Deadly floods hit west Athens, leave at least 16 dead: Statement by KKE GS Dimitris Koutsoumbas

The General Secretary of the Central Comittee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, visited on November 15th the facilities of the Helenic telecommunications organisation (OTE) in Parnitha and spoke to the employees. In his speech, among other things, he referred to the huge destruction caused by the floods in the areas of Mandra and Nea Peramos, in Attica, which killed 16 people.

In particular, General Secretary Koutsoumbas stressed among other things:

“Poor working class and people’s families drown every year, in different areas all over Greece, precisely because there are no flood protection works, there is no necessary infrastructure; as a result we constantly mourn victims, fellow people, houses and properties are destroyed that people had created working hard all their life, from day to night. Therefore, we must express our solidarity with the victims, but, above all, we must express our determination to organise the struggle on such issues in every workplace, in every neighbourhood.”

KKE: Tsipras government's "social dividend" consists crude and shameless propaganda

In an effort to disorient public opinion from the agenda of the upcoming new antipeople measures, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras made an unscheduled television appearance on Monday night to announce a €1.4bn “social dividend” to be paid next month to more than 3m Greeks who have been hit hardest by the country’s seven-year recession and the antiworkers-antipeople policies implemented by the governments of ND, PASOK and SYRIZA. The handout would include €720m in one-off payments for low-income Greeks and €315m in rebates for earlier cuts in healthcare payments, Premier Tsipras said. 

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement denouncing the Prime Minister's announcements as "crude and shameless propaganda". More specifically, the statement of the Press Office of the CC of the KKE writes:

Shameful verdict by Greek court convicts Communist Youth members who were assaulted by neo-Nazis!

A shameful verdict was issued by the single-member Magistrate Court of Thessaloniki in northern Greece regarding a murderous assault of neo-Nazi Golden Dawn thugs against Communist Youth (KNE) members  of November 2012. 

According to the Court's verdict, the perpetrators of the attack were sentenced to 21 months imprisonment. However, the same verdict convicts the... victims of the attack to 12 months imprisonment! 

Demonstration of PAME in Athens: Workers send message of resistance to Tsipras' government

With a large demonstration in central Athens, thousands of working class people send a message of resistance and counterattack against the new measures prepared by the SYRIZA-ANEL government, the quartet and the capital. 

The demonstrators, who corresponded to the initiative of the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), gathered at Syntagma Square thus sending an organised and militant message to the antipeople triangle of government-EU-employers. 

Greece's government sold ammunition to Saudi Arabia - The KKE denounces the agreement

Another shameful agreement by the- supposedly- "left" government of SYRIZA. This time, the Greek Ministry of Defense agreed to sell ammunition to Saudi Arabia, a country with a very dark role in the promotion and implementation of imperialist plans in the broader region of the Middle East. 

The agreement between Greece and Saudi Arabia was denounced by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the Press Office of which issued the following statement:

Golden Dawn's fascists have no place in Santorini!

Around 20 Golden Dawn's fascists tried to attack
a foreign student during the "OXI Day" parade.

"The fascist-nazi ideology has no place in our island" underlines the Santorini Party Organisation of the KKE in a statement issued regarding the racist incident of 28th October. 

Last Saturday, a group of around 20 Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party members and "sympathizers" violently disrupted the traditional student parade for the “OXI Day” holiday celebration, because the flag-bearer was a foreign student. 

Just before the parade was about to start, the fascists of Golden Dawn wearing black t-shirts with “Hellas Ultra” printed on them, started shouting and terrorizing both the students who were getting ready for their parade and their parents. The police attempted to negotiate with them, but the atmosphere was already explosive.

Tsipras meets South Korean PM, adopts the dangerous U.S. position regarding Korean Peninsula

Regarding the visit of South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon in Athens and his meeting with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement:

"The common statements of Mr.Tsipras and South Korean Premier about the economic relations between the two countries, among them the business of Greek shipowners in South Korea while the shipyards in Greece are under-running or shutting down, must not hide the following very significant thing: Mr. Tsipras adopted all the pretexts of the USA about the nuclear program of North Korea. These (pretexts) have as an actual aim the promotion of the geostrategic interests and dangerous military plans of the USA, which are threatening peace in the Korean Peninsula and the broader region, in the framework of their competition with other powers.

