We, the participants of the European Preparatory Activities of the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students, that will take place in South Africa, this December, condemn the anti-communist campaign of the ban of communist symbols, that is developed in Poland. After the Baltic countries, Hungary and Czech Republic another EU country member adopts measures and laws against communist forces.This development is related with the outburst of the international crisis of the capitalist system, in the framework of which the governments of most countries of the world, particularly in Europe, conducted a violent offense against the people and youth’s rights.

Under the umbrella of the measures proposed by imperialist structures as the IMF, World Bank, OECD and EU the workers of all European countries have been presented the withdrawal of their rights as an “inevitable” or “natural”, however the truth is that for most big economic groups their huge profits have either only slightly decreased or, in many cases, even increased.

The unacceptable fact that the workers and youth and being forced to pay with their rights the crisis that was created by the dominant classes and the capitalist system itself - due to its irrational, anarchic and unfair character - has deserved from the workers and youth strong resistance in countless struggles against the measures, in particular, and for a whole economical system that serves the true interests and needs of people and youth rights, unlike the capitalist system.

The dominant classes and the governments and international structures, that serve them, know that the capitalist crisis shows to the peoples the historical time limits of the capitalist system. They know that a strong, organized, emancipated struggle is the most important weapon of the workers and youth to resist and overthrow these measures and policies. This why, side by side with the attack on social rights, the attack is growing at political level, mainly against the organizations who are organizing the struggle and the resistance in a clear attempt to try to refrain them from being successful.

Among different attacks and expressions of this coordinated offense against the anti-imperialist movement, the prohibition of the communist symbols in Poland is a particularly strong example of how far (and even further) the dominant classes are willing to go to make sure their dominance and power is not jeopardized. It expresses also their attempt - especially in the former socialist countries - to disrupt and erase from memory of the peoples the achievements and successes of socialism. We reject the characterization of communism as totalitarian and the equalization of communism and fascism.

In this case, as before with our comrades of KSM from Czech Republic, we analyze that this attack is not a matter of only Polish people, neither communist organizations. An attack of this kind is an attack to all forces that, side by side with the communist organizations, struggle for a world free of imperialism, exploitation man by man and oppression. To remain silent before such a reactionary attempt against our Polish comrades would mean the acceptance of these measures in any country of the world (including our own) and against any party or organization (including ourselves).

In a year such as this one, on the 65th anniversary of the peoples’ victory against Nazi-fascism, to which Soviet Union and the communist forces of all Europe played a decisive role, stopping the biggest ever threat to mankind, it is even more insulting and unfair this whole process of rewriting of History and persecution of those who have historically proved their commitment to the construction of a world of peace and solidarity among the peoples.

Therefore, we demand the cancelling of all the anti-communist laws in all countries and we call upon all anti-imperialist and progressive forces and organizations to mark the first week of September as a week of solidarity towards the Polish communists, against the ban of the communist symbols for freedom, democracy, peace and justice - a world free of imperialism and exploitation!

Following the recent events and laws approved in Poland, from June 8 on the communist symbols will be forbidden in the country. This act, covered and supported by the so self-proclaimed “democratic” European Union, represents an attack to the communist forces of Poland and of the whole world, but also to all those who are true lovers of peace, democratic liberties and rights.WFDY reminds everyone that decision was taken last year, as the president of USA and the remaining NATO members were agreeing on sending 30.000 troops more to continue the occupation of Afghanistan. As a dark coincidence, the decision is being implemented now, as USA is implementing military disposals throughout the lands of Poland to “prevent” any military action coming from East, i.e. Russia.

Once again, as in the wars and occupations of Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, imperialism uses “democracy” and “prevention” to impose its domination suffocating all those who resist against its dominant voice.

Furthermore, in times where the historical limits of the capitalist system are so clear as in the framework of this international crisis, it is necessary for the dominant forces to smash all sources of protest and, specially, all forces that can present an alternative to this inhuman and irrational order in which we live.

WFDY considers this a matter of much more than just
the communist forces. For their revolutionary project communists may be the first to be attacked, but after them surely all others who aim to raise their voices against dominance will be smashed. This means that to stand by the Polish communists in this battle is much more than fighting back the prohibition of some symbols, but it is in fact an act of struggle for true democracy and right to an alternative.

Therefore, WFDY calls upon all its member and friend organizations, as well as the partners of the coming 17th World Festival of the Youth and Students, to vehemently protest against this measures in a week of actions from 8 to 15 of June, demanding from their national governments and the government of Poland concrete action to take back all this measures.

The banning of the Union of the Communist Youth of Czech Republic (KSM) was not successful due to the struggle of the Czech youth alongside with thousands of people all around the world, proving it is upon us and our struggle and solidarity to rise to the challenge and fight back: we will defeat imperialism!

WFDY has received with great concern the news of the ban of the communist symbols (hammer and sickle and red star) in Poland, by initiative of the Polish Government.

This measure, approved and promoted by all European Union structures, is a new evidence of the anti-communist cruzade that the imperialist forces have embraced as their mission, with similar results in different Eastern European countries.

The persecution of communists and communist organizations is one of grim faces of imperialism. Beyond the empty and rethorical speeches about “freedom” and “democracy” the imperialist structures and governments’ actions clearly show that imperialism cannot cope with the possibility of others thinking differently.

In a framework in which the historical limits of capitalism were so clear to the peoples and youth of the world, following the international crisis of capitalism, there is no other way for the imperialist structures than banning and persecuting all those who struggle against its domination.

It is a dark coincidence that such act took place in the exact same week when, against the will of the peoples, the European Union and the governments of its member states impose the so called Lisbon Treaty (declaring its implementation from December 1) and when NATO decides to increase its military presence occupying Afghanistan, also in name of “freedom” and “democracy”.

As before, WFDY reaffirms that this is not a matter that concerns communists only, as it is part of an anti-democratic strategy that aims a gradual attack to all levels of democratic freedoms.

Therefore, WFDY calls upon all its member and friend organizations to join its solidarity message to the Polish communists and take action to denounce among the youth of the world this ongoing attack and organize actions to demonstrate its condemnation of this anti-democratic measure.