KKE’s decisive response to anticommunism

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) repelled the ideological and political efforts of forces that support the capitalist system to equate communism with fascism. These efforts have acquired global dimensions. A “special day” of equation, on the day of the Non-Aggression Pact signature between USSR and Nazi Germany 70 years ago, has even been established.

This attack, supported by powerful imperialist organisations such as the EU and the OSCE, aims at the ideological intimidation of communists and other radical forces that struggle for the overthrow of capitalist brutality. Its main aim is to brainwash the youth by means of books -school books included-, television, cinema, of the ideological “arsenal” of the capital in general. The attempt to rewrite history through the systematic publishing of anticommunist articles in bourgeois press is also notable.

In Greece, as far as history is concerned, this effort unfolds carefully, scientifically and methodically. While the issues dominating the anticommunist campaign are the so called “transparency” of the political parties’ finances and KKE’s categorical denial to hand over to the authorities lists of members and friends of the Party that support it financially.

It is also worth mentioning that after the civil war and during the period that KKE was illegal (1947-1974) there has been a severe wave of blunt anticommunism which disgusted and revolted the popular strata of our country. Thus, the bourgeois political parties of Greece are forced to take into account the above mentioned sentiment of the people as well as the consistency of KKE’s positions, its readiness to defend the socialism we experienced as well as the history and contribution of the communist movement. Therefore, the recent OSCE anticommunist resolution in Vilnius, Lithuania, was adopted without the vote of the representatives of the two bourgeois political forces of Greece, ND and PASOK.

Despite these particularities the anti-communist campaign in Greece is a part of a general plan, serves the same anti-peoples goals and is equally dangerous for the peoples and the youth. It is also worth mentioning that recently a school student in Athens, member of KNE, was punished by expulsion because he defended socialism in the classroom.

Considering these conditions, KKE deemed that a strong response to anticommunism and the distortion of history should be given, especially now, in face of an unprecedented attempt to establish a special condemnation “day”.

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Dozens of rallies

Thus, at every corner of Greece, in places of symbolic significance, places of torture, imprisonment and execution of communists and antifascist fighters, but also in central city locations, the Organisations of KKE and KNE held massive three day rallies (22nd, 23rd and 24th August) in order to condemn the imperialist history distortion campaign and the equation of communism with fascism-Nazism.

For instance, on Sunday, 23rd August KKE’s Athens Organisation carried out two respective events.

By honouring Nikos Zachariadis, GS of the CC of KKE (27th April 1903 – 1st August 1973) Athens’ communists honoured the thousands of communists and other patriot fighters who did not compromise, did not succumb under fascist furiousness. The event took place by the monument-grave of Nikos Zachariadis who had been ousted to the Nazi camp of Dachau.

Athens Organisation of KKE also held a parallel event at another location of Athens, in Kalithea, by the monument of the Soviet Soldier (1941-1944). In resistance Kalithea Soviet fighters fought fascism in the ranks of ELAS (Greek People’s Liberation Army) and died along with Greek patriots. Three Soviets, who were captured during the occupation and found themselves in Greece, escaped and joined the ranks of ELAS. They fought alongside the fighters of the People’s Liberation Army. On 26th August 1944 they were executed in Kalithea along with 14 ELAS soldiers and 11 other fighters.

At the weekend, the organisations of Macedonia and the organisations of Thessalonica of KKE held at a peak of mountain Grammos, at “Charos”, an event in response to the EU intention to equate fascism with communism. The two day event included a youth camp of KNE at the bank of Aliakmonas River as well as a pre-festival event of the Communist Youth at Nestorio village. On Sunday morning, the participants ascended the Kotyli heights. The demonstration reached the monument of the four exemplary fighters of the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE), Ch. Iliadis, Th. Theodoridis, G. Theodorou and N. Hatzisavas, whose sacrifice is recorded in the history of the combats of 1947. When these DSE fighters run out of bullets, they preferred to fall from Charos cliff, over old Kotyli, to being arrested by monarch-fascists.

Dozens of events, rallies and placard protests took place throughout the country against the attempt of the EU and the OSCE to equate communism with fascism. Due to the catastrophic fires in Attica, KKE had to postpone its main event, where the GS of the CC of KKE Aleka Papariga was scheduled to speak. The event was eventually held on Monday 31st of August.

