DEM VOLKE DIENEN

The 17th of May marked the 39th anniversary of the Initiation of the People's War in Peru. Apart from the publication of the Songs and Lyrics of the Songs of the Shining Trenches of Combat and a wall painting on this occassion, we are very happy to document now the (unofficial) English translations of the statement "La chispa que encendió la pradera un 17 de mayo, camaradas, no se apagó nunca" issued by the Communist Party of Peru (Reorganisationcommittee) yesterday.

Proletarians of all countries, unite!

The spark that lit the prairie on May 17, comrades, never went out

“Make trouble, fail, make trouble again, fail again ... till their doom; that is the logic of the imperialists and all reactionaries the world over in dealing with the people's cause, and they will never go against this logic. This is a Marxist law. When we say "imperialism is ferocious", we mean that its nature will never change, that the imperialists will never lay down their butcher knives, that they will never become Buddhas, till their doom.

Fight, fail, fight again, fail again, fight again ... till their victory; that is the logic of the people, and they too will never go against this logic. This is another Marxist law. The Russian people's revolution followed this law, and so has the Chinese people's revolution.”

- Chairman Mao, “Cast Away illusions, prepare for struggle”

The spark that lit the prairie on May 17.

Those, who used to be companions along the road, and the pacifiers, they wanted and want to extinguish it, and not only that, but to scatter its ashes into the wind.

The visceral hatred of those who expired yesterday and those who are once again bankrupt.

The flame of intense fire, comrades, has never been extinguished.

The incandescent sun of its example still shines, unfading light that also imposes itself with a great roar in the ears of the people. It is the constant hammering of voices and of fists held high.

A fool whoever does not want to hear it. Don’t you see that the drums of war sound everywhere? It is no longer just here. Even worse for those who hear it, but divert towards another path.

The spark that ignited on May 17, flickers quickly in the field, in the potato, in the fruits, in the tunnels, in the rivers; flickers with more strength in all the corners of the countryside; echos like a resonating body in the city; more so, for it is like a child's voice: new and higher.

And the class demands its vanguard, its guide, in the role of its best children, who walk with the light raising banners of Maoism and Gonzalo Thought, contributions of universal validity before the eyes of the world […],

Comrades, the masses demand, call for, want, need clamor for People’s War until Communism and we can not be deaf and blind to it.

For those who went and for those who will come.

It is a crime to extinguish light and fire.

It is a duty to stir it up.

Let the sparks become bonfires and the fire purify us.

We raise the sickle with challenging stealth and with frightening hammers we wave our unbeaten red flag once again.

Long live the 39th anniversary of the People’s War!

Long live Chairman Gonzalo, great leader of the Party and the Revolution!

Glory to Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, Gonzalo Thought!

Honor and glory to the Peruvian proletarian and people!

Already, the Unified International Maoist Conference (CIMU) that has been convened by the Maoist Parties and Organizations is a resounding success, because the preparation – a process that is being followed and is an undeniable development in the reunification of the communists – is the greatest homage to the centenary of the foundation of the communist III. International by Lenin and the role fulfilled by comrade Stalin. It demands us to follow its example and raise higher the diffusion of communism in the world and the forging of the Communist Parties all over the globe – today, the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist, militarized Communist Parties.

Long live the Centenary of the communist III. International!

We are guided by our unbeaten flags of Marx, Lenin and Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. With our fists raised and our chests puffed we declare honor and glory to Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and we recognize the firm willingness of the Maoist Parties and Organizations to apply the contributions of universal character of Gonzalo Thought.

We say:
We are communists, forged from the purest steel in the image and likeness of Chairman Gonzalo.
Happy 39th Anniversary and let us celebrate the 30th Anniversary of our milestone of Imperishable Victory, the I. Congress, a Marxist Congress, a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist, Gonzalo-Though Congress.

