Communiqué of the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations Meeting in Mexico

We, the Marxist-Leninist parties and organizations, holding our regular International Conference, take note of the following situation:

The recession in the dependent and imperialist countries, including the U.S.A., the growing misery and unemployment, the deterioration of the conditions of life of the popular masses, the lack of faith in bourgeois institutions, the exacerbation of the fundamental contradictions of our epoch; the development and increase of the popular struggles in the world: in Palestine, where the ‘intifada’ is demanding the right of the people to their own territory and State against Zionist aggression; in Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, with broad popular movements for their right to life, to national sovereignty and against imperialist interference, expressed in the Plan Colombia, the Andean Initiative and the Plan Puebla Panama; in South Africa, Burkina Faso, Benin mainly confronting the politics of privatizations; in Iran challenging and fighting the repression of the government of the Islamic Republic; in South Korea against the politics of adjustments imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the anti-worker repression; in the U.S., Canada and Europe, the struggle against imperialist globalization, including the rejection of the imperialist European Union, through large street demonstrations that were savagely repressed, as in Genoa.

All these are clear and present expressions of the sharpening of the crisis of imperialism which can culminate in an upsurge of the class struggle, of the struggle for national and social liberation.

It is in this context that the events of September 11 in the U.S.A. took place, regarding which we Marxist-Leninists declare:

* We are fighting for the revolution and socialism. For this, we spur on revolutionary political action, utilizing various forms of struggle, including the organization of the revolutionary violence of the masses, the armed popular insurrection, as the road to the seizure of power.

* Terrorism does not constitute, for Marxist-Leninists, a revolutionary form of struggle, precisely because it does not make use of the organized action of the working class and the popular masses; because in many cases it targets innocent civilians.

* The main terrorist that has spread blood and death in the world is imperialism, principally Yankee imperialism, which has earned the hatred of the peoples. Therefore we are in solidarity with and fight together with the Chilean, Cuban, Iraqi, Yugoslav, Palestinian people, etc., etc., who have been and are victims of imperialist barbarism that has caused the deaths of millions throughout the world.

* We warn and call upon the working class, the workers and peoples of the world, to oppose and fight in a determined manner against the war plans of Yankee imperialism and its allies which, in the name of the so-called Infinite Justice, are launching a crusade against the peoples of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and others; as well as against the struggle of the patriots, anti-imperialists and revolutionaries of the world, whom it tries to slander as terrorists in order to criminalize their struggle and repress them.

* All this makes the task of forging a great anti-imperialist unity more urgent.

The Conference has initiated a study, analysis and debate about the working class of today, with its different particularities and situations, starting from a common element which is the role that it is called upon to fulfil as the leading class of the revolution. The debate should continue in close relation with the revolutionary practice of our parties and organizations, in the heart of the working class.

Moreover, a balance was drawn up of the tasks and agreements made at the previous Conference; those that have been fulfilled at an important level are the following:

- The edition of ‘Imperialism - the Highest Stage of Capitalism.’

- The publication of issues 7 and 8 of the journal Unity and Struggle, in various languages.

- The holding of two Seminars ‘Problems of the Revolution in Latin America’ in Quito (Ecuador).

- The holding of Trade Union Meetings in the Dominican Republic and in Europe.

- The holding of the International Youth Camp in Venezuela.

The Conference paid an emotional homage to the memory of comrade Marino Báez, member of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of the Dominican Republic, murdered in Colombia by pro-imperialist paramilitary forces in July of the present year, and to comrade Pausides Rojas, member of the leadership of the Communist Organization October and in charge of the Communist Youth, who died at 23 years of age.

It also ratified its commitment to continue fighting for the freedom of the political prisoners and for the appearance alive of the disappeared; in particular, it committed itself to fight for the freedom of comrade Francisco Caraballo, leader of the Communist Party of Colombia (ML) and for the appearance alive of comrade Gregorio Alfonso López, leader of the Communist Party of Mexico (ML).

Finally, and as a result of the debates held at the Conference, various tasks arose that will be carried out by the parties and organizations in the next period and that, without a doubt, will contribute to the strengthening of the unity of the international Marxist-Leninist communist movement and to the development of the revolutionary struggle of our peoples.

Mexico, September 2001.

• Communist Party of Germany (KPD)

• Revolutionary Communist Party of Volta (PCRV)

• Communist Party of Colombia (Marxist-Leninist) PCC (ML)

• Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Ecuador (PCMLE)

• Communist Organization October (Spain)

• Communist Party of the Workers of France (PCOF)

• Party of Labour of Iran

• Communist Party of Mexico Marxist-Leninist (PCM-ML)

• Red Flag Party of Venezuela

Upper Volta, called Burkina Faso, a backward, agricultural, neo-colonial country dominated by imperialism, particularly French imperialism, has since December 1998 been plunged into a revolutionary crisis, due to the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo and three of his comrades.