KKE: Statement regarding the meeting between PM Tsipras and President Trump in the United States

Source: Rizospastis / Translation: In Defense of Communism.

Regarding the recent meeting between Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington DC, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following statement:

"The Tsipras-Trump meeting evolved into an- unbelievably cynic- confession that the aim of the trip to the United States was the deeper involvement of Greece in the dangerous plans of USA-NATO in the region, as well as into an outrageous "white-washing" of the Trump government's barbaric policy from the side of Mr.Tsipras.

Only the fact that the SYRIZA-ANEL government received credit from the USA for supporting NATO plans and spending the 2% of the GDP for NATO military equipment, is enough for someone to realize that this meeting can only create new dangers for the Greek people and the other peoples of the region. 

KKE comments on Tsipras' visit to the US: The SYRIZA-ANEL government confirms its loyalty to NATO-USA

Regarding the five-days long visit of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the United States, where he will have a meeting with President Donald Trump, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece made the following comment:

"The trip of the Prime Minister to the USA- regardless of any communication tricks by the government- has one basic aim: The upgrade of the US-NATO bases in Greece and the deeper involvement of the country in the murderous plans of USA-EU-NATO in the broader region.

Brutal murderous attack against immigrant workers by Golden Dawn Nazis

Photo credit: KEERFA.

A murderous racist attack against two immigrant workers took place on Saturday afternoon at the town of Aspropyrgos, Attica. The assailants were identified as members of the "Golden Dawn" neo-Nazi criminal organisation. According to news sources, a group of five neo-Nazis bearing knuckle dusters ferociously attacked two immigrant workers of Pakistani orgin at a greenhouse.

The injoured immigrants were transfered immediately to Tzanio Hospital and both are out of danger. 

KKE condemns the murderous attack by the Golden Dawn criminals.

"The KKE denounces the new murderous attack of the criminal Nazis of Golden Dawn against immigrant workers at the Aspropyrgos area.

The 50th anniversary of Che Guevara's assassination to be commemorated in Greece

With political and cultural events the friends of Cuba in Greece will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ernesto Che Guevara's assasination. 

In Athens:

On Monday 9 October, "Alkyonis" cinema will host an event in honor of Che. The major speaker will be the Ambassador of Cuba in Greece Zelmys Maria Dominguez Cortina, while the president of the Hellenic-Cuban Association of Friendship and Solidarity Nikos Karandreas will deliver a greeting message. The event will also include the projection of the film "Donde nunca jamas se lo imaginan" by Manuel Perez. 

D. Koutsoumbas: "We continue on the road opened by the October Socialist Revolution. For the victory, for Socialism - Communism"

Speech by the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas in the political event of the 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival in Athens. Source: inter.kke.gr: 

"Friends and comrades,

The future is here! The future is here, at the 43rd festival of KNE and ODIGITIS, in this beautiful picture of the enlightened future world which all visitors can admire.

The future is here, in the Tritsi park, in the center of the western Attica, which has been transformed into a red city thanks to the volunteer work and will of our KNE’s members and friends.

You can see the future in the faces of the thousands of young people who are determined to fight for a life with modern rights to work, education, life,  sports and culture. That’s the origin of our slogan, “Youth does not bow its head, it attacks and struggles alongside the KKE!”

Powerful message for struggle: At least 250,000 people attended KNE-Odigitis Festival in Athens

Photo: 902.gr

With the tremendous, unprecedented participation of thousands of people of all ages, the three-day events of the 43rd Festival of the Communist Youth of Greece and its newspaper "Odigitis" were concluded in Athens. 

According to KNE, the number of the people who attended the cultural and political events of the festival reaches the record high of 250,000.

The third and last day of the Festival, among other events, included a large concert dedicated to the late composer Manos Loizos, with the participation of popular singers like George Dalaras, Maria Farantouri and Vasilis Papakonstantinou. The concert took place on the occasion of the 80 years since the birth of Loizos, one of Greece's most talented composers who died at the age of 45. 

