Eirigi Support The KSM (Czech Communist Youth)

[Irish-Sandinista]

Communist youth movement banned in Czech Republic

Wednesday March 19 saw a court in Prague, Czech Republic, ban the popular communist youth movement, KSM, the youth wing of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia.

The Communist Party is the third largest party in the Czech Republic.

The KSM has been under attack by the right-wing Czech government and, in particular, by the minister for the Interior for the last number of years in a blatant attempt to undermine the growing Communist Party. Unable to ban the party they have this month succeeded in banning the youth movement.

The court decision cements the government’s policy of attempting to criminalize socialism and those who promote it and, effectively, make it illegal to campaign against capitalism. This decision is an outright attack upon democracy, upon the right of workers to organize and upon socialist ideology in general. It comes as part of a European and indeed global assault upon socialist and communist ideologies and movements.

In reflecting upon history people would do well to remember the famous words written by German Nazi collaborator turned prisoner Pastor Martin Niemoller.

First they came for the Communists,
but I was not a communist so I did not speak out.
Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists,
but I was neither, so I did not speak out.
Then they came for the Jews,
but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out.
And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

Young activists in Ireland, at the request of the KSM and the World Federation of Democratic Youth, marked the anti-democratic court decision by delivering letters of protest to both the Twenty-Six County Department of Foreign Affairs and the Czech Embassy.

éirígí’s Daithí Mac an Mhaistír extended solidarity to the activists of the KSM.

“There has been a worrying trend in recent times of European governments banning political organizations that they see as a threat to the status quo.

“This has included the decision by the Spanish state to make it illegal for any expression of Basque left-nationalism to be represented in elections in the Basque Country and, most recently, this nefarious decision in Prague.

“It was not too long ago that British and unionist governments were banning political parties in this country. So I would appeal for Irish political activists to extend any practical solidarity they can to the Czech communists at this difficult time.

“However, I have no doubt that the banning order will only strengthen the resolve of the KSM to play their part in the struggle for freedom, socialism and peace.”

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest310308.html

http://www.eirigi.org/images/ksm_poster.jpg

[RisenBelfast]

The KSČM have the coolest elected rep going - Vladamir Remek a former Cosmonaut.

[Emiliano Zapata]

The RSYM also released a statement a few years back condemning the banning of the Communist Youth. All left parties should do likewise.

[Angry Brigade 08]

reformed stalinists...

I think Class War wrote a simple but adequate response to requests to support KSM a while ago

Class War recently had an e mail from the Republican Socialist Youth Movement, (which seems to be an IRSP run group) urging us to support the Czech Communist Union of Youth.

I print the RSYM e mail, and a reply below, and would be interested in the views of other groups and activists......

--- Seán MacRuadhán wrote:

*Solidarity with the Czech Communist Union of Youth

The RSYM stand in solidarity with the youth communist movement of the Czech Republic as it comes under attack from the Czech government.

The Interior Ministry of the Czech Republic has threatened to ban the Communist Union of Youth (Komunisticky svaz mladeze, KSM). This is the progression of recent anti-communist movements in Bohemia and Moravia which have attempted to outlaw communist parties and even the word communist itself. The KSM is being coerced into rejecting the theories of Marx and Engels or be punished. As Czechs have long valued their sturdy independence against despotism and religion, this new inquisition is absurd.

Other draconian laws include making it a crime to defend or deny alleged communist crimes have been passed by the House of Deputies of the Parliament. The recurring theme in the Czech anticommunist movement is to equate communists - the liberators of Prague - to the Nazis!

