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Partido Comunista da Federação Russa
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Date Posted: 3/08/05 2:26:44
COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Moscow, July 25, 2005
To Communist, Left and Progressive Parties
Dear comrades,
The Political Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe has decided to prepare a report On
the Need for International Condemnation of Communism, to be
presented at the regular PACE session in October of this
year.
The documents at our disposal, in particular, the
Memorandum prepared by the Commission, reveal the true
intentions of those who are initiating the discussion of
the issue (the main provisions of the Memorandum are
attached hereto). In effect they want to turn the PACE
session into a show trial to brand the communist ideology,
to accuse the communist parties of various crimes not only
in Russia, but in all the countries where communists
continue to be active in fighting for the rights of the
broad popular masses, and for genuine democracy.
One cannot but feel wrath and protest at the primitive
anti-communism of the initiators of this political
provocation. Ignoring present-day realities, they usurp the
right to interfere in the internal affairs of Vietnam,
China, the DPRK, Cuba, Laos and other countries. It is
likewise outrageous that the report is to be discussed in
the year of the 60th anniversary of Victory over Fascism.
Everybody knows that the peoples of the Soviet Union and
Soviet Communists had made the decisive contribution to the
defeat of Fascism. Communists were also in the front ranks
of the resistance movement in the countries of Europe,
upholding the independence of their countries.
As regards the negative phenomena in the life of the
Communist Party and our State, we have duly assessed them
ourselves. The events that took place in history remain in
history. Nobody has the right to accuse present-day
communists and their ideology by looking back to the events
of years gone by.
Dear comrades,
We deem it our duty to voice a resolute protest in
connection with the provocation that is being prepared. We
call you for joint actions. We also encourage you to send
appeals and telegrams to the Chairman of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr Rene van der Linden
(E-mail: petr.sich@coe.int; fax: 33/388 41 27 96)
condemning the decision to discuss the above-mentioned
report and demanding a stop to the political provocation
that is in the making.
Presidium of the CC CPRF
Hope to receive any information concerning the activities
on the subject.
=========================
The Main Provisions of The Memorandum
The fall of communist rules and eastern European states in
the early nineties of the twentieth century raised numerous
discussions concerning political and legal assessment of
actions and crimes committed in the name of communist
ideology. The responsibility of the perpetrators and their
possible prosecution has become an issue. In all former
communist countries national debates on the subject were
held and in several countries specific laws on
"decommunisation" and/or lustration have been passed.
In all countries concerned this question was considered as
part of a broader process of dismantling the former system,
and transition to democracy. It was perceived as an
internal matter, and the guidance from the international
community, and in particular from the Council of Europe was
focused on the prevention of possible violation of human
rights.
In this spirit two reports of the Parliamentary Assembly on
measures to dismantle communist totalitarian systems were
elaborated on by Mr Espersen and Mr Severin on behalf of
the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
respectively in 1995 and 1996, the former was referred back
to the Committee after a debate in the Assembly, the latter
resulted in the adoption of Resolution 1096 (1996).
So far, however, neither the Council of Europe nor any
other international intergovernmental organization has
undertaken the task of general evaluation of communist
rules, serious discussion on the crimes committed in their
name, and their public condemnation. Indeed, however
difficult it is to understand, there has been no serious,
in-depth debate on the ideology which was at the root of
widespread terror, massive human rights violations, death
of many millions of individuals, and the plight of whole
nations. Whereas another totalitarian regime of the 20th
century, namely nazism, has been investigated,
internationally condemned and the perpetrators have been
brought to trial, similar crimes committed in the name of
communism have neither been investigated nor received any
international condemnation.
The absence of international condemnation may be partly
explained by the existence of countries whose rules are
still based on communist ideology. The wish to maintain
good relations with some of them may prevent certain
politicians from dealing with this difficult subject.
Furthermore, many politicians still active today have
supported in one way or another former communist regimes.
For obvious reasons they would prefers not to deal with the
question of responsibility. In many European countries
there are communist parties which have not formally
condemned the crimes of communism. Last but not least,
different elements of communist ideology such as equality
or social justice still seduce many politicians who fear
that condemnation of communist crimes would be identified
with the condemnation of communist ideology.
However, the Rapporteur is of the opinion, that there is an
urgent need for public debate on the crimes of communism
and their condemnation at international level. It should be
done without any further delay for several reasons.
Firstly, for the sake of general perception it should be
clear that all crimes, including those committed in the
name of ideology praising the most respectable ideals like
equality and justice, are condemned, and there is no
exception to this principal. This is particularly important
for young generations who have no personal experience of
communist rules. The clear position of international
community on the past may be a reference for their future
actions.
Last but not least, the communist regimes are still active
in some countries of the world, and the crimes committed in
the name of communist ideology continue to take place. In
my opinion, the Council of Europe, the organization which
stands for the human rights has no right to remain
indifferent and silent even in those countries are not
Council of Europe member states. The international
condemnation will give more credibility and arguments to
the internal opposition within these countries and may
contribute to some positive developments. This is the least
that Europe, a cradle of the communist ideology, can do for
these countries.
The 15th anniversary of the fall of communist rules in many
European countries provides a good opportunity for such
action. The Council of Europe is well placed to carry out
this task as almost half of its member states have
experienced communist rules
Communist rules lasted over 80 years in the country in
which they first came into being, namely in Russia then
renamed as the Soviet Union. In other European it was about
45 years. Outside Europe communist parties have been ruling
for more than 50 years in China, North Korea and Vietnam,
more than 40 in Cuba, and 30 in Laos. Communist rules
reigned for some time in different African, Asian and South
American countries under the Soviet influence.
However, despite the diversity, one can clearly determine
common features of historic communist regime whatever
country, culture or time. One of the most evident
characteristics is the flagrant violation of human rights.
These crimes are direct results of the class struggle
theory which imposed the need for "elimination" of people
who were not considered as useful to the construction of a
new society. A vast number of the victims were nationals.
The most violent crimes of the communist regimes like mass
murder and genocide, torture, slave labour, and other forms
of mass, physical terror have continued in the Soviet
Union, and to a lesser extent in other European countries
until the death of Stalin.
Since mid-1950s terror in the European communist countries
significantly decreased but selective persecution of
various groups and individuals has continued. It included
police surveillance, arrests, imprisonment, fines, coerced
psychiatric treatment, various restrictions of freedom of
movement, discrimination of employment often resulting in
poverty and professional exclusion, public humiliation and
slander. The post-Stalinist European communist regimes have
exploited the widespread fear of potential persecutions
well present in collective memory. In the long term,
however, memory of past horrors has gradually weakened
having less influence on young generations.
The communist ideology, wherever and whenever implemented,
be it in Europe oe elsewhere, has always resulted in
massive terror, crimes and large scale violation of human
rights. When analyzing the consequences of the
implementation of this ideology, one cannot ignore the
similarities with the consequences of the implementation of
another ideology of 20th century, namely nazism. Although
mutually hostile, these two regimes shared a number of
common features.
However, whereas the criminal and condemnable character of
the Nazi ideology and regime has been uncontroversial, at
least for half a century, and its leaders and many
perpetrators were held accountable, the communist ideology
and regimes have not encountered a comparable reaction. The
crimes have rarely been subject to legal prosecution, and
many of the perpetrators have never been brought to
justice. Communist parties are still active in some
countries, and they have not even distanced themselves from
the past when they supported and collaborated with the
criminal communist regimes.
Communist symbols are openly used, and public awareness of
communist crimes is very poor. This is particularly obvious
when compared to public knowledge of nazism crimes. The
education of young generations in many countries certainly
does not help to decrease this gap.
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