Greek government's authoritarianism exceeded all limits: Police brutality hits Aegean islands

In the last two days, the Greek government has unleashed a brutal attack against protesters in the islands of the Aegean, particularly those that have been at the epicenter of the refugee-migrants issue during the last years. 

Demonstrators in Lesvos, Chios and Samos suffered excessive repression and violence by riot police forces as they demanded the end of the concentration camps. The local unions in Lesvos, Chios and Samos, have been in the front line demanding real measures of protection and assistance to the refugees, as well as support to the local communities, who witness their land turn into huge EU’s detention centers.

Dmitry Yazov, last Soviet Marshal who opposed the USSR dissolution, died at 95

Dmitry Yazov, the last appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union, died on Tuesday in Moscow after a long illness. He was 95 years old.

His career extends from the Siege of Leningrad to the formation of the State Committee on the State of Emergency (SCSE, GKChP) which tried to prevent the domination of the counterrevolutionary forces in 1991.

Born in 1924 in the Omsk oblast, Yazov enlisted in the Red Army in 1941 at age 17. During World War II he would be honored for his service on the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts, thus laying the groundwork for his ascension through the ranks of the Soviet military. He participated in the battles of the Siege of Leningrad, in the offensive operations of Soviet troops in the Baltic states, in the blockade of the Courland Pocket. 

Racist crime in Germany: Turkish communists blast bourgeois hypocrisy towards fascism

Some 10,000 people marched in the town of Hanau, Germany, on Sunday as a show of support for the nine victims of a fascist terror attack. The mourners came together to demonstrate solidarity after a man shot nine people dead in the town on Wednesday before apparently killing his mother and himself. 

The 43-year-old assailant, named Tobias R., left rambling texts and videos in which he advocated racist views, called for genocide and claimed to have been under surveillance since birth. 

KKE campaign to honor the 75th anniversary of the Anti-Fascist Victory of the People

On the occasion of the 75 years since the Anti-Fascist People’s Victory, the Party Organisations Abroad of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) organize a series of events that include visits in 75 anti-fascist memorials across Europe. The campaign is titled “1945-2020, 75 years of the Anti-Fascist Victory, 75 Anti-Fascist Memorials, Tribute to the People”.

As 902 portal reports “these events will give us the opportunity to honor the male and female fighters who sacrificed their lives throughout Europe, who were tortured, imprisoned and went into exile. To honor the decisive contribution of the USSR in the Anti-Fascist Victory as well as the undisputed superiority of socialism against capitalism”. 

Greek government's authoritarian attempt to criminalize demonstrations shall not pass

A new draft law, prepared by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government in Greece, threatens to restrict even further workers’ freedoms and rights. 

More specifically, according to information leaked through the pro-governmental newspaper “Kathimerini”, the draft law will include restrictions, prosecutions and even the prohibition of mobilizations, thus creating an environment of state and police repression against the organized workers’ movement. 

Trump not welcome in India: Anti-imperialist, left forces ready to protest during his visit

Indian PM Modi and U.S. President Trump (Archive Photo).

Democratic, peace-loving and anti-imperialist forces in India are ready to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit in the country on February 24-25. 

During a press conference last week, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sitaram Yechury, said that his party will participate in demonstrations during Trump’s visit to the country. 

“May be in Delhi or in Gujarat, the party activists will certainly protest”, Yechury pointed out. 

Venezuela: STOP the persecution of communist trade unionists!

Oil industry trade unionists Yánez and Herrera.

On February 17th, the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) and the National Front of Working Class Struggle (FNLCT) issued a statement denouncing the acts of aggression, repression and police harassment against communist trade unionists in the oil industry. 

More specifically, trade unionists Dolores Herrera and Gustavo Yánez, members of the Oil workers union “Jesús Faría” (CCT-CV), were attacked in their own house by an armed group, being violently evicted and deprived of their personal belongings. 

Which characteristics will socialism have in the 21st century?

Makis Papadopoulos (Archive Photo).

The following text is the transcript of a speech delivered by Makis Papadopoulos, member of the Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), at the "Socialist Future and Planning Symposium" organized by Turkey's Academy of Science and Enlightenment (BAA) between December 6-8 in Ankara. 

Which characteristics will socialism have during the 21st century

By Makis Papadopoulos.

On behalf of the Central Committee of KKE, I would like to thank you for the honourable invitation and to congratulate you for the theme you chose for your conference, a theme which proves that your Party is constantly striving to play its role as a revolutionary vanguard.

Massive strike in Greece: Thousands took the streets against anti-Social Security reforms

Photo: 902.gr.

With powerful strike demonstrations in more than 60 cities across Greece the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and the class movement of the country gave a militant response to the government’s anti-people policy on Social Security and pensions. 

From midnight workers gathered in factories, labour places and production units to prevent possible strikebreaking efforts, while in Athens public transportation was stopped. 

Poland's right-wing government continues the repression against the Communist Party

The persecution against the Communist Party of Poland continues. The trial against the members of the editorial board of the party's newspaper "Brzask" is scheduled to restart. The first court session will be held on the 3rd of March. 

The trial continues for over 4 years despite the acquittal verdict of the court issued last year. The appeal of the prosecutor was a basis for restarting the trial. For the last 4 years, the prosecutors' office is directly subordinated to the government. This trial is a part of a campaign made by the state authorities to illegalize the Communist Party of Poland. 

