06) COMMUNIST PARTIES HOLD 16TH ANNUAL MEETING IN ECUADOR

 

By Drew Garvie, the Communist Party of Canada's representative at the 16th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties

 

            The 16th International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) took place Nov. 13‑15, 2014 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Fifty-three Communist Parties from 44 different countries sent representatives.

 

            The theme of the meeting was declared as "The role of Communist and Workers' Parties in the struggle against imperialism and capitalist exploitation ‑ which causes crises and wars and gives rise to fascist and reactionary forces. For workers' and peoples' rights and for national and social emancipation; for socialism".

 

            The Communist Party of Ecuador was the host of this latest annual meeting of the international Communist movement. Guayaquil holds a special place in the struggles of Ecuador because of its militant history. After an independent revolt by the population of the city, Simon Bolivar and San Martin (the two great liberators of South America from Spanish colonial rule) decided to use the city as their only meeting place in 1822. The historical figure of Bolivar has become a symbol of independence from US imperialism in the 21st century, especially thanks to the "Bolivarian Revolution" in Venezuela.

 

            In 1922, one hundred years after the famous anti‑colonial meeting, Guayaquil became the site of a massive general strike of great importance to the Ecuadorian labour movement. The strike was met with bloody state repression by the army and police, with the wealthy of the city also shooting at workers from their balconies. Thousands of strikers were slaughtered over a few short hours, their bodies thrown into the river. November 15th marked the 92nd anniversary of the "crosses above the water" massacre.

 

            Delegates of the IMCWP accompanied hundreds of militants from the Communist Party of Ecuador in a march to the waterfront. The participating parties denounced ongoing repression against Communists, trade unionists and members of people's movements that is occurring around the world.

 

            The meeting itself was an opportunity to share developments and analysis on the struggles of all the Parties present, and those which were unable to attend but sent greetings. The meeting highlighted the need for unity in action in the face of the capitalist economic crisis, which has led to an increase in imperialist aggression and the rise of fascist and reactionary forces.

 

            to fight the turn by the ruling class of many countries towards war, austerity and the removal of democratic rights, the Communist Parties adopted plans for several joint actions. This includes the immediate need to fight for peace and against the new imperialist aggression in Iraq and Syria and "the manipulation of the so-alled fight against terrorism". The meeting acknowledged that the Islamic State and other "extreme reactionary groups" are "supported by imperialism and reactionary states".

 

            Specifically on the question of militarism, the international Communist movement will denounce imperialist military bases and will also focus on NATO's "Trident Juncture 2015". This will be NATO's largest military exercise in 20 years, set to take place in October and November 2015 in Spain and Portugal. The meeting also highlighted the need for common action against the US and the EU's intervention in Ukraine and their support for fascism and anti-communism in that country, as well as increased aggression on the continent of Africa.

 

            The Parties renewed their pledge to carry out solidarity work with Palestine, by organizing actions on the 29th of November, the United Nation's "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People". A solidarity visit to Palestine will also be organized by international Communist Parties.

 

            With strong participation from Communist and Workers Parties from Latin America, the meeting discussed the struggle for sovereignty and the many victories achieved in this part of the world. Ricardo Patino, Ecuador's Foreign Minister, addressed the meeting and highlighted the government's removal of the US military base, and the renegotiation of the debt, saying that the current government "has the political will to confront imperialism".

 

            In the statement on joint actions, the meeting condemned "imperialist impositions, interferences, and aggressions" in Latin America, and reaffirmed "solidarity with the struggles for the construction of socialism". The Parties present highlighted the important role of Socialist Cuba and planned to continue work to end the US blockade, and to counteract the war against Cuba carried out by the corporate media.

 

            The joint actions planned for 2015 also include the integration of important upcoming anniversaries into the work of the Parties. This includes commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Fascism. The meeting pledged to highlight the role of the USSR and the Communist Parties in defeating Nazism, and to reinforce the struggle against the reactionary rewriting of history and whitewashing of fascism. This holds particular importance for democratic forces in Canada, who are fighting the Harper government's multi‑million dollar commitment to build a "monument to the victims of Communism", and Harper's role in supporting fascism in Ukraine. Last fall, Canada became one of only three countries in the world to vote against a recent UN resolution condemning the glorification of Nazism.

 

            This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the victory of Vietnam against the United States. The meeting recognized the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people and agreed to integrate the anniversary in the Parties' work for 2015.

 

            Several international anti‑imperialist mass organizations have anniversaries this year that will be used by the Communist Parties to strengthen their work. The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF), and the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) are all commemorating 70 years since their founding, and the World Peace Council is celebrating its 65th anniversary. Parties also committed to mobilizing for May 1st, International Workers' Day, to support struggles "for the labour, social and democratic rights of workers".

 

            There was a frank exchange on the different approaches to building socialism in the Parties' respective countries, which will be continued at future meetings. The "Working Group" consisting of several Communist Parties which coordinate these important meetings, has received an offer from the Communist Party, Turkey to host the upcoming 2015 meeting. It was also agreed that the Working Group and Communist Parties from Eastern Europe, would initiate a review of whether it is possible to host the 2017 meeting in a country from the ex‑USSR, in order to commemorate the centenary of the 1917 October Revolution.

 

            The 16th IMCWP completed its work at a critical juncture for the Communist movement, full of new dangers and opportunities. The meeting was a success in developing unity in action amongst the Parties, and did its part to strengthen the international working class movement against war and reaction, and for socialism.

 (The above article is from the January 1-31, 2015 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)