Communist Party of Peru (Reorganization Committee)
May 2019

Today, voting for the European Elections started in the Netherlands and Great Britian, which’s participation in the elections makes it appear so much of a farce already – particularly with the current turmoil over Mays rumored soon-to-happen resignation – that it embarrasses even the most hard boiled parliamentary cretins of the EU bureaucracy. All the more reason to reject and boycott these elections. Hence, we gladly spread the following call published by several anti-imperialist organizations calling for the boycott of the elections, and firmly take position for it denouncing the role of the European Union as a tool to further impose the imperialist’s exploitation upon the peoples within Europe, behind which German imperialism is a driving force, and which compels us to increase all our efforts to destroy the EU and “our own” imperialists. - Editorial Staff of Dem Volke Dienen

We publish some of the actions done by comrades in Bremen:

In a tremendous wave of mass protests tens of thousands of people went to the streets in Brasil again past Wednesday,sparked by the cutbacks against educution. According to preliminary reports in atleast 220 cities actions took place, many of them combative demonstrations, in what is shaping up to become a protest engulfing the whole country as it has been seen last during the 2013 manifestations.

The comrades of Incendiary have made great efforts to compile some of actions of past together in a report based on information of A Nova Democracia, which we mirror in the following:

BRAZIL: Hundreds of Thousands Take the Streets in National Education Strike

The following is a compilation of reports on demonstrations across Brazil connected to the National Education Strike, held last week on Wednesday May 15.

The strike was called in response to the fascist Bolsonaro administration announcing that they would be cutting thirty percent of the budget across the board for universities and high schools in an ideologically motivated attack on public education aimed at fighting “leftist indoctrination.”

Workers, students, and teachers mobilized across the country, especially in the state capitals and federal universities, to repudiate the reactionary budget cuts, as well as the dismantling of social security and labor laws. The national education strike and the influence of revolutionary organizations has pushed many to take up the slogan “Prepare the General Strike of National Resistance!”

Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

Rio de Janeiro saw massive mobilizations estimated at 300,000. It was characterized by combativeness on the part of the youth, including revolutionary organizations like Popular Revolutionary Student Movement (MEPR), the Class Movement of Education Workers (Moclate), the Popular Women’s Movement (MFP) and the Red Unit – Revolutionary Youth League.

As the demonstration approached Central do Brasil, a major transportation hub, the marchers confronted the Military Police, who threw flash bang grenades into the crowd. The combative youth however, did not cower. They fought back with rocks and fireworks. They also defaced the Pantheon de Caxias, a monument to the genocidal Duke of Caxais, by splattering it with red paint and spray-painting “80 shots, killer army!” a reference to the cold-blooded murder of Evaldo dos Santos Rosa by an army patrol in Rio. Solidarity signs for Ajith and Dr. Sernas were also seen at the demonstration.

“Defend public and free education tooth and nail!” Affixed to the Ponte do Saber bridge which connects the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) to downtown Rio

“Against the ‘reforms’, general strike now!”

Combative youth vandalize reactionary monument and denounce the murderous army

Sign of solidarity with Mexican comrades Corriente del Pueblo – Sol Rojo, demanding the presentation of the disappeared Dr. Sernas

Curitiba (PR)

In Curitiba, about 20,000 people gathered in Santos Andrade Square, in front of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) Museum of Art, and left by taking the main thoroughfares of the city center to the front of the Iguaçu Palace, headquarters of the State Government.

A combative block from UFPR carried banners in defense of public education and denouncing imperialist intervention in Venezuela. Revisionists and electoral cretins like the Worker’s Party (PT) were roundly rejected by the majority of student demonstrators, who were instead won over to the combative block. Later in the evening students from several universities united and made the journey from Santos Andrade Square to Rui Barbosa Square, continuing the call for workers to take to the streets in defense of education.

“Down with intervention in Venezuela!”

Students from the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR) block a major street that passes in front of their school

Students of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) carry a banner “Against the cuts in education!”

