Thursday, April 28, 2011

Twenty Years Ago

...in the NEW WORKER


Politicians began arriving at Belfast’s Stormont Castle last Tuesday to make preliminary arrangements for talks on the political future of the occupied Six Counties of northern Ireland. The talks are billed in most of the media as “historic”.
Much is being made of the participation of both unionist and nationalist parties. The Financial Times said: “It is the first time nationalists and unionists have sat at the same table for 15 years”.
The talks will be opened by the British Government’s northern Ireland Secretary Peter Brooke and the Irish Government is expected to take part at a later date.
Speaking at a meeting of Sinn Fein’s Executive Committee, Sinn Fein president and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams said:
“Contrary to media reports and political criticism Sinn Fein is not critical of the current British process simply because we are not involved. If it held out hope of a permanent and peaceful solution we would welcome it.
But we are not naive ... We believe in Irish independence not only for ideological or even patriotic and democratic reasons – it also makes sense.
Partition and British involvement has not worked. It has been a catalyst for conflict. Irish Independence, an end to the British connection, can be a catalyst for peace and justice
This is the stated view of all other Irish political parties except Unionists. This is the basis on which we judge the Brooke process.
Our collective experience persuades republicans that in spite of Brooke’s November speech in which he claimed Britain has no ‘selfish, strategic or economic’ interest in the north, it is in reality Britain which is setting the agenda setting the current political agenda underpinned by a re-affirmation of the Unionist veto”.

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Friday, April 22, 2011

Twenty Years Ago

...in the NEW WORKER






The Trades Union Congress may agree the affiliation of the Electrical and Plumbing Industries Trade Union this week.
The 4,000 strong EPIU was formed when the EEPTU was expelled from the TUC in 1988. The EPIU was given observer status in 1989 but was refused full membership.
The TUC says the EPIU is now self sufficient and no longer dependent on other unions. Holding sections for EPIU members set up by the TGWU, MSF and GNB general unions will be disbanded.
Some members of the general council had hoped a way could be found for the EEPTU to return but that is extremely unlikely.
Leading members of both the AEU engineering union and UCATT building workers union want merger with EEPTU. A rat race could develop to carve it up.

Mikhail Gorbachov has returned empty-handed from Japan to face renewed demands from all quarters for his resignation.
The visit was a failure. Gorbachov had been seeking some £15 billion worth of Japanese aid to stave off the economic collapse of the Soviet Union.
But he was unable to meet the Japanese demand for the return of some or all of the Kurile islands, which Tokyo has set as their price for propping up his ailing regime.
The Japanese government had been expecting a major concession from the Soviet side over the Kurile islands, whose strategic and economic importance and history as part of Russia until 1905 led to their re-incorporation into the Soviet Union after the victory over Japan in 1945.
Many suspect the Soviet leader had privately indicated his willingness to meet Japan’s demands. But the intervention of his rival, Boris Yelstin who controls the Russian Federation made this impossible.

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Thursday, April 21, 2011

Historic opportunity for communists





By New Worker correspondent




COMMUNIST and workers’ parties from all over Europe met in Brussels on 11th and 12th April to exchange views on the response of the movement to social and political processes across the continent. Representatives of 38 parties from 31 countries, including the New Communist Party of Britain, took part in the conference held in the European Parliament in the Belgian capital. Mirta Castro, head of the Cuban delegation to the European Parliament, ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg and representative of the Communist Party of Cuba, was also present at the meeting.
The conference was opened by Aleka Papariga, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), who said that there was now a historic opportunity to direct the thoughts and actions of the peoples in struggle towards working class power.
But she stressed that that even if a pro-people majority in parliament was elected in one country and a government was formed on this basis, it would still not be able to overcome the limits of the basic laws of capitalism if it did not resolve the central issue of the socialisation of the basic means of production, withdrawal from the EU and Nato, nationwide planning and workers’ control from the bottom up.
NCP general secretary Andy Brooks represented the party at the conference and in his intervention he stressed the NCP’s opposition to the imperialist attack on Libya and its support for the massive anti-cuts protest in London last March. He called for mass industrial action against the cuts to build the resistance to the ruling class offensive.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Brussels European Communist and Workers Parties Conference April 2011