STOP Defender 2020! Protesters marched in Munich against US-NATO-EU imperialists

Demonstrators in the streets of Munich. Photo: 902.gr.

A large anti-imperialist rally took place in the streets of Munich on Saturday where thousands of protesters gave a powerful response to the U.S-NATO-EU imperialist “hawks” participating at the 56th Munich Security Conference.

Under the slogan “Stop the DEFENDER 2020 exercise! Close down NATO bases in Ramstein, Incirlik, Souda and everywhere”, workers and immigrants, members and supporters of the Communist Parties of Greece (KKE) and Turkey (TKP), marched alongside their comrades from the German Communist Party (DKP). 

German Communist Party (DKP) to hold its 23rd Congress on February 28 to March 1

The city of Frankfurt will host the 23rd Congress of the German Communist Party (DKP), between February 28 and March 1, 2020. 

Under the title “Our battlefields as part of the anti-monopoly strategy”, the DKP leadership has published a draft proposal which consists the framework of the discussion for the 23rd Congress. During the previous months, a series of articles, opinions and views regarding the proposal were published in the weekly newspaper “Unsere Zeit”. 

KKE leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas blasts Greek government's anti-worker policy

“Capitalist development neither is nor can ever be development for all” said the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas during his speech in the Parliament on labour issues. 

Koutsoumbas fired against New Democracy government reforms saying that what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis describes as “Greece of development and prosperity” has absolutely nothing to do with what the workers are experiencing.

Greece: Workers strike against the privatization plans of LARCO Metal Industry

On Tuesday, February 11 started a new strike in Greece’s LARCO Metal Industry. The workers of LARCO Industry went on strike against the announcements of the government to completely privatize LARCO, one of the biggest producers of nickel globally.

The Greek government announced its decision to impose complete privatization of the industry or shut it down. In both cases the victims will be the workers and their families.

Connolly Youth Movement on Irish Elections: The fight for a socialist Ireland continues

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald celebrates
with her supporters in Dublin on February 9, 2020.

The following article, published on the website of the Connolly Youth Movement (CYM) on February 10, provides a concise first assessment of the Irish elections results from a marxist-leninist viewpoint: 

The Meaning of 'Power' in a Post-GE2020 Ireland

As we make our way back to work or college this week, no new dawn falls on Ireland. It still holds dominion status to the interests of finance capitalism, vulture funds and an unregulated banking system backed up by an unregulated and unaccountable parliament.  

European Parliament: Communist MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos slams U.S Mideast plan

Speaking at the Plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos denounced the recent U.S plan for the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

For the same issue, the E.U High Commissioner on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell characterized the plan as “positive” and a “starting point for negotiations”. 

EU migration policy turns Greek islands into prisons for refugees — Statement by KKE

The Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) sharply criticized New Democracy (ND) government’s legislative act which introduces requisition of land and facilities for migration purposes. 

Stelios Petsas, the governmental spokesperson, announced on Monday that the current administration will issue a Legislative Act by which the state will be able to proceed with the requisition of public and private properties where new migrant camps (hotspots) will be constructed.

Cuban revolutionary, Major General Efigenio Ameijeiras Delgado, died at 88

Cuban revolutionary, General Efigenio Ameijeiras Delgado, has died at the age of 88, Granma newspaper reported on Monday 10 February.

Efigenio was born on September 21, 1931, in Chaparra, Oriente Region, Cuba.

From an early age he identified with the youth of the July 26 Movement, actively participating in actions against the dictatorial regime of Fulgencio Batista. Following his persecution by the Batista regime he traveled to Mexico, where he joined the preparations of Fidel Castro's revolutionary group. 

PAME calls for strike on February 18th against ND government's Social Security reforms

A nationwide General Strike in both state and private sector has been announced by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) for February 18th, as a response to the anti-people reforms of the Greek government on Social Security and Pensions. 

In a statement addressed to workers, pensioners, farmers, self-employed people and students, PAME calls for mass participation in February 18th’s strike. 

“Social Security has to do with our lives. The unacceptable anti-Social Security draft law must be withdrawn!” is the headline of the call which reads:

International Anti-Imperialist Conference to be held on March 28-29 in Cyprus

The World Peace Council (WPC), the Cyprus Peace Council and the Coalition Against U.S. Military Bases organize an International Anti-Imperialist Conference which will be held on March 28-29, 2020 in Larnaca, Cyprus. 

The call for the Conference is the following:

Since the dismantling of the USSR and the Socialist Camp in Eastern Europe, and the emergence of the so-called “Unipolar World,” U.S. imperialism and its EU and NATO allies have embarked on a global project of “Full-Spectrum Dominance” with the objective of complete domination of the whole globe.

Ireland Elections: A Communist Viewpoint

Today, Saturday 8 February 2020, it's election day in Ireland. Voters are going to the polls after a tumultuous general election campaign. On this occasion we republish an article from the latest issue of Socialist Voice, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Ireland. 

There are no shortcuts

by Eugene McCartan

Elections come and go; but there are no shortcuts for what our class needs to secure.

Deal of the Century? Communist and Workers' parties condemn Trump's plan on Palestine

Communist and Workers' Parties from across the world condemn the recently announced U.S. government's "peace plan" for the Middle East which has been described as the "Deal of the Century". 

The plan was presented by U.S. President Donald Trump during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on January 28th.