The 20th anniversary of the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and organisations (CIPOML) has been celebrated in Istanbul on 23 November. 20 member parties and organisations took part in the celebrations, organised by the Labour Party (EMEP). The Celebration started at 4pm and lasted five hours. It started with a minute’s silence in the name of comrades lost in revolutionary struggle and struggle for socialism, followed by revolutionary songs of the Labour Chorus. The last piece sang by the chorus, the International, was sang together by thousands. The opening speech of the Celebration was by Selma Gürkan, the leader of EMEP. In her speech, Gürkan gave examples of current struggles in different countries between the working classes and the bourgeoisie and stated that the victory will belong to the workers. Drawing attention to developments in the Middle East, Gürkan stressed that the Kobani resistance increased the determined struggle of peoples in the Middle East and the world. Following Gürkan’s speech, representatives of the member parties and organisations of CIPOML have each been called to the stage and introduced. Raul Marco, the leader of the Spanish Communist Party (ML), has given a speech to represent CIPOML member organisations. Raul Marco said “We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of CIPOML in Nazım Hikmet’s country.” He continued to say “Our determination to raise Marxist-Leninist struggle in the international arena continues. Our organisation is today an international reference. We should support our parties and organisations work. We need to ensure our international publications reach a wide audience.” Next, it was Jilani Hammami, MP of the Tunisian People’s Front who took to the stage. Jilani started by saying “I’m a member of a nation scanning the horizon looking for the star of freedom and socialism”. After stating that the elections in Tunisia are the most critical to date she continued to say “we will never give our determination for revolution up” and finished by saying “victory is always in the horizon”. Joint leader of the PYD, the leader of the Kobani resistance, Asya Abdullah was next to join the celebration through Skype. In pointing to 25th November ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women’, she stressed the important role of women in Kobani. She continued to say “Women fighting against IS also fight for the freedom of women. Our struggle will be victorious in Kobani”. When the joint chair of HDP – representing the Peoples’ Democratic Conference (HDK) that also includes EMEP – Selahattin Demirtaş took to the stage, the venue was filled with the slogan of “long live peoples’ solidarity”. Demirtaş said that we’re at a time where the struggles in the Middle East are coming to fruition “Kobani is the marker of this. The fight continues on the streets of Kobani between YPG, the representatives of the oppressed and IS, the representatives of imperialism. Of course the victor will be the line of freedom. Free women will be the victors. They will bury that barbarian movement just like in Stalingrad.” WORKERS RESISTANCE ON ITS WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL Various workers staging resistances and strikes in factories in Istanbul also joined the CIPOML celebration. Workers’ organisations in distant cities sent their supporting statements. İstanbul-Tuzla shipyard workers saluted CIPOML celebration with slogans of “End illegal killings at work” and “End the exploitation of foreign workers.” Health sector workers also saluted the celebration with their message of “funding for health, not war”. Workers’ and public workers’ unions such as the Revolutionary Workers’ Unions Confederation (DISK) and the Public Workers’ Unions Confederation (KESK) were also represented by their leaders and managers. The celebration continued late into the night with concerts from various groups. -- Labour Party (EMEP), Turkey emep.org/en/ (English)
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 03:18:10 +0000
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