Grover Furr — Paul Robeson's Meeting with Itzik Fefer, June 1949

By Grover Furr

In 1981 Paul Robeson’s son, Paul Robeson Jr, claimed that his father had told him privately that in June 1949 he, Paul Sr, learned about the persecution of some prominent Jews in the Soviet Union, but had never publicly revealed this fact and had asked his son to promise not to reveal it during his, Paul Sr’s, lifetime. In later years Paul Jr repeatedly confirmed this story. In the present article I check this story against the evidence that is now available. I conclude that Paul Jr’s story is untrue. 

Plan of Action of the 23rd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties, Izmir, Turkey

The Communist and Workers' Parties participating at the 23rd IMCWP in İzmir, declare their will and determination, until the next meeting, to engage in joint and convergent actions on the following main issues:

1. Opposing imperialist wars, the arms race, including nuclear weapons, foreign military bases and rejecting all the practices of NATO; in this context, increasing class-based propaganda and mobilization against NATO’s expansion and aggression all over the world, standing against the involvement of NATO and its allies in the war in Ukraine and in Israel’s brutal aggression against the Palestinian people; strengthening the struggle for disengagement from NATO and its dissolution, organizing anti-imperialist, anti-war events on September 21, “World Peace Day”supporting the efforts of the World Peace Council.

The war in Gaza and the stance of the communists

By Nikos Mottas.

The slaughter in the Middle East didn't begin on October 7. Last weeks' developments have been in gestation in the womb of a colossal injustice experienced by an entire people. The Palestinian people.

The reality is one and indisputable: The occupation of Palestinian territories by the Israeli state and the absence of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state are the source of the evil, which has been perpetuated since 1948, thus leading to millions of victims and displaced people. 

KKE: Mitsotakis’ visit to Israel constitutes a provocation and complicity in the crime

The Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement on the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Israel:

“At a time when the state of Israel is escalating its attacks against the Palestinian people, resulting in thousands of dead and wounded, the visit of Mr. Mitsotakis to Jerusalem and his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu constitutes a provocation and complicity in the crime.

 

Israelis and Palestinians should live in security and peace, says Hadash lawmaker Ofer Cassif

“I have to condemn totally, with no reservation the terrible slaughter that Hamas carried out against innocent civilians in the south of Israel. There was no justification for such a massacre,” MK Ofer Cassif, (Hadash) told “As It Happens” host Nil Köksal broadcasted by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). “Having been saying that, there’s no justification for the carnage that Israel carries out at the moment. Because those who are harmed, assaulted and killed [are] mostly innocent civilians.” The following is an excerpt from his conversation with Köksal:

 

Intensification of the struggle to end the Israeli occupation – Solidarity with the Palestinian people - Disengagement of Greece from US-NATO plans

Intensification of the struggle to end the Israeli occupation – Solidarity with the Palestinian people - Disengagement of Greece from US-NATO plans

Right now in Palestine, in the Gaza Strip, yet another imperialist crime is being committed. The State of Israel and the far-right Netanyahu government in the form of a "national unity" government is carrying on the massacres of previous years, striking the people with its massive military machine, civilians, children, killing thousands.  It has imposed a total blockade, depriving the inhabitants of water, food, medicine, medical supplies and electricity, readying a land invasion and genocide.

The 23rd International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties kicks off in Izmir, Turkey

The 23rd International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties (IMCWP) begins today in Izmir, Turkey, hosted by the country's Communist Party (TKP). 

The Meeting is held between 20-22 October, under the following subject: "The political and ideological battles to confront capitalists and imperialism. The tasks of communists to inform and mobilize the working class, youth, women, and intellectuals in the struggle against exploitation, oppression, imperialist lies and historical revisionism; for the social and democratic rights of workers and peoples; against militarism and war, for peace and socialism."

Six communists were elected mayors in Greece's local elections — Significant reinforcement of the KKE

On 15/10/23 the 2nd round of local elections took place in Greece. Based on the result of both rounds, the lists supported by the KKE were voted for by thousands of popular forces, recording over 10% nationwide (from 6.86% in the 2019 regional elections).

A communist mayor was elected from the 1st round on the island of Ikaria, while the communist mayor in the country’s 3rd largest city, Patras, won over 41% in the first and 56% in the second round, and was therefore reelected. 

