PEACE MESSENGERPEACE IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE (WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Editorial Cyprus International Conference The Relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Current anti- Against Imperialism imperialist Struggle Larnaca, Cyprus — March 27-29, 2020 Socorro Gomes, President World Peace Council

In October 2019, the World Peace Council (WPC) participated in the 18th Summit of the Move- ment of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan. As always, we expressed our com- mitment with the very current Bandung Principles, translated Bahman Azad treaties. In addition, many of the social anti-imperialist peace forces on various in our full engagement in the Executive Secretary democratic forces in the peace movement issues related to war and aggression. anti-imperialist struggle for peace, U.S. Peace Council are receiving financial support from nu- And this, for us, was the beginning of the guiding our action through these merous foundations affiliated with these long process of collective work that has 70 years of WPC existence. he Cyprus International Confer- parties and states. This NATO-friendly now culminated in the convening of the The NAM counts on 120 member ence Against Imperialism, jointly influence and the financial support ac- Cyprus Conference. countries, besides 17 countries and Torganized by the World Peace companying it have had a negative impact In the U.S., our collective work 10 international organizations with Council and the Coalition Against U.S. on the peace movement globally. Most of began on Syria with a small number of observer status — such as the Af- Foreign Military Bases, is the culmination these forces, concerned about losing the anti-imperialist peace organizations. rican Union, the Arab League, the of serval years of effort by both organiza- political and financial support from those From there we expanded our anti-impe- UN and the WPC. It demonstrates tions to create a broad, unified anti-impe- funds, parties and states, have for de- rialist coalition by organizing a national its contemporaneity by strengthen- rialist front at the global level. It would be cades refused to take an anti-imperialist movement against U.S. foreign military ing agreements for the defense of no exaggeration to say that this Confer- position. And this has created a deep bases. This led to the creation of the the UN Charter and of principles ence constitutes a qualitative leap toward division between the social democratic Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military that should rule international rela- achieving this goal. wing and the anti-imperialist wing of the Bases consisting of close to twenty anti- tions: the nations’ sovereignty, self- The proud anti-imperialist history global peace movement over the very is- imperialist organizations in the United determination, non-interference, of the WPC is well known to all serious sue of imperialism. States, which was joined by the World rejection of offensive actions of peace activists throughout the world. With the help of massive political Peace Council immediately. military blocs, aggressions and the But, unfortunately, the WPC family and financial support they received, This new coalition organized the threat of the use of force, and the does not include, and naturally could these forces had managed to ignore First National Conference Against U.S. promotion of the conflicts’ peaceful not include, all of the forces who are and even in some cases isolate the anti- Foreign Military Bases in Baltimore, solution, cooperation and respect fighting against US/NATO imperialist imperialist wing of the peace movement Maryland, in January of 2018, in which for international law. aggression in every corner of the world in almost every country, especially in the WPC played a key role. However, for In the 2019 Summit, we em- every day. Yet, unified and coordinated the United States. And it was not easy us, the focus on military bases was just a for the anti-imperialist forces, with step toward our ultimate goal of uniting phasized the two NAM found- action of all these forces has always been the fundamental requirement for their limited resources and access, to and elevating the global peace movement ing moments, the 1955 Bandung a successful struggle to put an end to the overcome these negative influences to to the level of direct struggle against Conference and the 1961 Belgrade military, economic, and environmental build unity within the movement. imperialism as the main threat to peace. Conference, as expressions of the war that is being waged against all of However, the new wave of U.S. and The Baltimore Conference called for an struggle for a new economic and humanity. The Cyprus International NATO attacks on Afghanistan, Iraq, international conference against US/ political world order, manifested in Conference Against Imperialism is a Libya, Syria, and many other countries NATO bases, which was held in Novem- the protracted struggle for national response to this historical necessity and after September 11, 2001 exposed the ber of the same year in Dublin, Ireland, liberation of peoples under the the first significant step toward creat- true nature of imperialism to many hosted by our sister organization, PANA. powers’ domination after World ing a broad, unified international front sincere peace forces who were under In both cases, we faced fierce resis- War II. This process shows how against imperialism. the influence of social democrats. They tance of the social democratic wing of the important it is for us to march to- At the time of this writing, close to began to consider working with the continued on page 5 gether to overcome underdevelop- one hundred delegates from about forty ment and face powers that get their countries have registered to attend the strengths from the exploitation of Conference, and the list is growing. It others, and to defeat the grave im- is indeed a significant achievement that 75 Years After Hiroshima & Nagasaki perialist threats, with the US and twenty-seven of the forty participating For a New Development of Movements its NATO allies as the main engine, countries (close to 70 percent) are from putting humanity at the brink of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Tadaaki Kawata catastrophe. Middle East — all, one way or another, Japan Peace Committee The nations’ inalienable right primary victims of imperialist aggression. to choose their political, economic, It is for the first time that such a Nuclear Threat is Real social and cultural systems is a large number of peace organizations basic condition for securing world from every oppressed region of the This year marks 75th anniversary of atomic bombing of Hiroshima and peace and coexistence, as are the world are participating in an interna- Nagasaki by the United Sates. However human beings face the threat of their struggles for the planet’s demilitar- tional conference specifically organized annihilation by nuclear weapons. Even nowadays there remain around 14,000 ization, nuclear disarmament and to address the issue of imperialism head nuclear warheads all over the world. Furthermore, the United States and Russia for a new, egalitarian international on. This is an unprecedented historical each maintain roughly 900 nuclear weapons on prompt-launch status — high system, where the powers’ voices achievement that we need to value and alert or hair-trigger alert — so they can be launched in minutes. According to cannot continue dictating human- build on. the scientific research, a small portion, around 100 nuclear detonations, would ity’s path. Yet, this achievement has not come cause global climate change by generated black carbon.[1] In the NAM framework, we easily. Rather, it has been the result of The danger of using nuclear weapons is increasing. Trump administra- underline the appeal to national years of dedicated but difficult struggle tion’s “Nuclear Posture Review” 2018 suggested the possible usage of nuclear self-determination and peace by the World Peace Council at the global weapons on a small-scale regional conflict and even against conventional formulated in the 14th Summit level, and the U.S. Peace Council and its attacks. For this aim, the administration has decided to deploy low-yield in Havana, in 2006, the message anti-imperialist allied organizations in nuclear warheads on the sea-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and is devel- of the 2012 Summit in Teheran the United States. oping sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs). Unilaterally withdrawing from for peace, security, development, As is aparent, a significant part of the INF Treaty and leading to its expiration, the US is seeking to consolidate justice, equality and for a world the peace movement around the world is its nuclear supremacy. free from domination by force, under the influence of social democratic Russia is dangerously responding to this US move. Putin administration intimidation, threats and viola- parties and governments of Europe, is elaborating several new nuclear weapon systems, including a new class of continued on page 4 which are close allies of the United States continued on page 12 in NATO and other similar aggressive Page 2 PEACE MESSENGER VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Honoring the Centenary of the Birth of Romesh Chandra Speech at the Commemorative Event of AIPSO and WPC Raipur/ — 3rd January 2020

Delivered by Iraklis Tsavdaridis world culture and history, of the world WPC Executive Secretary peace movement, of the independence of the developing countries, Romesh Chan- he WPC family is fulfilling today dra’s statements voiced fluently in English together with AIPSO a special and French in the name of peace and the Ttask by honoring the historical progressive people of the world on all leader of the WPC and son of the Indian people’s international forums for peace, people, late comrade Romesh Chandra, solidarity and friendship spread all over who passed away on 4th July 2016 in the the world, including at the age of 97. Non-Governmental Organization Forum On behalf of the Secretariat of the or in the Non Aligned Movement (NAM). WPC, we are paying once more our trib- His speeches attracted and encouraged ute to the outstanding figure of the World people of all generations to engage in the Peace Movement in his centenary of birth. peace, friendship and solidarity activities By remembering Romesh Chandra for his and the struggle for a peaceful world of lifetime contribution to the WPC, we carry justice and social progress. on his legacy and commitment for a world We are very proud that we took the ini- without imperialist wars and exploitation, tiative to visit Romesh Chandra at his place for a world of peace and social justice of origin in November 2014 in , where all the people of the planet will live other WPC leaders, was troubled with movement and one of the leaders of the right after the Goa Executive Committee in equality and as masters of their destiny. the stand of things in the WPC towards world peace movement. He was an ex- of the WPC with a ten member delegation. Romesh Chandra was born on March the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia ample of an internationalist who never The visit took place one year after I had the 30th, 1919, in Lyallpur, India. He in 1999. He could not accept and tolerate compromised his revolutionary identity pleasure to visit Romesh Chandra alone in received degrees from a university in the ambiguous position that was actu- and values. He championed the support September 2013, in order to prepare the and from Cambridge University. ally justifying the crimes of the NATO for the liberation struggles of the peoples collective visit for 2014. In our meeting From 1934 to 1941 he was chairman of imperialists. of Africa, Asia and Middle East, and with Romesh, his son Feroze and daughter the Students’ Union in Lahore. He be- Romesh Chandra was awarded the F. the struggles against dictatorial regimes in law Chandita, we felt that the WPC was came a member of the Communist Party Joliot-Curie Gold Peace Medal in 1964. around the world. really his second family. of India (CPI) in 1939; of the Central He received the International Lenin Prize Until today, we meet people around Romesh Chandra is being, and will Committee of the CPI in 1952; of the for Strengthening Peace among Nations the world who identify the WPC with its be, remembered by the future gen- National Council of the CPI in 1958; in 1968, and was awarded the Order of historical leader Romesh Chandra. For erations in the WPC as a genuine Indian and of the Central Executive Committee Friendship of Peoples in 1975 from the us, who had the privilege to meet and work Patriot and Internationalist, a tireless in 1958. From 1963 to 1967, he was a USSR. with Romesh Chandra personally it consti- anti-imperialist peace fighter, a leader member of the Central Secretariat of the Romesh Chandra was a genuine son tutes an important chapter of our struggle. of the global peace movement. He will be National Council of the CPI. And from and figure of the Indian working-class With his deepest understanding of the always in our hearts and minds! n 1963 to 1966, Chandra was editor of the central organ of the CPI, New Age. He served as General Secretary of All-India Peace Council from 1952 Message of Condolences About the to 1963. In 1953, he joined the World Peace Council, and in 1966 he became Demise of Comrade Fanis Christodoulou the WPC’s General Secretary and a The World Peace Council (WPC) is in grief about the loss countries and of the People’s member of its presidium. In 1977 he was of our comrade Fanis Christodoulou, General Secretary of the Republic of Bulgaria in particu- elected President of the WPC. During Cyprus Peace Council on 6th February 2020 at the age of 67. lar, where he had