We encourage everyone to write and express their disgust with the Czech

Interior Ministry and solidarity with the KSM:

Ministerstvo vnitra (Ministry of Interior)

oddeleni volebni a sdruzovani,

namesti Hrdinu 3,

140 21 Praha 4

Czech Republic

Fax: ++420 974 816 872

e-mail: stiznosti@mvcr.cz <mailto:stiznosti@mvcr.cz>

benesova@mvcr.cz <mailto:benesova@mvcr.cz>

krivova@mvcr.cz <mailto:krivova@mvcr.cz>

Embassy of Czech Republic in Ireland

57, Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge

DUBLIN 4

Ireland

Phone: +00 35 31/ 668 11 35

Fax: +00 35 31/668 16 60


Here's the reply that went off to the RSYM:

Are these guys a load of (young) Stalinists?

If so, they hardly stood up for anyone else on the left (whether anarchists, trotskyists, independent trades unionists or whoever) during the days of the communist regimes in eastern europe.

That the boot is now on the other foot in eastern europe is hardly a surprise. Dialectics?

Perhaps the KSM's political seniors ought to be apologising to us all for the mess they made of communism and marxism in eastern europe (making our jobs as revolutionaries all the harder) before any

fresh campaigns are launched.

Instead the KSMs last congress declared its solidarity with North Korea, one of the most despicable regimes in the world (See link below) Perhaps instead of sending the North Koreans solidarity, they would have

been better off sending them some food?

http://www.korea-is-one.org/article.php3?id_article=2197

The people of the Czech Republic deserve a lot better than the government they currently have, with its censoring ways. Socialists and Communists the world over however, deserve a lot better than the KSM and there forefathers.

I dont understand why lefties bend over backwards to support such parties(well i do based on the populist nature of 'republican socalism') whenever they wouldnt have turned an eye lid to repression under the Communist Party when in power. I dont really have care either way. It wouldnt suprise me if similar calls were made to support to 'deformed workers state'(irony) in China...

[Comrade Ryan]

Yawwwwwnnnnnn...

As far as 'you're not revolutionary, we are' rants go, this one was quite unimpressive.

[Angry Brigade 08]

Its really nothing to do with being 'revolutionary' at all. Neither is is about being impressive a wee bit of principles wouldnt go astray..

[Angry Brigade 08]

I dont think its impressive supporting a group that sends its greetings to N Korea ever year and "they hardly stood up for anyone else on the left (whether anarchists, trotskyists, independent trades unionists or whoever) during the days of the communist regimes in eastern europe." But thats for eirigi to decide

[Nijinsky]

Its really nothing to do with being 'revolutionary' at all. Neither is is about being impressive a wee bit of principles wouldnt go astray..


So would the principle of opposing the banning of political parties or movements be a principle you would support?

[Comrade Ryan]

I dont think its impressive supporting a group that sends its greetings to N Korea ever year and "they hardly stood up for anyone else on the left (whether anarchists, trotskyists, independent trades unionists or whoever) during the days of the communist regimes in eastern europe." But thats for eirigi to decide

Indeed.

And forgive me if I treat the super-revs with a little caution.

If there is a section of the left I cannot be bothered debating with its the Anarchists. Some really good revolutionary writings from anarachists but the only problem with anarchists are....anarchists.

[Angry Brigade 08]

As most anarchists, we would be against the the banning of political parties such as the KSM despite their history and attempts to dress up as reformed stalinsts. Personally, i wouldnt give them my two cents.
Which would that be comrade Ryan?
Unbearing hostility to all forms of oppression and exploitation or a history which continues to this day helping building some of the most strongest working-class revolutionary movements, rebellions revolutions from L.America to Europe with all the consequences only to be see gains being crushed by the state and capitalism or so-called 'red bureocracy'? Or could it just be our clear insight and experience that 'power corrupts' the 'best' despite there best intentions?

[Comrade Ryan]

As most anarchists, we would be against the the banning of political parties such as the KSM despite their history and attempts to dress up as reformed stalinsts. Personally, i wouldnt give them my two cents.
Which would that be comrade Ryan?
Unbearing hostility to all forms of oppression and exploitation or a history which continues to this day helping building some of the most strongest working-class revolutionary movements, rebellions revolutions from L.America to Europe with all the consequences only to be see gains being crushed by the state and capitalism or so-called 'red bureocracy'? Or could it just be our clear insight and experience that 'power corrupts' the 'best' despite there best intentions?