Joint Statement

The communist and workers parties which participated in the European Communist Meeting in Brussels, 11-12 April, exchanged their views on the ongoing deep crisis of the capitalist system and denounce the imperialist aggression against Libya. This war, in the conditions of the capitalist crisis, is a continuation of the barbaric assault which capital has unleashed at the expense of the working class and the popular strata of our countries through savage anti-people measures. The imperialist intervention of the USA, NATO, and the EU in Libya is yet another crime of the imperialists at the expense of the peoples. The false pretexts which the imperialists use cannot conceal the truth that the inter-imperialist competition for the control of natural resources in Africa, the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caspian is intensifying. We demand the cessation of the imperialist war, that the bases be closed and every kind of assistance for the implementation of the imperialist plans be stopped. Also in the case of Libya we consider that the people must have the right to choose its path of development on its own, without foreign interventions.

At the same time in the name of “competitiveness” with other imperialist powers, the bourgeois class of the countries of Europe generalises the anti-worker measures. They reduce wages and pensions in the name of the crisis in order to ensure the profitability of capital. In many countries savage reductions of labour and trade union rights are being promoted, unemployment is on the rise, the right to strike and other trade union freedoms are being undermined, xenophobia is strengthening while the poor farmers are being wiped out in favour of the big farmers and monopoly groups. The historical limits of capitalism are being demonstrated objectively, as it cannot solve the basic problems of the peoples.

The bourgeois class is very well aware of the fact that the main enemies of their strategy, the main opponents of the capitalist system are the communist and workers’ parties. For that reason in many countries they intensify the anticommunist threats, persecutions and bans.

However, there is only one way for the peoples. Only through the struggles of the workers for the working class- people’s problems, for the political power of the working class, we can pave the way for social progress, for socialism.

The communist and workers’ parties of Europe are against the membership of new countries in NATO, struggle for the withdrawal of their countries from NATO having as a goal the dismantlement of NATO.

We salute the massive struggles of the class-oriented movement that are taking place in many European countries. The peoples are benefited by the growth of the current that challenges the anti-people political line, the imperialist organisations, and the capitalist path of development itself.

The communist and workers’ parties which participated in the meeting decided to further intensify their activity and coordination.


СОВМЕСТНОЕ ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ

Коммунистические и рабочие партии, принявшие участие в Европейской коммунистической встрече, организованной в Брюсселе 11-12 апреля, обменялись мнениями относительно развивающегося, глубокого кризиса и осудили империалистическую агрессию против Ливии. В условиях капиталистического кризиса, эта война является продолжением варварского наступления капитала на рабочий класс и народные слои наших стран, посредством применения жёстких антинародных мер. Империалистическая интервенция США, НАТО и ЕС в Ливии – очередное преступление империалистов против народов. Лживые предлоги империалистов не могут скрыть истины – обострения межимпериалистической конкуренции за контроль над природными ресурсами Африки, Ближнего Востока, Восточного Средиземноморья и Каспийского моря. Мы требуем прекращения империалистической войны, закрытия военных баз и отказа от участия в реализации империалистических планов. И в случае Ливии, мы считаем, то народ должен избрать собственный путь развития без давления иностранных империалистических интервенций.

В то же время для обеспечения конкурентоспособности по отношению к другим империалистическим державам, буржуазный класс в странах Европы осуществляет антирабочие меры. Во многих странах, как членах ЕС, так и в других для обеспечения высоких прибылей капитала сокращаются зарплаты и пенсии. Попираются трудовые и профсоюзные права, растёт безработица, урезаются право на забастовку и профсоюзные свободы, усиливается ксенофобия, в интересах крупных землевладельцев и монополий разоряются бедные крестьяне. Налицо объективные доказательства исторической ограниченности капитализма, его неспособность решать основные проблемы народа.

