Diego Maradona, the Anti-imperialist

Diego Armando Maradona, one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century and for many people the best football player of all times, died on Wednesday 25 of November at the age of 60.

Born in 1960 in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Diego was the fifth child of a poor, working class family. His father was a factory worker and the early years of young Diego were marked by extreme poverty. Over the decades, alongside his extraordinary career in football, Maradona proved to be a defender of the less privileged, a vocal supporter of Cuba and Latin American left-wing movements and an outspoken critic of U.S. imperialism. 

Portugese Communist Party to hold its XXI Congress on 27-29 November

The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) will held its 21st Congress on 27, 28 and 29 of November 2020. The works of the XXI Congress will take place in Pavilhão Paz e Amizade in the city of Loures, 13km north of capital Lisbon. 

Under the slogan "Organize, Fight, Advance. Democracy and Socialism", the PCP's 21st Congress is organized in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, something that has provoked reactions from right-wing parties and conservative politicians in Portugal. However, as the PCP General Secretary Jerónimo de Sousa has stated, the Congress will take place under all the necessary health security measures. 

Workers in Greece go on strike on November 26th: Statement by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME)

While Greece is in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic crisis, with a nationwide lockdown imposed, the conservative government of New Democracy (ND) escalates the policies of authoritarianism and anti-labor measures. 

 

The government not only failed to protect the country from the second wave of the pandemic, but follows a policy that focuses on the protection of business groups' profitability rather than the health of the working people. 

On Thursday 26th of November, the country's workers respond to the anti-labor, anti-people policy of the government by organizing a nationwide strike. In statement, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) points out:

Greek communist MP asks to be relieved of Parliament duties in order to serve as a doctor against the pandemic

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP and pulmonologist Giorgos Lambroulis asked Parliament to temporarily relieve him from his duties as one of eight vice presidents of the body, so that he may help out his region Larissa, central Greece, in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a letter to President Konstantinos Tasoulas released Monday, Lambroulis, a doctor in the National Health System (ESY), criticized Greek governments for ignoring chronic shortages in the health sector, and called on fellow-MPs who are doctors to follow his example. "My place is with my fellow doctors and nursing staff that are fighting under adverse conditions to care for the people, in the public health sector of Larissa," he said.

Youth in Survival Against Pandemic and Capitalism: SOCIALISM or BARBARISM

Twenty European Communist Youth Organizations have gathered on the 103rd anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution at the “Online Meeting of European Communist Youth Organizations to Share Experiences” and exchanged their experiences about the struggle of the youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, working people all around the world are envisaging numerous attacks against their rights. Their right to healthcare is getting vandalized by capitalist governments who are promoting private health industry instead of public healthcare. 

Venezuela's Communist Party slams reformist "Plataforma de la Clase Obrera Antiimperialista (PCOA)"

The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) has issued a statement concerning the initiative called "Platform of the Anti-imperialist Working Class" (PCOA). Read the statement in english and spanish below:

"Together with class conscious trade unionism, the PCV will participate in initiatives of unity of anti-imperialist action.

The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), as the party of the working class and the Venezuelan working people, clarifies its position regarding Venezuela's launch of a supposed Platform of the Anti-imperialist Working Class (PCOA), which lacks the presence of class conscious trade union organizations from our country or representatives of national historical labor currents.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) held virtual meeting

Lefteris Nikolaou Alavanos, a member of the European Parliament from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and a member of the party's Department of International Relations, held a virtual meeting with Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, vice-head of the International Relations Department of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee. 

They were accompanied by the Greek side by Aris Evangelidis, head of Latin America of the Department of International Relations of the KKE and by the Cuban side by Ileana Hernández, Head of Europe of the Department of International Relations of the PCC, Silvia Colunga official of the department and Cuba's ambassador to Greece Zelmys María Dominguez Cortina.

KKE MEP Nikolaou-Alavanos: "EU and bourgeois governments defend healthcare's commercialization against people's needs"

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament in the debate on the "Programme for the Union’s action in the field of Health for the period 2021-2027 - EU4Health".

This program seeks to legitimize the inadequacy of public health systems that was proved painfully in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and is even more dramatically confirmed in the second. It lays down, among other, the air transportation of doctors from one country with a disintegrated public health system "of one disease" to another, perpetuating the patch of gaps, opening others, while in each case the private health groups are growing richer, destroying the people's income.

All India Strike on November 26th: Workers and peasants rise against Modi's anti-people policies

Ten central trade unions in India have called for a nationwide strike on November 26th. The preparatory campaign for the general strike against the anti-people, anti-worker, anti-national and destructive policies of the BJP government led by Modi has been going on with great enthusiasm all over the country, a statement said.

