"An important moment in the struggle against imperialism"
Following its General Council meeting in Beruit, the WFDY released a statement on the location of the next World Festival stating:
During the last CCM of WFDY (Paris, November 14, 2009), the ANCYL South Africa presented the proposal to host the 17th WFYS, in the framework of the anti-imperialist struggle developed by the country and its youth against different expressions of imperialism, particularly against the apartheid regime. Just some days after receiving the proposal of South Africa, the CC/HQ received the proposal from JCE Ecuador to host the 17th WFYS, presented on the basis of the relevant changes occurred for the youth and people of Ecuador since the beginning of the “Citizen Revolution” and, in a broader way, in a significant part of Latin America.
Following the decision taken by the CCM, WFDY CC/HQ visited both countries to study and evaluate the possibilities of hosting an anti-imperialist, broad-based, massive WFYS. In both cases the proposals were very consistent at political level but also at logistical level. The detailed reports presented to all WFDY members just after each visit are important tools prepared for the discussion inside WFDY. Despite the set of positive aspects observed in Ecuador, the historical background of anti-apartheid struggle, the current process of transformation lived in the whole country (and the unity of all youth movement structures in it) and the fact that never in sub-Saharan Africa there was the opportunity to organize a WFYS, lead to us decide that, in this moment, the most appropriate venue for the 17th WFYS is South Africa. (...)
We emphasize and reiterate that the WFYS is the result of the anti-imperialist struggle of youth of the World, being an important moment of support, solidarity and exchange of experiences of the struggles developed against imperialism, for a world of peace, solidarity and social justice and it can never be disconnected from the reality of this same struggle, in each moment, in each country and in the whole world.
Political Statement of WFDY General Council Meeting in Beruit
The General Council of WFDY, discussing and reporting on the political and social situation of young people in the world, updated and enriched the analysis of WFDY. During the last 9 months, period between now and the last GC Meeting of WFDY, the developments of the world and the youth struggle has proved the accuracy of the evaluations and decisions of the 17th Assembly of WFDY.
We salute the fearless resistance of all the youth and people in struggle against the imperialist offensive in their countries, defending and struggling for their independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, which greatly inspire us in our daily struggles.
The International Capitalist Crisis, product of its inner contradictions and exploiting character, was used by both new liberal and social democrat Governments of the imperialist World New Order to increase the exploitation of the peoples and youth of the world, using blackmail against the workers, depriving them of their rights to safeguard the profits of the big economic groups. Measures as the so called “nationalization” of banks, were indeed injections of loads of money into the economic groups that own those banks – the unfair character of these processes is even clearer now, when these same banks are being returned to private hands for ridiculously low sums.
In the meantime, unemployment, precariousness, poverty, exploitation, partial or total privatization of public services that correspond to basic rights (education, health, culture, sports, justice), have continued and increased in most of the countries of the world, showing that imperialism and mankind development are not compatible, and that there are no other ways in favour of people that can relief capitalism from its crisis as some social democrats propose. The International Capitalist Crisis also strengthens the contradictions between the imperialist forces of USA, EU and NATO with emerging imperialist forces as Russia, and this expresses itself in the conflicts for domination in Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Balkans,… for the control over natural resources.
The imperialist response to this crisis is increasing the wars, like in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. The brave and ongoing resistance of the Iraqi and Afghani people to the occupation of their countries is leading USA and its imperialist allies to a very hard position, since everyday seems clearer that they will end up defeated. The decision of NATO, lead by USA and European Union, to send 37000 more troops to Afghanistan is a new sign of how swamped imperialism is becoming in the chaos created by itself. The electoral fraud in the elections of Afghanistan exposed even more the dirty and puppet government that imperialism imposes to the Afghani people. Moreover, WFDY denounces the fraud that also took place in the elections in Lebanon, last June, as a manoeuvre of USA to keep its political influence in Middle East. Finally, not only the occupation of Iraq has continued as now USA and Saudi Arabia are once again using the excuse of “fighting terrorism” to intervene in Yemen, trying to reinforce its domination over the strategic Gulf States.
