU with Russia and China, said Communist Party of Greece MEP Kostas Papadakis during a discussion with NATO Under Secretary Mircea Geoană at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

Papadakis highlighted the leading role of the Greek government in the dangerous plans of NATO and stressed that the people have the power to fight against them, by intensifying the struggle in every country for the disengagement from NATO and EU. More specifically, as 902 portal writes, the KKE MEP pointed out:

Russia: Police attacks Communist Party rally in Moscow

Photo: kommersant.ru

Following a call by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) for a rally in Moscow on Saturday, around a thousand people gathered at the capital's Pushkinskaya Square. 

The reason for the demonstration was the decision of the Moscow authorities, according to which mandatory vaccination quotas are prescribed in the healthcare, transport and other sectors and if these are not met, companies can fire their non-vaccinated employees. 

According to the CPRF this as an unconstitutional requirement at the expense of the workers.

Book on Ernesto Che Guevara presented in Greece

The book about communist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, written by Nikos Mottas, was presented during an event in Athens on June 23rd. 

The book, published by "Atexnos" publishing house, focuses to the role of Che as a leader of Cuba's Foreign Policy during the first post-revolutionary years, outlining the Argentinian communist's internationalist activity in world politics (read more here). 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas was re-elected General Secretary of the KKE

The works of the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) were completed today, with the election of the new Central Committee and the Central Audit Committee.

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Party since 2013, was re-elected in his position. 

The 21st Congress assessed the work of the Central Committee and the Party as a whole from the 20th towards the 21st Congress, examined the basic assessments on the international and domestic economic and political developments of that period, the condition of the labour–people’s movement and the Party’s tasks up until the 22nd Congress. 

Greek Viet Minh hero Kostas Sarantidis dies at 94

Kostas Sarantidis, also known by the name Nguyễn Văn Lập, the legendary man who fighted alongside the people of Vietnam against colonialism, has died aged 94.

Born in Thessaloniki in 1927, the son of Asia Minor refugees, Kostas was arrested during the Axis occupation of Greece and sent on foot to Nazi forced labour camps in Germany. 

However, he managed to escape near Vienna and stole a military uniform which he used to disguise himself as a German until the end of the war. 

KKE's 21st Congress kicked off in Athens

With a speech by the General Secretary of the CC of the Party Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) began yesterday, Thursday 24 June, in Athens. 

The Congress' inauguration took place in the Indoor Olympic complex in Galatsi, under the slogan "STRONG KKE. Mind-Heart-Organizer of the Workers-People's Struggle for Socialism". 

Iranian presidential election: Statement by the Tudeh Party

On the occasion of the presidential election in Iran, the Tudeh Party of Iran issued the following statement:

"The historical NO of the people, and the national and freedom-loving forces of Iran, to the authoritarian theocratic regime and the scandalous charade of the presidential elections of June 18^th, 2021...

Moving forward towards the establishment of an inclusive social movement aimed at rejecting the theocratic regime and changing the corrupt and anti-people political system in Iran!

KKE condemns the political murder of HDP member in Izmir

In a statement, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) condemns the political murder of the 20 year-old member of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), Deniz Poyraz, in Izmir, Turkey. 

More specifically, the statement which was published in 902 portal, reads:

"The KKE condemns the political murder in Izmir. The Turkish government of AKP bears huge responsibility for the armed attack at the HDP regional offices in Izmir and the political murder of a woman who was there. 

Greek Parliament approves monstrous anti-labour bill — "The people will have the last word" says KKE leader

Thousands of people demonstrated on Wednesday June 16th in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and other big cities denouncing the monstrous omnibus labor law that abolishes the 8-hour working day and attacks trade union rights.

Large strike demonstrations took place in Syntagma Square, downtown Athens, in the morning of Wednesday, as well as in the afternoon, during the voting of the omnibus bill in the Parliament. 

KKE: NATO isn't a "safe haven" but a "womb" of bloody wars

In a statement about the NATO Summit in Brussels, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

"NATO Summit's “heavy agenda” casts over the people the threatening shadow of the criminal plans included in the “NATO 2030” strategy.

NATO expands its activity around the world, invoking new threats, such as cyber-attacks, the so-called hybrid wars and under the pretext of climate change, aiming to escalate its offensive plans against the people and the opponents of the euro-atlantic imperialism, China and Russia, within the context of the intensified competitions unfolded within the global capitalist system. 