Yeah thats it.

[conghaileach]

Considering that this a youth organisation - and that most of its members were probably infants when the Soviet Union collapsed, if they'd even been born at all - isn't it somewhat unfair to condemn them for the crimes of 'Stalinism'?

[Angry Brigade 08]

well dont think so, they still continue to tag on to the Communist Party..

[Comrade Ryan]

Yeah they deserve to be purged by the right-wing, the sooner we get rid off those with left tendencies the better, then the anarchists can defeat the neoliberals with their superior force and bring about a world controlled by the workers.

[Angry Brigade 08]

Communist Party- left tendencies? what planet do you live on?

[Comrade Ryan]

Communist Party- left tendencies? what planet do you live on?

It was a general statement.

A general statement as in 'you know who gets up my ar*e? The super revolutionary types who'd rather stand by and watch other groups on the left get banned, with the next logical step being persecuted, by right wing elements, who by the way are attacking them for being communists not descendants of stalinists, purely on the basis of some perceived revolutionary superiority'.

That kind of general statement.

[Angry Brigade 08]

Like ive already stated i dont support them being banned neither would i give them my two cents.

[Comrade Ryan]

Like ive already stated i dont support them being banned neither would i give them my two cents.

Ah how principled of you.

You don't support them getting banned but you won't do anything about it either. The worlds workers are safe in your hands.

It seems like 'support' can be used here to disguise 'agree'.

You may not support them being banned, but it'd appear that you might just agree with it.

Oh where oh where has anarchisms promise of freedom gone?

[Angry Brigade 08]

you see things are not black or white and you dont need to be in one camp or the other do you. If you extend your logic it extends to, which is typically of the left of 'your enemies enemy is your friend'.
Oh dear, freedom that much abused word,
"We hold that there should no limits on human liberty other than respect for the liberty of others"

[FTA69]

Like ive already stated i dont support them being banned neither would i give them my two cents.

That's simply bitterness rooted in an inter-left rivalry which has long finished; the goalposts have moved completely, and to be honest I would support a hard-working group of young Communists over the current neo-liberal capitalism we have now. They weren't banned for being "nasty Stalinists", they were banned because they were a credible left-wing opposition. And if you think the people responsible for the banning would hesitate to do the same to Anarchists, Trotskyists or whoever else then it is clearly you living on another planet.

[Angry Brigade 08]

And if you think the people responsible for the banning would hesitate to do the same to Anarchists, Trotskyists or whoever else then it is clearly you living on another planet.
__________________
Obviously.

Remember the famous Chavez

http://libcom.org/news/three-day-strike-venezuelan-steelmaker-27032008

whats new?

[Comrade Ryan]

you see things are not black or white and you dont need to be in one camp or the other do you. If you extend your logic it extends to, which is typically of the left of 'your enemies enemy is your friend'.
Oh dear, freedom that much abused word,
"We hold that there should no limits on human liberty other than respect for the liberty of others"

Your enemies enemy is not necessarily your friend or foe.

But now that that deflection is dealth with, can you address the point, that these people were not banned for being descendents of stalinists but for being communists, communisits with growing appeal I may add.

So if you are not prepared to defend that rights of the young communists to organise, then your tired claims of 'but look what their grandfathers did to us, they didn't respect our right to organise' is absolute morally bankrupt drivel.

So would you defend young communists to organise or do you defend neoliberals in their strident attempts to criminalise left political opposition?

I know thigns are not always black and white in this world, but with you things seem to be a bright shade of yellow on this topic.

[Comrade Ryan]

And if you think the people responsible for the banning would hesitate to do the same to Anarchists, Trotskyists or whoever else then it is clearly you living on another planet.
__________________
Obviously.

Remember the famous Chavez

http://libcom.org/news/three-day-strike-venezuelan-steelmaker-27032008

whats new?