The preparatory campaign for the general strike against "the ..

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/79262519.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

The working class is all geared up for a massive countrywide general strike on November 26, 2020. The declaration adopted in the online joint national convention of workers has strongly condemned the BJP government’s attacks on the basic workplace, democratic and constitutional rights of the workers and the people of our country.

Slovakia's reactionary drift: Parliament passes monstrous anti-communist amendment

Following the steps of Poland, the Parliament of Slovakia passed a despicable anti-communist amendment which distorts history and sets into grave danger the democratic and political rights in the country.

More specifically, the amendment, which was prepared by the conservative coalition government of Igor Matovič and passed by the Parliament on November 4th, declares the Czechoslovak Communist Party (as well as the current Communist Party of Slovakia) as “criminal organizations”! The amendment is added to the 1996 anti-communist law on “Immorality and Illegality of the Communist System” and will be put into effect on December 1st. 

Solidarity with the KKE — Communist and Workers' Parties denounce Greek government's authoritarianism

Yesterday, on the 47th anniversary of the Polytechnic Uprising, the rally of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was violenty attacked by riot police forces in the center of Athens.

A few days ago the conservative New Democracy (ND) government, escalating authoritarianism and repression, banned anti-imperialist demonstrations and any gathering of more than three people across the country, on the pretext that the march would be a health 'time bomb' due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The KKE performed its rally, in an organized way and observing all the necessary social distancing measures. But the police, on the orders of the government, unleashed an unprovoked attack with batons, tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades. The police did not hesitate to attack KKE MPs, while also injuring protesters and proceeding to dozens of arrests.

On this occasion, numerous Communist Parties express their solidarity and support to the KKE.

Greece: Brutal and unprovoked attack of riot police against KKE demonstration (VIDEO)

Earlier today Greek riot police forces unleashed an unprovoked and brutal attack against a peaceful demonstration organized in Athens by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in honor of the 47th anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising. 

Police forces tried to disperse the demonstration by using excessive violence and tear gas and proceeded to the arrest of a few protestors. 

According to information published by 902 portal, the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas, as well as Party MPs who were on the spot, protested to police officers demanding the release of those arrested. 

47 years since the Athens Polytechnic Uprising — KKE blasts Greek government's ban on public gatherings

The 17th of November marks the 47th anniversary since the Athens Polytechnic uprising of students against Greece's military dictatorship. Recently, under the pretext of Covid-19 pandemic, government authoritarianism has escalated by banning this year's anti-imperialist march on the U.S. embassy, which is organized every year on 17/11 to commemorate the anniversary of the uprising. 

Trade unions and mass people's organizations have made clear that the anti-imperialist march on Tuesday, November 17 will take place by observing all health protection measures, as it happened on May Day. 

AKEL condemns Erdogan's provocative visit to occupied Cyprus

In a statement concerning the provocative visit of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in the occupied territories of Cyprus and especially to the abandoned city of Famagusta, the Press Office of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) points out:

"AKEL unequivocally condemns the provocative visit of Tayyip Erdogan to the occupied territories, the celebrations for the 37th anniversary of the proclamation of the so-called “TRNC” and the “picnic” planned tomorrow within the fenced off city of Famagusta.

Solidarity with the workers and staff in U.S. airlines — No to layoffs, pay cuts and anti-labor measures!

Employment will drop by 90,000 full-time employees by December, according to Airlines for America trade group, which represents major U.S. airlines.

The 90,000 job losses will bring U.S. airlines employment to its lowest level since the mid-1980s by year's end as a result of more than 30,000 furloughs at airlines such as United and American and thousands of other workers from Southwest, Delta Airlines and other carriers accepting buyouts, CNBC reported.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics data that the trade group compiled show the drop from pre-COVID peak in March of 460,000 full-time jobs to 370,000 full-time jobs by year's end.

Hanna Gharib: The socialist ideology has succeeded in the battle against Covid-19, whereas capitalism failed

"The socialist ideology had succeeded in the battle against COVID-19, whereas capitalist-oriented countries had failed. This pandemic had explicitly showed the greedy side of the capitalist system", was the message conveyed by Hanna Gharib, General Secretary of the Lebanese Communist Party, during the online lecture “Socialism and Capitalism in post-COVID-19 era”, organized by the Chinese Communist Party, in partnership with Arab Leftist Parties. 

Hanna Gharib referred on how states like China, Cuba and Vietnam succeeded against the COVID-19 pandemic, in sharp contrast with the failure of most capitalist states to protect their people. (Read here his speech)

KKE: Statement for the Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal

The recent peace deal between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in Nagorno-Karabakh is a  "temporary peace agreement that has the basic characteristics of imperialist peace", points out the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). 

