Irish communists: The hypocrisy of Western governments knows no bounds

Photo: idcommunism.com

In a statement issued on May 24, 2021, the Communist Party of Ireland (Páirtí Cumannach na hÉireann) points out the following:

"The outrage being expressed by the Government and the minister for foreign affairs is all hot air and downright hypocritical, as is the blustering by the European Union, in regard to the Ryanair flight being forced to land in Belarus and the arrest of Roman Protasevich, a passenger on that Ryanair flight.

Nothing about Belarus can be separated from the aggressive political and military strategy of both the European Union and NATO towards that country and towards Russia.

KKE blasts US and EU interventionist policy in Belarus

Concerning the forced landing of the Ryanair flight (operating the route from Athens to Vilnius) to Minsk and the interventionist plans by the EU and the U.S, in Belarus' internal affairs, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement (here in Greek). 

The statement reads:

KKE MEPs to EU Commission: What is your position towards Israeli state's aggression?

With a question of the MEPs of the Party, Kostas Papadakis and Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, to the High Representative of Foreign Affairs J. Borrell, the Delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in the European Parliament denounces the murderous attack of the Israeli state in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian people, while especially underlining the responsibilities of both the US and the EU.

¡Hasta la victoria siempre, Jesús Santrich!

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP), today known as "Segunda Marquetalia", reported yesterday the assassination of Jesús Santrich, during a Colombian Army operation in Venezuela. 

Santrich was traveling by a truck in Venezuela when it was attacked by Colombian commandos. "The truck carrying the commander (Santrich) was attacked with rifle fire and grenades," the statement of Segunda Marquetalia said, adding that the Colombian commandos left in a helicopter following the attack.

Chile's Communist Party won Santiago mayor's office

Chile's Communist Party (PC) candidate Iraci Hassler won Santiago mayor's office with 38.8 percent of the votes cast in the subnational elections.

Iraci Hassler will be the second woman to hold this office, which has not been headed by a communist since the end of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship in 1990.

She was elected as a candidate in the citizen primaries convened by the Santiago's Constituent Mayoralty platform, which brought together over 50 social, political, and women's rights organizations.

KKE and PAME express solidarity with the people of Colombia

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) have expressed their solidarity with the working class and the people of Colombia who are mobilizing against the anti-popular policies of the conservative Duque government. 

In a statement issued on 12 May, the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE points out:

Kazan school shooting: Statement by the Political Council of the Russian Communist Workers' Party

The mass school shooting occurred on 11 May 2021 in Kazan, Russia, led to the 9 deaths and more than 20 injured, The 19-year-old shooter, Ilnaz Galyaviev, was identified as a former student. 

In a statement titled "Ruthless society gives birth to monsters, the Political Council of the the Russian Communist Workers' Party points out the following:

Livorno port workers refuse to load arms shipment destined for Israel

Dock workers in the Italian port of Livorno refused to load a shipment of weapons and explosives after discovering it was destined for the Israeli port of Ashdod.

L’Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), Italy's independent, class-oriented trade union,  pointed out that the ship contained weapons and explosives that will serve to kill the Palestinian civilians, already hit by a severe attack that has killed hundreds of civilian victims, including many children.

Communist Parties from all over the world express solidarity with the Palestinian people

Communist and Workers' Parties from every corner of the world condemn the criminal Israeli aggression in Gaza and Jerusalem and express their solidarity with the Palestinian people. 

Venezuela: Two Communist Party members were shot dead within 48 hours in Táchira

Within 48 hours, two communists, members of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) and its youth wing, the Communist Youth of Venezuela (JCV), were brutally murdered at the state of Táchira, close to the borders with Colombia. The names of the slained comrades are Oscar Rankel and Tony Rojas.

Comrade Rankel, also known as Cachú, a member of the Communist Youth of Venezuela (JCV) in the municipality of Bolivar, was shot dead by armed individuals in the middle of the street. The method of the assassination points to the activity of paramilitary groups.

Israeli communists and leftists: STOP THE WAR IN GAZA

Following a call by Hadash - the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality - as well as other pro-peace groups and organizations, hundreds of people demonstrated on Tuesday and Wednesday across Israel, demanding an end to the bombing of Gaza. 

