Hagia Sophia: Turkish and Greek communists condemn its conversion into a mosque

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's decision to sign a decree which converts Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, a World Heritage Monument, into a mosque has provoked negative reactions. 

In a statement issued today, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) condemns the decision, stating that the conflict is not between Christianity and Islam, but between reactionalism and secularism. TKP also calls the world's communists to denounce Erdogan's decision and the bourgeois reactionary mindset behind it, which obscures the future of Turkey’s working class. 

Greece: Huge rallies against ND government's bill which aims to restrict and prohibit protests

“The prohibition of demonstrations will not be implemented” was the message sent to the government by thousands of protesters throughout Greece who participated in massive rallies against the new law which aims to restrict demonstrations and public gatherings. 

In Athens’ Syntagma Square, outside the Greek Parliament, Trade Unions, Students Unions and various organizations of the workers’ movement gave a militant response to the government’s authoritarian bill.

Communist Party of Mexico: Obrador's "nueva normalidad" protects the monopolies' interests

Statement by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) on the political developments in the country and AMLO government's policies:

The “new normal” has meant more risks and greater exploitation for the working class

One month after the start of the “new normal” was announced, amid a high degree of virus spread;  without having contained the pandemic or reduced its spread, it is necessary to take stock of what it has meant for the working class.

Five years since the 2015 Greek referendum — The stance of the KKE was totally vindicated

By Nikos Mottas.

The 5th of July marked the fifth anniversary since the bailout referendum in Greece. The 2015 Greek referendum, a milestone event in the four year governmental term of SYRIZA coalition government, is one of the biggest political frauds in post-1974 Greek history. 

In the referendum, the Greek people were asked to choose whether or not they agree with the bailout conditions proposed by the so-called “Troika”, the EU Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank (1). The outcome was a triumph of the “No” vote with 61.31%, contrary to 38.69% of “Yes”. 

Spain: PCTE communists ready for Galicia and Basque Country regional elections

On  the occasion of the upcoming regional elections in the northern Spanish provinces of Galicia and the Basque Country (Euskadi), the International Department of the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) issued the following statement:

Next Sunday, July 12 there are elections in Spain held in the territories of Galicia and Euskadi, previously canceled because of the situation generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. In spite of this recent health crisis, the governments of both territories have decided to restart the election, even though they are quite aware of the difficulties in a background like the current one. It is an electoral appointment that will group large masses in front of the doors of the polling stations, where the health of the whole population should be assured without any exception. 

Internatonal Communist Bulletin #5 2020

Week #5, July 2020

Indian Railways Privatisation: The Communist Parties condemn BJP government's policy

In a statement regarding Modi government's plan for the privatisation of Indian Railways, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) points out:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly opposes the decision for privatisation of the Indian Railways particularly the running of passenger trains by private investors over the Indian Railways network. This is the first time that this is happening in independent India. 

KKE and PAME call for mass popular uprising against government's bill on demonstrations

In a statement regarding Greece's right-wing government's shameful bill which aims to ban demonstrations and popular protests, the Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

"The KKE calls for a mass popular uprising for the withdrawal of the ND government bill, which is trying to paralyze the right to labor-people's demonstrations, for which rivers of blood were shed. 

Greece: The prohibition of demonstrations by Mitsotakis’ government shall not pass!

On Monday, the conservative government of New Democracy (ND) submitted to the Greek Parliament a despicable bill that aims to restrict demonstrations, protest rallies and outdoor public gatherings. 

The bill stipulates that organizers will have to promptly notify police or port authorities about planned gatherings. It provides for restrictions regarding the amount of road space occupied and the location of the demo. It also allows authorities to ban demonstrations under certain conditions, and sees criminal penalties for violators.

Down with Bolsonaro and his genocidal policy! Statement by the Brazilian Communist Party

With more than 57,600 deaths and 1.35 million cases, the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil worsens day by day. A major factor which has contributed to the spread of the virus and the increased death toll is the policy of the far-right Bolsonaro government. 

In a statement issued on July 26th, the National Political Commission of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) exposes the great responsibilities of Jair Bolsonaro's government, pointing out that Brazil is undergoing a political crisis. The full statement of PCB, in both English and Portuguese, is the following:

Croatia's Socialist Workers' Party (SRP) ready to participate in July 5th parliamentary elections

Under the slogans “Consistent for Socialism” and “Capitalism is barbarism”, the Socialist Workers’ Party of Croatia (SRP) participates in the parliamentary election which will take place on July 5, 2020. 

The Socialist Worker’s Party is a member of the European Communist Initiative and a frequent participant in the International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP). 

70 years since the Korean War: Kim Il Sung's historic radio address to the people of Korea

President Kim Il Sung addressing the Korean people, 26 July 1950.

In the early hours of July 26, 1950, the President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Il Sung, delivered a radio address to the people of Korea, asking them to resist and fight the imperialist attack by South Korean and U.S. forces.

