Greece and the KKE

[blindpig]

Shameful verdict by Greek court convicts Communist Youth members who were assaulted by neo-Nazis!

A shameful verdict was issued by the single-member Magistrate Court of Thessaloniki in northern Greece regarding a murderous assault of neo-Nazi Golden Dawn thugs against Communist Youth (KNE) members of November 2012.

According to the Court's verdict, the perpetrators of the attack were sentenced to 21 months imprisonment. However, the same verdict convicts the... victims of the attack to 12 months imprisonment!


The story goes back to November 2012, when two members of the Nazi-fascist party Golden Dawn attacked and injured members of the Communist Youth of Greece in the town of Lagadas, in the outskirts of Thessaloniki. The attackers, who were identified as members of the local Golden Dawn branch, had in their possession knobs and knives. The victims, students-members of KNE, were attacked while they were sticking posters propagandizing a 48-hours strike.

The Court decided that this wasn't a clear murderous attack, but a street scuffle between groups thus equitating the offenders and the victims.


The Central Committee of the KKE, as well as KNE, issued statements expressing strong condemnation of the Court's decision. "The working people must draw their own conclusions", writes the KKE's statement and continues: "With more vehemence and militancy they must organize their struggle against the antiworkers and antipeople policies of the government and the capital. They must decisively expose and alienate the criminal nazi Golden Dawn and its murderous practices".

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... court.html

[blindpig]

"The legacy of the Bolsheviks shows that Socialism is timely" - Interview with the KKE Politburo member Dimitris Arvanitakis

Special interview of Dimitris Arvanitakis, member of the Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece. Source: International Communist Press (ICP):

ICP: We have recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Great October Revolution, what does this centenary mean for the Communist Parties of the World?
Dimitris Arvanitakis: The Great October Socialist Revolution is a huge contribution to the people all over the World. There are many gains and a massive experience left for the contemporary struggle of the working class movement and for the Communist Parties internationally.
The socialist revolution took place in an era where a deep conflict existed between two imperialist groups: Austrian German in one side and the British and French on the other side. At that period big masses of workers, peasants and soldiers were bonded with the socialist revolution through the vanguard politics of the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks, who are the later CP of USSR, were against the imperialist war and never supported bourgeois governments, whereas the social democrat parties supported the war and took place near the government. It was that position of the Bolsheviks which won the masses, they were bonded with the revolution and become one with the Bolsheviks.This is a big experience for today, for the CPs. We also say 'no participation to imperialist wars and no support for bourgeois governments' military plans'. Our party in particular keeps that significant position on the legacy of the October Revolution. KKE had the position against the Russia fighting Bolsheviks. At those days Greek people collected money for the Bolsheviks to fight. The anti-imperialist stand of the October Revolution showed the way for our party from the beginning, the way which is against the bourgeois strategy and plans on the Minor Asia of the 1920’s. Communist Greek soldiers had organized within the army denouncing the war over Minor Asia.

Then once again during the Korean War of the 1950's, KKE made the call for the Greek soldiers not to fight and to retreat from the Greek army which was involved in the imperialist war in Korea. This anti-imperialist legacy helped our party to build its robust strategy.


There are also other parts of the legacy of the October Revolution. For the first time the workers had their own state and this was won through the dictatorship of the proletariat. This very significant point is forgotten these days in the capitalistic countries. The 8 hours of working day, equal rights for women, achievement of many nations regarding their own and equal rights, are all the gains of the USSR. The October Revolution is also important because it has opened the path and gave motive for other CPs of the World to be founded.

Today the right wing and the opportunists, like Syriza, say that wasn’t a revolution but a coup. They say it was an open dictatorship against the people. But we know how Bolsheviks took the power with masses and how many people took the step to fight capitalism with them. The socialists gave the decisive answer to the opportunists just within two months. Also the socialist character of the October Revolution became obvious during the Second World War.

We insisted and still insist on that, the socialism is necessary and timely and it is the only answer to the capitalistic system. There is no other way or condition within the borders of capitalism for transition.