In Tel Aviv, under the slogan "Stop the fire", anti-war demonstrators gathered outside the headquarters of Likud party and demanded an immediate ceasefire. In Jerusalem, the protesters marched to Zion Square where police forces forcibly dispersed them and a young woman was arrested. Similar demonstrations took place in Haifa's Ben Gurion boulevard. 

Communist Party of Sweden: Ready for the 38th Congress

The 38th Congress of the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP) will take place between 13 and 16 of May 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the Congress is going to be organized digitally.

"The experience we have gained during our party's long history and the in - depth studies we have organized will allow us to make decisions at our congress, which in turn will open new doors, which will increase the understanding of our history and for our future. The Congress will strengthen the revolutionary movement in our country and it will be an important step for us", reads a statement published at the Party's website.

KKE condemns criminal Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

In a statement issued today the Communist Party of Greece calls Mitsotakis' ND government to stop the military cooperation with Israel and to proceed to the immediate recognition of the Palestinian state. 

In face of the recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza strip and the escalation of aggression against Palestinians, the General Secretary of the CC of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas made the following statement (here in Greek):

Hadash, Communist Party of Israel condemn attacks against Palestinians in East Jerusalem

Israeli police injured 90 Palestinians on Saturday night, May 8, outside the Damascus Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, 16 of whom were hospitalized, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, after protesters hurled bottles and rocks at occupation forces and the police responded with stun grenades and water cannon.

Arab-Palestinians protested throughout the country on Saturday over the far-right government’s actions in Jerusalem, including its handling of violent clashes at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Friday and the pending eviction of dozens of Palestinians from the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. 

The memory of the Antifascist Victory does not fade away — Socialism is the future!

Statement by the Secretariat of the European Communist Initiative for the 76th anniversary of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples and the defeat of Nazism. The statement reads:

76 years ago, the Red Army raised the Red Flag in the Reichstag, marking the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples and the defeat of Nazism. That was a fierce and bloody struggle, led by the Soviet Union with the decisive contribution of many anti-fascist, partisan movements, with the Communist Parties at the forefront.

Rio de Janeiro massacre: Brazilian Communist Party blasts Bolsonaro's "genocidal government"

"We denounce that an extermination is underway, a racist and elitist policy conducted by the extreme right government of Cláudio Castro in the State of Rio de Janeiro, in alignment with the genocidal government of Bolsonaro and Mourão", reads a statement of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) following the massacre in Jacarezinho neighborhood which led to the deaths of 25 people.

"Once again the public security policy, with its logic of confrontation and slaughter, led to panic and fear among the population. The result of this criminal action was the largest slaughter (known) in the history of Rio de Janeiro. Bursts of gunfire, helicopters with snipers, armored vehicles and grenades weaved the morning scenery in Jacarezinho, added to reports of home invasions, assaults and illegal seizures of mobile phones", points out the Rio de Janeiro Regional Committee of PCB. 

COVID Vaccines: Communist Parties say "No" to patents

On the issue of the patent for the COVID-19 vaccines, more than 60 Communist and Workers' Parties have issued the following statement:

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a great tragedy for more than a year now. In this period, in many countries, millions of workers have caught the disease, losing their health, their jobs or even their lives. On the other hand, in the same time frame, some companies that have sold the essential needs food, hygienic materials, masks and finally, vaccines, as commodities, have become among the wealthiest in the world. The capitalist class has turned the pandemic into an opportunity for greater exploitation of workers in order to make more profits. 

Workers’ May Day 2021 in Greece: Militant rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities

With large, militant rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Piraeus and other cities, the working class of Greece honored today, May 6th, the International Worker's Day. 

The class unions organized multi-faceted strike events throughout the country in spite of the ND government decision to move May Day on Tuesday. Thousands of people, workers, young men and women gathered today in Syntagma Square, Athens, in a demonstration organized by dozens of unions that participate in the ranks of the All-Workers’ Militant Front (PAME), thus sending a powerful message against the anti-labour policies of the government. 

SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE AND WORKERS OF COLOMBIA — SOLIDARIDAD CON EL PUEBLO DE COLOMBIA

Ivan Duque's government escalates repression against the people of Colombia. Already 19 people have been killed while numerous human rights violations have been reported. The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and Communist Parties from Latin America have issued statements condemning the murderous violence unleashed by the Colombian state.

URGENT CALL BY THE WFTU TO EACH TRADE UNIONIST, MILITANT OF THE CLASS TRADE UNION MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE AND WORKERS OF COLOMBIA

#VoteCommunist: Britain's Communist Party ready for May 6 local elections

Local elections in Britain are due to be held on 6 May 2021 for 145 English local councils, thirteen directly elected mayors in England and 39 police and crime commissioners in England and Wales. 

 

There are also elections to the Scottish Parliament, Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and London Assembly, the last in conjunction with the London mayoral election. 

May Day 2021: KKE and KNE in rallies across Europe

Brussels (902.gr)

Thousands of workers, men and women, took to the streets across Europe on Saturday May 1st in order to honor the International Workers' Day, amid varying levels of Coronavirus restrictions.

Members and friends of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth (KNE), who live in France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Sweden and other countries participated actively in the May Day rallies, 902 portal reports. 

Long live International Workers’ Day! Long live socialism: Statement by the European Communist Initiative

Statement by the Initiative of the Communist and Workers' Parties for the 2021 May Day, the International Worker's Day:

The Parties of the European Communist Initiative send a warm militant salute to the workers of our Continent, to the working class of the world. 

We are inspired by the flame of the workers of Chicago, we honor the men and women of our class who fell on the battlefields of the class struggle.

Vladimir Lenin and the timeliness of his work: Contributions by European Communist and Workers' Parties

On Thursday, 22 of April, 2021, 151 years since the birth of the leader of the October Revolution, the parties of the European Communist Initiative (ECI) held a teleconference dedicated to Lenin and the timeliness of his work, following a decision of the ECI Secretariat. 

The teleconference was attended by Communist and Workers' parties from the following countries: Austria, Belarus, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine. 

Click here to read the introductory speech of Giorgos Marinos, member of the Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).  

Derek Chauvin verdict is a victory for justice won by people’s struggle, says the Communist Party USA

"The Communist Party USA celebrates this verdict, a victory for justice won by people’s struggle. Much remains to be done before the racist killings of African Americans by the police ceases", reads a statement of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) concerning the conviction of police officer Derek Chauvin who murdered George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all charges, including  second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. 

Stepan Malentsov elected new First Secretary of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party-CPSU

Stepan S. Malentsov is the new First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Workers' Party (RCWP-CPSU) as it was decided at the XII (XXII) Congress that took place in Moscow. 

 

Born in 1962, a mechanical engineer by profession, Malentsov is a long-time trade unionist and member of the Political Council of "Rot Front". He replaces Viktor Tyulkin in the position of the First Secretary.

Below you can read a report regarding the XII (XXII) Congress of RCWP-CPSU:

May Day 2021 — Statement by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

“Hope lies in our struggles”

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), representing 105 million workers in 133 countries of the planet, sends a warm militant and internationalist greeting to the workers of the world, on the occasion of May Day 2021, this important day for the world working class. Each reflection, action and plan of the WFTU – especially in this difficult period for the workers and peoples of the world – has as its sole guide the interests of the working class. This 2021 will be a year of preparation for the world’s largest trade union event – the 18^th World Trade Union Congress.

Lenin's work is timely — Speech by G. Marinos at the online event of the European Communist Initiative

On Thursday, 22 of April, 2021, 151 years since the birth of the leader of the October Revolution, the parties of the European Communist Initiative (ECI) held a teleconference dedicated to Lenin and the timeliness of his work, following a decision of the ECI Secretariat.

The teleconference was attended by a delegation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) comprised of Giorgos Marinos, member of the PB of the CC of the KKE, Eliseos Vagenas, member of the CC and head of the Section of International Relations of the CC, Kostas Papadakis, member of the CC and MEP, and Aris Evangelidis, member of the Section of International Relations of the CC.

India: Communist Party leader Sitaram Yechury urges PM Modi to take urgent action as Covid crisis deepens

India's healthcare system is buckling as a record surge in Covid-19 cases puts pressure on hospital beds and drains oxygen supplies. According to international reports, families are left pleading for their relatives who are desperately ill, with some patients left untreated for hours.

