Delegation of the European Communist Initiative on a three-day visit to Palestine

Members of the delegation met with Palestinian deputies.
(Photo: 902.gr)

A delegation of the INITIATIVE of Communist and Workers Parties is on a three-day solidarity visit to the Palestinian territories, in order to express its solidarity to the just struggle of the Palestinian people. 

The delegation is comprised by Sotiris Zarianopoulos, MEP of Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Lefteris Nikolaou, member of the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE, as well as representatives from the Communist Party, Italy (Partito Comunista) and the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE).

Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain: "Multiply the struggles, advance towards a country for the working class"

In a statement issued on March 12th, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) refers to the recent popular mobilisations in Spain. 

Given the concurrence of an increase in the will to struggle of the working class during such a period of political instability, PCPE states that "different sectors of the working people are demanding the recovery of their rights and are leading a rebound of the class struggle." 

Italy: USB Trade Union denounces French multinational retailer Leroy Merlin

LEROY MERLIN, A MULTINATIONAL FOUNDED ON EXPLOITATION

The large French multinational Leroy Merlin, with its own shops and facilities all over the world, uses the “caporalato” for the recruitment of employees in the warehouse of the logistic pole of Castel San Giovanni in the province of Piacenza.

The 420 workers are not directly employed by the multinational corporations, but through a system of “coop-eratives” operating as real intermediaries of job and which are enriched by subtracting wages and rights from “their” workers.

Communiqué of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on March 16 & 17, 2018. IT has issued the following statement:

Maharashtra Kisan Struggle

The Polit Bureau congratulated the kisans of Maharashtra for the success that they achieved in their struggle for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, remunerative prices and pension; loan waiver for the indebted farmers etc.

The Long March of the kisans under the leadership of the All India Kisan Sabha that began from Nasik on March 6 and culminated in Mumbai on March 12 was a huge success. While the march began with around 25,000, by the time it reached Mumbai six days later its ranks had swelled to 50,000 plus.

KKE: The "Iniochos 2018" multinational military exercise consists a "war rehearsal"

In a statement regarding the multinational air force exercise "Iniochos 2018" in Greece, the Press Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece points out the following:

"The multinational exercise "Iniochos 2018", with the participation of a large number of forces from the USA, Britain, Italy, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, is conducted neither for the strengthening of the defense nor for the protection of the country's sovereign rights, but consists a "war rehearsal". Such exercises test in practice the operational plans schemed by the imperialist powers, aiming at the pillaging of the resources of the region and the control of their transportation's routes, bloodsheding and uprooting the people, like in Syria. Besides, for that reason the US ambassador G.Pyatt has been invited to attend the exercise.

Communist Party of Greece: Statement about the capture of Afrin by Turkish forces

Regarding the developments in northern Syria and the capture of Afrin city by Turkish military forces, the Press Office of the CC of the KKE issued the following statement:

"The capture of Afrin city in northern Syria is another dangerous link in the chain of imperialist competitions and Turkey's aggressiveness, which with already two military operations and the utilization of mercenaries of the "Free Syrian Army" occupies syrian territory and promotes plan of the country's partition.

KNE sends message of solidarity to TKG: "Hands off the Communist Youth of Turkey"!

Regarding the recent attack of fascists against members of the Communist Youth of Turkey (Türkiye Komünist Gençliği-TKG) who were distributing anti-NATO leaflets at Istanbul University's Beyazit campus and the subsequent arrest of comrades by the police, the Central Council of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) issued a statement of solidarity towards TKG.

Among other things, the statement highlights the political activity of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and its youth (TKG) in universities and schools "despite the continuing surveillance of its members by security forces and the police". 

Greece faces the risk of direct engagement in a war, KKE's General Secretary warns

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece, has expressed his deep concern about the danger of Greece's direct engagement in a war, during an interview with the newspaper “Ethnos” on Sunday. Koutsoumbas accusses the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government for cultivating an environment of complacency regarding Turkey's escalated aggression.

Responding to those who repeat the argument that Greece's membership in NATO consists a “factor of security”, the KKE Gen. Secretary reminds that NATO and the EU are responsible for border changes in the region since 1990s, always through wars and with the people's blood.

Russian Elections: Putin will prevail - No candidate challenges capitalist barbarity

Today is elections day in Russia and two things are absolutely certain: 1. Vladimir Putin will be easily re-elected President and 2. None of the presidential candidates challenges the capitalist way of production. 

