Interview with the Communist Party (Italy)

Special interview with Guido Ricci, member of the Political Bureau and head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Italy (Partito Comunista). 

IDC: Taking into account the existing difficulties and the political correlation of forces, how do you evaluate the result of the March elections for the Communist Party, Italy? Did you achieve the basic objectives you had set before the elections?

PC: As you know, our Party does not consider elections and the parliamentary activity as the only possible form of struggle. According to the teachings of Lenin and Gramsci, the presence in the bourgeois parliament must be used to develop the work outside and against it. We approached these elections as an opportunity to verify our Party's mobilization ability, improve our organizational skills and attract new militants. We considered the elections as a means of making the party grow. Actually, a considerable number of workers and young people came into contact with the Party during the signatures drive and the election campaign. New party organizations have been established and the existing ones have been strengthened thanks to new comrades joining them.

CP of Bangladesh: Denounces and protests the arrest of garment workers leaders

Seven leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Garment Worker Trade Union (GWTUC) were sent to jail on 1^st April, 2018 afternoon when they surrendered at CMM court, Dhaka, after finishing the bail period granted by the High Court, related to a case filed by the association of garments factory owners.

Arrested leaders are, central secretariat member of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and General Secretary of Garment Worker Trade Union Center (GWTUC) comrade Joly Talukder, central committee member of CPB and GWTUC comrade Sadekur Rahman Shamim, Organising Secretary of GWTUC comrade K.M. Mintu, International Affairs Secretary of GWTUC Monzur Moin, General Secretary of the Gazipur District GWTUC Jalal Hawlader, Executive President of the Ashulia Reagion GWTUC Lutfar Rahman Akash, Organizing Secretary of the Ashulia Region GWTUC Mohammad Shahjahan. 

Greek and Turkish workers united against imperialism: PAME expresses solidarity to Turkey's working class

In a statement, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) expresses the solidarity and support of the class trade-unionist movement in Greece towards the Turkish working class and youth in their struggle against imperialism and authoritarianism. 

More specifically, the statement of PAME writes:

"The class movement of Greece denounces the intensified repression with attacks and imprisonments of young militants, students who mobilize against the imperialist interventions and wars. We especially denounce the arrest of 22 students at Istanbul University who were campaigning against NATO and we demand the immediate withdrawal of all accusations against them. 

European Communist Meeting to take place on April 11th in Brussels

A European Communist Meeting will be held in Brussels, on Wednesday 11th April 2018, organized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MEP Kostas Papadakis, non-attached EU Parliament member. 

The Meeting's subject is: "The struggle of the class-based labor movement against the EU for the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of socialism". 

63 years ago: EOKA's nationalists begin the armed struggle in Cyprus

Members of EOKA in Troodos mountain. Third
from the right is Georgios Grivas (sitting).

It was the 1st of April 1955, 63 years ago, when the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters, known by the acronym EOKA, began its armed guerrilla struggle aiming at the union of Cyprus with Greece. 

EOKA was a nationalist, deeply anticommunist organisation. The plans for its creation had already began in 1950, with the active support of the Greek bourgeois class and the consent of Archbishop Makarios. The organisation's leader was the notorious nationalist, known for his anticommunist sentiments, Georgios Grivas. 

It is characteristic that during the Nazi occupation of Greece in 1940s, Grivas had founded and led the "X" far-right guerrilla organisation, which was mainly made up by officers of the bourgeois Greek army. During the December 1944 events in Athens, members of the "X organisation fought alongside Greek bourgeois forces and British imperialists against the EAM-ELAS popular movement. 

Turkey: Erdogan's regime and capitalists intensify their attack on workers' rights

While President Tayyip Erdogan and members of his AKP government escalate the dangerous and provocative ultra-nationalist rhetoric on foreign affairs, inside Turkey the working people are facing an increasing attack on their rights. 

Despite the governmental proclamations about Turkey's "economic development", the workers and popular strata of the country are struggling hard for decent employment, stable wages and labor with rights.