Porto Velho (RO)

In Porto Velho, one of the largest demonstrations within the past several years was held with an estimated 5,000 people. Numerous interventions were highlighted with the following themes: the attacks on the University and Federal Institutes and the privatization of education; the delivery of the country’s wealth and the Alcantara base in Maranhão to Yankee imperialism; the denunciation of the semicolonial and semifeudal condition of Brazil; the denunciation of the criminalization of the struggles in the countryside and in the city.

Demonstration outside the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR)

Unity of workers, students, and teachers led to one of the largest street demonstrations in recent years in Porto Velho

Porto Alegre (RS)

An estimated 50,000 protesters took the streets of Porto Alegre on Wednesday despite heavy repression from the Military Police, who used tear gas on the masses. The demonstrators chanted revolutionary slogans against Bolsonaro and Guedes, and even capitalism, but were mostly silent in response to opportunist chants like “Lula Livre!”, a reference to reformist Worker’s Party (PT) politician and former president “Lula” da Silva.

A Nova Democracia support committee distributes revolutionary newspapers at Porto Alegre demonstration

Military brigade attack demonstrators in Porto Alegre

Reactionary state deploys tear gas against protesters

Montes Claros (MG)

More than two thousand protesters took to the streets in Montes Claros, the demonstration began with two public events held by teachers and students before combining into one large event that paralyzed traffic for several hours.

“And this protest is not only against the cut of funds, it is against the end of the production and diffusion of scientific knowledge in Brazil. It is a protest in defense of the sovereignty of our country!” an activist with the Class Movement of Education Workers (Moclate) said. “This reactionary government of Jair Bolsonaro, guarded by the High Command of the Armed Forces, never tires of pulling the sack of the United States and now wants to turn our schools and universities to the monopolies of private education of this imperialist country. That is not enough, he has already delivered the Alcantara base to the Yankees and wants to use the Brazilian Armed Forces as a cannon fodder for the genocidal United States army to invade Venezuela. It is urgent a great General Strike of National Resistance against these damn ‘reforms,’ the cuts of funds and in defense of the sovereignty of our country !”

“Prepare the general strike of national resistance!”

“Long live agrarian revolution! Death to the latifundio (large landlords)! Land to those who work (on) it!”

Campo Grande (MS)

In the days leading up to May 15, students at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) held assemblies and agitated around campus to mobilize students against the cuts in education. Their work culminated in the occupation of a campus building, called Unit VI, for several days, where teachers and students discussed ways to integrate the students into the larger movement against the Bolsonaro government and its attacks on workers and social security.

It was estimated that up to 10,000 participated in the demonstration on the 15th, paralyzing traffic on a major road in front of the UFMS campus. After the demonstration there was a great deal of support for a general strike among students moving forward, and a General Strike Student Committee was created to prepare.

Agitation outside of Unit VI, a University building that was occupied by students leading up to the May 15th demonstration

Thousands block major street in front of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS)

Reactionary army truck attempts to pierce blockade

Salvador (BA)

Salvador had an estimated 50,000 people in attendance for the demonstrations, the biggest since the mass protests that swept Brazil in 2013. The masses showed themselves more politically advanced compared to the union leaders who summoned the protest. While reformist and revisionist “left” parties only denounced the federal government, in the streets there were many students and teachers criticizing the governor of the state of Bahia, Rui Costa (PT), who has applied a right-wing contingency policy in universities, closing state schools and taking away basic rights of teachers in the state network.

Block composed of students from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), State University of Bahia (UNEB) and teachers of the state network, carry banner calling for “General Strike of National Resistance”

Natal (RN)

An estimated 70,000 people participated in demonstrations in Natal including organizations like MEPR and the Popular Students Collective (CEP). Opportunist sections of the student government made an alliance with the Federal Highway Police, resulting in the repression of independent journalists, infiltration by plainclothes police, and the arrest of three activists for the supposed plundering of a headquarters of Bolsonaro’s far-right Social Liberal Party (PSL). The demonstration was repressed by the police throughout, however that did not stop the masses, who raised slogans in defense of the arrested as political prisoners.