Today we are optimistic about the future of the struggle because we believe the legacy of the socialist revolution is still giving strength to us, especially to the youth. It is the strength to fight against the capitalists.


ICP: Do you think the current imperialist order of the world bears any similarities with pre October period of the 1927?
DA: Of course, today there are still contradictions between imperialists. These are contradictions with different contents but still create conflicts between imperialist groups. For example in our region, there are various economical interests and differences. The contradictions today appear on different issues like pipe lines, different ways of commerce etc. There are new conflicts and wars with new sides like US, EU, Russia. All these mean capitalist aggressiveness and risk for the people in those regions. For us as KKE, our focus today is to struggle to disembark our country from imperialists wars. Greece participates in military operations in Balkans and other places of the World, we fight against that. What we also fight against is the military bases. This is also a common struggle for all CPs against imperialism. CPs should fight against their bourgeois governments taking part in imperialist wars.

This is some thing we should learn from the legacy of the October Revolution. The Bolsheviks had shown us the way for this. They had fought for their own rights, without concerning the interest of the bourgeois class. Only the struggle for socialism can ensure peace and welfare.

ICP: Can we expect new waves of socialist revolutions for todays world? Can they be triggered in some way?
DA: Yes, in our world transition from capitalism to socialism is definitely possible. In our century socialist revolutions are possible. The capitalism has been rotten with all dimensions: economically, financially, regarding social rights for the people and culturally. It is so normal for people to stand up and fight for socialism. At that point it is crucial for the socialist parties to create a robust and stable line for socialism, to have roots in the working class, in all segments and sectors. This was what the experience of Bolsheviks taught us.



ICP: How has KKE been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Great October Revolution?
DA: We have organized events to meet with people. The CC of KKE has released a declaration on the 100th anniversary ( See the link). Our party aims to achieve a constructive competition for organising and developing our lines. It is hopeful that we receive interest from many people. They do not agree everything KKE says, but they participate and discuss with us, intellectuals, artists. We are positive about our progress especially about the radicalization of the working class and the youth.
ICP: Next year it is the 100th years of KKE? Do you connect the two centenaries, the 100th year of October Revolution and the 100th year of KKE?
DA: For the next year we plan to continue to have publications with theoretical discussion and also with discussions regarding the insider issues of the KKE. We'll have publications for the people, workers, youth. We believe in the co- occurrence of the theory and practice. Struggle and theory should go at the same time. It is important for our members of KKE and KNE to keep their vanguard role, to become the live example and to transfer experience. Without action we cannot progress in theory, meanwhile we should also keep the legacy of the historical experience.

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... -that.html

[blindpig]

PAME meeting with the Roofers Local 36 Symposium from the USA (PHOTO)


From the meeting

A delegation of PAME met Triti 14 Nov. by the Syndicate Roofers Local 36 in Los Angeles of USA .

Roofers Local 36 is located in Greece, at the invitation of the World Trade Union Federation. It is the first US syndicate to join the World War II since the onset of the Cold War.

The American trade unionists transferred to PAME the situation faced by US workers and their appreciation of PAME's role and action in Greece. PAME expressed its solid solidarity with US employee struggles and briefed on developments in Greece.



https://www.902.gr/eidisi/ergatiki-taxi ... s-ipa-foto

Google Translator

[Dhalgren]

The more the better. US unions in solidarity with PAME is good to hear!

[blindpig]

Deadly floods hit west Athens, leave at least 16 dead: Statement by KKE GS Dimitris Koutsoumbas



The General Secretary of the Central Comittee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, visited on November 15th the facilities of the Helenic telecommunications organisation (OTE) in Parnitha and spoke to the employees. In his speech, among other things, he referred to the huge destruction caused by the floods in the areas of Mandra and Nea Peramos, in Attica, which killed 16 people.

In particular, General Secretary Koutsoumbas stressed among other things:

“Poor working class and people’s families drown every year, in different areas all over Greece, precisely because there are no flood protection works, there is no necessary infrastructure; as a result we constantly mourn victims, fellow people, houses and properties are destroyed that people had created working hard all their life, from day to night. Therefore, we must express our solidarity with the victims, but, above all, we must express our determination to organise the struggle on such issues in every workplace, in every neighbourhood.”