South African trade union leader Khaya Xaba dies

The national spokesperson for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), Khaya Xaba, has died. The union said he had died in the early hours of Sunday morning due to "illness complications".

In a statement, the South African Communist Party (SACP) points out:

"The South African Communist Party (SACP) expresses its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of Comrade Khaya Xaba, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA). The National Spokesperson of Nehawu passed away in the early hours of Sunday, 13 June 2021 after experiencing complications from an illness. It was with great sadness that we learnt of Comrade Khaya’s untimely death.

Nikos Mottas: "Che Guevara, Ambassador of the Revolution"

A new book about communist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, written by Nikos Mottas, has been published in Greece under the title "Che Guevara, Ambassador of the Revolution". The book, published by "Atexnos", focuses to the role of Che as a leader of Cuba's Foreign Policy during the first post-revolutionary years, outlining the Argentinian communist's internationalist activity in world politics.

As a leading member of the Cuban revolutionary government, Ernesto Che Guevara played a major role in the formation of the country's foreign policy during the first post-revolutionary years. One of the tasks he undertook, immediately after the Revolution's triumph, was to establish diplomatic, political and economic relations between Cuba and other countries, mainly of those of the socialist camp.

Socialism is getting married and Communism, Leninism, and Marxism are special guests!

Image by Edward Chhangte

A quite interesting story comes from the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is not uncommon for people of communist ideology throughout the world to name their children after important figures of the international communist movement, such as Lenin, Karl, Rosa, Ernesto, Fidel, etc.

However, the Salem District Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) A. Mohan has taken things to an all-new level.  According local news sites, his three sons born after the 1990s have been named Communism, Leninism and Socialism, as a tribute to the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Nationwide strike in Greece: Massive protests against the monstrous labour draft law

With massive demonstrations in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities across Greece, thousands of people sent today a militant message to the government, demanding the immediate repealing of the monstrous draft bill which, among other things, provides the abolition of the 8-hour working day. 

The Unions have declared Thursday 10 June a 24-hour nationwide strike, as a protest against the governmental draft bill which aims to take the labour conditions back to the Middle Ages.  

KKE condemns anti-Cuban maneuver in European Parliament

The MEP of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Lefteris Nikolaou Alavanos intervened in the debate convened in the European Parliament on Cuba, denouncing the anti-Cuban machinations.

In his positive and supportive statement, the Greek communist MEP said: “A known group of reactionary MEPs linked to US interests proposed this fraudulent conversation and a motion on Cuba; and the European Parliament executes on behalf of the EU. The deceptive pretexts of the US, NGOs and their agents related to so-called human rights are a serious provocation and serve to intervene in the internal affairs of Cuba. 

21st Congress of the KKE: Greeting messages by Communist and Workers Parties

On June 24-27, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) will hold its 21st Congress in the party headquarters in Athens. As the date approaches, Communist and Workers Parties from all over the world send greeting messages.

Below you can read the messages sent to the KKE on the occasion of the 21st Congress. The list will be under constant update. 

The farce of the debate on Cuba in the European Parliament

Brussels, 7 June 2021.  The European Parliament has scheduled for Tuesday 8 June an artificial debate on what it is pleased to call “the political and human rights situation in Cuba”. 

 

If this body indeed decides to discuss Cuba, the debate should clearly center on the massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of the entire Cuban population resulting from the genocidal, immoral and illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade maintained by Washington against our country for over 60 years.

Brazilian communist leader Manuela d'Ávila received death threats from Bolsonaristas

In a statement issued on June 4th, the National Executive of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) refers to the despicable threats directed against Party cadre and former vice presidential candidate Manuela d'Ávila. 

According to the statement, Manuela and her family have been a target of hatred and propaganda by the far-right regime of Jair Bolsonaro. 

The full statement reads: 

Last surviving Soviet soldier who participated in Auschwitz liberation dies at 98

David Dushman, the last surviving Soviet soldier involved in the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, has died at the age of 98.

In January 1945, Red Army tank driver David Dushman saw Auschwitz survivors stagger out of the concentration camp, amidst the dead victims of Nazi terror. "They staggered out of the barracks, sat and lay among the dead," Dushman told the Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) newspaper six years ago.