Who Understands Civilization — Xi's CPC or Working People?

 By Charles Andrews*

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Communist Party of China (CPC), asks, “Without the 5,000-year-long Chinese civilization, how could we have Chinese characteristics?"(i) 

When Donald Trump visited Beijing in 2017, Xi told him, “The only continuous civilization to continue onwards is China.”(ii)

KKE: No involvement of Greece in the NATO-USA-Israel massacre in Gaza

The Press Office of the CC of the KKE issued the following statement on the deployment of the Greek frigate "Psara" in the Southeastern Mediterranean:

"The dispatch of the Greek frigate "Psara" —with a crew and security team of more than 200 people in total— to the South-Eastern Mediterranean, to join a NATO force operating in the region, is a very dangerous development, at a time when the conflict in the Middle East is a breath away from further escalation and a generalized military engagement.

 

War in Israel: Statements by Communist and Workers' Parties from all over the world

Following the rapid escalation of the military confrontation between the Israeli Armed Forces and Hamas, numerous Communist and Workers' Parties from all over the world issued statements, supporting the undeniable right of the Palestinian people to have their own sovereign state. 

Read here the statement of the Communist Party of Israel (MAKI):

Statements were also issued by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP): 

Bloodshed in Palestine: Statements by the World Peace Council and the World Federation of Trade Unions

The World Peace Council expresses its deep concern about the circle of bloodshed in Palestine and Israel which has led already to the loss of lives of hundreds of civilians on both sides along with thousands of injuries. 

 

As WPC we state clearly that the root cause for this escalation is and remains the decades’ long Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands, the policies of settlements, land robbing, the separation wall in the West Bank and the daily humiliation, harassment and killings of Palestinians by the regime of occupation, the thousands of Palestinian prisoners, the road blocks, the discrimination and deprivation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to their own state.

Greece local elections: Significant reinforcement of the KKE in all regions and large municipalities

On 8 October 2023, the first round of the regional and municipal elections took place throughout Greece. 

 

The KKE participated in the elections in all 13 regions of the country, as well as in 262 municipalities, with the ballot paper under the name “People’s Rallying”. Based on the results, “People’s Rallying” gained over 10% in the 13 regions nationwide, up from 6.86% in the 2019 regional elections and 7.69% won by the KKE in the parliamentary elections last June.

 

Communist Party of Turkey: "The rightful resistance of the Palestinian people will win!"

"No one should act as if they have just discovered the violence in the region", says the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) in a statement about the ongoing war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas. 

More specifically, the statement issued by the CC of the TKP reads:

"Following the operation launched against Israel from Gaza yesterday, there is no shortage of propaganda in favor of the Israeli government in the bourgeois media and anti-violence messages of hypocritical imperialist centers and statements of solidarity with Israel are coming one after another.

KKE: "The Palestinian people have the right to defend their rights, need greater support and solidarity"

"The Palestinian people have the right to defend their rights and needs greater popular support", stresses out a statement issued by the Press Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), on the occasion of the recent military confrontation between the Israeli Armed Forces and Hamas.

The full statement, published in 902 portal, is the following:

Communist Party of Israel and Hadash: "Netanyahu's fascist government bears full responsibility for the dangerous escalation"

In a statement concerning today's rapid escalation of military confrontation between Hamas and Israeli forces, the Communist Party of Israel (MAKI) and Hadash blame the criminal occupation policy of the far-right Netanyahu government, underlining the grave dangers that it poses for the peace in the region. 

"The fascist right-wing government's crimes to perpetuate the occupation are leading to a regional war that must be stopped. Even in difficult days like this - we repeat and voice an unequivocal condemnation of any harm to innocent civilians, and call for their removal from the bloodshed. We send our condolences to all the families of the victims of the occupation, Arabs and Jews alike", the statement reads. 

Canada has welcomed fascists, collaborators and war criminals since 1946

In a statement concerning Canadian Parliament's standing ovation for Waffen SS war criminal Yaroslav Hunka, the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Canada, stresses out:

"While Parliament seeks to wash its hands of the spectacle of its two standing ovations for a Nazi collaborator whose Waffen SS Division murdered hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and Poles from 1943 to 1945, the truth is that thousands of fascist troops were brought to live in Canada, the US, and the UK as part of the Cold War. In Canada, welcoming Nazis, war criminals, and collaborators was Canadian government policy.

