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.

Paraguayan Communist Party to hold its 9th Congress

In a statement addressed to the Parties and Movements Communists and Workers of the world, the International Relations Commission of the Paraguayan Communist Party (PCP) points out:

"With deep internationalist fervor, we inform that this June 12 and 13 we will be holding the 9th Congress of the Paraguayan Communist Party, under the slogan "Broad and deep unity for socialism."

Protests in Greece: Hands Off the 8-Hour Working Day!

With mass rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki and other major Greek cities on Thursday, thousands of working class people expressed their strong opposition to the government's anti-labour draft law.

Under the slogan “the monstrous draft law must be abolished – hands off the 8-hour working day”, a large demonstration took place in downtown Athens, being the prelude of the nationwide strike that will be held on June 10th. 

Turkey: 8th anniversary of the Gezi Park protests

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) made a statement on the 8th anniversary of the civil resistance that started in Taksim’s Gezi Park in June 2013.

Stating that the June Resistance was a people's movement in which secular and patriotic sensibilities were determinant from beginning to end, TKP drew attention to the fact that the hope and confidence that the people aroused through this resistance were tried to be extinguished in the halls of order politics.

Greek communist mayor declares US ambassador unwelcome

Kostas Peletidis, the communist mayor of Patras, Greece's third largest city, has once again expressed his firm anti-imperialist stance by declaring the U.S. ambassador as “persona non grata”. 

U.S. ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt has been invited by a local newspaper to participate in a conference that will be held on June 3rd. Peletidis, a Communist Party (KKE) member  who has been mayor since 2014, issued a statement saying that the presence of Pyatt in Patras consists a “provocation” that insults the people's peaceful sentiments.

Canada's Communist Party marked its 100th anniversary

On May 28th, the Communist Party of Canada marked its 100th anniversary. Being the second oldest active party in the country, the Communist Party was part of the Comintern (1921-1943) and since 1998 it participates in the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP). 

In its editorial titled "May 28 - a day for all workers to celebrate", the Party's newspaper "People's Voice" points out: 

Biden follows Trump's criminal policy against Cuba

Five months after the governmental change in the United States and the Biden administration maintains the genocidal economic, financial and trade blockade against Cuba. Despite all challenges, Cuba has produced five vaccines that will soon be used in a mass vaccination of their people. 

Apart from the blockade, the Biden administration continues the criminal and shameful policy of its predecessor over the so-called "terrorism-sponsor" accusations against Cuba. 

Large KKE rallies in Greece sent militant message of struggle

A powerful and militant message against the anti-labour policies of the government was sent by thousands of people who participated in the political rallies organized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in Athens, Thessaloniki and other major cities on Thusrday afternoon.

In Athens' Syntagma Square, thousands of workers, men and women, self-employed and unemployed people, young students and pensioners, joined their voices against the monstrous anti-labour draft law prepared by the conservative ND government. Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the KKE, delivered a speech, sending the message: “We refuse to become slaves in the 21st century! The monstrous anti-labour law must not be submitted!”.