Speech by the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL S.Stefanou at the event on the 16 June 1943 decision by the AKEL
‘The Right uses fascism and neo-fascism as a reserve force to nourish its policies and perpetuate its power’
Heroes’ Square, Limassol
16 June 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
From this historic square, we honor today those present and those who are absent. We honor those who fell fighting on the battle fronts of the Second World War, but also those who have passed away since then. For us, they will all remain eternally present in our memory and struggle and we will be forever grateful to them for helping to rescue humanity from the monster of fascism.
Today’s anniversary is not only a tribute to those who responded to the call and fought fascism. It is also a tribute to the then leadership of AKEL for taking this landmark initiative, which was an expression and confirmation of our Party’s anti-fascist character. A Party that has at its core the struggle seeking to advance the universal ideals of democracy and freedom.
With the decision of the Central Committee of AKEL on 16 June 1943, AKEL called on its members to enlist and volunteer in the great battle against Hitler fascism. A decision that represents one of the great milestones in the history of AKEL and Cyprus.
From its foundation on 14 April 1941, the Party prioritised and devoted all its forces to the struggle against fascism. With its foundation, AKEL began to organise and set up anti-fascist committees all over Cyprus aiming to mobilise the people against the bigoted ideology of fascism. It drew up memoranda and submitted them to the colonial government on how Cyprus could make its own contribution to the anti-fascist struggle.
AKEL inspired, organised and was at the forefront of the anti-fascist struggle. It linked this struggle to humanity’s need for peace, progress, prosperity, equality and social justice.
The path that the Left took was anything but rosy. At every step it found obstacles. It encountered the suspicion of the British colonialists and their local collaborators. But this didn’t dampen the determination of the militants and members of AKEL who continued their struggle defiantly.
The decision of 16th June was enthusiastically embraced by Party members. Just 12 days after the call issued by the Central Committee of AKEL at the AKEL Pancyprian Conference held in the ‘Rialto’ cinema, the list of AKEL volunteers reached 731 people. The members of the Party leadership led by example. 11 of the 17 members of the Central Committee, together with the rest of the AKEL volunteers, responded to the anti-fascist call and declared their readiness to join the Cyprus Regiment and subsequently went to the Polemidia military camp for training.
It is worth pointing out here that according to the figures released by the Pancyprian Association of Second World War Warriors, a total of over 25,000 Cypriots, not only Greek Cypriots but also Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins, enlisted to fight in the ranks of the Cyprus Regiment. In an atmosphere of unity and comradeship, they joined the struggle of democratic humanity against fascism.
We are very proud of the fact that AKEL made its own contribution to the great anti-fascist victory of the peoples. We are proud that our small country made its own enormous contribution to smashing Hitler’s fascism. We honor the thousands of Cypriots who threw themselves into the war regardless of where they were called upon to serve. Whether in the defence of Cyprus, or on the various battle fronts throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. We pay tribute to those compatriots who fought and above all sacrificed their lives.
Alongside their anti-fascist actions, primarily through the ranks of the Cyprus Regiment, the militants and members of AKEL took the lead in ensuring that Cypriot soldiers were treated with dignity by their army superiors and for Cypriot soldiers to receive better treatment and recognition for their efforts. They also took initiatives to organise, train and entertain Cypriot soldiers. By doing so, the AKEL members kept the soldiers’ morale high and, at the same time, created a strong Party base organisation which proved very useful for the political and class struggles that were subsequently waged in Cyprus after the end of the war.
The decision of 16 June 1943 is confirmation of AKEL’s internationalist and at the same time patriotic stance. Internationalist because it united its voice in the global struggle against the monster of fascism. Patriotic because it linked this struggle to the struggle of the Cypriot people to shake off colonialism and gain its freedom.
The AKEL militants and members followed this stance with consistency even after the end of the anti-fascist war. The struggle against fascism was followed by the struggle for demobilisation. The British colonialists refused to demobilise the Cypriot volunteers because they wanted to use them in their colonial wars. This was resisted fiercely by the Left, which organised the movement for demobilisation.