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Press Bureau of the CC of the KKE refers to the the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict as the outcome of competitions between the bourgeois classes in the region and stresses out the dangers that arise from the intersection of interests of Turkey and Russia in the broader region.

How America's Communist and Workers parties reacted to the outcome of the Presidential election

The workers-people's struggle must continue no matter who is the next President is the common denominator in the reactions of Communist and Workers' parties in the United States, following the November 3rd election.

Below, you can read statements and commentary by major parties and organizations of the U.S. Communist Left on the outcome of the Presidential election, the victory of Joe Biden and the defeat of incumbent President Donald Trump.

Serbia: Communist Youth leader received death threats by fascists

Disturbing news come from Serbia where fascist thugs unleashed anonymous death threats against a young communist leader. 

 

According to a post by the League of Communist Youth of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) fascists threatened its First Secretary Aleksandar Đenić. More specifically, right-wing extremists (Chetniks) called Denic on Sunday evening, insulted him and threatened to break his legs and ribs. The fascists said that they know where he lives and even threatened ambush and murder him.

Lockdown capitalist policies! KKE slams Greek government's handling of the pandemic

Since November 7th Greece has entered a second nationwide lockdown, following a decision by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government. The lockdown is accompanied by tough penalties for violations of the quarantine and non-observance of social distancing. 

Alongside the lockdown, as the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) mentions, the government has committed crimes against the people's health and safety in order to serve the interests of the capital in a number of industry branches. 

Russian communists paid tribute to the October Revolution in Moscow

With a flower-laying ceremony held on November 7th in Red Square, Moscow, communists honored the 103rd anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. 

Wearing red masks due to the pandemic, workers, members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) marched through Red Square in order to pay tribute to the most significant event of modern history. 

"There has been nothing more magnificent than the Great October", said CPRF chairman Gennady Zyuganov during his address, praising the achievements of the 1917 Revolution. 

KKE General Secretary on U.S. Presidential election: "Trump has lost but the policy that serves imperialism is here"

Joe Biden is officially the President-elect of the United States after beating incumbent President Donald Trump in the November 3rd elections. 

 

Commenting on the outcome of the U.S. Presidential Election, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas pointed out that those who cultivate false expectations about a positive role of Biden's Presidency will be refuted, he reminded the war record of Democratic U.S. Presidents and called for a stronger opposition against American imperialism. 

More specifically, the statement of Dimitris Koutsoumbas is as follows:

Nostalgia for Socialism: Most Russians say that life would be better if Perestroika had never happened

Thirty-five years have passed since the beginning of Mikhail Gorbachev disastrous Perestroika policy which led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Today, almost half of the Russian people believe that life would be better if Perestroika had never happened. 

According to a poll conducted by Levada Center, 47% of Russians acknowledge that life in the country was better before Gorbachev's destructive reform plan, with just 39% disagreeing. A 14% of the participants found "difficult to answer". 

Gus Hall: A great figure of the U.S. communist movement

By Nikos Mottas.

The 13th of October marked the 20th anniversary since the death of American communist and long-time leader of the Communist Party, USA (CPUSA) Gus Hall.

General Secretary of the CPUSA from 1959 to 2000, Hall was one of the most brilliant figures of the U.S. communist movement, alongside William Z. Foster, Paul Robeson, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, W.E.B. Du Bois and others.

His birthname was Kustaa Halberg and was born in 1910 in Saint Louis County, Minesota. Son of Finnish immigrants, he grew up in a working class family and was involved early on in the labor movement. He left school at the age of 15 in order to support his poor ten-child family by working in mines, railroads and lumber camps. 

Vienna Attack: Statement by the Party of Labour of Austria

Statement by the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) on the terrorist attack in Vienna:

We condemn yesterday's attack in Vienna, which according to initial information was carried out by a sympathizer of the "Islamic State". Our sympathy goes to the victims of this heinous terrorist attack, all civilians and police officers who were injured and all relatives who lost people.

Religious fundamentalism, as we see it today, is a product of imperialism and serves capital as an instrument of domination and power. In the countries of the Near and Middle East, it is precisely the most reactionary religious groups and states which are the closest allies of imperialism in the struggle against democratic and revolutionary movements. 

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Armenian communists call for an unconditional ceasefire

In a statement published in SolidNet, the Communist Party of Armenia refers to the tense situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and calls the fraternal Communist and Workers' Parties to support peace and an unconditional ceasefire.