The Israeli aggressions in the region continue to constitute the major problem for the security and stability of the Middle East countries. In Palestine, Israel continues to expand the settlements in the West Bank and throw people out of their homes in West Bank and Jerusalem, while at the same time enforces a criminal blockade against the people of Gaza who heroically resist and survive despite all of the brutality of the Zionists. The wall of shame in the west bank is a major problem for the lives of the Palestinian people as it cuts their lands and villages and steals their agricultural fertile lands. Israel also continues to issue daily threats about a future war against Lebanon to destroy its resistance and continues its occupation of the Golan Heights of Syria since 43 years. In addition, Israel also continues to occupy Shebaa and Kfarshouba in south of Lebanon, and holds more than 11000 Palestinian detainees including Ahmad Saadat the leader of PFLP and other Palestinian leaders. This is the biggest mass detention in the world.
The pains of Gaza are more deepened by the Egyptian blockade that complements the Israeli role in killing those people silently. Recently Egypt started building an underground wall to halt the tunnels built by the people of Gaza to trespass the blockade and import their basic needs. In this step, Egypt proves its pivotal role in the misery and the deterioration of the Palestinian people.
The coup d’état occurred in Honduras, showed that imperialism is vigilant and is not willing to give up its domination over Latin America easily – the anti-democratic process and the shameful cooperation of USA and its allies in the process prove it. The continuation of the persecution of communists, particularly, and all the opposition to Alvaro Uribe policies, more generally, in Colombia, is something that demands from all the anti-imperialist youth of the world maximum solidarity and attention. This fact can’t de disconnected from the increasing aggressiveness of the Colombian state towards Ecuador and Venezuela, and its commitment to the USA, to whom Colombia is offering its land for the implementation of seven military bases as an answer to the brave decision of Ecuador to expel the USA base of Manta from the country. WFDY condemns the decision of USA and Obama administration to keep the blockade against Cuba and to include it in the countries promoting terrorism, and WFDY salutes the fact that facing this, the Cuban people have reaffirmed that it will continue to struggle to build socialism. Furthermore, WFDY reaffirms its position for the immediate release of the Five Cuban Heroes, unfairly imprisoned by the USA. The important and positive steps forward given by ALBA deserve WFDY’s highlight as an opportunity for the Latin American people and youth. As part of the victories in Latin America, the overwhelming result of Evo Morales is a sign of trust in the future. At the same time, in several countries the right-wing forces have being gaining positions and represent a threat to the peoples, as it is shown by the recent result of the elections in Chile. The victory of the Peruvian indigenous against the attempts of the Peruvian government and several economic groups to deprive them from their land is of great significance. The recent earthquake in Haiti, has caused the death of several dozens of thousands of people and destroyed the houses of millions as well as the public facilities – WFDY stands in firm solidarity with the Haitian people and denounces the intentions of USA to take over the country, under the disguise of humanitarian aid, bringing even more suffering and domination to that country.
WFDY conveys its strong solidarity to the entire Korean nation in the struggle of opening a new phase of independent reunification by frustrating all challenges of the anti-reunification forces with their concerted efforts and stepping up the grand nationwide march toward reunification under the banner of the North South Joint Declaration. WFDY calls upon all its member and friendly organizations to drive an international solidarity campaign urging for replacing the Armistice Agreement between DPRK-US by the peace treaty this year which marks the lapse of 60 years since the outbreak of the Korean War, as well as an immediate withdrawal of US army troops from south Korea for the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea. The developments of Iran shown the complex situation lived by a country and a people and youth between the repression of their own Government and, at the same time, the continuous attempt of imperialism to intervene in the country, either by supporting candidates to the elections or creating massive campaign in the media to legitimate an eventual military intervention. WFDY stands by the youth and students in their democratic struggle; however, we reject and condemn all sorts of imperialist intervention as it has been happening or in any other ways, particularly the military intervention, and demand lifting the sanctions that affect the whole Iranian people. In China, imperialism has once again tried to destabilize the country using small groups that, under the excuse of “ethnic oppression”, were given strong media highlight as an attempt to attack China under the banner of “human rights”.