Crematoriums are organising mass funeral pyres. On Friday 24 April India reported 332,730 new cases of coronavirus, setting a world record for a second day running. Deaths were numbered at 2,263 in 24 hours. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day

In a statement for the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, observed on April 24^th , the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas points out:

"The Armenian people were one of the great and tragic victims of Turkish nationalism and imperialist competitions of the First World War period. 106 years later we remember and honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Stalin Center: Museum dedicated to Stalin to be constructed in Nizhny Novgorod

A museum dedicated to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin will be constructed in the region of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia. 

According to the local committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), the first stone will be laid at an event scheduled for May 8, 2021 in the city of Bor, at Nizhny Novgorod Obslast. On the same day, a time capsule will be laid, to be opened on May 9, 2045, on the 100th anniversary of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples. 

Communist Party of Pakistan: The country is in deep danger

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Pakistan issued the following statement:

At the moment, the whole world is fighting Covid 19, but the Pakistani state is fighting its own organisation, the Tehreek-e-Lubaik Pakistan (TLP).

We have been demanding that the state change its statement.  The state sometimes bans the Communist Party, sometimes nationalist organisations and sometimes religious organisations and adopts a violent path.  But that doesn't fix the root cause.  The Pakistani state suffers from many contradictions.  

"El Machete": Communist Party of Mexico's historic gazette to be relaunched on May 1st

The Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) issued a statement about the resurgence of the newspaper El Machete, organ of the Central Committee of the Party. Read below the statement, published on solidnet.org, in both English and Spanish:

"El Machete is used to cut the cane,
to open the paths in the shady forests, to behead snakes,
to cut down all the weeds 
and to humiliate the arrogance of the impious rich."

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez elected as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba

President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez was elected today, Monday, as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, during the first plenary meeting of the leadership body, elected by the delegates to the 8th Party Congress Sunday evening. 

 

Army General Raúl Castro Ruz made this announcement after reporting the 14 members of the Political Bureau, including nine returning to the body and five added as new members: 

Communist Party of Britain: The European Super League is an assault on the game of the working class

With the following comment, posted on its social media accounts under the title "Listen to fans and players", the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) denounces the "European Super League" formed exclusively by major football clubs. 

The comment reads:

"The Super League proposal is an attempt by the wealthy clubs to establish a perpetual monopoly and to resolve their debt issues: Barcelona are £1bn in debt and in financial crisis. Real Madrid could not afford one big signing last summer, Juventus have to find around £100m by the end of June. Internazionale’s owners sought emergency funding in February.

Lenin Mausoleum reopened to visitors after six months

Hundreds of people lined up on Saturday in Moscow's Red Square in order to visit the Mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin which reopened after closing for six months due to COVID-19 restrictions and restoration works.

According to Russian media, yesterday morning crowds began to gather near the entrance of the mausoleum thus creating long queues which were stretched out almost to the exit of Alexander Garden. 

Goebbels in Florida: Red Scare bill declares November 7th as... "victims of communism day"

A monstrous anti-communist bill that falsifies history was approved on Wednesday by the Florida House of Representatives. More specifically, according to the bill (HB 1553) students in Florida schools would be taught each year about “how people have suffered and died under communist regimes”!

Furthermore, the bill requires the governor of annually issue a proclamation designating November 7th – the anniversary day of the Great October Socialist Revolution – as... “Victims of Communism Day”!

KKE: Statement on Cavusoglu-Dendias meeting in Ankara

On Thursday 15 April, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Greece, Mevlut Çavuşoğlu and Nikos Dendias respectively, hold a meeting in Ankara where they discussed major issues concerning the relations between the two countries.

In a statement about the meeting, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

Our people cannot and should not become complacent about the meeting of Foreign Minister N. Dendias with President Erdoğan and Foreign Minister M. Çavuşoğlu in Ankara, following the “exploratory talks” between the two NATO allies.

The 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba kicks off today in Havana

The 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) begins today, Friday 16 April, in Havana. 

