43 Years after the military coup of April 21 1967

The main message of the grievous anniversary of the April 21 1967 military coup is that the struggle for democracy needs to be a permanent one. This struggle requires that democracy is institutionally fortified against symptoms of degeneration, it demands that it be protected against any effort to curb democratic rights, it ensures that democracy is constantly strengthened through institutions of citizens’ participation. All of the above constitute key elements of this struggle.

For us, the concept of socialism is inexorably linked to democracy and therefore we are waging a unitary struggle for both socialism and democracy.

Especially the young people, men and women, through their current struggles, give meaning to the timeless values of resistance and militant participation in opposition to the conservative models, mediocracy, wars and market projects.

We honour the members and cadres who played a major role in the 7year struggle against the military dictatorship as well as all the fighters for democracy, especially those who sacrificed their life and livelihoods defending human dignity, democracy and freedom against the American-inspired junta which has consequences still borne by Cyprus.

Especially this year, this abominable anniversary finds us faced with a deep economic crisis, the result of the neoliberal development model. The current government, having undergone a total transformation in relation to the founding principles of PASOK, implements socially unjust and ineffective policies.

The arrival of the International Monetary Fund heralds new measures, stricter and socially more unfair. The social achievements are annulled the one after the other.

Today’s message is one of resistance against the policies of the IMF and neoliberalism. It is a message and a call to new struggles that will lead the country to a new path. This message is the great hope of today. The struggle waged then gives us strength to fight so that the consequences of the crisis are not paid by the poor, by the working people.

20.04.2010 Central Political Committee of Synaspismos