AKEL on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 18th March 2016, Nicosia

 

The upcoming UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination finds humanity in the midst of a global eruption of racism and growth of neo-fascist forces.

The ultra-right, especially in Europe, exploiting the economic crisis and arrival of refugees from the war-torn Middle East, are targeting refugees, migrants and minorities. It is cultivating hatred, xenophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. It is transmitting in an organized way via the Internet misinformation, scaremongering and spreading lies about refugees and immigrants. It is carrying out attacks, violent activities and even committing murder. It is hostile to and targeting all those who are offering assistance and solidarity to the families of refugees.

No matter how much they pretend to represent anti-systemic forces, the ultra-right and neo-fascism, represent the most reactionary and rotten forces the system has. They are dividing working people and their struggles. They are hiding the class roots of the crisis and social injustice. They are pardoning the imperialist wars that are provoking the migration and refugees. In practice, the ultra-right’s racism is complementing the EU’s official policy which wants foreign workers as a cheap labor force; which is violating International Law on asylum, building fences and walls, unleashing NATO and FRONTEX patrols, closing passages and borders, beating with batons and teargasing women and children in order to drive away refugees escaping the fury of war.

In our country, shocking images of drowned children had to be projected on television screens for certain political forces and figures to stop the systematic propagation of their racist poison against immigrants and refugees supposedly “limiting the Greek presence on our Island” and “stealing our jobs”. The Anastasiades government had stated neglectfully that “there are no neo-fascist movements in Cyprus or organizations who are influenced by extreme nationalism or promoting either racism or xenophobia”, at the same time as ELAM (Note: “National Popular Front”, nationalist anti-communist ultra-right movement, fraternal party of “Golden Dawn” of Greece) had already infiltrated schools, military camps and football stands. The government’s ideological and party burden and commitment does not allow it to confront and combat the ultra-right, chauvinist and racist discourse and narrative, nor to promote an active policy that will promote multiculturalism and an anti-racist education.

Fortunately, in contrast to those who spread or tolerate racism, there are millions of people in Europe who refuse to distinguish people according to their colour, origin or religion; people who are standing in solidarity and are helping voluntarily and unselfishly those seeking the hope for a better life. Among them, the Greek people who for months have been giving to the whole of Europe lessons in humanism and solidarity.

AKEL, with all its strength and from every podium, is fighting against racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination and neo-fascism. It is struggling for the unity of working people, for equal labour, social insurance and social rights, regardless of race, color, language and religion. AKEL is asserting and demanding equal access to free public education, health and welfare for all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. It is demanding dignified and humane accommodation for refugees, with special care for unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups. It is calling for the strengthening of the Agency Against Racism and Discrimination, the enhancement of anti-racist education programs in schools and the implementation of the legislation for the resolute combating of any racist discourse and behavior in the public sphere.

AKEL addresses a call for social resistance to racism in all its forms. It calls for a mass participation in the anti-racist and anti-fascist demonstration being organized, together with a number of other agencies, this Saturday 19th March in Nicosia (gathering at 11:45 a.m. at the “OHI” roundabout, subsequently followed by a demonstration through the central Ledra Street).