Буржуазный класс прекрасно знает, что основной противник его стратегии, основной враг капиталистической системы – это коммунистические партии. Поэтому во многих странах отмечается рост угроз, гонений в отношении коммунистов и вводятся запреты на коммунистическую идеологию.

Но для народов нет другого пути. Только борьба трудящихся за трудовые и народные права, за политическую власть рабочего класса открывает путь к социальному прогрессу, к социализму.

Коммунистические и рабочие партии Европы выступают против вступления новых стран в НАТО, борются за выход своих стран из НАТО, имея целью развал НАТО.

Мы приветствуем массовую борьбу рабочих и народа, борьбу классового рабочего движения, которая ведется во многих европейских странах. В интересах всех трудящихся, чтобы народы стали решительней оспаривать антинародную политику, империалистические организации и сам капиталистический способ развития.

Коммунистические и рабочие партии, принявшие участие во Встрече решили усилить свою деятельность и координацию.

Parties

1. Communist Party of Styria [Austria]
2. Communist Party of Belarus
3. Workers' Party of Belgium
4. New Communist Party of Britain
5. Communist Party of Britain
6. Party of the Bulgarian Communists
7. AKEL-Cyprus
8. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
9. Communist Party in Denmark
10. Communist Party of Denmark
11. Communist Party of Estonia
12. Finland Communist Workers’ Party for Peace and Socialism
13. Pole of Rebirth of Communistes in France
14. Union of Revolutionary Communistes of France URCF
15. German Communist Party(DKP)
16. Communist Party of Greece
17. Hungarian Workers' Communist Party
18. The Workers' Party of Ireland
19. Communist Party of Ireland
20. Communist Peoples' Left, Italy
21. Socialist Party of Latvia
22. Communist Party of Luxembourg
23. Movement of People's Resistance, Moldavia
24. New Communist Party of the Netherlands
25. Communist Party of Norway
26. Communist Party of Poland
27. Communist Party of Russian Federation
28. Communist Workers' Party of Russia - Revolutionary Party of Communists
29. Communist Party of Soviet Union
30. New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
31. Communist Party of Slovakia
32. Communist Party of Peoples of Spain
33. Communist Party of Sweden
34. Party of Labour, Switzerland
35. Communist Party of Turkey
36. (EMEP), Turkey
37. Union of Communists of Ukraine

Brussels conference: Resolution on Belarus

RESOLUTION ON BELARUS

The communist and workers’ parties and organizations which participated in the European communist meeting held in Brussels 11-12 April 2011 condemn the bombing of the Minsk metro, which caused the death and injury of dozens of people. With this motion we express our grief for the victims of this act and our condemnation of the continuing plans of destabilization, which are being elaborated with the intervention of the USA, the EU and NATO.

We express our support for the right of every people to choose its own path of development, without foreign imperialist interference.


РЕЗОЛЮЦИЯ ПО БЕЛОРУССИИ

Коммунистические и рабочие партии и организации, принявшие участие в Европейской коммунистической встрече, состоявшейся в Брюсселе 11-12 апреля 2011 г. осуждают взрыв в метро Минска, в результате которого погибли и получили ранения десятки человек. В этой резолюции мы выражаем скорбь по поводу жертв этого действия и осуждаем планы по дестабилизации в стране, вынашиваемые при помощи США, ЕС и НАТО.
Мы поддерживаем право каждого народа самостоятельно избирать свой путь развития, без иностранных империалистических вмешательств.