Tens of thousands march through the streets of Natal against cuts in education and the dismantling of Social Security

Goiânia (GO)

In Goiânia over 40,000 mobilized for the National Education Strike. Students from the Federal University of Goiàs (UFGO) and the Federal Institute of Goiàs (IFGO) held a unified demonstration in university square. Protesters set fire to American and Israeli flags, shouting anti-imperialist slogans like “Yankee out of Latin America! Israel out of Palestine!” They also denounced the Bolsonaro government’s support for both countries and their reactionary governments.

Demonstrators burn the flag of Yankee imperialism and Israeli settler apartheid state

“Prepare the general strike of national resistance! Against the ‘reforms’ of social security and labor; Land to those who live and work there; Against the anti-people measures and selling of the homeland; For freedom to protest and organize.”

The fighting energy of the masses was on full display in Goiânia

Vitória (ES)

In Vitoria two separate demonstrations were held, the first was attended by about 5,000 and was organized by the union of state education workers. The second was organized by several student and trade union organizations and was attended by an estimated 10,000 protesters, with participation from the antifascist movement. Calls were made to prepare for the general strike on June 14th to defend education and social security from the reactionary government.

An estimated 15,000 participated in the national education strike in the city of Vitória

Manaus (AM)

Students from the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) began the day by blocking Rodrigo Otávio Avenue, a main access to the Free Economic Zone of Manaus, for a few minutes at a time as traffic began to pile up. The most combative segments of the students then began to hold the blockades for longer and wanted to cut off the highway, although the Military Police and opportunist leaders from the student union tried to prevent them. Through heavy rainfall the numbers continued to swell, and the masses eventually took it upon themselves to completely take over the road, marching back and forth in front of the UFAM campus, an act that had not been seen in Manaus since the large protests in 2013.

Mass demonstration in the capital city of Amazonas

Thousands of protesters take over the streets, against the wishes of reformist student union leaders, and cut off a major avenue

Belém (PA)

An estimated 40,000 protesters took the streets in Belém in defense of public education and against the cutting of funds. A combination of high school and university students, trade unions, teachers, and popular movements marched from Republic Square to the Legislative Assembly of Pará.

Education workers, students, and trade unions unite against cuts in education and the government of Bolsanaro generals

Campinas (SP)

In Campinas, approximately 15,000 were present in demonstrations for the National Education Strike. Among the various organizations and movements present, a bloc formed by members of the Alvorada do Povo (AP) and other independent activists who raised two large banners with the words ‘Preparing the General Strike of National Resistance’ and ‘ In defense of Public Universities, Autonomous and Democratic.’ The block marked a combative position, with great fighting spirit, chanting slogans denouncing the precariousness of education, the involvement of the government with militias, and calling for the General Strike.

“Prepare the general strike of national resistance”

“In defense of public universities, autonomous and democratic”

“Students with workers in defense of education”

By Jakob Stein

We want to publish a translation of a statement by the "Antifaschistische Aktion - Infoblatt" about the "scandal" which appeared in Austrian policy and will lead to a snap national election in September this year.

Uniting under the slogan “Strike back” broad sections of Swedish society came together last year, first for a manifestation in August and then again for country-wide days of action from the end of November to Early December, to organize the struggle against cutbacks of the worker’s rights, particularly the right to strike.

Yesterday marked the 46 anniversary of the murder of Ibrahim Kaypakkaya who died on May 18 in 1973 in the dungeons of the Turkish reaction after having founded a genuine Communist Party and initiated the People's War in his young years. Celebrating his great accomplishments in the 70th year of his birth, comrades of Partizan organized a most vivid and combative Kaypakkaya celebration, that took place only days after the announcement of the 1st Party Congress of the TKP/ML since its foundation.