the chance to the Assembly of WPC in Athens in 2000, Comrade Fanis, an outstanding son of the working class study and graduate. As a genu- Romesh Chandra contributed decisively of Cyprus, a longstanding member of the leadership of ine patriot and internationalist, to the preservation of the anti-imperialist AKEL, and a committed anti-imperialist fighter for peace, he served as an example to the character of the WPC and got elected as championed througout his life the struggle for the benefit younger generations, which Honorary President. of the Cypriot people, for the re-unification of his divided shall continue his legacy. In more than the half time of the 70 fatherland and the struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish The peace movement of years of history and struggle of the WPC, Cypriots to end of the occupation of the island. Cyprus and the World Peace Fanis Christodoulou made an important contribution in Council have lost an outstanding figure from their ranks. our Romesh Chandra was present on the three years of his responsibility as General Secretary of We express our deep sorrow and condolences to the family the front line of this prestigious interna- the Cyprus Peace Council, to the strengthening of the WPC, of comrade Fanis, to the Cyprus Peace Council, and to his tional organisation. Romesh Chandra and to the internationalist missions and the trilateral meet- party AKEL. experienced the times of highest level of ings of the peace movements of Cyprus, Turkey and Greece. Comrade Fanis will be remembered by the WPC in our international recognition for the WPC, His anti-imperialist commitment was of decisive impor- future struggles! as well as the difficult times of the 1990s, tance for the ongoing plans of the WPC to hold in March The WPC will be present in the funeral of Fanis Christo- when friends and enemies thought there 2020 the Anti-imperialist Conference in Cyprus, for which doulou by its General Secretary, Comrade Thanassis Pafilis, might not be any future for the WPC. he was working day and night. in Larnaca on 7th February. In the year 2000, his advice and opinion Comrade Fanis was an example for his deeply rooted un- was decisive in “re-directing” things to- derstanding of the nature of the counter-revolutionary times, The Secretariat of the WPC wards the historical mission and role of with deep appreciation of the role and service of the socialist Athens 7th February 2020 the WPC. Romesh Chandra, along with

Organizational Members of the Secretariat:

President: • All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) • Brazilian Center for the Solidarity with the Peoples Socorro Gomes and the Struggle for Peace (CEBRAPAZ) Brazilian Center for the Solidarity with the Peoples • Congo Peace Committee (CoPC) and the Struggle for Peace (CEBRAPAZ) World Peace Council • Cuban Movement for Peace and Sovereingty of the General Secretary: Peoples (MOVPAZ) 10 Othonos Str. • Cyprus Peace Council (CPC) Athens, Greece 10557 Thanassis Pafilis • Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace [email protected] Greek Committee for International Détente (EEDYE) www.wpc-in.org and Peace (EEDYE) • Japan Peace Committee (JPC) • Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council (NPSC) Tel: +30-210-3316326 Executive Secretary: Fax:+30-210-3251576 • Palestinian Committee for Peace and Solidarity (PCPS) Iraklis Tsavdaridis • Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC) Greek Committee for International Détente • South African Peace Initiative (SAPI) and Peace (EEDYE) • Syrian National Peace Council (SNPC) • US Peace Council (USPC) PEACE MESSENGER Page 3 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Venezuela at the Center of Imperialist Threat COSI — Venezuela imperialist war against Venezuela which Colombia. that directly affect the importing of has the sole aim of seizing control of our As part of the attack initiated by medicines and food to meet the needs ecently, Venezuela has con- strategic resources. the US Presidential Decree signed by of the people. tinued to be at the heart of Through this complex military Barack Obama in 2015 which declared In the context of these actions Rinternational affairs related threat, a plan is also being developed by Venezuela an unusual and extraordi- against the country, it has been es- to imperialist warfare, the defence of the fascist and most reactionary forces nary threat, at least 300 unilateral sential to have the solidarity of peace peace, sovereignty, human rights and in Venezuela to generate destabilisation coercive measures, better known as organisations in the world, with the the use of unilateral coercive measures determined action of the World Peace as a tool used by the United States and Council. The WPC organised two mis- the European Union to strengthen the sions in 2019, the first from the US blockade against the country. The Peace Council in March, and the second various spokespersons of US imperi- in conjunction with the World Fed- alism have made it clear on various eration of Democratic Youth in April. occasions that all options are on the Similarly, the WPC participated in the table in the case of Venezuela, includ- World Gathering against Imperialism, ing the military option. for Peace, Life and Sovereignty in Latin American countries that make January this year. up the so-called Lima Group have From the COSI, we reaffirm our actively joined these attacks by be- inescapable commitment to struggle ing servile and accommodating to the for peace and international solidarity mandates of the United States and the alongside all the just causes in the world European Union. Following imperial- and promote the sedition of the forces sanctions, have been passed. These that defend the sovereignty, indepen- ism’s instructions, they have tried to that support the process within the measures have impacted all strate- dence and right to self-determination promote a coup in Venezuela. This be- framework of military civic unity. This gic sectors of the national economy, of the people. The defence of peace is gan with the recognition of the former plan incorporates increasing numbers including the financial and oil sec- an urgent task that brings us together president of the National Assembly, who of mercenaries and terrorists, as well tors, and have generated large losses and which we must strengthen to make proclaimed himself “Interim President” as demobilized paramilitaries from totalling US $120 billion, resources decisive progress in this struggle.n on January 23, 2019, and later in their support 1 month later for the attempt to force alleged humanitarian aid through the Venezuelan-Colombian border. Escalating Tensions in the Middle East They also backed the failed coup led by reactionary forces in the country on April 30, 2019 with the support of the and Eastern Mediterranean United States. Peace Committee of Turkey sions. The presence of energy resources This hostility has political and ideologi- This offensive against the country in this basin has lead the imperialist pow- cal (Islamist reaction) roots; on the other has been accompanied by the threat of The crisis that the imperial system has ers to turn their focus to this area. These hand, it is clear that Turkey’s economic war by the United States, which, ac- been going through for a long time, has valuable resources were discovered crisis and search for new resources is also cording to multiple spokesmen of the undermined the leading position of the almost a decade ago. However, because giving it new grounds; and all this, to stay US Department of Defence, has repeat- USA within the imperialist system. This of capitalist relations of production and in power. This opportunistic policy is a edly suggested taking military action fact has led other powers, namely Russia imperialism’s natural zest, up to this reflection of despair. against Venezuela. The US and the and China and the prominent European day these resources could not be used in In the region, regional powers are head of Southern Command, operating powers, to seek new approaches. This favour of peoples, to improve the welfare implementing their opportunistic poli- throughout the Latin American region, process is deepening and the nature of of the peoples in the region. cies, which sometimes do not fall in line have declared that they are prepared this very process is pushing our world Competition within the European with imperialistic interventions of the to enter into Venezuela's sovereign to a war atmosphere, which can lead to Union, competition between the USA and USA and European powers. The alli- territory with the armed forces, with extremely dangerous dimensions. other big powers of Eurasia and competi- ances made by these powers, who try to the sole goal of deposing the govern- Turkey is situated in one of the most tion between the countries of the region is legitimise their policies on national and ment and handing over power to the important geographic regions, from well reflected in all international relations religious identities, reveal their class opposition. which a more extensive war can be ig- regarding Libya and the Eastern Medi- character. Just like the other powers are During September last year, with doing, Neo-Ottomanism is paving the way the initiative of the terrorist govern- for the expansion of Turkish monopolies’ ment of Colombia and the support influence in Africa. of the fascist government of Brazil Along with the recent developments and the hawkish US government, the first in Libya and more seriously in Syria, Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal the Neo-Ottomanist policy has clearly Assistance (TIAR) was reactivated. The become warmongering. In Syria, Turk- TIAR is a mechanism created in 1947 ish armed forces are currently fighting by the United States that contemplates in cooperation with reactionary groups, military intervention in the countries of against the Syrian armed forces. This is the continent to preserve their control nothing more than disrespecting another and dominance. country’s sovereignty and territorial This instrument, far from contrib- integrity. After flirting with Russia for uting to the defence of Latin American some time, the Turkish government is nations as so mentioned in its founding calling for USA’s and NATO’s support. articles, has served to provide a legal- Of course, using the opportunity, Israel ity for military intervention which is is also intervening against Syria. It seems absent from international law. It has that the Turkish government is trying to been used to legitimise interventions nited. The tensions in this broad region, terranean, with hypocrisy at its most. As expand the war and even try to pave the in Guatemala (1954), Cuba (1961), namely the Middle East and the Eastern long as imperialism prevails, a fight for way for a confrontation between the USA Dominican Republic (1965), Grenada Mediterranean, are continuously escalat- redistribution of land and resources will and Russia. (1983) and Panama (1989). When its ing. A possible spark has the potential continue. Interventions with imperial as- In spite of the fact that this is possible, activation was warranted during the to affect not only the countries of this pirations (not only of the biggest powers, we have to emphasise that in today’s Falklands war, illegally occupied by region, but a much wider sphere, even but also of minor regional powers) will world, where imperialism prevails, the Great Britain, the United States took the whole world. mean continuation of a security problem tensions have escalated to such a level refuge in its alleged neutrality and The developments that have taken not only for Libya, but also for Algeria, that they may get out of control with the did not activate it, in practice backing place in Libya since Qaddafi was ousted Tunisia, Egypt and other countries in smallest of miscalculations. Britain in the dispute. from power, must be accepted as a re- the region. Today, all forces fighting for peace The Committee of International flection of imperialism’s crisis. Failure On the other hand, the current Turk- should struggle to eliminate this danger Solidarity and the Struggle for Peace of USA’s imperialistic policies towards ish government is trying to reanimate and put forth the demand for peace. Wars (COSI) has denounced in Venezuela the Middle East and North Africa has the unsuccessful foreign policy, so-called that take place between capitalist forces and abroad this grave threat to peace led other countries to seek opportuni- Neo-Ottomanism. This time, the whole serve only imperialism and its collaborator and security which an eventual mili- ties. This general picture bears the risk region is targeted as the area to imple- capitalist classes. It only brings destruction tary incursion legitimised by the TIAR of a darker future for all peoples in the ment this aggressive and expansionist to the working classes. With wars, capitalist would mean. Peace and solidarity or- region. policy. This policy has turned the former classes will enforce nationalistic and chau- ganizations must raise their voices by On the other side, recent develop- Turkish policy of “zero problems with vinistic sentiments. The only result for the rejecting the intention to escalate an ments in the Eastern Mediterranean have neighbours” upside down and is based working classes will be destruction. What added a new dimension to the present ten- on “hostility against all neighbours.” we need is peace. n Page 4 PEACE MESSENGER VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ of the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of the World Peace Council Vientiane / Lao PDR — 24 November 2019 he Asia Pacific Regional Meeting religious purpose and geo-strategic aims of Syria. We demand the withdrawal of (UXO) are causing till today heavy inju- of World Peace Council took place by imperialist forces and their