Koutsoumbas: Join forces with the KKE in all struggles and in local elections!

The activity of the party organizations of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) throughout the country is culminating ahead of the municipal and regional elections that will take place on Sunday 8 October. The GS of the CC of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, is participating in the pre-election rallies in many cities across the country, such as Thessaloniki, Lamia, Larissa, Nea Ionia (Athens), Nikaia (Piraeus), etc.

At the rally in the city of Larissa on Tuesday 3 October, he stated the following:

Good news from Russia: Monuments dedicated to Stalin are on the rise

By Nikos Mottas

At least 110 monuments dedicated to Soviet leader and architect of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples, Joseph Stalin, have been erected in Russia. 

According to “Mozem Obyasnit”, 95 monuments of Stalin,  including 22 full-scale statues, have been installed in various regions of the country during the last 24 years. 

10th anniversary of the founding of the Party of Labour of Austria to be celebrated in Vienna

In October, the Party of Labour of Austria celebrates the tenth anniversary of its foundation. On 12 October 2013, the Party of Labour of Austria was founded as the Marxist-Leninist party of the Austrian working class.

To mark this occasion, the Party organizes an event in Vienna on 7 October and calls fraternal parties, comrades and friends to send greeting messages.

Communist Party of Sweden: "Gang crime" is a problem of capitalism — No to the militarization of society

In a joint statement, the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP) and its youth wing, SKU, comment on the recent rise of gang crime in the country and the government's plan to deploy the armed forces in order to deal with the situation. 

More specifically, the statement, which was published in the Party's official site "Riktpunkt", points out:

"Since the Swedish army fired upon and killed communist workers, who spearheaded the demonstration in Ådalen 1931, Swedish military has not been used for police purposes. This is about to change. Through a broad unity, ranging from the Social Democrats to the Sweden Democrats, the politicians now want the military to again patrol our streets.

The KKE will continue raising the banner of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism

On 22/9, the delegations of Communist Youth and Anti-Imperialist Organizations that visited Athens in the framework of the 49th  KNE-Odigitis Festival had the opportunity to meet with a delegation of the CC of the KKE in order to be informed about the developments in Greece and the action of the KKE. 

 

Eliseos Vagenas, member of the CC of the KKE and head of the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE, delivered a speech, which reads as follows:

SYRIZA hits rock bottom of political degeneration

Stefanos Kasselakis, SYRIZA's new leader

On 24/9/23, the second round for the election of the new president of SYRIZA took place. This party was the continuation of the “Coalition of the Left, the Movements and Ecology (SYN)”, consisting of a part of KKE cadres who, eroded by opportunism, the ideas of the counter-revolution and Gorbachev, left the KKE in 1989-1991 after their unsuccessful attempt to dissolve the Party. 

 

This section collaborated within the SYN framework with other opportunist forces that had broken away from the KKE in 1968 and embraced the Euro-communist current.

 

Communist Parties condemn attack on Cuban Embassy in Washington DC

Communist and Workers' Parties from across the world have issued statements condemning the terrorist attack against the Cuban Embassy in Washington DC on Monday. 

More specifically, two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Embassy in the second attack since shots were fired at the diplomatic compound in 2020. 

Communist Party of Mexico (PCM)

Zelensky and Trudeau lead ovation for Waffen SS war criminal in Canada's parliament

Last Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky and Canada’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a Ukrainian former member of Waffen SS.

During Canada parliament's welcome ceremony to Zelensky, House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota introduced an elderly man in the parliamentary gallery whom he described as a “veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today even at his age of 98.”  

The Fall of Karabakh

On September 19, Azerbaijan announced an “anti-terrorist operation” in Nagorno-Karabakh against the unrecognized “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” (Republic of Artsakh) in order to ensure “the safety of military personnel and the restoration of constitutional order”.

A day later, the NKR government announced the end of resistance and agreement with the demands of Azerbaijan. The agreement to stop “anti-terrorist measures” was reached on the basis of the withdrawal of all armed forces of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the complete disarmament of the NKR army and the surrender of its weapons and heavy equipment to the Azerbaijani forces. The statement by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense emphasizes: “The implementation of these processes is ensured in coordination with Russian peacekeepers”.