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Denouncement Statement

KKE supported the efforts to issue a statement which denounced the unacceptable equation of Fascism with Communism. This statement has already been endorsed by hundreds of cadres and supporters of Communist and Workers’ Parties, elected in National Parliaments, in trade union bodies, in local governments and in other mass organisations as well as by scientists and authors from 26 countries of all continents (Algeria, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil ,Britain, Chile, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine).

As far as Greece is concerned, the text is signed by the General Secretary of the CC of KKE, Al. Papariga, by the whole parliamentary group of KKE (22 MPs) and the two MEPs of our Party as well as by tens of cadres elected in bodies of the workers’ and trade union movement, of local governments and mass organisations.

Attached, there is a list of 74 signatures from Greece.

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A special edition of “Rizospastis”

The response of the daily newspaper of KKE, “Rizospastis” to the anticommunist campaign has also been significant.

For the first time in its history, Rizospastis offered its readers a 220-page book dedicated to the Anti-fascist victory of the peoples. The book contains articles published in Rizospastis and in the “Communist Review”, in the period May-June 2005. These articles were republished in order to contribute to the intensification of the ideological struggle, through promoting the knowledge of the basic issues of the World War II. The book also includes the “Theses of the CC of KKE on the 60th Anniversary of the Anti-fascist Victory of the Peoples” as well as articles of cadres of KKE on the contribution of KKE and the international communist movement to the defeat of fascism.

Moreover, it includes an article by A. Rubiks on “The role of the USSR and of the CPSU in the World War II”, by G. Slobotkin regarding the Nazi crimes in Katyn, and by A. Arseenko on “The Strategy of Imperialism against the USSR and the International Socialist System after the World War II”.

Archive materials, such as the Action Report of the CC of the Bolshevik CP which I.V. Stalin delivered at the 17th Congress on 26/1/1934, as well the Theses of the Communist International on the role of Social Democracy on the eve of the war, are also included in the book.

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Statement of M. Theodorakis

The Sunday edition of Rizospastis published a statement of the world-famous Greek composer M. Theodorakis regarding the campaign of equation of communism with fascism.

The statement reads as follows:

“When in the end of 2005 it was announced that in the European Union some thought of equating the Communists with the Nazis, a huge wave of protests ensued. Since then, devious crypto-Nazis worked on the sly and finally managed to achieve their goal. So, water and fire are the same! For them good and evil, the dark and the light, victimisers and victims, Auschwitz and Stalingrad, beasts and heroes, fascism and Resistance are the same!

They do not understand that by this monstrous distortion of the recent history they condemned themselves and those who support them to eternal shame. At the same time, they stigmatised an important institution of the European Union by creating the suspicion that it constitutes the starting point for the defamation of all the peoples and governments of today’s Europe; a Europe of the Peoples, of Democracy and Progress which they seek to transform into a parody of the Europe that Hitler intended to create, principally aiming at the annihilation of Freedom and of Democracy, of Jews, Gypsies, Communists and of every res cogitans.

For these reasons, I accuse them of crypto-Nazism - crypto-Hitlerism and I warn them that as soon as their true identity is revealed, they will become a laughingstock of all free citizens on earth.”

