Address of Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL, to the mass concert to honor the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party of Cyprus-AKEL
Monday 16th May 2016, “Eleftheria” Indoor Stadium, Nicosia
In recent years, many were quick to do away with the flags on the avenues we marched. They claimed that it was the end of history and of our ideology. We have again refuted them! Tonight we are conveying a powerful message; a message that we do not yield, but move ever onwards! We march forward. AKEL is the people’s movement which doesn’t turn back. Our strength is the people and it continues its path always forward!
Our strength is the people. We are the force of the people; the force that lifts the hopes and aspirations of all those who dream of a Cyprus of peace and reunification on its own shoulder, the force that combats and reverses the policies that benefit the privileged few, the force that defends the interests of the majority of the people and the force that builds the perspective.
Every night on the news we hear the same story: Cyprus now has growth and stabilization, working people should tighten their belts further, workers should also work on Sundays and on a contract, they shouldn’t dare protest, the children of one-parent families should live on 250 Euros and pensioners on 350 Euros, whilst thousands of pensioners should wait for the approval to live on a pension of just 480 Euros.
We are told that small and middle businessmen/women should bow their heads, that people should not protest when a handful of big businessmen are taking the bread from the table, that the unemployed should silently endure the torment, that they should stop registering on the unemployment lists so as to show that unemployment is decreasing, that no one should speak about those who emigrated, that nobody should protest about the chaos in the hospitals, that nobody should demand that those in need should be protected, that nobody should demand that privatizations and foreclosures should stop, that nobody should be complaining because the institutions have now been discredited and that no one should be objecting because almost everything is being dissolved.
This is what they want: they don’t want us to be present, or if we are that we should consent and keep quite because for them we represent a threat. We question and challenge their power and rule. We expose and reveal their policy which prefers a Cyprus that is half, but Greek. We stand against the impunity of established interests and powers that have been enriching themselves for decades on the backs of the people.
They don’t want us to exist, or if we do exist we should keep our mouths shut. Enough, no more! We have the strength! For nine decades we managed to stand upright and strong because we are always the ones who assert, resist, care for the majority of the people and the ones who are struggling for a bright future. Because we always stand firm and are consistent to our positions, because we mobilize the people to fight for its united country and to build the future on solid foundations. Nationalism always knew and feared that as long as AKEL exists, its poison will be wasted. Imperialism always knew that as long as AKEL exists, a link in the chain which wants to maintain Cyprus a hostage, will always break.
We grew up in periods when every position of ours was being made practice even if it meant your own life was in danger. Ninety years ago we were talking about the common struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, about the need to increase wages, about an eight hour working day, the protection of working people, free health and medical care, the right to education, offering support to the unemployed and about the necessity of abolishing taxes oppressing the people. Nine decades have elapsed till today. We are struggling for a free, united and independent Cyprus., for the respect of labour and social gains, for dignified wages and salaries and not crumbs, for the right of the majority of the people to life and dignity.
They don’t want us around, or if we are we should be silent. Enough, no more! Each and every one of us should assume the responsibility, to decide whether we’ll let them destroy everything. The people should choose if they want policies for the prosperity of the many, or for the interests of a privileged select few. The people should think again. Not everyone may agree with AKEL-Left-New Forces on everything. But in our proposals the people will see their own interests. Every one of us on Sunday should have the last word: either we will rise up and resist or we will consent to pay the consequences of their policies.
Each and every one of us on Sunday must decide. We have the strength! We can make a difference! We can give strength to our strength! On Sunday the people will speak! On Sunday we shall to take a step for the future!