 

Communist Youth Festival in Athens concluded with an awe-inspiring political event

With an awe-inspiring political event held on Saturday 23 September in Athens, the 49th KNE-Odigitis Festival, organized by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), concluded this year's journey. 

In a fully-packed Tritsis Park, thousands communists, workers, people of every age, men and women, attended the event, where the keynote speaker was Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). 

Multi-millionaire Tim Gurner is the genuine voice of the capitalists: “We’ve got to kill the workers' struggles"

By Nikos Mottas.

Australian millionaire Tim Gurner said what all capitalists are thinking. He expressed the aspirations of all exploiters: To kill the struggles of the working class. 

Speaking on September 12th at the building industry summit held by the Australian Financial Review (AFR), property developer Gurner said that "workers have become arrogant" and that "unemployment has to jump 40 to 50 percent". 

Comment of the KKE on the termination of the activity of the European Communist Initiative

Comment of the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on the termination of the activity of the European Communist Initiative:

Confusion...

The inevitable course towards the termination of the activity of the European Communist Initiative (ECI) has caused confusion among some of the forces participating in it.

KKE: Strike call against Mitsotakis government's new anti-labour steamroller

On Friday 15/09/23, the workers and the youth demonstrated in a mass protest in Syntagma square, determined not to allow their working and living conditions to be crushed under the iron heel of the laws of profit and exploitation.

The protest, organized by trade unions and mass organizations, turned into a call for a strike against the government’s anti-labour steamroller and into a condemnation of the recent crime against the people of Thessaly.

 

On the termination of the activity of the European Communist Initiative and the role of opportunism

By Nikos Mottas.

The erosive and undermining role of opportunism in the international communist movement has made its appearance again, this time by leading to the termination of the activity of the European Communist Initiative (INITIATIVE).

According to a statement by the Secretariat of the INITIATIVE, the “important ideological and political differences that have arisen over time and which have been aggravated since the outbreak of the war being waged between the USA-NATO-EU and capitalist Russia” were assessed during a last teleconference held on September 9.

KKE: The EU is an accomplice for the crime in Thessaly

In its statement of 12/9/23, on the occasion of the meeting between the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Strasbourg, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) stressed the responsibility of the EU for the floods, since the latter has systematically rejected the expenditure on flood protection projects as ineligible.

 

European Communist Initiative ends its activity

A teleconference of the Full Plenum of the parties of the European Communist Initiative (ECI) was held on 9/9/2023 to discuss the problematic situation that has recently developed in the ECI after the outbreak of the imperialist war in Ukraine.

During the teleconference, many contributions positively evaluated the activity of the ECI for the period 2013–2022, its contribution to the coordination of the communist parties in Europe and the joint study and elaboration of European and important international issues aimed at strengthening the struggle against the capitalist system, the EU, the bourgeois classes and their governments.

 

KKE: Οn the 50th anniversary of the Pinochet coup in Chile and the assassination of Salvador Allende

Statement of the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE on the 50th anniversary of the Pinochet coup in Chile and the assassination of Salvador Allende:

On 11 September 1973, a military coup d’état took place in Chile, led by General Pinochet, who, with the support of the USA, overthrew the Popular Unity government.

The Chilean experience tragically confirmed the basic lesson drawn from the experience of the Paris Commune, which Marx and Engels also stressed in the Communist Manifesto, that “the working class cannot simply lay hold of ready-made state machinery and wield for its own purposes”. It must, as Lenin stressed, “smash the ‘ready-made state machinery’ and not confine itself merely to laying hold of it”.

 

Cuba arrests 17 for trafficking men to fight for Russia in Ukraine: "Cuba is not part of the military conflict"

Cuban authorities informed on Thursday about the arrest of 17 people involved in a human trafficking network that operated to incorporate Cuban citizens into war operations in Ukraine. 

 

Specialists from the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation at the Ministry of the Interior said on national television that the persons involved in this criminal network in Cuba are being investigated.

They added that three persons belonged to the recruitment scheme within Cuba, directed from abroad. The remaining 14 persons confessed that they had joined the operation by their individual and voluntary decision in exchange for residence in Russia and substantial monetary compensation.