The statement reads:

We call on communists from all parties across the world to join us in demanding an end to the war and for the resolution of all outstanding disputes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Republic of Armenia through dialogue and diplomacy based on the UN Charter and respect for the rights of nations to self-determination.

Under the Shadow of the Revolution: Berlin, Warsaw, Ankara 1920 — Book by Kemal Okuyan

The International Relations Bureau of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) launched the latest book of Kemal Okuyan, the General Secretary of TKP, titled "Under the Shadow of the Revolution: Berlin, Warsaw, Ankara 1920" in English and published by Yazılama Editorial House.

Originally published in Turkish in 2019, this work does not only analyzes the achievements but also the shortcomings of the communist movement during the rise of the revolutionary wave in the early 20th century.

Australia's Communist Party celebrated its 100th anniversary

Source: Communist Party of Australia.

On October 30th, the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) marked its 100th anniversary. On this occasion a number of events have been organized in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth from 29th October to 1st November 2020. 

In a press release, the Communist Party points out: 

"Only one conclusion can be drawn on surveying 100 years of Communist; that the party has has a colourful and successful past. In the first decade the Party struggled with the boom of the early 20s but as the depression hit the Party gained much notice as the organisers of the unemployed, providing food and pressure on Government to provide resources for the unemployed. They ran eviction struggles and these made headlines in Sydney and in other parts of Australia. 

Greek and Turkish young communists express solidarity with earthquake-ridden people in both countries

“It is not inevitable for our lives to be crushed! Life shall win, with the struggles, the power, our dreams”! 

With this phrase the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) and the Communist Youth of Turkey (TKG) express their internationalist solidarity during these difficult times for the two countries, following the strong earthquake that struck off Greece and Turkey coast on Friday.

In a joint statement published in 902 portal, KNE and TKG point out:

Indian communists condemn US-India Military Alliance

In a joint press statement issued on October 28th, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) point out the following:

"The 2+2 meeting of the Indian and US Defence and Foreign Ministers held in Delhi on October 27 has resulted in the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) on geo-spatial cooperation. 

With this agreement, all the so-called foundational agreements for a military alliance with the United States have been completed. This also comes in the wake of the joint naval exercise, "Malabar exercise", between the four partners of the Quad which has been announced to be held in November.  

U.S. Election 2020: Neither Trump nor Biden!

By Nikos Mottas.

On November 3rd, the people of the United States of America will vote for the new President and vice president of the country. The two major contestants, current President Donald Trump and the Democratic nominee Joe Biden, are the two sides of the same coin. It is an undeniable truth that they both express the general strategic interests of the U.S. monopoly capital.  

The differences in the political proposals between Trump and Biden reflect the sharpening of the competition between different sections of the U.S. capital. Indeed, a look at the top donors of the two presidential campaigns is indicative of the fierce rivalry that is taking place in the backstage between large monopoly groups.

Polish communists strongly condemn abortion ban ruling

“Forcing women to give birth to terminally ill, deformed children, incapable of having an independent and conscious life is a crime”, points out the Communist Party of Poland (KPP) commenting on the recent controversial ruling by the country's constitutional court which banned almost all abortions.

According to the reactionary decision, abortions carried out when the fetus is malformed, which accounted for 98% of legal terminations last year, are outlawed. Although fewer than 2,000 legal abortions are carried out each year in Poland, it is estimated than up to 200,000 terminations are either performed illegally, or abroad.

European Communist Initiative: The pandemic reveals the criminal inadequacy of health systems in all capitalist states

Statement by the European Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties on the new outbreak of the pandemic:

The new outbreak of the pandemic throughout Europe is a reality that did not come out of thin air. The claims of the bourgeois governments that they “took measures” and “shielded the public health systems” after the first wave of the pandemic, as well as that “in the course of the pandemic the EU wised up and stands in solidarity with the peoples”, are myths.

Following the new wave of the pandemic, all these claims are day by day revealed and bankrupt. The increase in deaths, cases, and intubated patients reveals the responsibility of the EU and the government directions over time, which left the public health systems destitute of staff, infrastructure, ICUs, reagents, and tests.

Russia: Communists restored damaged monuments of Lenin

With the decisive intervention of communists and the local society two previously damaged monuments of Vladimir I. Lenin were restored in the Russian regions of Belgorod and Perm Krai. 

In the village of Gorki, Krasnensky District in Belgorod Region, a bust of Lenin which was dismantled in 2013 by the local administration, was restored on October 23rd in a ceremony attended by cadres and supporters of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). 

U.S. genocidal blockade against Cuba causes 5 billion dollars in damages in a year — Full Report

The US Blockade on Cuba, according to international law, has been a criminal and genocidal act since its inception almost 60 years ago, but its extreme reinforcement and cruelty amid the COVID-19 pandemic has no precedent, said Cuban Foreign Minister.