Source: inter.kke.gr.



Report from the Associated Press.


MANDRA, Greece (AP) — Greece declared a day of national mourning after floods on the outskirts of Athens left at least 16 dead Wednesday, flipping over cars, smashing into homes and cutting off highway traffic.

The flash floods turned roads into raging torrents of mud and debris inundated houses and businesses. Drivers scrambled out of their vehicles as cars were washed away. Rescue crews searched basement homes for residents who may have been trapped.

More torrential rain is expected Thursday.

“This is a very difficult moment for our country. We mourn the deaths of 14 people in what is a great disaster. ... It is the wish of all of us that this number does not increase,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a televised address, announcing a day of national mourning Thursday.

Twelve of the people killed — four women and eight men — were found in or near Mandra, a small town on the western outskirts of Athens that was hardest-hit by the flood. The coast guard recovered the bodies of two more men believed to have been swept out to sea by the flood.

Floodwater carrying debris charged toward the coast, sinking fishing boats in a small harbor. Several people were being treated in a hospital for various injuries, including hypothermia.

There were fears the death toll could rise further as rescue crews searched flooded homes and streets on the western outskirts of Athens.





The flooding came after a severe overnight storm brought driving rain to the area. Roads turned into muddy rivers that carried away vehicles, tossing them into piles on roadsides and against fences and buildings. Several walls from yards and low buildings collapsed, filling the streets with rubble.

The fire department said it had received more than 600 calls for help pumping water out of buildings and had rescued 86 people trapped in vehicles and homes. It said it had deployed 190 firefighters with 55 vehicles. All fire services across the wider Athens area had been put on alert as more bad weather was forecast.

A section of the highway between Athens and Corinth was completely knocked out, with cars, trucks and buses trapped in an inundated underpass.

Judicial authorities ordered an immediate investigation into the deaths and material damage. Investigators would be looking into whether factors such as shoddy or illegal construction might have contributed to the severity of the flooding.


Local authorities shut schools in the areas of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, while the fire department appealed to the public to avoid the area unless absolutely necessary in an effort to reduce traffic.

More hazardous weather was predicted for large swaths of Greece later Wednesday and in coming days, with storms predicted for western Greece and for parts of the Greek capital.



The deaths came a day after authorities declared a state of emergency on the small Aegean Sea island of Symi due to torrential rainfall there that flooded homes and shops, swept vehicles into the sea and cut power after the local power station was flooded.

https://communismgr.blogspot.gr/2017/11 ... ve-at.html

[blindpig]

"Bread, Education, Liberty": 44 years later, the legacy of the Polytechnic Uprising lives on



Like every year, on November 17th, rallies have been scheduled for today in Athens and other Greek cities in order to commemorate and honour the 43rd anniversary of the students and workers uprising in Athens, which is historically known as the Polytechnic Uprising.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth (KNE), as well as numerous labour organisations, students unions and women's associations, have issued statements calling for mass participation in the march for the Polytechnic.

A large rally has been scheduled to take place today (Friday) evening in downtown Athens, starting from the Polytechnic building and ending at the U.S. Embassy. Similar rallies will take place in major Greek cities, including Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, Larisa, Ioannina, etc.

This year's anniversary is important for an additional reason which is the deeper involvement of Greece in the imperialist plans of USA-NATO, under the responsibility of the SYRIZA-ANEL government.

Below, you can read a brief historical review of the 1973 Polytechnic Uprising against the Greek Junta:

On the night of the 20th to the 21st of April 1967, the reactionary military circles of the country, which were closely connected to the secret services of the USA and NATO, conducted a military coup. The operation of the surrender of power to the army had been developed at the staff of NATO, under the code name "Prometheus". Colonels G. Papadopoulos and N. Makarezos, who were actively involved in the preparation of the coup, became known as "the black colonels".

During the fascist occupation 1940-44, several of these officers participated in the security forces and the mopping'up operations against communists; some of them even worked with Gestapo and were later connected to the secret services of the English and Americans. The military junta, headed by G. Papadopoulos, N. Makarezos and the generals S. Pattakos and G. Zoitakis, having planed a conspiracy with the king and based on the article 91of the Constitution of Greece, published a decree stating the transition of all of the power to the army and the abolition of a series of articles of the Constitution, concerning democratic rights.

Having seized the power, the military dictatorship proceeded with the materialisation of the "Prometheus" operation. Every democratic liberty in the country had been abolished, a marshal law had been imposed, strikes and meetings were banned, harsh censorship was introduced, political parties and progressive social organizations were also banned. The army took upon it extensive authority, arrests and searches had been conducted. By the order of the dictatorship, thousands of political and social fighters of our country were arrested, first and foremost cadres of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the legal, until then, political party, United Democratic Left (EDA), through which, communists also fought. According to statements by the officials of the dictatorial regime, more than 40 thousand communists had been arrested till the May of 1967.

In order to deceive people, the colonels named their coup "national revolution", which was supposed to have been conducted "for the benefit of all the classes of the Greek society". The army and especially the officers, were declared "driving force of the revolution", and the struggle against communism had been set as the main goal.

The coup became possible in Greece, because the military forces of the country were under the strict control of the reaction. The labour and democratic movement had not still reorganized its forces after the defeat in the civil war of 1946-1949. The development of the mass movement in Greece was impeded by the emergency laws, which first of all prohibited the action of KKE. The leaders of the "Centre Union" Party followed a policy of fragmentation of the democratic forces, disintegrating any common stance of the opposition, aiming at the repulse of the reaction, thus enforcing it. The opportunist elements that existed inside KKE during that period had succeeded in 1958 a decision to be taken for the dissolution of the illegal party organizations, to be taken, supposing that KKE, could, at the end, allegedly be replaced by a wider structure of the Left, EDA. EDA, despite its' high election results, up to 28%, not only failed to develop a true alternative, but even failed to prepare the party forces and the popular movement before the coup.

The regime of the 21st of April of 1967 was an overt terrorist military-fascist dictatorship of the domestic and foreign monopolies. A characteristic particularity of the military-fascist regime has been no other than the close involvement of the American imperialism, in the preparation and the establishing of the dictatorship.



The anti-dictatorship struggle

Straight after the coup, KKE strengthened its' struggle for the rallying of all of the democratic and patriotic organizations. It summoned all the patriots, despite their party belonging, at factories, neighbourhoods, villages, universities, schools and state institutions, to organize in resistance committees, in order to overthrow the fascist dictatorship. On the initiative of KKE and EDA, the Patriotic Anti-dictatorship Front (PAM) had been formed on the May of 1967. Later, other anti-junta organizations made their appearance, such as PAK and the "Democratic Defence".

KKE at deep illegality and in spite of the blows it had endured not only from junta, but also from the opportunists who had split the party in 1968, managed to regroup the party organizations, created the "Unified Trade Union Anti-dictatorship Movement" (ESAK) and set up its' youth organization, the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), which was going to play an avant-garde role in the Polytechnic uprising in 1973.

The uprising of the Polytechnion

The sharpening of the socio-economic contradictions in Greece and the rise of the anti-dictatorship movement, in 1973, lead to the deep crisis of the regime. The dissatisfaction grew even in the army, the regime's main support.

In the mid of 1973, the demonstrations of the workers embraced one branch of the economy after the other. One federation after the other gave notice of termination of their collective contracts and demanded a 45-50% rise in their salaries. These mobilizations were characterised by the vivacity and unity of workers, independently of their political beliefs and lead to the isolation of juntas' people in the trade union movement.

The struggle of the university and technological institutions students was an important parameter of the political developments in Greece, especially in 1973. Their main demands were the progressive reforms in the educational system, the restoration of trade union, academic and political liberties. The students of Athens, Thessalonica, Patra, Ioannina, conducted meetings, assemblies, demonstrations with slogans such as: "Democracy", "Down with fascism", "Down with the dictatorship", "One is the leader, the sovereign people", "Freedom to the political prisoners".

Because of the worsening of the financial standing of the poor peasantry, mass manifestations started to break out through the whole of Greece, and took the form of refusal of handing the goods over to the trade. The solidarity with the political prisoners and their families' movement, aiming at the release of the political prisoners, also developed.

In order to diminish the pressure towards the regime, the military dictatorship, Papadopoulos went on to remove several of their collaborators from the government and to form a "political" government headed by the leader of the 'Progressive Party' S. Markezinis. The main task of the new government (October 8 1973) was to prepare 'parliamentary elections'.

The political manoeuvres of Papadopoulos did not lead to the stabilization of the situation the in the country. The anti-government manifestations persisted. It is worth mentioning that the opportunist fraction that split from the party in 1968 and created the eurocommunist 'KKE-interior' supported the manoeuvre of 'politization' of the dictatorial regime. A top moment had been the uprising of the students of the Polytechnic University of Athens and of the young workers of Athens, on the 14-17 November 1973, which gave the final blow to the attempts to disguise the regime. The main slogans of the uprising were: 'Bread, Education, Liberty', 'National Independence', 'Down with Papadopoulos', 'Out the Americans and NATO' e.t.c. Large masses of workers supported the students and the young workers. The students' mobilizations acquired the form of university building occupations, in Thessalonica and Patra. Demonstrations had also been organized in Trikala and Drama.

In Athens, the students managed to create a radio station and inform people from the building of Polytechnic of the mass manifestations. KNE in Athens and the Anti-dictatorship Students' Union (Anti-EFEE), played a special role in the organization of the struggle.

On the 17th of November, at night, tanks had been thrown at the revolted students and workers. At that night, 56 people were killed, according to official records. According to police records, 1103 citizens and 61 policemen had been injured. As it became known after the fall of the dictatorship, 34.000 bullets had been used by the police, in addition to the 300.000 cartridges of all kinds, used by the army, so as to repress the revolt. In the days of the revolt, the regime went on to arrest 2.500 people, although it announced merely the arrest of 866, having made the following presentation of their social status: 475 workers, 268 students, 74 pupils, 49 Polytechnic students.



Although the revolt had been drowned in blood, the overall reaction to the regime grew. Eight months later (24 July 1974), the dictatorship fell under the weight of its treason and adventurism in Cyprus, where the coup, that it had organized in cooperation with the secret services of NATO, aiming at the extermination of the progressive regime of President Makarios (15/7/1974) led to the Turkish invasion and occupation of the 37% of Cyprus.

Then, mass demonstrations against the dictatorship had been held in a lot of cities of Greece. The pressure of the masses had been so great that the Greek oligarchy, decided to remove junta and to hand the power over to a coalition of bourgeois parties, in which right-conservative elements persisted, in order to avoid the worst. This coalition had been but an expression of the compromise among the junta supporters, the imperialist circles of NATO and USA, as well as of the bourgeois political powers of Greece, for the 'legal' handing over of the power to the latter.

At the same time, and without waiting for the release and return of the comrades in exile and from abroad, the illegal organizations of KNE and KKE regained legality. The legal activity of KKE had been won de facto and the circulation of the daily party's newspaper 'Rizospastis' began. The new bourgeois government was forced to abolish the anti-communist law 509, through which the political activity of KKE had been prohibited for whole decades, since 1947.

Each year, activities are held in honour of the students and workers, who revolted in the November of 1973. The culminating moment of these annual manifestations is the demonstration to the US embassy on 17th of November.

https://communismgr.blogspot.gr/2017/11 ... later.html

[blindpig]

Alone in the rain, resistance fighter Manolis Glezos honors the dead of 1973 Students’ Uprising
November 17, 2017 Greece, Politics Leave a comment


A fighter to the bone. 95 years old. Manolis Glezos is holding two red flowers and with the help of a walking stick goes to the Polytechnic University in downtown Athens to honor the dead of the Students’ Uprising in 1973.



When he arrives in front of the Monument, his companion takes the umbrella and leaves.

Manolis Glezos is left alone in the rain. He raises his fist and greets these who lost their lives to bring democracy in Greece.



A proud man.



Some 6,000 students and common Greeks marched also this Friday, November 17th 2017, to commemorate the 44. Anniversary of the Students’ Uprising.





Members of PASOK Students’ organization have been carrying all these years the Greek flag that still has some blood traces.



The flag was found in the Polytechnic premises after an army tank crashed the main gate of the university and where thousands of students were were chanting slogans against the military dictatorship.





The day after… Police is cleaning the blood, majority of protesters has been arrested and tortured in military prisons.



Famous actress Sophia Vembo is watching the protest from her balcony on Patision Avenue, near to Polytechnic University. When army and police cracked down the uprising, she opened her door and offered refugee to students and workers and protesters trying to flee arrest and torture.

In the four days that shook Greece, estimated 16 to 28 people were killed inside and around the Polytechnic University.

A tragedy in the modern history of Greece.

http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2017/11/17/50422/

(for some reason some of the pics wouldn't post, see link)

[blindpig]

Mass and militant rally of the KKE and KNE for the Polytechnic Uprising anniversary in Athens (VIDEO)



Large militant rally by KKE, KNE and labour-students' unions commemorating the 44th anniversary since the Polytechnic Uprising; Athens, 17 November.
Αναρτήθηκε από In Defense of Communism

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... d-kne.html

[blindpig]

KKE sends powerful message to Tsipras' government: "The right to strike is non-negotiable, don't dare to touch it!"

Regarding the SYRIZA-ANEL government's amendment about the right to strike- which provoked the militant response of Trade Unions and workers - the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following statement:

"The SYRIZA-ANEL government broke any record of political impudence and nastiness, bringing, like a thief in the Parliament - and within an irrelevant law proposal in order to vote it quickly- an amendment in order to begin the rupture of the working class' biggest conquest, which is the right to strike.

It is a ruthless government, which has no inhibition in order to serve the interests of the capital, a solid pursuit of which is to hit the right of strike, so that "cemetery silence" will prevail in labor places. For that reason, the government receives the congratulations of her "partners" in the EU, for that reason it quickly finishes the antiworker-antipeople "evaluations". The right to strike, which was conquered with blood and sacrifices, is non-negotiable and whoever dares to touch it will face the working people and the class movement.

The KKE calls the working people to strengthen their struggle, to be from tomorrow and everyday out in the streets, to thicken the strike mobilizations during the next days, with the peak being the nationwide strike of December 14th.

https://communismgr.blogspot.gr/2017/12 ... ipras.html

[blindpig]

General Strike on December 14th in Greece - Workers to give a powerful response to SYRIZA government

Source: All-Workers Militant Front.
Last week in Greece, the working class witnessed a series of incidents that showed a strong escalation of state oppression and employers' intimidations against workers
The workers of supermarkets in Ioannina, the students and the workers of the Universities, outside the Ministry of Education, but also the protesters in the courts against the banks auctioning off peoples’ homes, were not the first to suffer persecutions, arrests, violent repression and tear gas.
The over 18 months unpaid workers of the super markets of Ioannina who struggle for their right to work and their salaries, the students who in the year 2017 literally demand a decent meal and the workers who protect their homes, were within a few hours targeted by the SYRIZA-ANEL government.
Intimidation in the workplace with threats, blackmails, repression and arrests, the planned attack against the right to go on strike and trade union action, as well as the public prosecution of the anti-auction mobilizations, are key aspects of the doctrine of “law and order” and are an indispensable ingredient to the so-called "fair development" that the government is promoting to support the business groups with money and privileges.
PAME, the class trade union movement does not fear the threats and repression. We strengthen the resistance in every industry and workplace, we unite them in a general confrontation with the employers and the government, with the exploitation system that crashes our lives. Only the power of the organization, of the struggle against the escalating anti-workers policy can create obstacles to the attack of the business groups and the government of SYRIZA-ANEL, to the escalation of the state violence and employers' intimidations.
Our response must be given with the massive participation of the working people in the national general strike on December 14th.

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... th-in.html