Dangerous games - Does the US plan to install nuclear warheads in Greece?

On the 20th of September, the daily newspaper "Rizospastis"-organ of the CC of the KKE-on its front page highlighted the continuing suspicious and conspicuous silence of the government in relation to this accusation made by the KKE.

"Rizospastis" denounces the plans to transfer US nuclear weapons to Greece, which it characterizes as "playing with fire". At the same time, it reveals that the coalition government of the "left" party SYRIZA and the allegedly "patriotic" ANEL has agreed to provide upgraded services at the naval-airforce base of Souda, after the recent renewal of the agreement with the USA regarding its use. It is also discussing "hosting" US marines from Incirlik.

Applause and respect for Mikis Theodorakis at the KNE-Odigitis Festival

Under the sounds of "Romiosini"- one of Greek music's greatest compositions- and a warm applause thousands of people welcomed Mikis Theodorakis at the KNE-Odigitis festival, yesterday evening at Tritsis Park in Athens. The legendary composer- also a political figure whose activity left its stamp on the Greek left- was welcomed by the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas and the Secretary of the Communist Youth (KNE) Nikos Abatielos.

KKE GS Koutsoumbas: NATO-USA-EU are in no way guarantors of "peace" and "security" in the Balkans

The Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas spoke at a major political event of the 43rd KNE-Odigitis Festival in Thessaloniki.

Source: inter.kke.gr.

The political and cultural events of the 43rd Festival of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) and its newspaper "Odigitis", which this year are dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution.

The three days' of events of KNE's Festival in Thessaloniki were held from the 13th to the 16th of September. At the Festival a major political rally was held, where the GS of the CC of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas spoke and called on the youth "from tomorrow, with the impetus of the successful festival, more workers and young people should come with us on the path for revolutionary change.

KKE GS Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Salamina oil spill: Shipowners and the government bear grave responsibility for the environmental disaster

Commenting on the sinking of "Agia Zoni II" tanker, on Saturday, and the subsequent environmental disaster which threatens major beaches in Athens, the Secretary General of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece Dimitris Koutsoumbas said the following:

"The shipwreck in Salamina, with the huge disaster in caused to the enivornment and the people of Attica, mirrors their (the government's) development. From one side, the timeless governmental prattles about Piraeus as "entrance gate" and "international junction" and, on the other side, very old ships, "floatting coffins" for the workers, damaged professionals and absence of elementary state infrastructure for the protection of Public Health and the Environment. The government and the shipowners bear grave responsibiities and this crime must not remain unpunished".

Statement of the KKE regarding the "dispute" between SYRIZA government and Eldorado Gold

Regarding the "dispute" between the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government and the canadian miner giant Eldorado Gold about the company's investment in northern Greece, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following comment:

"Once more, we are facing the danger of unemployment which is hanging over the workers, proving through this tragic way that neither the workers' rights nor the environment's protection can be permanently safeguarded, through investments by business corporations which the only thing they seek is their biggest possible profitability. 

McDonald's workers on historic strike in Britain - Solidarity with their just struggle

Their solidarity towards the strike of the workers at McDonald's fast food chain in Britain expressed labor-trade unions in Greece and Turkey. 

The Trade union of workers in Catering, Hotels, Tourism of Athens issued a statement expressing its solidarity to their colleagues working to McDonald’s in the UK, who went on strike earlier this week, struggling for better salaries and abolition of the “zero hour contracts”. 

More specifically, the union states:

Thousands of workers raised their voice against Tsipras government's anti-people policies

Thousands of working people, farmers, unemployed, pensioners and students participated in the large demonstration organised by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) which took place in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Saturday evening. The rally was held on the occasion of the inauguration, by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, of the city's International Trade Fair. 

Representatives of Trade Unions and labor organisations delivered short greeting messages, while the major speech was given by the member of the executive committee of PAME and General Secretary of the Thessaloniki Labour Center Leonidas Stoltidis. 

The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, attended the rally and made the following statement to the Press: