Iran-Turkey: "The alternative to the mullahs and imams doesn't have to be the Yankee" (Kemal Okuyan)

Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey and soL columnist, wrote on the political situation in Iran and Turkey on the occasion of the New Year.

How did Iran and Turkey enter the New Year?

We've entered the New Year. It was a New Year's on which the political power terrorised the country saying "don't enter the New Year; enter your home", some caricatural characters kept watch on the roofs to beat up Father Christmas, the minimum wage that is kept at a certain level dooming the people to poverty was praised to the skies, and it was announced that a little more "poison" was to be added into ethyl alcohol to prevent alcohol production at home.

PAME denounces the persecution of palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi by the state of Israel

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, 16.

The Youth Secretariat of the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) denounces the murderer-state of Israel, which, once again revealed its barbarous face by arresting and imprisoning young children simply because they are defending their homes.

The arrest and charging with 12 accusations against 16-year-old Palestinian Ahed Tamimi, from an Israeli military court, is one more proof for all those who, together with the USA and Israel, talk about "Democracy and Freedom," and imposing their "right" with military courts, imprisonment and murder of young children. 

It is a proof against the SYRIZA-ANEL government, which speaks of Peace and stability in the region, and builds relations with murderer states like Israel, which imprisons and murders young children, while the SYRIZA-ANEL Government continues to refrain from recognizing the Palestinian state.

Iran Protests: Statement of the CC of the Tudeh Party of Iran on recent developments

On the occasion of the recent mass protests in Iran, the Central Committee of the Tudeh Party (حزب تودۀ ایران‎) issued the following statement:

Behind Hollywood's glamour: Shocking images of poverty and homelessness in downtown Los Angeles

Tents of homeless people in
downtown Los Angeles, California.

Capitalism Exposed in L.A.

What lies behind the glamorous showcase of the United States' second largest city? 

Rubbish bags piled up by the pavements and littered across streets. Tents erected in clusters where people have camped down for the night. Dozens of directionless residents congregating by the roadside and wandering into the road. 

This is what Christmas Day looked like for thousands of homeless people in the dark and dingy underbelly of Downtown Los Angeles this year.  

United Nations: Major diplomatic defeat for the U.S. government - 128 countries rejected Trump's decision on Jerusalem

Cartoon: Carlos Latuff.

More than 120 countries defied President Donald Trump on Thursday and voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. More specifically, in favor of the UNGA resolution voted 128 countries, 9 countries voted against and 35 countries abstained. 

"[The resolution] Affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void," the document said. The document also calls upon UN members to "refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem".

United States of America: The World Champion of Extreme Inequality (UN Special Report)

Source: Telesur / UNHCR Report.

"Today's United States has proved itself exceptional in ways shockingly at odds with its immense wealth and its founding commitment to human rights," the United Nations reports.

The United States – one of the world's richest and most powerful countries – is being transformed by President Donald Trump and his Republican Congress into the "world champion of inequality," according to a scathing new report by the United Nations' monitor on extreme poverty and human rights.

Palestinian People’s Party - Communist Party of Israel: Joint Call against Trump's policy on Jerusalem

The Palestinian People’s Party (PPP) and the Communist Party of Israel (CPI) severely condemn US President Donald Trump’s December 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision which is both a blatant attack on the rights of the Palestinian people and a significant blow to the requirements for a just peace based on UN resolutions adopted by most countries and the overwhelming majority of peoples worldwide.

The US policy supporting Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories since 1967 can only lead to a resurgence of chaos and instability throughout the region and the world. The newly announced American policy regarding Jerusalem assures that the United States will continue to remain part of the problem, rather than serve as a positive factor in achieving a solution. There is no solution to the conflict other than ending the Israeli occupation and fulfilling the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination by establishing an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital and resolving the refugee issue in accord with UN General Assembly resolution 194.

EU Parliament awards the 2017 Sakharov Prize to the reactionary right-wing Venezuelan opposition

The reactionary, pro-U.S. opposition of Venezuela has been awarded by the EU Parliament with the Sahkarov Prize 2017. On the occasion of this shameful and outrageous act, the Communist Party of Greece group in the Europarliament made the following comments:

The European Parliament group of the KKE condemns the provocative act of the European Parliament to award the so-called Sakharov Prize to the reactionary opposition of Venezuela, the antigovernmental protests of which express sections of the capital with powerful relations with the USA and the EU, thus promoting the imperialist plans to this country and the broader region.

Common Appeal of Communist and Workers’ Parties in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against the unacceptable position of President Trump

The Communist and Workers’ parties that sign this common appeal:

1. Strongly condemn the unacceptable position of the President of the USA, D. Trump, through which the USA recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

2. This decision strongly undermines the just struggle of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation, for the creation and recognition of a Palestine State at the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Moreover, this decision, which constitutes a dangerous provocation against the peoples of the Middle East, is moving towards the direction of a more general conflagration in the region in order to satisfy the US imperialist plans. 

When Donald Trump Falsifies History

A response to U.S. President Trump's blatant falsification of historical events.