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1. Communist Party of Styria [Austria]
2. Communist Party of Belarus
3. Workers' Party of Belgium
4. New Communist Party of Britain
5. Communist Party of Britain
6. Party of the Bulgarian Communists
7. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
8. Communist Party in Denmark
9. Communist Party of Denmark
10. Communist Party of Estonia
11. Finland Communist Workers’ Party for Peace and Socialism
12. Pole of Rebirth of Communistes in France
13. Union of Revolutionary Communistes of France URCF
14. German Communist Party(DKP)
15. Communist Party of Greece
16. Hungarian Workers' Communist Party
17. The Workers' Party of Ireland
18. Communist Party of Ireland
19. Communist Peoples' Left, Italy
20. Socialist Party of Latvia
21. Communist Party of Luxembourg
22. Movement of People's Resistance, Moldavia
23. New Communist Party of the Netherlands
24. Communist Party of Norway
25. Communist Party of Poland
26. Portuguese Communist Party
27. Communist Party of Russian Federation
28. Communist Workers' Party of Russia - Revolutionary Party of Communists
29. Communist Party of Soviet Union
30. New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
31. Communist Party of Slovakia
32. Communist Party of Peoples of Spain
33. Communist Party of Sweden
34. Party of Labour, Switzerland
35. Communist Party of Turkey
36. (EMEP), Turkey
37. Union of Communists of Ukraine

Brussels Conference: Support for the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia

Support for the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia

The Communist and Workers’ parties which participated in the European Communist Meeting held in Brussels 11-12 April 2011 raise their voices in intense protest at the systematic persecution and discrimination against the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia (NCPY).

At the order of the Serbian government the Central Committee of the NCPY is obliged to vacate its only offices in Belgrade within eight days. Despite the fact that the main offices of the NCPY have been locate there for the last 20 years from the moment of its foundation. And at the same time, the Serbian authorities have not provided the NCPY with any other location to move its offices to.

We demand the immediate cessation of the persecution against the NCPY.

Hands off the NCPY!


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В поддержку Новой коммунистической партии Югославии

Коммунистические и рабочие партии, принявшие участие в Европейской коммунистической встрече, организованной в Брюсселе 11-12 апреля, выражают свой резкий протест против систематического преследования и дискриминации направленной против Новой коммунистической партии Югославии (НКПЮ).

По приказу правительства Сербии, Центральный комитет НКПЮ должен за восемь дней покинуть свой единственный штаб в Белграде. Несмотря на то, что в последние 20 лет, со дня формирования НКПЮ, штаб-квартира партии размещалась в этом здании. Одновременно, власть Сербии не представила НКПЮ никакого другого помещения под штаб.

Эти действия правительства Сербии направлены против НКПЮ, которая давно является частью международного коммунистического движения.

Мы требуем немедленно прекратить преследования против НКПЮ!

Руки прочь от НКПЮ!


The Parties

1. Communist Party of Styria [Austria]
2. Communist Party of Belarus
3. Workers' Party of Belgium
4. New Communist Party of Britain
5. Communist Party of Britain
6. Party of the Bulgarian Communists
7. AKEL-Cyprus
8. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
9. Communist Party in Denmark
10. Communist Party of Denmark
11. Communist Party of Estonia
12. Finland Communist Workers’ Party for Peace and Socialism
13. Pole of Rebirth of Communistes in France
14. Union of Revolutionary Communistes of France URCF
15. German Communist Party(DKP)
16. Communist Party of Greece
17. Hungarian Workers' Communist Party
18. The Workers' Party of Ireland
19. Communist Party of Ireland
20. Communist Peoples' Left, Italy
21. Socialist Party of Latvia
22. Communist Party of Luxembourg
23. Movement of People's Resistance, Moldavia
24. New Communist Party of the Netherlands
25. Communist Party of Norway
26. Communist Party of Poland
27. Portuguese Communist Party
28. Communist Party of Russian Federation
29. Communist Workers' Party of Russia - Revolutionary Party of Communists
30. Communist Party of Soviet Union
31. New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
32. Communist Party of Slovakia
33. Communist Party of Peoples of Spain
34. Communist Party of Sweden
35. Party of Labour, Switzerland
36. Communist Party of Turkey
37. (EMEP), Turkey
38. Union of Communists of Ukraine