4/9/2009
International Section of KKE

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Greece
1. Alissandrakis Kostas, MP Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe(OSCE)
2. Antonas Stratos, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the island of Lesvos
3. Benetatos Stelios, Mayor of Municipality of Nikea
4. Boudouroglou Kaliopi, President of the Federation of Greek Women
5. Boutas Vaggelis, Member of the CC of KKE, President of the Uniting Federation of Peasants Unions of Larisa prefecture,cadre of All Peasants Militant Front (PASY)
6. Drakopoulos Dimitris, chairman of Federation of Workers in Press and Printing Companies
7. Drakos Antonis, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the island of Samos
8. Flouda Georgia, chairwoman of the Trade Union of workers in the food processing and tourism sector of Athens
9. Galanopoulos Panagiotis, President of the Craftsmen and Tradesmen Federation of Athens, member of the coordination of Tradesman Struggling committee.
10. Garbis Apostolis, chairman of the Trade Union of workers in food and beverages companies of Athens
11. Gatzis Nikos, MP
12. Georgiou Dimitris, vice-chairman of the Federation of the Workers at the Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company
13. Gkikas Nikos, President of the Trade-Union of electricians of Athens
14. Gkikas Sotiris, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the prefecture of Thesprotia
15. Gkiokas Yiannis, Member of the Bureau of CC of KNE, MP
16. Halvatzis Spiros, Member of the CC of KKE, MP
17. Haralampous Haralambos, MP
18. Iosifidis Giorgos, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the prefecture of Fokida
19. Kafantari Euthalia (Lila) MP
20. Kakkavas Thomas, chairman of the union of accountants of Athens
21. Kalantidou Sofia, MP, President of the Trade Union of Shop Assistants of Thessalonica
22. Kanelli Garifallia (Liana), MP, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE)
23. Kantartzis Achilleas, Member of the CC of KKE, MP
24. Karathanasopoulos Nikos, MP
25. Katsiotis Christos, member of the CC of KKE, EC of PAME
26. Kazakos Costas, MP
27. Komninos Yiannis, chairman of the Trade Union of Employees in private sector of Athens
28. Koumpouras Vasilis, chairman of Trade Union of pharmaceuticals of Athens
29. Makri Kiki, chairwoman of the Trade Union Center of the prefecture of Dodekanisa
30. Mamali Vaso, chairwoman of the Trade Union of textile factory workers of Athens
31. Manolakou Diamanto, Member of the CC of KKE, MP
32. Manousogiannakis Yiannis, chairman of the Pan-Hellenic Union of lower engine crews
33. Marinos Georgos, Member of PB of the CC of KKE, MP
34. Mariolis Kostas, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the city of Agrinio
35. Maroudas Rizos ,President of the Uniting Federation of Peasants Unions of Larisa prefecture, cadre of All Peasants Militant Front (PASY)
36. Maurodoglou Diamantis, chairman of the Federation of Pensioners of the Social Insurance Institute
37. Mavrikos Georgos, Member of the CC of KKE, General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), MP
38. Mavrothalassitis Babis, member of the presidium of the General Confederation of Craftsmen and Tradesmen member of the coordination of Tradesman Struggling committee.
39. Mela Eva, MP
40. Mitilinou Kostas, chairman of the Trade Union of metal industry workers of Athens
41. Moraitis Nikos, MP, Vice President of the Federation of the Etoloakarnania Peasants’ Unions
42. Mpalou Alexandra, chairman of the Trade Union of employees in the financial sector of Athens 43. Nikolaidou Vera, MP, Vice President of the Greek Committee For International Detente And Peace (EEDYE)
44. Pafilis Thanasis, Member of the CC of KKE, General Secretary of the World Peace Council(WPC), MEP
45. Papaioannou Kostas, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the city of Arta
46. Papariga Aleka, General Secretary of the CC of KKE, MP
47. Pasoulas Yiannis, chairman of the Federation of Construction Workers
48. Perakis Alekos, chairman of the Trade Union of workers in telecommunications
49. Perros Giorgos, member of the ES of PAME
50. Poulikogiannis Sotiris, chairman of the Trade Union of metal industry workers of the city of Piraeus
51. Protoulis Yannis, Member of the CC of KKE, Secretary of the CC of KNE, MP
52. Raftopoulos Sotiris, vice-chairman of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Railway Workers
53. Sarikas Yiannis, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the island of Rhodes
54. Siokou Zoi, chairwoman of the Federation of Pharmaceuticals
55. Sirigos Valsamos, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the city of Lavrio
56. Sitzanis Nikos, member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Workers of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization
57. Skopelitis Stavros, MP
58. Skyllakos Antonis, MP
59. Soultania Aggeliki, chairwoman of the Trade Union of workers in private clinics of Athens
60. Spiratos Gerasimos, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the islands of Kefalonia and Ithaki
61. Stamelos Ilias, vice-chairman of the General Federation of Workers in the Public Enterprise of Electricity
62. Stamtelos Nikos, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the island of Lefkada
63. Strouzas Pangiotis, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the island of Zakinthos
64. Tasoulas Giannis, chairman of the Trade Union of construction workers of Athens
65. Theodorou Dimos, chairman of the Federation of Workers in the Textile, Garments and Leather industries
66. Toussas Giorgos, Member of the CC of KKE, MEP
67. Tsagkataki Maria, chairwoman of the Union of shop-assistants of Athens
68. Tsichlis Panagiotis, chairman of the Federation of Food, Milk and Beverages
69. Tsimpoglou Savvas, chairman of the Pan-Hellenic Union of Merchant Marine Engineers
70. Tsiogkas Dimitris, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the city of Larissa
71. Tsitsis Sakis, chairman of the Trade Union Center of the city of Naousa
72. Vardaros Leon, chairman of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Spectacles and Shows
73. Varelas Dimitrios, chairman of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Accountants
74. Ziogas Yannis, MP, Member of the Prefecture Council of Thessalonica
[From CP of Greece]