Press Statement
13 December 2008
By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Chairperson, International Coordinating Committee
International League of Peoples' Struggle
The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) expresses its vigorous support to the militant people of Greece in their condemnation of the many crimes of the right-wing Karamanlis regime against the Greek people.
The present social unrest in Greece has been ignited by the murder of a protesting youth and is an expression of pent-up anger that has been building up for months against the oppressive and exploitative policies of the corrupt Karamanlis regime.
Students and faculty members mounted militant protest actions the past year against an education reform that would allow privatization of university education. Workers opposed a government plan to reform the pension system by going on a general strike.
Public sector workers have protested against the policy of privatization on hospitals and schools among others. Many strikes were mounted the past year that affected the transport sector, courts, banks, hospitals, media organizations and public offices.
A demonstration in Athens during the latest general strike in October was violently dispersed by the police. Thus, the latest killing of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos has been seen by the people as a glaring case of escalating state brutality.
Throughout the world, governments have persisted on carrying out so-called neoliberal reforms that have attacked the livelihood and hard-won rights of the workers and other toiling masses. Thus, the people have been putting up resolute and militant resistance against such "reforms."
In the face of the worldwide financial and economic crisis, the people are witness to how governments are quick to come to the rescue of the big banks and corporations but are slow to take up measures to alleviate the suffering of the working people.
The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) extends its militant solidarity to the Greek people as well as to the other peoples of the world who are struggling against the criminal policies of governments of the bankers and the bosses.
The ILPS supports the struggles of the workers for decent wages, better working conditions and trade union rights, the struggles of the peasants for land reform, and the struggles of all the oppressed peoples for justice, freedom and democracy.
Resist the oppressive and exploitative state!
Advance the struggle for the people's rights and welfare!
Long live international solidarity!