According to the latest polls, Mr.Putin is going to be re-elected with a high percentage, 57-70% of the votes. In the elections of 2012 he was elected with 63,6% of the votes. 

Putin is the undisputed winner of the elections. His rivals include the candidate of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), businessman Pavel Grudinin, the veteran ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, the former reality show tv host Ksenia Sobchak (Civil Initiative), Grigory Yavlinsky of the centre-right Yabloko, Boris Titov of the "Party of Growth", Sergey Baburin (Russian All-Peoples Union) and Maxim Suraykin (Communists of Russia). 

Tragedy: At least 16 dead after migrant boat sinks in eastern Aegean - Statement by the Communist Party of Greece

Archive Photo.

Sixteen people, including at least five children, drowned earlier on Saturday when the small boat they were travelling on capsized near the island of Agathonisi, in eastern Aegean Sea. 

The nationality of the victims was not immediately known. The incident was thought to be the highest death toll of migrants trying to reach outlying Greek islands for months. 

Three people — two women and a man — managed to reach the coast and alert authorities to the boat sinking. The three told authorities they had been in a wooden boat carrying an estimated 21 people which sank, for reasons that were not immediately clear. 

The Communist Party of Turkey demands: "Leave NATO, close down Incirlik base!"

A campaign of collecting signatures against NATO has been launched by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), demanding Turkey's disengagement from the imperialist North Atlantic alliance and the closure of the Incirlik military base. 

Members of the Communist Party have already started the effort to reach as many people as possible, distributing the party newspaper "Boyun Egme" in the streets. 

In a statement, TKP strongly condemns the policy of Erdogan's AKP government, writing among other things: "The reactionary capitalist class and the AKP government have no other purpose than to find a new role in the imperialist order and continue on the same path as a desirable partner".

Communist Party of Slovakia: Statements on the current political situation

After the destabilisation of the Slovakian political scene and mass protests following the murder of journalist Jana Kuciak and his partner, the Communist Party of Slovakia issued statements analysing the current situtation. On 9 March, in an open letter addressing the Prime Minister from the Smer-SD social democrat party, KSS declared that from the very beginning the social events triggered by the murder were a well-thought-out attack of the opposition as a coup attempt against the results of parliamentary elections of 2016. It said ‘We clearly see that many non-governmental organizations as well as media serving the interests of foreign owners actively support this goal.’

KKE in Stockholm: Event in honor of the Democratic Army of Greece on March 18th

On the occasion of the Communist Party of Greece's 100 years, the Party Organisation in Stockholm, Sweden organises an event in honor of the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE), the heroic guerrilla army which fought during the 1946-1949 Civil War. 

The event includes the screening of the documentary "What if Grammos fell, we shall win", produced by the CC of the KKE about the Democratic Army, as well as an award ceremony for fighters of the DSE. 

Britain: Leaders of fascist party jailed for aggravated racist harassment

Fransen and Golding.

Paul Golding, the leader of the extreme right-wing and racist organisation Britain First, and his partner and deputy leader Jayda Fransen, were found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment last week and jailed at Folkestone magistrates’ court. 

The pair were arrested over the distribution of leaflets and posting of online videos during a gang-rape trial. 

Fransen was convicted of three counts of religiously aggravated harassment. Golding was found guilty of one charge. Fransen was handed a 36-week sentence and Golding 18 weeks. 

Cuba: A real champion in the protection and promotion of children's rights

Cuba is a global leader in the protection and promotion of children’s rights, according to Unicef regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean María Cristina Perceval.

During a forum recently held in Managua on children’s rights, Perceval spoke to Prensa Latina about Cuba’s achievements in this field.

The island has the Educa a tu hijo (Educate Your Child) program, and an early infant development model that has been implemented in other countries, noted Perceval.

The World Peace Council visits Damascus, expresses solidarity with the Syrian people

The World Peace Council delegation's visit to Damascus, Syria, was completed successfully from 1 to 5 March. At the invitation of the Syrian National Peace Council (member of the WPC Secretariat), a delegation composed of Iraklis Tsavdaridis, Executive Secretary of the WPC and Akel Takaz and Jamil Safieh, chairpersons of the Peace and Solidarity Committees of Palestine and Lebanon respectively, visited Damascus for meetings with political and social organizations of the country and the people who are facing seven years the imperialist interventions as a ground for the tough competition of imperialists and their allies, with dozens of armed extremist religious groups.