allies. all foreign occupation forces from Syria ries to peasants and children in Laos. We Tsuccessfully in Vientiane Lao PDR The WPC is following with concern along with their mercenaries. demand the appropriate compensation on 24th November 2019, hosted by the the developments in the South China The meeting underlined its strong and measures to end the cause to this Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity Sea, particularly about the territorial condemnation to the recent Coup d’ Etat problem by the ones who have created it. (LCPS). The regional meeting was com- and maritime disputes between several in Bolivia and the fascist attacks and The meeting emphasized that all the bined with the WPC Secretariat meeting neighboring countries. We support the assassination of leaders of political and above developments make it incumbent on 25th and 26th November and in total peaceful settlement of differences bi- social movements which took place after on WPC member’s organisations to participated by 31 delegates from eighteen realize the multi-dimensional, compre- (18) countries (Laos, Nepal, India, Ban- hensive and interconnected nature of gladesh, DPR Korea, Philippines, Aus- these challenges which threatens not tralia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam from the only world peace but the very survival of region along with delegates from Brazil, the planet. The peace movements in our Greece, USA, Portugal, Cyprus, Pales- region cannot proceed in any meaningful tine, Syria, Cuba and South Africa). way without assimilating the seriousness The meeting was warmly welcomed of these challenges and without evolving by the President of LCPS Somphane appropriate responses to them. After de- Phengkhamy with the presence of the tailed discussions the meeting identified WPC Secretariat and in particular of areas where the Peace movements in this the WPC President Socorro Gomes, the region have to strengthen their activities. General Secretary Thanassis Pafilis, the Future activities for the coming Executive Secretary Iraklis Tsavdaridis period: and other prominent leaders of the WPC. • To observe the centenary of birth The meeting expressed deep concern of the historical leader of the WPC over the continuing and growing impe- Romesh Chandra in Raipur/India in rialist aggressiveness internationally as January 2020 well as in the region. Asia & Pacific has • To endorse and support the “Kath- as region the second largest contingent mandu Conference for Peace, Friendship of Nuclear weapons deployed, after Eu- laterally and multilaterally between all the legitimate re-election of President and Cooperation” on 27-28 Feb 2020 in rope and after the withdrawal of the US involved parties. Meanwhile, we reaf- Evo Morales and the military/police Coup Kathmandu, Nepal. from the INF treaty, the dangers for new firmed the importance of maintaining which was clearly sponsored by the USA • To support and participate in the arms race and new threats to peace and and promoting peace, security, stability, and the EU. We express our full hearted International Anti-imperialist Confer- security are on the rise. Additionally, the safety and freedom of navigation in and solidarity also to the people of Venezuela ence against the global imperialist war WPC expresses its serious concern for overflight above the South China Sea who are defending their achievements machine to be held in Cyprus on 28-29 the bilateral military agreements of the and recognized the benefits of having and fighting back the imperialist ma- March 2020 US with almost all countries from South the South China Sea as a sea of peace, neuvers of the USA, the EU and the • To explore the possibility of holding Asia, to South East Asia, Far East Asia stability and prosperity. We reaffirmed Organisation of American States which an international event commemorating and Australia. the need to enhance mutual trust and are aiming with the local oligarchy at the the 70th anniversary of WPC (1950 We stressed the importance of con- confidence, exercise self- restraint in the control of the rich energy resources of Warsaw) in Dhaka/Bangladesh along tinued peaceful dialogue amongst all conduct of activities and avoid actions the country. We salute the brave people with the 47th anniversary of the “Joliot concerned parties in order to realize that may further complicate the situa- of Cuba which is serving for more than Curie WPC Award” to the founder of the lasting peace and stability on the Korean tion and pursue peaceful resolution of 60 years as symbol of inspiration for the country Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Peninsula by all concerned parties and the disputes in accordance with international peoples of the world and demand the Rahman for May 2020 complete denuclearization of the Penin- law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS. end of the US blockade along with the • To observe 6th and 9th August 2020 sula. We urged the US and South Korean We emphasized the importance of sanctions and the efforts to impose new as Hiroshima and Nagasaki day and to authorities to take a proper stand and at- non-militarisation and self-restraint in obstacles in trade and tourism. popularize the demands for total aboli- titude on the Panmunjon, the Pyongyang the conduct of all activities by claimants The regional meeting expressed its tion of nuclear weapons in Asia free of Joint Declaration and the DPRK-US Joint and all other states that could further solidarity with the people of Cyprus, all foreign military bases Statement and continue working towards complicate the situation and escalate Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, • To explore with the Japanese the realization of lasting peace and stabil- tensions in the South China Sea. We for the end of the Turkish occupation Peace Committee to hold a WPC event ity on the Korean Peninsula. underline our objection to the military and for the reunification of their country in Hiroshima on the occasion of the We welcomed, although being cau- presence of non-regional powers in the and the closure of the British Bases on 75th anniversary of the bombing of the tious, the recent dialogues with the aim region, namely the USA, which have their the island. martyr cities. to reach a peace accord in replacement own agenda. Last but not least the WPC meeting • To observe international day of of the Armistice agreement of 1953. The meeting observed that despite expressed its respect to the brave Lao solidarity with the people of Palestine on We support the Korean people in their the economic development of many coun- people for their resistance during the US 29th November in appropriate manner. just cause for peaceful and indepen- tries in significant level there also exists aggressive War in the Indochina and the Finally, the meeting extended sincere dent reunification of their fatherland. immense poverty, illiteracy, curable de- suffering from the bombing of 3 million thanks to the people of Laos and the The participants of the meeting stated ceases, malnutrition and underdevelop- tons by the USA on the Lao people which Lao Committee for Peace and Solidar- clearly their demand for the end of the ment resulting in the sharpening of social were not more than 3 million people at ity (LCPS) for hosting the meeting and military exercises of USA and its allies and economic contradictions in this most that time. The Unexploded Ordnance providing warm hospitality. n on and around the peninsula and for the populated area of the world. withdrawal of the US-troops and their The enlarged Regional meeting of Asia Editorial – The Relevance ... (from p. 1) reality shows that dangers to peace, the weapons from Korean soil. & Pacific of the WPC condemned the tions of law; and the 11 points adopted peoples’ rights and national sovereignty The participants of the meeting ex- recent massacre of dozens of Palestinians in the 2016 Summit in Isla Margarida, are greater, with countless developments pressed their deep concern about the in the Gaza strip and expressed its soli- Venezuela. speaking less of peaceful coexistence growing religious fundamentalism, ex- darity with the people of Palestine in its In those opportunities the WPC or diplomatic solution of conflicts and tremism and all kinds of terrorism in the desire and right for the establishment of witnessed the convergence created to more of “regime change”, coup d’état, region. These dangerous developments an independent State of Palestine in the speed the process of change within economic, commercial and financial are influenced by sectarian and funda- borders of pre-4th June 1967 and with the UN, to broaden its systems of di- sanctions, nuclear threats, military mentalist ideologies which are weakening East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as rection; the support to new alliances bases and offensive alliances, aggres- and undermining the unity of the people the right for the return of the refugees such as the BRICS group; and efforts sions, and other really grave violations and thereby hindering the united struggle and the release of all Palestinian prison- to fulfil the 2030 Agenda’s goals, with of international law. Conflicts of diverse of the peoples against imperialism. ers from Israeli jails. emphasis to peace and the eradica- forms develop world-wide, all linked to The meeting expresses serious con- Likewise, the meeting expressed its tion of poverty as inherent to social colonial and neocolonial domination and cern about the more than one million solidarity to the Syrian people, who are development. social oppression. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, which suffering for more than 8 years an impe- In globalization process dominated However, the peoples resist. In this constitute a humanitarian crisis which rialist aggression with hundreds of thou- by superpowers and of violent offensive troubled world, the NAM plays a fun- has to be dealt by the International sands of victims and millions of refugees. against the workers and peoples, soli- damental role in the struggle for peace, community and the UN with adequate We note with concern that despite the darity, cooperation and a joint quest for development and national emancipation. humanitarian help and with respect to significant victories of the Syrian people national development with social justice The WPC joins the Movement in promot- their rights to decent life and repatria- and its army, the situation has not been and full implementation of human rights ing these goals and commits to a broad tion to their homes with civil and political normalized fully. We denounce the inva- are even more necessary. convergence to strengthen solidarity rights. At the same time we object any sion of the foreign army into the North of Despite the apparent world con- among the peoples, facing these great efforts to instrumentalize the crisis for Syria and the violation of the sovereignty vergence around these commitments, challenges. n PEACE MESSENGER Page 5 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] The Brazilian People Fight the Extreme Right-Wing Regime José Reinaldo Carvalho* with world peace forces. active policy against the interests of the the result of a conception of government CEBRAPAZ — Brazil Under the extreme-right wing govern- Palestinian and Iranian peoples. that destroys the environment and works ment, Brazil became one of the main allies One of the most salient aspects of to annihilate native populations, a policy razil lives a period of political ten- of US imperialism. Jair Bolsonaro regards Brazil’s extreme-right government is the rejected by patriots and the progressive sions, social crisis and the threat US President Donald Trump a world devastation of the Amazon, an immense re- humanity, and which has deserved rebuff Bof the imposition of a dictatorial leader to be followed unconditionally. gion of about five million square kilometers within the United Nations. regime. He conducts, therefore, a foreign poli- where the largest tropical forest is, one of The Brazilian patriotic forces, while The country has been governed since cy of total submission to imperialism, and the planet’s biggest reserves of biodiversity. struggling for the Amazon Forest’s pro- 2019 by an extreme-right regime, the became the spearhead of that superpower The Amazon region is at the center of tection and for the inalienable rights of result of the 2016 coup d’état against indigenous peoples, reject the proposal President Dilma Rousseff and elections to internationalize the forest, often re- held under unfair conditions. peated in international fora run by During the 2018 electoral campaig, imperialist countries, as seen last year reactionary forces were coordinated in the G7 meeting. and arrested former President Luiz Brazil must be capable to preserve Inácio Lula da Silva, a popular leader the Amazon Forest and the environment supported by the masses and recognized and feels part of the humanity’s common all over Latin America, preventing him destiny, but this will not be accomplished from running for office. The democratic by imposition and interference from co- system was shattered, and the country lonialist powers. drowned in instability. The pushes against democracy, at- The Brazilian dominant classes and tacks against the workers’ and the Bra- their international imperialist allies spon- zilian people’s rights, and submission to sored Jair Bolsonaro’s election to impose US imperialism stir the popular masses’ an anti-people, neoliberal program, revolt and the patriots’ indignation. anti-social and anti-national “reforms” in Latin America. Sided with the also political and social conflicts in Brazil and Political forces and popular movements and Brazil’s international alignment with extreme-right regime of Colombia, they mobilizes world attention. Last year, the are ever broader and numerous, rising imperialist powers. lead