Delegates to the 8th Party Congress from several provinces arrived in the Cuban capital on Wednesday night, excited to attend the historic event and honored to represent millions of Cubans.

In strict compliance with COVID-19 sanitary protocols, delegations from five eastern provinces, plus, Camagüey and Ciego de Avila, were welcomed by Party Central Committee staff at the Palco Hotel, next to event’s venue, the Convention Center, in Havana.

The 21st Congress of the KKE to be held on 24-27 June 2021

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) announced today that the Party's 21st Congress will be held on 24-27 June 2021. 

In this decision the CC took into account the course of the pandemic and the difficulties that objectively arise, due to the inadequacies and the huge shortcomings in the public health system, under the responsibility of all bourgeois governments to date and the management of the crisis by the New Democracy government.

KKE: The supporters of the Nazis are not welcome in Crete

A paratroopers organization known as "European Paratroopers Association" purportedly planned to hold a "commemorative event" in honor of the Nazi troops who parachuted into the island of Crete on May 1941. 

The event, which is allegedly scheduled to take place on May 17-23, 2021, in Crete was published in the group's website under the title "Kreta Memorial, decorated with the Nazi "Iron Cross" and accompanied by the following outrageous remarks: "It has been exactly 80 years since the III Reich Elite Troops jumbed and conquered the island of Crete. We will never forget their valor."  

Communist Party of Italy: The hypocrisy of Pope Francis

In his preaching at Santo Spirito Church in Sassia close to the Vatican, on Sunday 11 April, Pope Francis claimed that the ideal of sharing property - in contrast to private ownership - is "pure Christianity and not Communism". 

Commenting on Pope's remarks, the Communist Party, Italy (Partito Comunista) characterized them as "hypocritical". Here is the full comment:

"The Pope states that sharing property is a Christian gesture and not a communist one, which means that the Catholic Church has never done anything Christian in its entire existence, limiting itself only to preaching the famous Christian charity without ever, in fact, implementing it.

Yuri Gagarin's spaceflight 60th anniversary: When the Soviet Union conquered space

Sixty years ago, on 12 April 1961, a hero of the Soviet Union, cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, became the first man in outer space marking a new era in human history. 

 

On this occasion we remember and honor this great man whose legacy is intextricably linked with the legacy of his socialist motherland, the Soviet Union which played a leading role in mankind's effort to explore and conquer space. 

Workers' Party of Ireland condemns violent riots in Northern Ireland, calls for workers' unity

On the occasion of the recent escalation of violent clashes in Northern Ireland, the Workers' Party of Ireland issued the following statement:

"The Workers’ Party, once again, strongly condemns the violence and disorder which took place last night.

This is not the correct way for the Unionist community to air their frustrations and only further fuels the sectarian divide. Elected leaders, Trade Unions and community representatives must use all their influence to deter young people from engaging in this behaviour and instead encourage people to come together, to stand with decency, common sense and progressive ideas which will better serve our communities and our citizens.

Forbes list of wealthiest parasites in times of pandemic

While billions of people around the world have been affected, on way or another, by the Coronavirus pandemic, capitalists are becoming richer. While the world's working class is suffering from increasing exploitation, mass layoffs, decline in living standards and lockdowns, the big capital enjoys more and more profits. The 2021 Forbes list of billionaires is quite revealing about the situation:

“The number of billionaires on Forbes’ 35th annual list of the world’s wealthiest exploded to an unprecedented 2,755 — 660 more than a year ago. Of those, a record high 493 were new to the list — roughly one every 17 hours.

Kenyan police storms Communist Party offices in Nairobi

In an arbitrary move Kenyan police stormed on Wednesday 7 April the headquarters of the Communist Party of Kenya in Nairobi and proceeded to the arrest of party members. 

 

The operation of the police took place without any court warrant. 

According to the Communist Party, the police officers were intent on breaking into the strong room where key party records are kept. 

Requisition of private health sector, mass hirings in public hospitals are necessary, says KKE leader Koutsoumbas

Mass hiring in public hospitals, the immediate requisition of the private health sector and the inclusion of healthcare personnel in the arduous and hazardous jobs social insurance category are the measures that are necessary today, pointed out the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas during a visit today, World Health Day, in Evangelismos hospital in Athens.