For more than two years, following the call by the Revolutionary Communist Party of Volta and the Collective of Democratic Organizations, the Masses and the Political Parties (CODMPP), the working class and people in all regions of the country have taken to the street. Through various kinds of demonstrations (meetings, marches, street battles, at the barricades, etc.), they have shown their anger, their thirst for justice and liberty, through the popular movement ‘Enough is enough’ (‘Trop c’est trop’).

The movement has become broader with the incorporation into the struggle of new social strata (popular sectors in the cities, the peasantry...), and has become radicalized, despite ferocious repression by the mafioso and criminal authorities of the IV Republic headed by Captain Blaise Campaore (state of siege, forbidding of meetings and demonstrations, detentions, firing of live ammunition against demonstrators, the organization of fascist militias, etc.). In that context, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Volta (PCRV) is carrying out an untiring effort of mobilization and organization to create the conditions for the revolutionary struggle that will bring down the regime of the IV Republic, through the general armed insurrection.

French imperialism and its allies, confronted with the failure of their plans to get out of the crisis, are preparing reactionary civil wars against the people (arming of the fascist militias). At the same time, anti-popular and anti-social measures are being directed against the working class and the people, by imposition of the IMF and its savage structural adjustment plans.

Savage privatization measures, the liquidation of enterprises, have thrown thousands of workers on to the streets, without employment or any income whatsoever. The popular masses, already living in misery, are without any social services, without access to education or health care. More than 50% of the population live below the poverty level.

The popular protest movements are growing and deepening, the revolutionary crisis is maturing and can lead to a revolutionary situation. In this situation, the democratic and popular movement, led by the PCRV, is prepared for struggles of greater scope to overthrow the mafioso and criminal regime of the IV Republic, and to carry out the Popular, Democratic and National Revolution, the formation of a Provisional Revolutionary Government and the establishment of a Constituent Assembly.

The International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations denounces the plans and conspiracies of French imperialism and its allies, in order to do away with them, as well as to show its solidarity with the popular struggles against the economic and bloody crimes that have been committed with impunity.

Mexico, September 2001

For more than a year, the Palestinian people has been waging a new ‘Intifada’ to achieve their historic national rights, which necessitate the creation of their State which Zionism and imperialism have denied them.

This is a new uprising of the whole people, those in the occupied territories as well as those in the refugee camps and those who live in Israel. This uprising is the answer to the constant provocations of successive Israeli governments, which have increased the settlements, thus violating the agreements that they themselves have signed.

Against stones and light weapons, Israel has responded with tanks, air bombardments and rockets. The number of Palestinian victims is constantly increasing. The majority of those killed, injured or maimed for the rest of their lives are young people.

However, Zionist terrorism will not prevent the Palestinian people from carrying out its just struggle.

The peoples of the world, the progressive and anti-imperialist people, are together with the Palestinian people and support their demands. Never have the Zionists been so isolated.

We, who have always supported the struggle of the Palestinian people for their national rights, demonstrate once again our militant solidarity, until they fully obtain their just demands.

* Dismantle the settlements.
* A Palestinian State with the borders of 1967.
* The right of return for the refugees.

Mexico, September 2001

Dear comrades of the various organizations that today form the Revolutionary Popular Front: Accept our warm greetings of internationalist solidarity from the parties and organizations that make up the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations.

Today is a special day for the Mexican people, not only because the Revolutionary Popular Front is being founded, but also because it has been just five years since the detention and disappearance of comrade Gregorio Alfonso Alvarado López, outstanding revolutionary leader of the teachers and leader of the Communist Party of Mexico Marxist-Leninist. As internationalist revolutionaries, we wish to join our voices to the demand of his family, comrades and friends that Gregorio Alfonso Alvarado López reappear alive and free.

For us it is an honour to witness the birth of a revolutionary organization of the masses that seeks to unite the most combative sector of the Mexican people. We return to our countries convinced that today a new page is being written in the long history of struggles of this people for its emancipation. It is your responsibility – as vanguard of the popular sectors - to ensure that this work develops, that it succeeds in unifying the struggles of the workers, peasants, students, teachers, cultural workers, small merchants, etc., not only to win the demands of today that the owners of capital and the governments at their service oppose, but to win political demands, such as a Constituent National Assembly that changes the unjust social, economic and political structures on which Mexican society rests.

Comrades and friends: we are living in times in which everyone speaks of change; even the bourgeoisie seeks to introduce changes so that everything will continue as before, which is a sign that they can no longer continue ruling as it has until now. It will depend on you to see that the changes made in the structure of the State will not be simple cosmetic ones to adapt to the conditions required by national and international finance capital to carry out neo-liberal politics. It will depend on you to see that the decisions reached at this Congress will be raised as banners of struggle in the factories, the fields, the universities, the popular neighbourhoods; that the Revolutionary Popular Front will become – from today on – the main revolutionary reference point for the Mexican people.