the campaign for the overthrow of Amazon Forest saw an increase of almost against this anti-democratic, anti-people In the previous period, from 2003 the anti-imperialist government of Nicolás 200% of wildfires compared to the same and anti-national government. There- to 2016, when ruled by a coalition of Maduro and to liquidate the Venezuelan period in the previous year. In August fore, the Brazilian people’s possibilities democratic and patriotic forces, Brazil Bolivarian Revolution. Some sectors of the alone, over 30,000 active fires were reg- of resistance and struggle are growing. had intensively acted in favor of social Brazilian regime even support a military istered, the biggest number in a decade. ______progress, democracy, national indepen- intervention against Venezuela. Devastation of the Amazon Forest José Reinaldo Carvalho is Secretary-General of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity dence, progressive regional integration, Bolsonaro also aligned Brazil to the runs in parallel with the violation of the with the Peoples and Struggle for Peace international solidarity and in alliance Zionist Israeli regime and conducts an indigenous populations’ rights. Both are (CEBRAPAZ). Portugal: Broad Action for Peace, Disarmament and Internationalist Solidarity CPPC — Portugal objectives of another NATO summit had been repudiated and once again the he last few months continued to dissolution of this political-military bloc be marked by a wide and intense and the end of the EU militarization was Tactivity of Portuguese Council for demanded. Peace and Cooperation (CPPC), in Por- Latin America also mobilized the tugal, in favour of peace, disarmament attention of the peace movement in Por- and solidarity with the peoples that resist tugal, which held conferences on the sub- the aggression, blockades, interference ject and a set of statements: against the and blackmail of imperialism: the edi- coup in Bolivia, and reaffirming solidar- tion of communiqués and statements, the ity with Cuba and Venezuela, which face regular publication and distribution of and resist the cruel blockades imposed by the Notícias da Paz bulletin, the holding the USA and its acolytes. of conferences and debates in schools, The ban on nuclear weapons, 70 years social clubs and various public spaces after the launch of the Stockholm Appeal, and the promotion of street gatherings, is another of the CPPC’s central lines art exhibitions and concerts were some of of action, which will launch, together the forms that this activity took. with other organizations, a petition for The CPPC was the main driver of Portugal to sign and ratify the Nuclear all this action, but it integrated in its Weapons Ban Treaty, negotiated in the preparation and realization many other of State Mike Pompeo and the Israeli in military expenditure. An occasion to United Nations. organizations, entities and personalities: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reaffirm the solidarity with the peoples of In its daily intervention, CPPC union structures, local collectives and as- guaranteeing that “they were not welcome the Middle East, and also of Latin America, continues to reaffirm its commitment sociations, schools, municipalities, artists in Portugal”. That was also a moment to in their struggle against imperialism aggres- to act side by side with all those who, and musicians, among others. reaffirm the rejection of the Israeli illegal sion and for peace and sovereignty, and to in Portugal and in the world, intervene The various Concerts for Peace occupation of Palestinian territories, the denounce the Portuguese Government’s for a world of freedom, sovereignty, carried out, in which some of the most US threats against Iran, militarism, foreign active complicity with imperialism. democracy, social justice and progress, renowned Portuguese musicians par- military bases, the arms race, the increase Days before, in public events, the solidarity and Peace. n ticipate generously, reach large numbers of people. The exhibitions of Artists for Cyprus International Conference ... (from page 1) took us a step closer to our ultimate long and difficult struggle ahead of us. Peace also assume particular importance. peace movement. Some of its leaders first goal, they were limited in that they did The peace movement is still too weak High point of this wide convergence of refused to sign our unity statement and not address the issue of imperialism and too divided to be able to defeat the wills for peace is the Meeting for Peace, join these conferences unless we equally directly. imperialists’ military, economic and envi- which after the success of 2018 (with doz- included China and Russia as threats to And herein lies the historical sig- ronmental war machine. The imperialist ens of entities involved in its realization world peace equal to the United States nificance of the Cyprus International states are acting globally in a united way and the presence of hundreds of people), and NATO. However, the resistance Conference Against Imperialism. This in their effort to dominate and exploit the will be held again this year on May 30. was broken as a result of endorsement Conference is the latest step in our long peoples of all nations of the world. Only of these conferences by a good number and difficult struggle toward creation of a globally unified, well-coordinated anti- Many Causes for Peace of their member organizations from a unified global front against imperial- imperialist peace movement will have around the world. It was a great victory ism, a front that includes not only the the strength to put an end to the present In addition, CPPC, by itself or in for our position and the anti-imperialist members of our WPC and No Bases madness that is pushing our world to the partnership with other organizations, movement as a whole that they finally Coalition anti-imperialist family, but the brink of total destruction. has promoted in recent months several participated and even spoke at these broadest possible array of peace forces It is our hope that the Cyprus Inter- initiatives on specific topics. conferences. from around the world. national Conference Against Imperial- Public concentrations against the visit However, although these two confer- We are proud of what we have been ism will enable the global peace forces to the country of the American Secretary ences were significant victories which able to achieve so far. But there is still a to respond to this historical necessity. n Page 6 PEACE MESSENGER VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] No to the “Defender-Europe 2020” Imperialist Military Maneuvers! Milan Krajca rope and Asia are the military outcomes to the “fictional eastern front.” Soldiers over Nazi-Fascist Germany on 9 May but Czech Peace Movement of the strategic change, and both follow will mostly be flying in through major provocative timing is more than evident. the same pattern. While many different airports in Europe and will travel across In addition to the Defender-Europe he US and NATO imperialist war- national forces are involved, the central the continent by bus. 20,000 pieces of 2020 manoeuvres, the NATO exercise mongers launched their new De- focus is on rapid deployment of troops equipment will ship from the US for the Steadfast Defender, and the multinational Tfender-Europe 2020 military exer- from the US to Europe and the Pacific. exercise. It’s not clear how much of it deployment exercise Joint Derby 2020, cises, involving the largest deployment of will also serve to prepare these belligerent US-based forces to Europe in more than objectives. Since 2011, the annual Sabre 25 years, to be followed later by Defender- Strike NATO exercise has been held in Pacific 2020 exercises. Poland and the Baltic states. In addition, 20,000 US troops are participating in the major Anaconda exercise takes place the US’s largest deployment to Europe in in Poland every two years and involves over quarter of a century. With 18 states tens of thousands of soldiers from all involved totalling 37,000 troops, this will be NATO member states. There is also Astral an extraordinary provocation in Europe’s Knight, an exercise of the US Air Force, border regions with Russia. With troop which includes air and missile defenses at and equipment movements lasting from various locations. F-35 stealth bombers February through to July, the exercises and B-52 long-range bombers are also themselves will take place in April and May. taking part in this exercise. The previously largest NATO exercise Within the framework of the NATO since the dissolution of the Enhanced Forward Presence, also four took place in Norway in 2018, which was combat-ready battalions of 1,000 soldiers entitled Trident Juncture. Fifty thousand each, have been already stationed in soldiers from 31 countries took part. Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania They practiced operations at sea, on In Europe, 20,000 US troops, com- will remain on European soil. since 2017, and the replacement of the land, and in the air. Defender-Europe prised of active soldiers, national guard Defender-Europe 2020 will include units in the battalion takes place accord- 2020 continues along similar lines. and reservists, will be transported to operations in Germany, Poland, the Bal- ing to a rotation principle carried out The official aim of this exercise is to re- seaports and airports in the Netherlands, tic states, Nordic countries and Georgia, under the Dragon Ride operation. hearse a “rapid deployment of larger units Germany and Poland, alongside vast among others, while the Pacific-based De- Defender 2020 demonstrates openly across the Atlantic and through Europe” quantities of equipment. Personnel and fender 2020 will focus on the South China the imperialist dominance strategy and to “ensure that the appropriate procedures equipment, including so-called ‘prepo- Sea. It is clear that these highly provoca- warmongering action of US, NATO and work in a crisis situation.” Clear goal of this sitioned stock’ already in Europe, will tive exercises are oriented against Russia EU. Anti-imperialist and peace forces of exercise regarding military mobility is a travel 4,000 kilometres for the exercises. and China. all countries have to confront resolutely militarization of European transport infra- The heavy equipment, including NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg all imperialist plans. The demand that structure in cooperation with the EU and 480 tracked vehicles that are known to said there is nothing to be read into the fact these plans, which are a real threat to the its Permanent Structured Cooperation. destroy highways, will depart from the that the exercise was taking place during peoples of the world, not become a reality Defender 2020 exercises in both Eu- four seaports and move by water and rail 75th anniversary of the people’s s victory is more pressing than ever.n Bolivia: The Struggle for Democracy Is Not Over U.S. Peace Council Key figures behind the coup had al- the High Commissioner for Human Rights groups in Bolivia for years, is returning lies in Washington. The OAS Secretary chief Michelle Bachelet join CODEPINK’s to Bolivia at the invitation of Jeanine n early January 2020, the Trump General embraced coup leader Luis Fer- Medea Benjamin in Bolivia. Añez’s coup government allegedly to Administration’s assassination of a nando Camacho. The coup was endorsed Veterans for Peace on Nov. 21 stressed “monitor” — in reality to manipulate Itop Iranian general in Baghdad, Iraq by the right-wing neighboring countries US complicity in the coup, and the coup’s and corrupt — the forthcoming elections. brought the US and Iran to the brink of (Chile, Brazil). President Trump “ap- racist nature. The coup is not consolidated, witness a major war. Understandably, that crisis plauded” the Bolivian military despite its There has been a limited response the strenuous efforts of the coup govern- shoved many other crises to the sidelines. well documented systematic violations of from the UN. As early as Nov. 16, 2019 ment to fix the forthcoming elections. Accordingly, Bolivia is not now in human rights. Evo Morales is now in exile “the UN High Commissioner for Hu- We call upon all peace and solidarity the headlines. But even at the start of in Mexico, and the Indigenous continue man Rights Michelle Bachelet “urged organizations in the US to: events on November 10, 2019 there was • Put Bolivia back on the front confusion in the headlines about what burner as a campaigning issue between was happening in Bolivia. Compounding now and the May 3, 2020 elections. the confusion, some “progressive” and • Sign the CODEPINK Petition on “alternative” media outlets were slow to Bolivia demanding that the chief of the UN acknowledge that a coup had begun. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, coup regime’s racist violence towards Evo Michelle Bachelet, visit Bolivia in person. Morales” protesting Indigenous support- There should be a powerful, institutional ers was hardly given adequate coverage UN Office of Human Rights presence on anywhere. In the US corporate media the ground in Bolivia. It will serve as a support for the coup took the form of de- restraint on the coup government. nying it was happening at all, thereby dis- • Demand a Congressional investiga- orienting the peace movement response. tion to find out exactly to what extent the Evo Morales, in office 2006-2019, was US was involved in the coup. the first Indigenous president of Bolivia, a • Organize full international monitor- country with an Indigenous majority. Un- ing of the May 2020 elections by indepen- der the 14 years of rule by his Movement dent experts and groups. for Socialism party (MAS), Bolivia had to protest in the face of lethal, racist the authorities to ensure that security • Oppose USAID and kindred NGO the one of the highest economic growth repression. An example of the racism: forces comply with international norms funding of election manipulation, includ- rates in the hemisphere. The country the self-proclaimed President Jeanine and standards on the use of force and ing purges of Indigenous voter rolls. Voter slashed poverty dramatically. Bolivia Áñez has smeared Indigenous communi- guarantee the right to life and physical suppression is already under way and it became a trailblazer for the rights of the ties’ religious beliefs as “satanic.” At this integrity of protesters.” must be exposed, condemned, and stopped Indigenous and poor, aligning itself with writing, Morales, the MAS, and most Since then the toll of repression has Demand that police and army vio- the progressive governments of Venezu- of the popular parties and movements risen. Recent and reliable accounts state lence against Indigenous protestors and ela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.* have agreed to new elections but efforts that more than 30 have been killed and the medical professionals who care for Morales was re-elected president are underway by backers of the de facto 600 injured in protests against the coup them come to a halt. After September 11, on October 20, 2019. Because the US- government to disqualify the MAS from government. 1973, when the Allende government in backed candidate lost, the US govern- participating in an eventual election. What are the demands that the US Chile was overthrown in a US-supported ment called Morales’ election “fraudu- Several prominent US peace orga- solidarity and peace movements should coup, our peace and solidarity movement lent.” A US-dominated Organization nizations were first out of the gate in raise now? and its allies launched years of campaign- of American States (OAS) disseminated condemning the coup. CODEPINK on The best chance of peacefully restor- ing to restore democracy in Chile and end misleading information on the validity of Nov 19, 2019, challenging the mainstream ing lawful government and majority rule the bloody rule of Pinochet. We must do the election. Thus, the stage was set for media narrative, emphasized the coup was in Bolivia is the projected May 3, 2020 no less for Bolivian democracy today. indeed a coup. CODEPINK highlighted elections, but at the rate things are go- the November 10 coup, when Morales ______was forced to resign under duress by the need for international monitoring. ing the elections will be rigged. USAID, * Roger D. Harris, 2019 Latin America in the military. It demanded that that the UN’s Office of which financed anti-Morales opposition Review, Council on Hemispheric Relations. PEACE MESSENGER Page 7 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] 75th Anniversary of the Victory Over Nazi-Fascism earing the 75th anniversary of tions – rights and principles conquered the end of Second World War, after the Victory over Nazi-fascism, as Nit is necessary to recall all those a result of the correlation of forces that who fought and gave their lives to defeat was favourable to anti-fascism, peace, the barbarism of Nazi-fascism. To recall national liberation and social progress that 50 million human beings perished forces. in the most violent and bloody military Also from the horror of Nazi-fascism conflict in history, on the battlefields, and the Second World War, from the from bombings, in concentration camps, firm will that the such a barbarity should in brutal massacres. 75 years past we never again torment humanity that the must not forget the war in which for World peace movement arose and took the first and only time nuclear weapons body in the World Peace Council. were used by the USA, against the cities WPC was the embodiment of the of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. ideals of peace that united workers, Nazi-fascism, the most violent ex- intellectuals, artists, students, peas- pression of capitalism, was responsible ants, religious people, elected officials, for crimes such as the mass extermina- rulers, political and trade union lead- tion of populations and of prisoners in ers and activists in the creation of a concentration camps, the imposition of world-wide mass movement for peace, forced labour, the systematic destruc- disarmament and global security; for tion of economic and social infrastruc- national independence, economic and ture and cultural heritage. But no mat- social justice and development, for ter how strong this destructive beast it protection of the environment, hu- was faced and defeated by those who man rights and cultural heritage; for resisted and fought for their freedom solidarity with and support of those and for liberating mankind from fas- peoples and liberation movements fight- cism. It is necessary to underline the ing for the independence, sovereignty enormous and decisive contribution of and integrity of their countries, and the Soviet Union and its people for the against imperialism. Victory, paying the price of more than We need a broad anti-imperialist 20 million. and unitarian international movement Triggered by Nazi Germany, fascist of mass action as an integral part of the Italy and militaristic Japan, with the world peace movement that continues to collusion of the USA, UK and France, act in cooperation with other interna- Second World War had as its central tional and national movements. causes the dispute between the great It is with firm belief in the strength imperialist powers and the desire to use and justice of these ideals that we know the nazi-fascism war machine to destroy that even in the face of the grave dangers the USSR. set before humanity, war can and must Recalling the Second World War and be prevented and the Nazi-fascism bar- its lessons is necessary, so that the barba- barity defeated 75 years ago may never rism caused by Nazi-fascism may never happen again.n be repeated. This is especially important when the current international situation is marked by huge risks to world peace and security, by the growing global aggressive- Britain Continues as an Imperialist ‘Pillar of ness of imperialism. When the Western powers, particu- Strength’ for the US-led War-Mongering Allies larly the United States of America, try to Liz Payne, Convenor The prime minister recently de- threatens the region with further wars safeguarding its hegemonic domination at British Peace Assembly scribed the UK’s commitment to NATO and potentially a broader conflagration. the world level, by the escalation of mili- as “rock solid.” This is alarming given We may say that nothing is new in tarism, of military expenditures, through hat Britain continues as an imperi- NATO’s strategy, confirmed at its late all of this, but we would be wrong to do the race for new, more sophisticated and alist ‘pillar of strength’ and crucial 2019 London Summit, of responding to so. What is dangerous and different is destructive weapons, including nuclear, Tmember of its US-led war-monger- any threat, at any time, from any direc- the disastrous election of the right-wing the installation of new military forces and ing line-up of allies is borne out by every tion, with even space declared an opera- Tory government under Boris Johnson equipments in foreign bases, around the piece of available evidence. The UK has tional domain for the war-alliance. And in December 2019. It has so large a ma- world. A time marked by interference everything it needs to maintain this posi- Britain really means it. It puts its money jority that it is virtually unfettered in and violent operations of destabilization, tion – the largest defence budget of any where its mouth is, already exceeding parliament and it comes with frightening wars of aggression and occupation, sanc- European country and the fifth largest in NATO’s target of 2% GDP and pledging manifesto commitments to concentrate on tions, economic and financial blockages, the world; a nuclear arsenal; state-of-the- to increase this by at least 0.5% above national security, bolster alliances and imposed by USA, NATO, EU and their art intelligence, security and surveillance inflation year on year. institutions that help protect Britain’s allies against countries and their peoples systems; conventional land, sea and air Another “rock solid” commitment is influence (mirroring Trump’s ‘America be it on the Middle East, Central Asia, forces equipped with the latest military the government’s dedication to its long- first’ pledge), while responding to alleged Africa, Latin America or Europe. A time hard and software - deployed and primed standing “special relationship” with multiple threats from foreign powers that again witnesses the promotion and for conflict; a string of strategic military Washington. This manifests itself not only which provide justification for improving the resurgence of fascist and xenophobic bases, stations and facilities, a legacy of in the mass-media spectacle of Trump the lethal capability of the armed forces forces. empire, stretched across the world, from and Johnson as ‘new best friends’ but and intelligence agencies. It promises that The memory and lessons from Sec- Cyprus to Bermuda and Afghanistan to in the British state’s very real backing the government will support Britain’s ond World War must be kept alive de- Nepal. of the US, support on which the latter defence industry by renewing the coun- nouncing the attempts to launder Nazi- Furthermore, Britain is the second is absolutely dependent in fulfilling its try’s nuclear capability, placing multiple fascism’s responsibilities and and the largest ‘defence’ and fourth largest secu- hegemonic designs. Britain continues to orders for a new generation of conven- role of imperialist powers in triggering rity exporter in the world, having lucra- lease several home air-bases to the US, tional military hardware such as frigates, the greatest conflict imposed on Human- tive military-industrial multinational en- providing it with strategic forward posi- armoured vehicles and the like, develop- ity, as well as the infamous falsification terprises backed by cutting-edge research tions in Europe from which to threaten ing the role of artificial intelligence in the of History, trying to hide the determin- and development, raking in billions of ‘enemies’ further east. It gives the US conduct of warfare and establishing the ing role of the USSR and the resistance pounds a year. From fighter planes to carte blanche permission to use other UK’s first space command. Ominously, of communists and other anti-fascists cyber security systems, from warships British facilities around the world, for we have been warned that an immanent in the Victory over Nazi-fascism – as to the apparatus of internal suppres- example Diego Garcia (Chagos Islands) in defence review will closely align the de- a resolution adopted in the European sion, the supply from the country’s war the Indian Ocean from which the US has velopment of military capability with the Parliament does. manufactories is never ending. Their for decades conducted bombing sorties, demands of foreign policy in expanding The memory and lessons of Second products, together with accompanying armed combat operational support mis- Britain’s influence in the world. World War are especially important when consultancy and training ‘services’, sions and espionage against East Africa, The danger posed by the above is USA, NATO, EU and their allies are re- find their way predominantly into the the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. exacerbated by the failure of the Labour sponsible for the disrespect for the prin- hands of the rulers of Saudi Arabia, the British bases in Cyprus are now fully Party to put before the British elector- ciples of the United Nations Charter and United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other developed and equipped to provide the ate any significantly different position. of international law, that define impor- reactionary and bellicose regimes of the US and its allies with similar potential Labour’s manifesto, entitled rather tant rights of the peoples and principles Middle East as well as to the Asia-Pacific as the power struggle in the eastern misleadingly in this respect ‘It’s Time that should govern international rela- region, Europe and North America. Mediterranean and Levant unfolds and continued on page 10 Page 8 PEACE MESSENGER VOLUME 5, ISSUE 11, FALL 2018 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Italy Between NATO and the European Union A Country Accomplice to Imperialism with Limited Sovereignty

