Protests Organized Across the World Against Persecution of Polish Communists

Leaders of the Polish Community Party (KPP) are undergoing persecution at the hands of the  the bureaucracy and government led by the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS). The latest attempt was initiated by the office of the public prosecutor, which wants to scrutinize the constitutionality of the activities of the party. The public prosecutor’s office submitted a petition to the constitutional tribunal for the same.. The prosecutor’s office alleged that “For two years, there has been a process of propagating a totalitarian system by KPP activists in party publication Brzask and its website.” A trial on this allegation is scheduled on December 7.

KPP chairman Krzysztof Szwej said, “They want to make the KPP illegal as part of a political fight. PiS is fighting everything leftist, and the word ‘communism’ for these people is the symbol of the greatest evil. However, I would like to point out that what the PiS is doing is totalitarianism in a classic form: one party, one leader, one religion.”

“The monarchist parties also denied democratic values. However, somehow, nobody wants to liquidate them,” he added.

The PiS had earlier attempted to get the KPP banned on similar grounds. Initially, the jury didn’t find the KPP guilty of any wrongdoing. But, after extreme pressure from the prosecution, a small fine and a temporary ban on public activity were imposed on KPP cadre. But a further appeal from the KPP led to the case being discontinued.

The KPP was formed in 2002 as the ideological heir to the erstwhile Communist Party of Poland. The right-wing in Poland has been consistently attacking the KPP since its inception. In 2017, Poland’s parliament, the Sejm, dominated by the PiS, ratified amendments to the country’s de-communization law, permitting the demolition of Soviet-era monuments, including memorials in honour of the Red Army (there are more than 450 memorials across Poland, 230 of which are dedicated to Red Army soldiers). Since then, the government has been promoting the demolition of Soviet monuments.

The European Communist Initiative and the 20th International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties that concluded in Athens recently expressed solidarity with the KPP cadre in Poland and condemned the persecution of communists. Around 76 parties participated in the meet and signed a statement that condemned the escalation of the anti-communist campaign.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its youth wing KNE organized a demonstration on December 3 in front of the Polish embassy in Greece against the persecution of communists and the destruction of war memorials in Poland, including those honouring Greek veterans. The Communist Party of Russian Federation (KPRF) also organized demonstrations in front of the Polish embassy in Moscow and consulates in Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Smolensk and the General Consulate of Republic of Poland in St. Petersburg. Protests were also held in front of Polish consulates in Milan and Turin under the leadership of Communist Party of Italy (PCI). Agitations were also held in Naples, Bologna, Palermo, Ancona and Genoa.

According to reports, fans of football club AC Omonia hung a banner with the slogan “Hands off the communists – Solidarity with the Communist Party of Poland” at a stadium during a recent match in Nicosia, Cyprus. The Communist Party Of Mexico also expressed their solidarity with the KPP and announced a protest in front of the Polish embassy in Mexico City on Friday, December 7.