Stephen Hawking against capitalism

"If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality."

- Stephen Hawking (1942-2018),

on Reddit Journal of Science, Oct. 2015.

KKE European Parliament group: Statement about the Greek soldiers detained by Turkey

In a statement regarding the two Greek soldiers who remain detained at Edirne prison in Turkey, the European Parliament group of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) writes the following:

"On the occasion of the effort to utilize, for the creation of impressions, various general and unspecified statements of EU officials regarding the arrest and several-day detention of the two Greek soldiers in Turkish prisons, the Europarliament group of the KKE stresses that, from the very first  time, the KKE denounced their detention and demanded their immediate release. This development consists part of the escalation of Turkish aggressiveness.

Jerónimo de Sousa- Speech at "Bicentennial of the birth of Karl Marx" Conference

Speech by Jerónimo de Sousa, General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) at the opening of the conference "Bicentennial of the birth of Karl Marx- Legacy, Intervention, Struggle, Transform the World" which was held in Lisbon on February 24th 2018. 

With this conference, we begin the commemorations of the bicentennial of the birth of Karl Marx, which will take place throughout 2018, under the theme «Legacy, Intervention, Struggle. Transform the World».

Greek Communist Youth: Protest outside the Israeli embassy, in solidarity with Palestine

Photo: 902.gr.

Holding banners with messages of solidarity towards the Palestinian people and red flags, numerous members and friends of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) participated yesterday in a protest outside the embassy of Israel in Athens.

With slogans such as "Freedom to Palestine", "People aren't terrorists, Israelis out of Gaza" and "Solidarity with the struggle of  the people, down with the capitalists' authority", the demonstrators gathered outside the embassy and condemned the continuous crime of USA-NATO-Israel against the people of Palestine, the hypocritical stance of the EU which actually equates the victim with the perpetrator, as well as the recent decision by the US government to recognize Jerusalem as "Israel's capital". 

Joke of the year: Erdogan will receive a.... "peace award"!

This could be, without doubt, the best joke of the year. According to a soL international report, the International Pediatric Association (IPA) announced on March 11 that it would give the ‘International Peace Award’ to Turkey’s warmongering President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for helping refugee children! 

The award came after the IPA officials visited the refugee camps in Turkey. Announcing the IPA decision, Kerem Hasanoğlu, the head of the association’s external relations department, said that the association decided to award Erdoğan for his government’s role in the services regarding the refugee children.

Statement of the KKE about the incidents in the PAOK vs AEK football match

Regarding yesterday's incidents and interruption of the football game between PAOK and AEK in Thessaloniki, the Press Office of the CC of the KKE issued the following statement:

"Yesterday's images in PAOK's stadium consist the mirror of the decay of football and big businessmen. What if the laws became stricter, what if foreign supervisors of UEFA came, what if the Greek Football Federation changed, what if professional judges were appointed? What remains is the "football" of the big businessmen who, under the tolerance and support of all governments - including the current one- play their own political and economic games on the backs of the teams and (football) fans. That is why the situation not only does not improve, but goes from bad to worse.

Joseph Stalin: 65 years since his death

By Nikos Mottas.

Sixty-five years have been passed since the 5^th March 1953 and the bourgeois in all over the world still tremble before his name. For the fascists and neo-Nazis, his image creates nightmares. The various opportunists, trotskyites and counterrevolutionaries still try to conjure him with tons of lies and slanders.

More than six decades since the death of Joseph Stalin, the slanderous campaign against his legacy continues unabated. The anti-stalinist slanderers have used every single kind of defamation in order to tarnish the personality of Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili: From the ungrounded fairytales of the Nazi sympathizer Solzhenitsyn to the fabricated, anti-communist stories of the so-called “Ukrainian famine”, the (committed by the Nazis) Katyn massacre, the supposed millions of executed prisoners in the notorious Gulags, etc.

Union de la Jeunesse Communiste (UJC): The potential for France's communist youth

The Communist Youth Union (Union de la Jeunesse Communiste- UJC) is the youth wing of the Revolutionary Communist Party of France (PCRF). The text below is an interview published on international communist press:

ICP: On the centenary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, it has become more and more important to understand well the necessity and role of the communist youth both in the struggle for the rights of the youth and in the working class struggle. How do you consider the potential that communist youth can reveal today in an imperialist country like France?