Committee Against War world hegemony. US and NATO. ing disparities and inequities between Milan, Italy Since its birth the ideal of EU was a First SME and then EURO lead to the member countries. In the19 80s, justification for NATO’s mission. Since less economic sovereignty by benefiting the CEE directions pushed the Italian he current Italy’s geopolitical po- the fall of USSR, EU has become a tool the Franco-German axis, mostly Ger- policy to reform its banking system by sition as well as other European for letting NATO spread to Eastern Eu- many at the expense of the Belt-Oil the separating the Bank of Italy from Tcountries is due to the balance fol- rope. The first step was entering the EU countries. the Ministry of the Treasury. As a result, lowing the Second World War. and the next, entering NATO. So Italy was squeezed between subor- the bank of Italy can no longer guaran- USSR paid the greatest cost of war tee government bonds able to increase against Hitler with more than 26 million exponentially by amplifying public debt. dead. Such was the main contribution The fear of the increase in public debt to free Europe from Nazi-Fascism, al- has become a pretext for the deregula- though USA achieved hegemony over tion of financial transactions. Western Europe shortly after and then The process of privatization of created the Marshall Plan linked to strategic “assets” with their productive World Bank and International Monetary apparatus, the search for them and the Fund in order to oblige the Western Eu- resulting network of international rela- ropean “supported” countries to bow to tions, made the country more fragile, a the US capitalist system. country with less political weight and This was an interference in the in- almost no influence in the international ternal affairs of each country, limiting arena. its sovereignty, which contributed to A few decades ago, Italy still prac- the creation of European Union’s ideal. ticed a Mediterranean policy which The real matter is that the EU never aroused the concerns of the USA, UK was an alternative to the US. Indeed and France. But currently, Italy is USA pushed to form the CECA, whose characterized by the lack of autonomy, real aim was to produce weapons for Despite all this, during the cold dination to the US and dependence from which leads it to participate in military NATO during the cold war, and conse- war Italy was able to maintain enough Franco-German axis, which reduced its adventures with the hope of being al- quently supported pro-EU lobbies. Such autonomy in economic, political and in- autonomy. lowed to sit at the game table alongside was the building of the EU. ternational affairs to play an important Many important political and econo- countries that share imperialist tradi- In this way, NATO and the ideal of mediation role in the Mediterranean mist influencers, such as Joseph Stiglitz, tion, without being able to benefit from EU were always working together for area through good connections with the were very critical of EU’s architecture any of it. subordinating the European allies to Arab world, and even to cooperate with because, since the start, there did not Still now Libya teaches us an impor- the US and guaranteeing capitalism the USSR without really going against the exist a common ground to avoid creat- tant lesson. n With International Solidarity Our Path to Freedom Will Be Shorter, Says Saharawi Diplomat* Almost six decades after the UN listed refugees live in exile in camps in Algeria, self-determination. full member. Recognition is a just way Western Sahara for decolonization, self- totally dependent on international coop- The WPC participates in initiatives to show solidarity and the legitimacy determination remains elusive. In 1975, eration; 20% of our territory is liberated such as the non-governmental group of of the Saharawi people’s struggle. For Spain, the “Administrative Power”, or and is under the SADR’s control, and support to the Saharawis in the UN Hu- their inalienable right to get their inde- colonizer, illegitimately surrendered West- 80% is under illegal Moroccan occupa- man Rights Council. Please describe the pendent state. Unfortunately, with the ern Sahara to Morocco, since then the oc- tion. There are around 50 Saharawi po- group’s accomplishments. earthquake in international politics, cupier, and Mauritania, which withdrew litical prisoners and more than 600 cases First, I want to thank the WPC and populism and extremism emerging in 1979. The Saharawi POLISARIO Front of enforced disappearance. The illegal for joining. It was created to promote in different countries, with widespread recovered part of the territory through plunder of our natural resources is ongo- the Saharawi people’s rights and the international corruption, we face more armed struggle until the 1991 cease-fire ing, and the Moroccan regime has built a protection of human rights in Western difficulties to have states recognize our for a referendum never held. The Saha- berm/wall of more than 2,720km in our Sahara. The group has given visibility nation. But we have confidence in prin- rawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) territory, with millions of land mines that to the Saharawi plight in the HRC and cipled nations and that with their support was declared in 1976 but invasion of its we can achieve more recognition. territory and dispersion of its population resulted in unspeakable crimes. Moara Crivelente: With justified dis- Today thousands still live in refu- appointment and calls for changes in gee camps in Algeria. Saharawis have strategy, what is the way forward? not just waited for the UN to fulfil the promise, though. They resist the Omaima Abdeslam: After 45 years of brutal Moroccan occupation and de- struggle, 16 of war and 29 of peace pro- mand the world’s accountability with cess, we have demonstrated the Saharawi campaigns against the plundering of people’s determination to achieve indepen- Saharawi resources sold by Morocco dence. The Saharawis’ patience has limits in international markets, for the pro- and what we see now is frustration and lack tection of their human rights, and for of confidence in the UN. So, naturally, we the referendum, while consolidating hear more voices calling for a return to SADR institutions and drawing in- armed struggle, due to lack of progress ternational solidarity. We spoke to in the peace process mediated by the UN. Omaima Abdeslam, the POLISARIO representative to the UN in Geneva, jeopardize social and economic develop- established strong interaction with Moara Crivelente: How do you think about her people’s struggle. ment in Western Sahara. international organizations and UN international solidarity matters? mechanisms, including the UN Refugee Moara Crivelente: Dear Omaima, thank Moara Crivelente: What are the main Agency (UNHCR) and the International Omaima Abdeslam: International soli- you for the interview. Tell us about the international campaigns? Committee of the Red Cross. It has darity has made a difference for various Saharawi cause’s current stage. strengthened the Saharawis’ voice in freedom movements around the world, Omaima Abdeslam: Currently, the cam- different platforms world-wide. like the fight against apartheid. It can Omaima Abdeslam: Thank you Moara, paigns for the liberation of all political make policymakers move towards a so- for the opportunity to speak about our prisoners; for dismantling the wall of Moara Crivelente: With countries over- lution or oblige oppressors to step back. struggle. Unfortunately, my people’s shame; for the boycott of Moroccan prod- taken by undemocratic/putschist gov- So, with international solidarity our situation is very sad and uncertain, due ucts produced in or illegally plundered ernments and some having “suspended” path to freedom and independence will to global changes impacting international from Western Sahara; for the boycott or denied recognition of SADR, what is be shorter. order and to the United Nations’ weak- and judicial process against companies the Republic’s stance today? ______* Interview by Moara Crivelente, Director of ness. involved in the plunder of our natural the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the The Saharawi people are dispersed resources in all countries; and for imple- Omaima Abdeslam: The SADR is an Peoples and Struggle for Peace (CEBRA- in three geographical areas; 173,000 menting the Saharawi people’s right to irreversible reality, an African Union PAZ). February 23, 2020. PEACE MESSENGER Page 9 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Greetings of the WPC to the XX Assembly of WFDY Nicosia, Cyprus — 3-6 December 2019

Delivered by Iraklis Tsavdaridis in the same area. All the above constitute itary interventions etc.) and are directly would like to salute the Greek Cypriot Executive Secretary WPC once more the ongoing violation of the linked with the imperialist plans against and Turkish Cypriot youth who share sovereignty of Syria and of every sense of Cuba, Nicaragua and other countries. the common desire for the re-unification Dear Comrades and Friends of the World International Law. We observe with deep In Venezuela, the forces of the local oli- of their common fatherland and who are Federation of Democratic Youth! concern the agreements between involved garchy tried to overthrow the legitimately the real victims of the Turkish occupation parties (USA, Turkey, Russia etc.) which elected President of the Bolivarian Repub- which is recently also expanding into Iraq Dear Comrades of EDON, host of the actually neglect the right of the Syrian lic of Venezuela, in close cooperation with and Syria. We condemn the violation of WFDY Assembly for one more time! people to exercise fully their sovereign the USA, the European Union and reac- International Law and the Law of the rights over the land. As WPC we demand tionary governments of the “Lima Group” Seas by Turkey in the East Mediterra- It is with extraordinary pleasure to the withdrawal of the foreign military oc- in order to take over the rich mineral re- nean and the Aegean Sea and underline salute your XX. Assembly today in Nico- cupation forces in Syria and support the sources of Venezuela. The ideological and that the Multinational oil and gas com- sia the capital of the Cyprus Republic on right of the Syrian people to decide alone political attack on Venezuela and Cuba is panies and the imperialist forces behind behalf of the World Peace Council, the upon their destiny and future. accompanied by heavy sanctions against them, will not give any halt to Turkey’s international anti-imperialist organisa- We salute the recent popular mass the peoples, aiming in the asphyxiation of expansionism. They are only interested in tion of peace movements. mobilizations in Lebanon for social, the peoples. We express our sincere and how to exploit the rich energy resources Our special greetings go first of all to economical and political demands and deep solidarity with the other peoples in of the region. The dangerous path of the the members and friends of EDON, who reiterate our solidarity with the Leba- Latin America and their struggles, and governments of Cyprus, Greece, Egypt performed a great and special role all these nese people for the end of its territories against the new threats and dangers and along with Israel who are all in full align- years in the WFDY presidency and today, by Israel (Shebaa Farms). Likewise we in the framework of the new regimes in ment with the USA is only engaging the are hosting in excellent way this Assembly. express our solidarity with the people of Brazil, Colombia, Chile etc. countries in the imperialist plans and We salute all the members of the collective Yemen against the ongoing aggression by The WPC expresses its solidarity with not serving the peace and friendship of WFDY leadership in Budapest and in the the Saudi led coalition which has the full the Cuban Revolution, for the end of the the peoples of the region. The approach respective countries who continue the support of the US and its allies. criminal blockade and all forms of sanctions of the government of Cyprus to try to legacy of WFDY for almost 75 years. A key issue continues being the struggle imposed on Cuba. The island of the Revolu- affiliate Cyprus into NATO neglects the The fraternal bonds between WPC and of the Palestinian people, which is strug- tion, Cuba, was and is a source of inspiration fact that NATO stood clearly behind the WFDY are decades long and deeply rooted gling for the end of the Israeli occupation. for the peoples and youth of the world. double crime against Cyprus, first with in the common comprehensive analysis and We denounce the slaughter of Palestinian The WPC expresses its solidarity the Greek Junta’s Coup followed then by understanding for the root causes of the the Turkish invasion in 1974. NATO, the wars, misery and exploitation in the world, armed wing of imperialism with its long for the injustice and underdevelopment in record of crimes and Cyprus is one of this world. And this is no other than Impe- them. Therefore we supported the peace rialism, its alliances and mechanisms. Both loving forces in Cyprus who opposed our International Organisations passed the affiliation to NATO. It was our late difficulties in the beginning of the 1990s, comrade Dimitris Christophias, as Presi- where friends and enemies thought that we dent of the Cyprus Republic, some years would not make it, because of the counter- ago, who opposed and exercised his Veto revolutionary changes in the USSR and the against such dangerous and negative de- socialist countries of Eastern Europe. Life velopment, when all other political forces has proved for WFDY that the need for (except AKEL) endorsed a resolution in its existence and contribution to the Youth favor of NATO. and Students movement in the world was The WPC, as stated clearly in our a demand from millions of young people documents, stands in solidarity with and their revolutionary progressive youth the people of Cyprus who struggle for organizations gathered in WFDY. And the a reunited Country and People in a Bi- WPC is glad and congratulates WFDY for zonal, Bi-communal Federation with a this success. We congratulate you for the single Sovereignty, single citizenship, World Festivals of Youth and Students and single international representation where WFDY is the driving force and de- and with political equality, as referred spite the contradictions it has managed to in the relevant UN resolutions and In- maintain the anti-imperialist content of the ternational Law. We support a solution biggest political youth gathering in history by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip with the peoples of Africa against the free from custodians and Guarantors, a in the world. and West Bank, as well as expansion of multi-dimensional exploitation from old solution that will set Cyprus free from the settlements and land robbing, which colonial rulers and new imperialist forces all armies and military bases. We sup- Dear Comrades, continue along with the Judaization of which deprive the peoples from the con- port the struggle of the Cyprus Peace The current situation in the world Jerusalem and the deprivation of political trol of their rich natural resources. We Council for the dismantling of the British