The news portal soL international has lately published some developments which are indicative of what is taking place in workers' daily struggle in Turkey. 

PAME denounces the murders of Palestinian protesters by Israeli forces in Gaza

In a press release issued on Friday, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) expresses its support and solidarity with the Palestinian people and the events it organizes for the Day of the Palestinian Land.

"We denounce the continuing murders of Palestinian protesters in Gaza by the murderer-state of Israel.

Israel's escalating aggression against the Palestinian mobilizations, resulting in a large number of deaths, is based on the provocative support it enjoys from US-NATO-EU, as well as governments like the SYRIZA-ANEL Government of Greece.

SYRIZA "democracy": Greek police fires tear gas against rallying students and teachers

Once again, Greek riot police responded with chemicals and flashbang grenades against demonstrators in the center of Athens. 

This time, police forces tried to disperse the rallying teachers and students by using violence and tear gas, once the demonstration arrived in the police blockade, a few metres away from the Prime Minister's office. 

Thousands teachers of primary and secondary education, as well as students, rallied in the Greek capital demanding their vested labor rights. The demonstrators marched peacefully throughout downtown Athens, while the government had deployed heavy police forces close to PM's Maximos Mansion. 

Communist Party of India (Marxist) to hold its 22nd Congress between 18-24 April

The 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will take place from 18th to 24th of April 2019 at Hyderabad. Approximately 765 delegates will participate in the five-day session that will determine the party's political line for the next three years. 

You can read the Draft Political Resolution for the 22nd Congress of the CPIM, adopted by the Central Committee meeting last January, in Kolkata.

A few days later, between 25 and 29th of April, the Communist Party of India (CPI) will hold its 23rd Congress, at the city of Kollam in Kerala.

Elissaios Vagenas: "Greece must not become a “launching pad” for the imperialist wars of the USA and NATO"

In the recent period, the SYRIZA-ANEL government has granted new military bases to the USA and NATO, while it is participating in all of the military operations and police missions of NATO and the EU. Concerning the position of the KKE on the issue of the bases, Elissaios Vagenas, member of the CC and head of the International Relations Department of the CC of the KKE made the following statement in the newspaper “Russian Gazette”.

“We have repeatedly condemned and we continue to condemn the granting of military bases, such as the huge naval and air force base of Souda, and other infrastructure for the military operations of the USA and NATO in the Eastern Mediterranean, in North Africa, in the Balkans, the Black Sea and in other regions.” – stated the head of the International Relations Department of the Central Committee of the KKE, Elissaios Vagenas.

Greek police fired tear gas to demonstrators during Tsipras' speech in Thessaloniki

How did the government of SYRIZA respond to the thousands of workers, farmers, trade unions' members organized with PAME, students and other people who demonstrated against its antipeople-antiworkers policies in Thessaloniki? By ordering riot police to fire tear gas to protesters who wanted to express their disagreement with the "development fiestas" of Mr.Tsipras and his government!

More specifically, when the trade union's rally arrived at the area of the venue where the Prime Minister would deliver a speech, met strong police forces who had blocked the street. 

SACP: The Significance of the 1917 October Revolution for South Africa (19th IMCWP)

Contribution of the South African Communist Party (SACP) at the 19th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, held in Leningrad (St.Peterburg), 2-4 November 2017.

The Significance of the Russian Revolution for South Africa

Erdogan's AK Party members attack young communists in Istanbul

Another violent attack against communists has been occurred in Turkey, as soL international reports, with members of Erdogan's ruling AK Party attacking members of the Communist Youth who were distributing anti-imperialist leaftlets in Istanbul.

More specifically, two members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) attacked on March 27 the members of the Communist Youth of Turkey (TKG) who distributed anti-imperialist and anti-NATO leaflets in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district.

The Communist Youth members, affiliated with the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), were distributing leaflets, reading, 'Those who don't target imperialism cannot defeat imperialists' in front of a high school in Istanbul. Meanwhile, hanging a banner of the ruling party, two unidentified members from the AKP attacked the communists.