Somalia has become the nucleus of imperialism in Africa, foreign troops roam around the surrounding countries, under the justification of inability to create security conditions in the area – WFDY denounces this move by the contempt it deserves and campaign will campaign against this imperialist strategy to dominate this area, particularly for its natural wealth and strategic position. We encourage African revolutionaries to reject any bid by the United States to establish (AFRICOM) a highly equipped army as no one will have the capacity to remove them once permanently established. As part of this process, WFDY rejects the UN sanctions against Eritrea for through fabricated lies of the later being accused of backing insurgents in Somalia and deploying troops at its border as a defensive move to counter the implementation of AFRICOM, which represents a danger not only to Eritrea but to all African countries. In the same vein WFDY calls once again Britain, USA and the EU to lift the demonic sanctions imposed against the innocent youth and people of Zimbabwe. Furthermore, we denounce the prevalence of human rights abuse in the occupied territories of Western Sahara by the unrepentant Moroccan government. We salute Aminatu Haidar for successfully going through a hunger strike which got much international media limelight hence exposing the double standards of Casablanca. We demand the immediate release of all Sahrawi prisoners by Morocco and emphasize the importance of negotiations towards the right of self-determination of that people. The attempts to re-establish colonial dependence has lead to big campaigns at international level and within the countries themselves to try to overthrow the progressive parties that rule Mozambique and Namibia as witnessed through creating imperial outfits and call them opposition parties and have unholy alliances in these countries. However, in both cases, once again the people and youth’s voices have raised and reaffirmed their will not let imperialist destabilization manoeuvres to interfere in their country. We therefore encourage all African liberation movements to constantly meet and re-strategise as attempts to wipe out these movements from the political map is increasing by each passing day.
WFDY denounces the imposition to the peoples and youth of the European Union member states of the EU Reform Treaty (also known as Lisbon Treaty) against their will and behind their back. This fact is another evidence of the anti-democratic character of the EU, which is now, by constitution, a political bloc even more militaristic and deeper exploiter of the peoples and youth. Despite some positive results for the progressive forces, the elections for the EU Parliament represented the election of several openly fascist parties, as a result of an intense anti-communist attack combined with the depriving of the rights of workers accelerated by the International Crisis of Capitalism. WFDY salutes the important developments in the struggles of students in different countries, as Austria, Cyprus, France Germany, Greece, Spain and Portugal. WFDY salutes the victory of KSM Czech Republic, who has achieved after long struggle (and wide international solidarity) that the legal process of banning the organization has been declared not valid by a Czech court – we believe this is an inspiration to keep the struggle against anti-democratic measures, in general, and anti-communism in particular, in the very same Czech Republic where the senate is “studying” if the Communist Party should or not be legal, or in Poland where communist symbols have been declared forbidden. In this same framework, WFDY denounces the intense campaign of imperialism upon the 20 years of the Berlin Wall’s fall, as a high moment of the anti-communist lies and prejudices that imperialism tries the peoples, and specially the youth, to incorporate to raise a generation with no rights, no hope and no capability to struggle in an organized way. We must not forget that not only the fascist parties, but also the new liberal and social democrat parties carry similar anti-communist ideology and promoted the ban of many communist parties and organizations throughout Europe. We also express our solidarity towards Cypriots, Greek and Turkish Cypriots in their struggle for reunification underlining the urgent need to end the Turkish occupation and find a peaceful, viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation as set out by the UN resolutions and providing a united state with a single sovereignty and a single citizenship.
The UN Summit on Climate Change that took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, was yet another evidence that, whilst under the imperialist domination, Earth survival will always be left behind in favour of the economical and financial profits of the big economic groups. Such statement is clear when analyzed the wide promoted proposals to create a market of greenhouse gases (as if the market rules were the better to refrain the carbon emissions), the attempt to make equal the responsibilities of USA and European Union to the remaining countries (when they are in fact the responsible for a vast part of the environmental problems) and the lack of attention given to issues that must be part of any discussion on environment in the current days: such as deforestation of the fast approaching end of fresh water reserves.
Despite this offense the progressive and peace loving forces have been resisting, confronting, conquering important victories and growing stronger. As long as injustice and exploitation rule the world, as long as people are being oppressed there will be always resistance. Even though we are going through a period of resistance and gathering of strength, the transformation’s potential is rising. We are optimistic and also youth and people can be also optimistic. The role of masses is the big obstacle to imperialism despite the differences in the balance of forces. The struggle of the anti-imperialist, progressive and democratic youth movement, all over the world, will not let the imperialist forces stop the fight for peace, social progress and youth rights hand in hand with workers for a new society, more fraternal and fair, without exploitation of man by man. We call upon the youth of the world to join this struggle confident that the victory will be ours!