is of growing imperialist aggressiveness. rights for Non-Jewish citizens in Israel. underline our solidarity to the people of Bases in Cyprus and against their use in The imperialist aggressions and threats As WPC we reiterate our full support Western Sahara the only remaining col- military operations against the peoples have increased, while the US, NATO and to the struggle of the Palestinian people to ony in Africa occupied by Morocco and of the region. the EU governments are increasing their end the occupation and for their right to demand the right for self-determination military budgets in order to realize their establish an independent and viable State in a free and fair referendum. Dear Comrades of WFDY, plans in all corners of the world. within the borders of pre 4th June 1967 We express our support to the just Allow me at the end a personal note. Without underestimating other cases with East Jerusalem as its capital. We call cause for the peaceful and independent Having had the honor and privilege to allow me to refer to some only areas and upon and struggle for the recognition of reunification of the Korean peninsula and serve WFDY some 20 years ago from countries, where we have escalating nega- such State by governments and the UN demand the withdrawal of the US troops this very island Cyprus and on behalf tive developments. and reject the imperialist maneuvers and and their weapons from Korean soil along the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) The general situation in the Middle hypocrisy towards Palestine by equating with the end of the military exercises of then, as President of WFDY, I would like East continues being explosive. The victims and aggressors. We demand the USA-Japan-South Korea on and around to express my moral and political satis- situation in Syria, despite the significant release of all Palestinian political prison- the peninsula. We support the complete faction and congratulate the new genera- victories of the Syrian people and army, ers from Israeli jails and the right for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula tions of anti-imperialist youth fighters in remains under tension, with the recent return of the Palestinians to their lands, based on the above. WFDY who carry on the struggle against military invasion of Turkey in the North- according to the UN Resolution 194. the system which causes wars, misery, eastern part of the country and their The situation in Latin America is of Dear Comrades and Friends, exploitation and injustice. plans to actually remain and de facto great concern. Being here in Cyprus, the divided annex sovereign Syrian territory. The The most recent Coup d’Etat in Bo- island which is for 45 years occupied Long Live WFDY! pretext of “security” is cynical and can- livia (10th November) against the legiti- in its 37% of territory by Turkey, we Viva WFDY! not hide the aims of Turkey for change mately re-elected President Evo Morales of the demographic composition (against on 20th October, constitutes an open in- the Kurdish population) in the northern tervention of the US, its loyal mechanism part of Syria along with the geo-strate- of the Organisation of American States gical expansion of Turkey. The partial (OAS) and the EU, well coordinated with Close All British Military withdrawal of US-troops from this area the local oligarchy. We condemn the Coup opened the way for Turkey’s incursion and demand the respect to the expressed and is accompanied openly by statements will of the Bolivian people. They remind Bases in Cyprus! of US President D. Trump, that the USA us of the darkest days in the recent his- will maintain the control of the Syrian oil tory of Latin America (dictatorships, mil- Page 10 PEACE MESSENGER VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Palestine: It Is Not A “Peace Plan” Palestinian Committee for indicated the direction of its position. so-called final solution issues, such as subject to American will — in the first Peace & Solidarity (PCPS) The plan also supported Israeli occu- Jerusalem, refugees, the right to return, place is Iran, Syria and other countries pation and annexation of Jordan valley borders, sovereignty — addressing all in and out of the ME. ithin the framework of its plans and the settlements in the West Bank to these issues in the interest of Israel. Supporting the continuation of Israeli to liquidate the Palestinian Israeli sovereignty, and the US support US is in reality trying to create a new occupation of Palestinian and Arab land, Wcause and regain the lost influ- for Israel’s “nationality law” and recog- world order by ignoring the international continuing aggression against neighboring ence in the region, the United States and Arab countries, and ignoring the legiti- its ally Israel are rushing to achieve what mate rights of Palestinian people, means they have not been able to achieve dur- prolongation of the conflict and continu- ing the past decades, and to liquidate the ance of the threat to the world peace. Palestinian issue, based on the support of Palestinian leadership, the people’s some Arab countries subject to American peace movement and other forces in the domination and to the arrogance of the region and worldwide rejected this plan power pursued by successive governments from the beginning, showing the willing- in Israel. ness to confront this Trump-Netanyahu Donald Trump and Netanyahu an- war plan. nounced the so-called thw deal of century, But there are prerequisites for our or his Peace plan, for the solution of the success. Ending the internal Palestinian Israeli-Palestine problem. January 28th in division; continuation of the popular Washington as the political part, following resistance and the struggle for end- the first part of this “plan” with so-called ing the occupation and establishing an economic one which was held earlier in Bah- independent Palestinian state within rain under the title “prosperity for peace. the borders of Jun 4th 1967 with east In fact there was nothing much new Jerusalem as its capital; and the rights in this announcement from in political of refugees to return according to the UN terms because Trump had already made resolutions, with international solidarity many practical steps toward this plan by and support by all the progressive and recognizing Jerusalem as united capital peace loving people all over the world, of Israel and moving the US embassy nition of Israel as a Jewish state, with law and legitimacy, especially on the basis is the only way to stop this war crime there. He had also recognized the Israeli all dangers it carries for the non-Jewish of the two state solution, serving the inter- of the world imperialism and giving the sovereignty over the Golan Heights. In ad- minority in Israel (more than 20%). ests of the world imperialism and its plans people of the region the possibility to live dition to that, the US had stopped all aid What the US and Israel want from in the region by creating new coalitions in peace and decide their future freely to the Palestinian authority and UNRWA this plan is complete liquidation of the between Israel and other Arab reaction- without any intervention and to develop and had closed PLO office in Washington Palestinian issue, and this extends to all ary regimes against countries that are not their countries. n

Huge Massive Protests and Rallies in Athens and Several Greek Cities Against the “Mutual Defense Agreement of Greece-USA” for the Expansion of Foreign Military Bases EEDYE — Greece or war” in the framework of the Greek- Turkish relations, linked directly with he mass rallies of 30th January the US-NATO plans for bargains and and the work that preceded with compromises between the Greek and Ttens of thousands of signatures, Turkish bourgeoisie, which will open up meetings, and rallies were a significant new wounds, using the Hague Tribunal. step towards strengthening the anti-im- We will continue our firm, militant perialist struggle of our people that will struggle in the coming period against the continue in the future. dangerous imperialist plans; to disengage The ever-deepening involvement in the country from the imperialist struc- military planning, the transformation of tures; to close down all Euro-Atlantic our country through the Greece-US agree- bases and infrastructures; and to leave ment into a vast military base, but also NATO and the EU. We express our turning the country into a magnet for at- solidarity with the neighboring peoples, tacks in the name of so-called geostrategic and our support for the refugees in the upgrading of Greece, is the other aspect common struggle against the common of the policy that pervades everyday life. enemy so that the peoples become masters The deterioration of popular family’s in their own land; and to pave the way life, the cut of wages and pensions, the can safeguard them more effectively and sions to the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia for truly mutual and beneficial relations abolishment of labor and social secu- confirming how “predictable” they are for (along with Patriot missiles) and Libya. between states. rity rights, increasingly raise barriers the implementation of the US-NATO-EU We call upon all to reject the pseudo- No subordination to Imperialism — to people’s access to education, health, plans and the country’s involvement in dilemma of “compromise – submission The only superpower is the people! n etc. It is based on the hunt for capitalist imperialist interventions and wars. profit, the increase in the profitability of SYRIZA, after all, was paving the way Britain Conntinues as ... (from p. 7) in the military could be used to restore large foreign and local economic groups and implementing this agreement as a gov- for Real Change’, pledged to maintain public services and eradicate poverty in serving the interests of the US-NATO-EU ernment by upgrading the base of Souda, its commitment to NATO and ‘European Britain, that there are peaceful applica- in their confrontation with Russia, China establishing US bases in Larissa, Stefa- partners’, spend a minimum of 2% of tions of the discoveries of war research and dozens of other states, in all fields. novikio (near Volos) and Alexandroupolis GDP on defence, support innovation in and that jobs in the current defence The New Democracy (ND) govern- (North East). Now ND, with KINAL, are the arms industry and renew the Trident sector can be transformed into ones that ment, the SYRIZA, KINAL (PASOK) carrying on the job with their votes. nuclear ‘deterrent’ – all based on the use the specialist skills of its workers for parties and other bourgeois parties are Working people need to draw conclu- false claim that these things will somehow socially useful purposes. In raising this criminally responsible for sowing danger- sions from both the hypocritical attitude of “support peace and security worldwide.” awareness and going beyond it, the Brit- ous complacency by presenting the US- SYRIZA, who voted in the parliament “pres- This leaves the labour movement ish Peace Assembly has a special role to NATO-EU as the ultimate guarantors of ent (blanc),” and the attitude of the other and peace campaigns in Britain with the play. It must show that the root cause of peace, our security and sovereign rights. parties (“Mera 25” – “Greek Solution”), massive task of building a strong extra- war is imperialism, which now endangers The false quarrels that were also ex- who voted against, not because they disagree parliamentary movement of opposition the very future of the planet and all its pressed in the debate in the Parliament on with the substance of the agreement but be- that can powerfully challenge and frus- peoples and that NATO is an alliance the “ratification” of the agreement aim to cause in the context of the “exchanges” they trate the government’s jingoistic poli- for defending capitalist exploitation and divert the people from the main essence of seek to extract even greater “guarantees” cies, its programme for the development against the international struggle for the agreement and obscure the increasing from the US for the interests of the Greek of nuclear and other weapons of mass peace and a just and democratic future. depth of our country’s involvement in the bourgeoisie in the region. destruction and its defence industry, The people of Britain must be won tangle of imperialist rivalries and wars. Our people must not legalize this agree- including the sale of arms and military to the imperative of saying no to NATO The “national consensus” they are talking ment in their conscience. We call upon know-how to some of the most reaction- — calling for Britain to withdraw from about means subordinating the people to them show no tolerance, and condemn any ary regimes in the world. Crucially, the it and for it to be disbanded altogether the “beneficial” — as they call it “national” attempt at deploying nuclear weapons in our people of Britain need to know that there — and yes to peace. Nothing less will — capital projects, while competing on who country, to send the Armed Forces in mis- is an alternative, that the vast investment suffice. n PEACE MESSENGER Page 11 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Trump Prosecutors Make Move to Ensure that Embassy Protectors are Convicted Ajamu Baraka and Bahman Azad tions, which the court would read to the embassy in Caracas and Turkey protect- The judge in the most part agreed Co-Chairs of the Embassy Protectors jurors before they deliberated. ing the Venezuelan embassy in DC. The with the government’s narrow view of the Defense Committee The government’s motion in limine, embassy protectors had told the police case and did not allow the questionable left the jury wearing a blindfold, unaware they would leave voluntarily when that legality of the state’s order to vacate the s the trial has continued, the law- of the facts, context or why the Embassy agreement