On the occasion of the 70 years since the beginning of the war in Korea, we publish the public address of Kim Il Sung as a document of historic significance in the long-time struggle of the Korean people for peace and prosperity:

Monument to Joseph Stalin unveiled in Nizhny Novgorod

A monument dedicated to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was unveiled yesterday, June 24th, in the Russian city of Bor, in Nizhny Novgorod region. The initiative for the installation of the statue belongs to Alexei Zorov, head of the local branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. 

Stalin’s statue was unveiled during an event attended by more than 400 people, including cadres and members of the Communist Party. 

100 years of Iran's communist movement — A discussion with Tudeh Party leader Ali Khavari

The 23rd June 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party of Iran (CPI) and the holding of the first and founding Congress of the Party in the northern city of Bandar-e Anzali. 

On this occasion, the periodical Nameh Mardom [People’s Paper], the central publication of the Tudeh Party of Iran (TPI), talked to Comrade Ali Khavari, a distinguished leader of the TPI, about the struggle and the contribution of the communists in the popular movement in Iran over the last 100 years. Featured below are excerpts of this conversation:

Russia: "We will not vote for a new edition of the Yeltsin constitution", says the Communist Party (CPRF)

Russia will hold a nationwide vote from June 25 to July 1 on changes to the constitution proposed by the government of Vladimir Putin. The changes include an amendment that would allow Putin to seek two more six-year terms as president when his current mandate ends in 2024. 

On this occasion, the Presidium of the CC of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) issued a statement signed by chairman Gennady Zyuganov.

Willkommen Lenin! Statue of Vladimir Lenin was unveiled in Germany's Gelsenkirchen

Great news from Germany as the much-awaited statue of Vladimir Lenin was unveiled today, Saturday, during an event held in the city of Gelsenkirchen. 

Practicing physical distancing and wearing masks, hundreds of participants attended today’s event which included speeches and music.  

The initiative for the installation of the 2-meter (6.5-foot) statue, which was originally made in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, belongs to the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD). 

Clara Zetkin — Discussion with Vladimir I. Lenin on the Women's Question

The following text is a discussion between Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and German marxist, pioneer of the struggle for women's rights, Clara Zetkin which took place in 1920 in Moscow, during the Second Congress of the Communist International. Lenin and Zetkin discuss about the Women’s Question, referring to the class nature of sex inequality and the perspective of women’s social emancipation based on the experience of the – then young – Soviet Russia. Clara Zetkin kept notes of the discussion in her Memorandum Book and wrote a brochure in 1925, a year after Lenin’s death. 

International Communist Bulletin #4 2020

Week #4, June 2020

Scandal in Serbia: Authorities block Communist Party's participation in June 21 general election!

A political scandal which arises questions about the quality of democracy in the country has erupted in Serbia. 

In a statement issued on Monday, the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia (NKPJ) accusses the Republic Electoral Commission of Serbia (RIK) for  political discrimination after the rejection of the Party's registration for the upcoming parliamentary elections which are scheduled to take place on June 21st. 

France: Thousands of healthcare workers in the streets said "applause is not enough"!

“Applause is not enough” said yesterday hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers throughout France, demonstrating for their jobs, their rights and the country’s public healthcare system. 

At least 250,000 protesters in Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille and other French cities participated in protests against Macron government’s neoliberal policies which lead to more cuts in public healthcare sector. To date, the government hasn’t responded to the major urgent demands of healthcare and hospital workers who ask for increased wages, for an end to bed and hospital closures and for an increase of healthcare workers in public hospitals with sufficient medical equipment. 

Aris Velouchiotis: The soul of Greek Resistance

Today, June 16th, marks the 75th anniversary since the death of the iconic Greek communist guerrilla Aris Velouchiotis. A member of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and First Captain of the Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS) during World War Two, Velouchiotis is a leading personality of the Greek Resistance against the Axis occupation. 

Aris Velouchiotis, whose real name was Thanasis Klaras, Born in Lamia to a wealthy family on August 27, 1905, Aris studied at Larisa’s Averoff Agricultural School and worked briefly as an agronomist. 

Moving to Athens, he became a member of the Communist Youth (OKNE) in 1922 and a member of the KKE in 1925. Due to his radical, communist views he was sent to Kalpaki Disciplinary Platoon, an army camp where communist soldiers were imprisoned and tortured. 

HANDS OFF KARL MARX GRAVE IN LONDON!

By Nikos Mottas.

Karl Marx, the greatest thinker of all times whose revolutionary teachings became a guide for the struggles of the working class throughout the world, continues giving nightmares to fascists, reactionaries and anti-communists. 

His grave memorial at Highgate cemetery in North London has been a target of cowardly attacks and vandalism by far-right thugs. In 2019, in a space of a month, the grave was vandalized twice by fascists who caused extensive damages in the marble plaque.