For that, unity is fundamental. The level of unity achieved so far must be broadened; the Revolutionary Popular Front that is born today must become a national focus of opposition to the regime, able to show the path toward the winning of a revolutionary popular government.

Take courage, comrades. We will celebrate your victory as a victory of us all.

Long live the Revolutionary Popular Front! Long live the unity of the peoples against the imperialism, the local bourgeoisies and their puppet governments!

International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations.

Mexico, September 2001

The PCMLE announces, with deep sorrow, to its members, the working class and the peoples of Ecuador, the sudden and unfortunate death of comrade Sergio Barrios, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Mexico (Marxist-Leninist), struck by a fatal heart attack, in circumstances in which he and his organization faced great challenges, such as the development of the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations and the holding of the Founding Congress of the Revolutionary Popular Front, the most important tool of the masses of the workers and peoples of Mexico for the struggle for their present and future aspirations, with the perspective of seizing power and building socialism.

The death of comrade Sergio has led to a great emptiness in the fraternal Party of Mexico, as well as in the International Marxist-Leninist Communist Movement, due to his tireless work as a communist leader, as an renowned proletarian fighter. To continue his revolutionary work demands a great effort by his Party and the international proletariat.

Sergio Barrios, born 51 years ago in Oaxaca, one of the poorest but also most combative regions, was an outstanding Marxist-Leninist leader who dedicated all his life to the task of building the Communist Party, of working among the working class, the peasantry, the indigenous people and the peoples of Mexico, to organize and to make the revolution in his country; to lead them in the struggle for the seizure of power, to set out on the road to the establishment of socialism, the new society of labour and freedom.

A committed internationalist, he dedicated his efforts to the unity and organization of the revolutionary movement on a world scale. He contributed in a determined manner to the building of the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations and spurred on its strengthening and growth.

Comrade Sergio was always a very dear brother of our PCMLE. Our actions and the struggles of the peoples of Ecuador could always count on his spirit and solidarity. A fervent promoter of the anti-imperialist, democratic and revolutionary battles of the workers, whenever he was in Ecuador he showed great interest in and made his contribution to a better conduct of the struggle and the revolutionary action in our country. Comrade Sergio Barrios has left us an example of a life totally dedicated to the exalted task of the revolution and socialism.

The Ecuadorian communists, expressing our militant solidarity to the comrades of the Communist Party of Mexico (Marxist Leninist), to the family of comrade Sergio, particularly to his companion and their three children; use his example to fill all the actions that we for the great objectives to which Sergio dedicated his life: the Revolution and Socialism.

Quito, September 2001

Understanding that under the conditions of capitalist imperialism and with the aggravation of its general crisis, the deepening of all the most important contradictions of capitalism is taking place, in particular the contradiction between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie;

Understanding that another consequence of the crisis of capitalism is the increase of conflicts and disputes among the imperialist powers for the domination of markets, which lead to a still greater exploitation of the oppressed peoples and nations;

Understanding that to the degree that the concentration of wealth in the hands of a shrinking minority of people takes place, poverty, unemployment and hunger are spreading in all countries and are reaching unbearable levels;

Understanding that the world bourgeoisie has no other way out of this crisis except by carrying out an ever more savage exploitation of the working class and the popular masses;

Understanding that the workers are the ones who are really forced to sacrifice by the crisis of capitalism and that there is no other alternative for the working class and all the oppressed peoples, but to rise up against the capitalist states and to carry out a socialist revolution;

Understanding that the revolutionary movement is undergoing a new period of advance and development, that is reflected everywhere in the advance of the resistance of the workers, peasants and youths against capitalist domination;

Understanding that socialism is not nor will be the result of the peaceful development of bourgeois democracy but the result of a harsh and violent class struggle and of a genuine and real popular revolution;

Understanding that the revolution in each country is an integral part of the world revolution and that this requires the establishment of an international revolutionary organization of the working class,

The Central Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Party (PCR), founded in 1966 by comrade Manoel Lisbon de Moura and reorganized in 1995, after analyzing and confirming the broad concurrence of opinions, has decided to endorse the Communist Proclamation to the Workers and Peoples, as well to request participation in the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations.

The Revolutionary Communist Party also reaffirms its decision to hold high the banner of Marxism-Leninism, to struggle for its application and to fight together with the working class and peoples for the social revolution of the proletariat and for the end of capitalism, at the same time as it demonstrates its ardent conviction to struggle to keep alive the spirit of the Paris Commune, the October Revolution and all the revolutionary events and experiences, basing itself on the principles elaborated by Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin.

Workers and peoples of the world, the struggle continues. In the new wave of revolutionary struggles that are on the horizon, we, the communists, the workers and the peoples must be the protagonists.

Let us transform into action the historic call of Marx and Engels:

September 5, 2001

From: ‘En Marcha’, No. 1114, October 4-10, 2001

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