was reached. The day before the embassy and its clearly illegal entry into yers for the Trump Administra- Protectors were in the embassy. This four were arrested, Samuel Moncada, the the embassy and arrest of the defenders Ation’s prosecution of the four Ven- would ensure the desired outcome of the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN, held a as part of the trial. When the motion ezuelan Embassy Protectors* who were state, which has been to convict the de- press conference where he discussed the ne- for discovery was argued, the judge arrested last May ased asking the court to fenders and make them a model for how gotiations for a protecting power agreement ruled against the Embassy Protectors make sure the jury is kept ignorant about the state intends to deal with challenges to and said the Embassy Protectors were in regarding documents and other materials the facts and circumstances surrounding its illegal policies. the embassy with Venezuela’s permission. related to some of the above issues. See the actions of the protectors. The jurors also were not to be told The government also urged the court not the article we wrote at the time, titled In a recently filed motion by govern- “Embassy Protectors Are Being Denied ment lawyers, state prosecutors were Their Right To A Fair Trial.” seeking to severely restrict what can be But despite all the limitations imposed discussed during the trial scheduled for on the defense, the prosecutors were February 11, 2020. Judge Beryl Howell not able to convince the jury to find the heard their motion at the pre-trial hear- four defendants guilty. The jury, after a ing on January 29. deliberation that lasted longer than the What did the prosecution want to trial itself, returned to the court and told repress? Everything that might give the the jusge that that they were deadlocked defenders the ability to challenge the and gould not agree on a verdict. The state’s case. judge was forced to declare a mistrial and The prosecutors did not want jurors gave the state until February 28 to decide to know that Nicolas Maduro is the demo- whether or not it intends to retry the case. cratically-elected president of Venezuela. Althoug negotiations between the They also did not want the illegitimacy defense attorneys and the state are still of the failed coup leader Juan Guaido continuing, the outcome of the first to be known to the jurors as the eviction round of this trial was a great victory for and arrest of the four was based on the the people’s movement, who had done direction of a fake ambassador, Carlos everything they could in support of the Vecchio, who is wanted for violent crimes four embassy protectors, including rais- in Venezuela and is allied with Guaido. ing tens of thousands of dollars to cover The Trump prosecutors did not want their legal expenses. the jury to know that the Embassy Pro- that the protectors were under siege, to allow the four to explain they were exer- However, it is not yet clear whether tectors were inside the embassy with the surrounded by a pro-coup mob that was cising their rights under the First Amend- or not the state will put the defendents permission of the elected government of working with the police, threatening the ment to political expression and criticizing on trial again. This only means that our Venezuela that is recognized under Ven- protectors and blocking food from going the US government for their continuing struggle will continue. In this period of ezuelan law and by the United Nations. into the embassy. And, they would not efforts to force the overthrow of the demo- normalized illegality and attempts at in- And, they did not want the Vienna Con- know the government had the electricity cratically elected government of Venezuela. timidation, we shall not allow the state to vention discussed so jurors are unaware and water turned off in the embassy. Judge Howell granted most of the move against these courageous activists that the United States violated interna- While there were negotiations between Trump government’s motion and left without resistance from our movements. tional law when police entered the embassy the US and Venezuela for a mutual pro- the Embassy Protectors virtually de- While today it is the defenders, tomor- to arrest the four who remained inside. tecting power agreement during the final fenseless. The government wanted the row it could be any of us. The parties will also discussed voir days of the embassy protection, the jurors prosecution to be only about three things ______dire, i.e., the questions that would be would not be told that the negotiations (1) the four were in the embassy, (2) they * Kevin Zeese, Margaret Flowers, Adreanne Pine and David Paul. Kevin Zeese and used to pick the jury and ensurde they were occurring and that they would have were given a notice of eviction by the po- Margaret Flowers are members of the U.S. were not biased, as well as jury instruc- resulted in Switzerland protecting the US lice, and (3) they refused to leave. Peace Council National Board. Page 12 PEACE MESSENGER VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, WINTER 2020 QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL(WPC) WWW.WPC-IN.ORG [email protected] Iran: Our Campaign for Peace Is the Only Sure Way to Secure a Democratic Future! Payam Solhtalab, Convenor Thus, the people of Iran are strug- Coordinating Council gling on two fronts - against the oppres- ADPSD – Iran sive and corrupt Islamist regime on the one side, and against US-led Imperialism he Middle East remains a region on the other. It is important to note that targeted by the US for continuance both shamelessly disregard the welfare, Tof its unrivalled hegemony there. urgent demands and interests of the Militarily, the US cannot tolerate any up- working people of Iran. The theocratic set to its wider global hegemony through regime in Iran, which has been advancing the challenge to its dominance in the Mid- an ill-advised and provocative foreign dle East. Its strategy of control depends policy in the Middle East region, strives on balancing out regional powers in order for its own survival at all costs - includ- to concentrate its main force against the ing, but not limited to, driving the nation emerging counterbalance posed by the into a disastrous war with the US and/or People’s Republic of China. As a conse- its regional allies. The intensification of quence of this policy, the region has been the back-breaking US/EU sanctions on plunged into instability with the increas- Iran, which hurt the people of Iran more ing danger of a military confrontation than anyone, escalates the tensions in the with Iran. Middle East to the very brink. US Imperialism’s drive to maintain As far as ADPSD is concerned, the it hegemony in the Middle East has campaign against foreign intervention become significantly more brazen and in Iran under any and all pretexts is a dangerous in recent months. The threat strategic priority. We consider the drone of military conflict in this resource-rich attack on Soleimani and his associates on and geo-strategically important region 2 January to have significantly increased has massively increased since the illegal the potential for conflict in the region. killing of Qassem Soleimani by the US The hawks in the US administration, military while in Iraq. There is also the including Vice President Mike Pence and threat of a further escalation in tension the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, are should Trump’s strategists consider this only too aware and welcoming of this. necessary in order to garner advantage While the mobilisation of public opin- in the course of his 2020 presidential ion against the disastrous war on Iraq did election campaign. role for NATO in the Middle East in pur- sion of the opposing democratic voices not stop the war itself, it did help expose The fast deteriorating situation in the suit of imperialism’s hegemonistic designs continues unabated. the falsity of the West’s reasons for the Middle East, particularly with regard to there. This represents a serious threat A “limited military conflict” between invasion and showed the true strategic Iran, one which could spell disastrous to peace in the region and is currently the Islamic Republic and the US’ vastly aim of the US/UK interests in the Middle consequences for the people of our primarily aimed against Iran. NATO has more powerful military machine as a East, which itself rests heavily on its alli- country, should be a point of strategic proved itself to be an aggressive force that solution to the long-running standoff is ance with the Saudi dictatorship and the consideration and of the utmost concern violates the rights of independent nations a fallacy. It will most probably lead to Israeli apartheid regime. for the global peace movement. Over and a major threat to world peace. a bloody war that will bring more death, If and when the US launches an attack recent months, top officials in the US In Iran, the theocratic regime led misery and economic devastation for the on Iran, an even greater mobilisation of administration have clearly upped the by the Supreme Leader establishment people of Iran and the wider region. It public opinion will be necessary if a con- military option and the threat of regime has driven the country into a deep and will strengthen the hand of reactionary flagration greater than that witnessed in change in their plans regarding Iran un- extended political, economic, and social ‘political Islam’ in Iran and the region Iraq is to be avoided. The stakes could less the regime accommodates the US’ he- crisis. Extreme poverty has spread and provide another pretext for further not be higher. A US-led war with Iran gemonistic plans in relation to the region. throughout the country, while corruption incursions/transgressions by NATO and would drag us all to the precipice of The US has engineered a significant has become a systemic issue and suppres- other powers. world war. n

75 Years After Hiroshima ... (from p. 1) first-ever treaty to illegalize nuclear “Together with the Hibakusha — For Japanese Government In Defiance ICBM. It is also taking a policy to use weapons. Despite the opposition and a Nuclear Weapon-Free, Peaceful and of Anti-Nuclear Opinion preemptively tactical nuclear weapons pressure from nuclear superpowers, 81 Just World.” on regional conflict in neighboring coun- countries have signed and 35 of them In the coming April, on the eve The government of Japan, under tries. China is the only country among ratified the treaty. of the NPT Review Conference, with the US-Japan military alliance, is get- P5 that has increased nuclear warheads Though the forces clinging to “nuclear the cooperation of anti-nuclear peace ting Japan more involved in the war and is also depending more on nuclear deterrence” are persistent in continuing movements and a broad range of move- strategy of the Trump Administration, deterrence. to buttress their monopoly over nuclear ments for other causes, the World and for this purpose it aims at removing The threat of nuclear weapons is peaceful provisions of the Constitution still real. Today broad ranges of young of Japan. Furthermore, Japanese Gov- people are joining actions for the solu- ernment supports the nuclear strategy tion of the climate change and other of the United States, thus betraying the critical problems for the survival of the aspiration of its people. human race. We can and must bring all However, as seen in the 10 million these efforts together to build a world- plus people and 70% of local mayors who wide movement for the elimination of have already signed the “International nuclear weapons. Hibakusha Appeal,”[3] and 65.9% of respondents in the poll who answered World is Moving that Japan should join the TPNW, the majority of the citizens of Japan want Nuclear superpowers are neglect- their government to accede to the treaty. ing treaty obligations and a number of Promoting united actions between agreements achieved, including the Arti- civil movements and opposition parties, cle 6th of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation we will do our best to substitute the pres- Treaty (NPT) on the commitment for ent government with one appropriate to nuclear disarmament, the “unequivo- the only atomic-bombed country, which cal undertaking” to eliminate nuclear will take the lead in securing the entry weapons adopted in the 2000 NPT weapons as a pillar of their military Conference against A and H Bombs in into force of the TPNW, thus contribut- Review Conference, as well as “efforts strategy, this reactionary trend is being New York will be convened with the ing to a world without nuclear weapons. to establish a framework to realize and cornered by global public opinion for a theme: “Abolish Nuclear Weapons; ______maintain a world without nuclear weap- world without nuclear weapons. Resist and Reverse the Climate Crisis; 1. https://www.psr.org/wp-content/up- ons” agreed at the 2010 NPT Review For Social and Economic Justice.” It loads/2018/04/two-billion-at-risk.pdf Conference. This Year’s Plan of Japanese is of historical significance for three 2. Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb However, a major global trend Anti-Nuclear Movement Japanese anti-nuclear organizations[2] Sufferers Organizations, Japan Congress for the elimination of nuclear weapons to join in the international call for the against A and H Bomb, Japan Council can no longer be reversed. In 2017, the From August 2 to 9 of this year, the event. It is the first time for them to do against A and H Bombs (Japan Peace UN adopted the Treaty on the Prohibi- 2020 World Conference against A and H something in unity since the movement Committee is its member) tion of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a Bombs will be held with the main theme: was spitted in 1960’s. 3. https://hibakusha-appeal.net/languages/