 

Egyptian Communist Party mourns Munir Hamarneh, Jordanian communist leader and thinker

Dr. Munir Hamarneh

In a statement addressed to the Jordanian Communist Party, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Communist Party Salah Adly points out:

"We received with great sadness the news of the death of the thinker, leader, fighter, human being and teacher, Comrade Munir Hamarneh, historical leader of the Jordanian Communist Party, who led all the battles of the brotherly Jordanian people for freedom, independence, and the trend towards socialism... and the end of dependence on capitalism... and contributed to the building of the Jordanian Communist Party and devoted himself to the cause of unity of Communists In Jordan... It has always been at the heart of the battle against the Zionist enemy, supporting and supporting the Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights.

Flooding in Greece — KKE: Unprotected cities and defenseless people against a rotten and hostile state

The Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement on the problems caused by storm "Daniel" throughout the country:

“Unprotected cities and defenseless people against a rotten and hostile state, which is unwilling and unable to take even basic measures of protection against natural phenomena. 

 

This is the conclusion that can be drawn from this bad weather, which has so far left two dead and four missing, destroyed infrastructure, flooded houses, shops, crops, cars etc.

 

PCV: Maduro Government negotiates with US while the people bear the burden of sanctions

The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) denounced on Monday that the government of President Nicolás Maduro negotiates with the US administration while the Venezuelan people bear the burden of unilateral coercive measures.

The statement was made regarding the most recent declarations by PSUV lawmaker José Gregorio Vielma Mora, who assured that the government leadership "suffers" for not being able to increase salaries. 

 

Cyprus: AKEL strongly condemns racist attacks against immigrants in Limassol

AKEL, the Progressive Party of Working People, strongly condemned Friday's racial violence against immigrants and refugees in Limassol, Cyprus.

On the night of Friday 1 September, far-right groups turned the city center into chaos, by smashing shops, throwing Molotov cocktail and chasing migrants. 

In a statement, AKEL called the incidents a "racist pogrom that consists a shame for the country", stressing out that the President and his government were responsible for the scale of the violence,

Finland's far-right governing coalition to criminalize communist symbols?

Finland's ultra-conservative government has decided to implement a policy that would “combat racism”, following multiple racism and neo-Nazi scandals that have rocked the administration in its early months.

The governing coalition’s parties agreed on the content of a statement submitted to Finnish parliament that calls for “non-discrimination in Finnish society,” according to a press release, and for new legislation to work toward that goal.

Nikos Sofianos, the KKE's candidate for Athens mayor

"People's Rally" campaign poster.

The member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, Nikos Sofianos, is the candidate of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) for the mayorship of the Greek capital in October 8th regional and municipal elections.

An experienced KKE cadre, with a long political and social activity, Sofianos has been a member of the Athens Municipal Council since 2010 under the banner of the KKE-supported "Athens People's Rally". 

 

Chilean communist leader Guillermo Teillier dies at 79

Guillermo Teillier, President of the Communist Party of Chile since 2005, has died at 79.

Teillier was born in Santa Bárbara, Biobío Region, on October 29, 1943.

He joined the Communist Youth in 1958, serving as regional secretary in the cities of Temuco and Valdivia. He then became regional secretary in Valdivia, where he was caught in the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. In 1974, he held the same post in Concepción and Lota. 

Chile: Victor Jara's murderers are going to jail — Justice served 50 years later

A Chilean court has confirmed jail terms for seven elderly retired soldiers for the 1973 murder of beloved folk singer and Communist Party member Victor Jara in the aftermath of the coup d’etat that installed dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The soldiers, aged between 73 and 85 and free men until the ruling, will now have to report to prison to serve sentences of between eight and 25 years. The defendants had approached the Criminal Chamber of the Chilean Supreme Court to review their conviction in 2018.

 

PAME: Solidarity with the workers of France against trade union persecutions

The All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) denounces the new attempt of the French Government to intimidate workers and criminalise workers’ struggles, by calling the General Secretary of the CGT Energy Federation, Sébastien Menesplier to give statement to the police for the militant initiatives developed by the trade unions in the past months against Macron’s pension reform.

The great months-long struggle of French workers has succeeded, through the huge mobilisations of millions of workers, in showing that the French people have rejected the French government’s anti-workers’ reforms.