I know there is no perfect revolution, so it probably is better to have the neoliberals have their way with the world until such a time as the perfect revolution materialises.

You know, all those gains made in Venezuela for the working and indigenous people, whilst incomplete, are pretty worthless, better to wait until a revolution of virtuous perfection can be rolled out from start to finish.

That my friend is the cop-out position - one too readily occupied by the 'real' radicals.

[Angry Brigade 08]

Do get confused now between positive radical reforms being carried out and a revolutionary transformation of society in which capitalist social relations between workers and bosses have been uprooted. Chavez and his party will be strangle any libertarian spirit which he has being doing recently, centralising of power. He does have a militaristic background and we all know where that leads us.
Similar the Labour Government in the 1950s nationalised industries etc and conceded reforms such as free education which were considered revolutionary at the time, but probably crushed more strikes than the Conservative Party. Chavez has changed his colours before and will again. Its workers are only capable of pushing through he revolution. Better than alot of other L.American regimes but not socialism.


wsm wrote a useful article on similar issue a while back on the subject
http://www.wsm.ie/news_viewer/695

There is also a dvd out at the moment which was not produced by an anarchist but goes along way to uncover the 'myth' behind the Chavez charisma in terms of treatment towards indigeneous people and workers control'.
http://www.afed.org.uk/other/venezuela_dvd_our_oil.html

"It is necessary to abolish completely and in principle and in practice, everything that may be called political power, for as long as political power exists there will always be rulers and ruled, masters and slaves, exploiters and exploited."
Mikhail Bakunin

[Comrade Ryan]

Do get confused now between positive radical reforms being carried out and a revolutionary transformation of society in which capitalist social relations between workers and bosses have been uprooted. Chavez and his party will be strangle any libertarian spirit which he has being doing recently, centralising of power. He does have a militaristic background and we all know where that leads us.
Similar the Labour Government in the 1950s nationalised industries etc and conceded reforms such as free education which were considered revolutionary at the time, but probably crushed more strikes than the Conservative Party. Chavez has changed his colours before and will again. Its workers are only capable of pushing through he revolution. Better than alot of other L.American regimes but not socialism.


wsm wrote a useful article on similar issue a while back on the subject
http://www.wsm.ie/news_viewer/695

There is also a dvd out at the moment which was not produced by an anarchist but goes along way to uncover the 'myth' behind the Chavez charisma in terms of treatment towards indigeneous people and workers control'.
http://www.afed.org.uk/other/venezuela_dvd_our_oil.html

"It is necessary to abolish completely and in principle and in practice, everything that may be called political power, for as long as political power exists there will always be rulers and ruled, masters and slaves, exploiters and exploited."
Mikhail Bakunin


This all does appear to be quite a ramble and a bit challenging to decifer.

I for one think that Chavez is doing a good job in a difficult position. He is not a dictator and has to have challenges to the neoliberal order passed by the electorate.

I know by now, that you view any revolutionary transition as being worthless. You remind me of someone. An anarchist in Belfast who attended a Hands of Venezuela meeting and devoid of any real substantive criticism of Chavez, he was forced to talk about his 'fears' that the bureaucracy would frustrate the revolution, not that he had any evidence of this but that he was 'scared' it would happen, or perhaps more accuratly, he was 'hopeful' that it would so that it would fulfil his lifes mission of proving that anyone who wasn't an anarchist wasn't a revolutionary.

He also resorted to holding up one small indigenous community who were upset that they had an electricity pylon placed close to their village, even though they didn't want it, as evidence that the revolution was a farce. Notions of the greater good were never this sorts forte.

But never mind, go on with your irrelvant musings, just let others get on with the work and the activism.

Also, see when you give links to DVD's, which apparently prove your point, of course we'll be forced to take your word for it if we don't wish to purchase it, please don't insinuate that its in any way unbiased and that it wasn't produced by Anarchists as these claims are undermined by the fact that on the page it states:

All proceeds going to support Venezuelan anarchists.

:hmmm: