Communist Party of Malta

COMMUNIST PARTY OF MALTA
14/8 Vincenti Bldgs, Strait Street, Valletta
Each Countries road to Socialism is different, but there is one thing in common, that this road is hard to travel, and full of obstacles and problems, that need to be overcome, but each country have different problems and obstacles to overcome, before any progress can be made.

After three centuries of the despotic domination by the Knight Hospitaliers of the Order of St John, The Maltese Islands were liberated by the young General of the French Republic Napoleon Bonaparte but ignorant Maltese peasantry mistook the French revolutionary fervor for enlightenment as something demonic and anti Catholic, thus after a two year siege with the aid of the British naval forces the French were driven out of Malta.

This marked the beginning a period of 164 years of direct colonial rule by Britain.. Making Malta, the only colony in Europe. The British ensured that the Catholic Church ruled Malta for them. Thus Malta was isolated from mainland Europe, and kept in a semi feudal state, well up, until the mid 20 Century. The Maltese lower classes were left in absolute ignorance. A Bourgeoisie Priest politician of the early 20th century is quoted as saying “That education will make workers loose their souls”. After the First World War unemployment was on the rise, and the increase of the price bread, which was the staple food of the masses, caused riots to break out in Valletta. This marked the beginning of the struggle for independence from Britain as in these riots 4 workers were shot dead by the British soldiers which were used to control the rioters. The Nationalist party, a reactionary party, represented the bourgeoisie interests was a pro Italian party, during the 1930’s strived for the use of Italian as our national language, over Maltese which was the common tongue of the working classes, needless to say the British had to sack them from Office after they managed to win with the aid of the Catholic church the 1933 elections, and to intern its leaders for their pro Fascist sympathies during World War Two. After the war universal suffrage was first introduced in Malta and the reactionary Nationalist Party suffered its worst electoral defeat ever.

In the struggle for independence which was being fought by a Liberation front led by a Social Democratic party, the Malta Labour Party. The Catholic Church fearing the loss of its privileges took an anti Independence stand, and ensured that in the 1961 General Elections that the Labour Party would loose by the imposition of moral sanctions against those who voted for Labour. These sanctions were even used against persons who had died by the refusal by the church authorities to allow proper burial in the public cemetery claiming it was holy ground. Thus ensuring the under the auspices of the British Colonial authorities the victory of a reactionary Nationalist Party with a weak leadership and on gaining Independence under such an Administration, the British managed to keep Malta under control. Broadcasting, Communications, and both Sea Port and Airport were left in British control. On paper we were independent, but in practice we were not. For the use of their military bases paying Malta, next to nothing, and offering loans with low interest. It took 10 years to liberate Malta from this new yoke. In the 1971 General elections Labour won , And the struggle to rid Malta of Foreign military bases begun.

Now it was possible for communists to come out into the open. And set up The Communist Party of Malta. Prior to this it was impossible for somebody to declare that he is a communist. The mere receiving by post of the Newspaper Soviet Weekly issued by the Soviet Embassy in London was enough for civil clothes policemen to tail the person wherever he went. In the 1930’s were members of the Socialist League were sent to prison for possessing Marxist Literature. In 1948 the church made a lot of fuss because an anthem “The Scarlet Banner” was sung during A Labour Party first of May activity. This anthem at the time was used in Britain by the Labour Party. Thus this was the general atmosphere before 1971. Mostly employment was mainly with the British Military Bases. So communist had to lie low and militate within the Malta Labour Party of course without giving themselves up as Labour would kick them out on discovering communists within its ranks. While all these measures were being taken Communism was infiltrating in Malta through British serviceman posted in Malta mostly those who were undergoing a period of national service.

The Party came out into the open in 1974 and contested a general election only once, in 1987 with disastrous results, with the upcoming crises in the Socialist countries of Eastern Europe and the fall of the Soviet Union the party lost most of its members, and for a long time it only managed to survive keeping its premises and archives. Now again we are undergoing a revival as the party started to attract youths mainly through the publishing of quarterly pamphlet with other left wing individuals from other political organizations. Today, , the party is setting itself to emerge once more, and again be active in the Maltese Political life. The contradictions that existed with the Mintoff Government of 1971 – 1987 finally came to the fore and in 1987 saw the return of the Nationalist Party, now a modern centre right party, which erroneously embarked Malta on the road to join the European Union. The No Campaign at first was successful but with the direct interference of Brussels people were fooled by promises of heaven on earth by Günter Verhaugen himself on the National TV Station, into voting for accession into EU.

The economical crises, which the capitalist system, has brought upon itself, is affecting the working class the world over. In Malta this crises has already started to affect factory workers, who are first being subjected to a shorter working week, and later are made to loose their jobs, unemployment is rising and the situation is being made worse as tourism which is a major source of income, is anticipated to have a setback, as unemployed workers in other European countries will have no money to spend on holidays. The working class is being made to pay for the mistakes of others. In an effort to revive moribund Neo Liberalism, and save the global domination of big US monopolies that are going bankrupt one after the other. Tax payer’s money is being used in order to bail out Banks from going bankrupt. If we examine closely who are really the taxpayers. We will find as in the case of Malta, where workers, pay tax on every cent earned, while Lawyers, other professionals, and business men get away, and avoid declaring most of their income.

If one stops to think, about the myths, of capitalist superiority over socialism, that where propagated during the setbacks, that affected Socialism during the early 1990’s, resulting from the erroneous policies of perestroika which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and of the socialist community in eastern Europe.. Fukiyama who had predicted “the end of history” at that time. Rings hollow today as this crises has shown that capitalism is as good as dead today. One has only to remember here.

Karl Marx predictions, of capitalism digging its’ own grave to realize that now more then ever Socialism is the solution for the future, for human kind. US Imperialism, under the previous, Bush administration., with the absurd excuse as war on Terror, with the aid of Britain, and other allies, have provoked never ending conflicts, in Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars have caused the great loss of lives of innocent populations in these countries. US and NATO are fighting a loosing war and the useless spending millions and millions of US Dollars on armaments, when such resources are badly needed for social aid, education and other urgent needs elsewhere, is really an unpardonable crime.

The ongoing illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by Israeli settlers, and the Zionist policy of obstructing the peace process, so that the Palestinian state will never be set up. While the recent incursions into Gaza by Israeli forces amounts to genocide, and the war crimes which were perpetrated by the Israeli soldiers will go unpunished because of the unjust policy of two weights two measures employed by the US and its Western European Allies within the European Union. Exposes clearly the hypocrisy of the west and the Capitalist mode of production.

Socialism can be the only guarantee against such crimes, whereby the working classes everywhere can control their destiny towards social justice guaranteed employment and the attainment of Peace. Where workers of all lands will have nothing to loose but their chains as Karl Marx have stated. In the Communist Manifesto.

Long Live Socialism
Long Live Communism
Long Live the Communist Party of Greece.