By Nikos Mottas.

Donald Trump seems to have his own version of history. A version that falsifies completely the real historical events. The tycoon- turned President of the USA- decided to demonstrate his ignorance (or, perhaps, ability to distort history) during a Republican Party's rally in Pensacola, Florida on December 8th. 

What did Trump say? Among others, the U.S. President said the following: “We are the nation that dug out the Panama Canal, won two world wars, put a man on the moon and brought communism to its knees".

Condemn U.S. decision on Jerusalem: Statements by Communist and Workers Parties across the world

The recent decision of the U.S. Trump administration to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of the state of Israel has sparked outrage across the world. Israeli and Palestinian communist and left parties have denounced Trump's decision, while the Communist Party of Greece stated that the decision "adds fuel to the fire" to "burn" the perspective of a Palestinian state. Below, you can read announcements by various Communist and Workers Parties:

Communist Youth: Mass demonstration in Athens in solidarity with the Palestinian people

A strong message of solidarity with the Palestinian people and against the recent decision of the U.S. to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital was given by thousands of young people, members and friends of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) who demonstrated in downtown Athens on Friday afternoon. 

The protesters gathered at Propylaia and marched towards the U.S. Embassy, shouting slogans such as "Freedom to Palestine" and "Americans, murderers of the peoples". 

The KKE condemns Trump government's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city

Regarding the announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city, the Press Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following statement of condemnation:

"The decision of the USA to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital shows the cynicism with which american imperialism actively participates in the crime that is being committed against the people of Palestine by Israel and its allies, primarily the USA, as well as the EU. The later, not only deepens constantly her relations with Israel, but also indentifies the perpetrator and the victim, proclaiming as "terrorism" the righteous struggle of the people of Palestine.

European Communist Initiative: On the intensification of the militarization and aggressiveness of the EU

Statement by the Parties of the European Communist Initiative:

The EU, the NATO and the bourgeois governments of their member-states are engaged in an escalating arms race and in the development of military plans and preparations, which pose a serious danger for the peoples.

These developments reflect the contradictions among the governments within the EU and NATO as well as their contradictions with other imperialist centers and rival powers which are focused on the control of hydrocarbons and energy pipelines in the Middle East, in Northern Africa, in Eastern Mediterranean and other regions. 

The USA, European Union and Ukraine denied to condemn Nazism at the UN General Assembly

Hiding behind the pretext of "freedom of speech", the United States- accompanied by Ukraine- voted against a resolution condemning the glorification of Nazism introduced to the Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly by the Russian Federation. 

The resolution was approved by a recorded vote of 125 in favor to 2 against, with 51 abstentions. 

Among the abstentions are the countries of the European Union (including Greece), Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Turkey and Libya. 

California: Communists to celebrate the 100 years of the October Revolution in Los Angeles

An event in honour of the 100 years since the Great October Socialist Revolution has been scheduled to take place on Saturday 18th November in Los Angeles, California. Below you can read the details about the event:

Communist Party of Greece: Strongly condemns EU's sanctions against Venezuela

The Press Office of the Central Committee of the KKE issued a statement on the sanctions adopted by the European Union against Venezuela. The statement is as follows:

"The KKE denounces the unacceptable decision of the EU Foreign Ministers to impose economic sanctions on Venezuela. This decision is directed against the people of Venezuela and demonstrates once again the antipopular-reactionary character of the European Union, as well as the tactic of interfering in the internal affairs of other states, which has often taken a form of intervention, even with military means.

Capitalism Doomed: Most young people in the USA prefer Socialism or Communism over Capitalism

According to a poll, carried out by the international polling firm YouGov between September-October 2017, 51% of the Americans between the ages of 21 and 29, defined in the report as "millennials", would prefer to live in a socialist or communist country over a capitalist one. 

The majority of young people- 56%- also said that they wouldn't be offended if someone accused them of being a communist. A similar percentage (53%) of the same age group reported that they feel that the US economic system is working against them.

From Souda to Alexandroupolis: Tsipras' government transforms Greece into a huge US-NATO base

The U.S. ambassador in Greece Geoffrey Pyatt made some quite revealing remarks about the interest of the United States regarding the strategic role of Greek ports and maritime industry, during a speech at the 17th Navigator Maritime Forum. 

Here is part of the report by the Athens News Agency-Macedonian News Agency (bold letters are ours):

Commenting on Prime Minister Tsipras' recent visit to Chicago and Washington, he said it strengthened Greek-U.S. ties and that "the message Americans heard throughout the visit, at the very highest levels, was that Greece is back, open for business and a pillar of stability in its region." 

UN General Assembly: Another victory for the Cuban people against the U.S. blockade #NoMasBloqueo

The U.N. General Assembly has voted 191 to 2 for the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Cuba as the United States and Israel were the only countries to vote against the resolution. Delegate after delegate called for the end of the blockade, highlighting the progressive and positive role Cuba plays in the international community. 

Before the General Assembly, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated that the policy, which has been imposed for over 50 years by Washington, constitutes a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of the human rights of Cubans.