In presenting on Thursday the annual report on the blockade's impact on the island, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said that estimates of damages surpass the 5 billion dollars.

"From April 2019 through March 2020, the blockade has inflicted losses to Cuba estimated in 5 500 million dollars. This is the first time that the blockade's damages surpass the 5 billion in a year, and that's a very conservative estimate," said the minister.

Italy's Unione Sindacale di Base (USB): Ten years of class-oriented, independent and internationalist activity

This year marks the 10th founding anniversary of Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), Italy's independent, class-oriented trade union. In a message for the 10th anniversary the USB points out: 

"We could not celebrate together the tenth anniversary of USB, we do it now with this video that traces some important moments of our existence.

From the first congress, that of the unification between RdB and Sdl Intercategoriale, to date, thousands of initiatives, struggles, conferences, participation in international events have marked our first ten years.

KKE on Golden Dawn trial verdict: "No room for complacency. Fascism is the true offspring of this rotten system"

The Golden Dawn Trial in Greece, the largest trial of Nazis since the Nuremberg trials, has come to an end. In a historic verdict announced on Thursday, the Athens Court of Appeal ruled that 38 of the 50 defendants found guilty will go to jail, among which are 13 former MPs in the Greek parliament.

Among those the court has ruled should go to prison for their participation in Golden Dawn, which has been ruled a criminal organisation in the guise of a political party, are its leader Nikos Michaloliakos, current MEP Yiannis Lagos, and former MPs Ilias Kasidiaris, Christos Pappas, Ilias Panagiotaros, Giorgos Germenis and Artemis Matthaiopoulos, who were all found guilty of running a criminal organisation.

Koba is back: Stalin statue to be erected in South Ossetia

A three-meter monument, dedicated to the legendary Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, will be erected in the village of Tsorbisi, in South Ossetia. The initiator of the project is Dzambolat Tedeev, head coach of the Russian national freestyle wrestling team.

The statue, made by Ossetian sculptor Ibragim Khayev, will be placed in Tsorbisi's Stalin Square, the construction of which had also been financed by Tedeev.

Although Stalin, whose actual name was Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, was an ethnic Georgian born in Gori, many people in North and South Ossetia regard him an "ethnic Ossetian". 

John Reed - author of the "Ten Days that Shook the World": 100 years since his death

John Reed's name has been inextricably linked to the events of the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution. His book “Ten Days that Shook the World” is a first hand experience of the Revolution that changed the course of human history.

Reed was born on October 22, 1887 in Portland, Oregon. He attended Portland public schools and graduated from Harvard University in 1910. Soon after his graduation he began working as a journalist in various publications including the American Magazine and the The Masses. 

Justice for María Florencia Gómez — Argentine communist activist murdered in Santa Fe

A young and politically active woman, member of the Communist Party of Argentina and staunch supporter of women's rights, María Florencia Gómez Pouillastrou was murdered last Monday in Santa Fe. The lifeless body of the 35 years-old activist was found on a rural road in the town of San Jorge with signs of head injury caused by a strong blow.

In a statement, the Communist Party of Argentina and the Communist Youth Federation announced the tragic news, expressing their firm conviction that justice will be done and the perpetrators of the crime will be punished.

Veteran Polish communist Kazimierz Jarzębowski dies

The Communist Party of Poland (KPP) and the country's workers movement mourn the death of veteran communist and long-time activist Kazimierz Jarzębowski. Born in January 1923, Jarzebowski began his communist activity before the Second World War. 

In January 1941, on his 18th birthday, he fled to the USSR in order to support the anti-fascist struggle. He returned to occupied Poland a few months later, in June, and was arrested by the Nazis for his anti-fascist activities, including helping Soviet prisoners of war. Subsequently Kazimierz Jarzębowski was deported as a forced labourer to Germany. 

New Communist Party of the Netherlands: The consequences of the pandemic for the people and government's response

In a declaration the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN) and its youth wing, the Communist Youth Movement (CJB), refer to the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in the country, the consequences of the new economic crisis and the response of the Dutch government which takes measures in order to safeguard the capital's interests.

The declaration reads:

The number of hospital admissions and deaths caused by the coronavirus is rising rapidly. Meanwhile, increasingly more people are feeling the consequences of the new economic crisis. Among workers, students, and pupils, there is a lot of uncertainty about the second wave and the economic crisis, as well as what this will mean for their job or education. The government, however, refuses to offer solutions and leaves everything to ‘individual responsibility’. Only big capital can count on the government for generous support.