Despite the imprisonment of hundreds of our comrades in concentration camps in Egypt and throughout the Middle East, despite the brutal suppression of these mobilisations, the struggle for demobilisation grew and was eventually victorious. Cypriot anti-fascist fighters managed to avoid becoming pawns in the British colonialist’s illegal plans and returned home.
Comrades and friends,
The anniversary of 16 June 1943 and the struggle against fascism in general, reminds and highlights a very great and timely historical truth: that fascism is not another viewpoint in democracy. That fascism cannot fit into democracy. Fascism stands against, opposes and destroys democracy.
We need to constantly refresh this in our minds because in recent years fascism has been coming back in the political limelight with the far right as its main agency. It feeds off the same things. Poverty and the impoverishment of the masses. That is to say, it feeds off the policies being imposed that generate poverty and misery.
It is no coincidence that over the past few years fascism has revived and is again threatening humanity. This is due to the intensity of the anti-social policies being implemented. It also has to do with the intensity of the policies aiming at redistributing zones of influence and redrawing borders. It has to do with the rise of nationalism, racism and populism, which are component features of fascism.
The revival of fascism and neo-fascism and return to the historical stage is facilitated by the fact that the Right uses it as a reserve force to nourish its policies and perpetuate its power. There are many examples of this and unfortunately we have seen that occur in our country too. The government ruling forces in Cyprus frequently fish in the murky waters of the far right, borrow the ultra-right’s rhetoric and often use its votes to stay in power and get their policies approved in Parliament.
We continue with consistency to stand up to the far right by defending the people, its principles, values, ideals and rights.
The stakes remain the same today: To defend people from inhuman ideological concepts. To continue to struggle to vindicate our country and our people’s progress and prosperity.
The stakes are not restricted to these. They extend to other important issues that shape and determine our country’s course.
Cyprus and its people are currently facing many serious deadlocks. Deadlocks which, for the most part, were caused by the ten-year Anastasiades-DISY government and the policies it has implemented. Policies, which are not characterized by sensitivity towards people and their needs.
Policies which primarily serve powerful interests, the establishment and circumstantial profit.
Policies which, instead of securing and investing in the future, are forfeiting it, undermining our children’s future.
That’s precisely how social inequalities are have grown sharply and tens of thousands of our compatriots remain unprotected and are suffering with the burden of galloping poverty.
That’s how our country is being disgraced internationally due to the growth of corruption.
That’s how the environment is being degraded for the sake of powerful interests.
The picture of a depressing and dangerous situation is completed by the prolonged stalemate noted on the Cyprus problem, which has brought us one step closer to permanent partition and the perpetuation of Turkey’s illegal presence in Cyprus. The ramifications of the de facto partition are now very clear on the ground and unfortunately prove what AKEL has been pointing out for decades: that is to say, partition is a ticking time bomb at the foundations of the Republic of Cyprus. The de facto partition is a constant threat to the survival of our people and particularly the Turkish Cypriots. As long as the de facto occupation and division continues, no gain and no right can be taken for granted. The future of our country and our people is constantly in question.
The need for a change in the country’s course is a demand from everywhere. The downward slide must end. Misery and pessimism must end. The deadlocks must give way to a perspective and to optimism.
The future of our country can be safeguarded through progressive change. Our Cyprus and people need it. That is what we are working for. That is what we will achieve by electing the independent candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis to the highest office of the Republic of Cyprus. A man who has the knowledge, experience, sensitivity and honesty, who also has the connections and prestige in the international community to lead the effort to get Cyprus out of the deadlock and put it back on the path of permanent peace, progress and prosperity.
In this effort, we unite our forces and again serve our country with selflessness and sincerity. Without engaging in empty and misleading talk, without hollow and meaningless sloganeering. Our country needs projects and policies that serve the many. Our people have had traumatic and bitter experiences with sloganeering, sudden opportunistic transformations and worthless presidential pledges
From February, we shall turn a new promising page for our country. And in this historic task, AKEL once again leads the way. As it has done many times in our history. As it did when fascism threatened humanity.
Long live our Cyprus!
