Budget lacks immediate measures to tackle poverty.

 

The Communist Party of Malta said that Budget 2016 lacks in its vision to give importance to raise the minimum wage, which is essential for many workers who are stacked in precarious employment, such as those on a part-time basis and on a definite contract. On the other hand, the Party welcomes measures that once again exempt workers on a minimum wage income from paying tax.

 

“With regards to the pension reform, the Party stated that the government’s strategy to raise the minimum basic pension to an adequate level by 2027 is positive, but still this does not address the precarious situation of poverty amongst the pensioners today”.

 

“The tax reduction given to workers in the bracket of less than €19,000 is also a positive step, but when compared to the tax rate reduction given to the well-off in the previous budget, the comparisons are odious, as this does not address social inequality”.

 

“On the other hand, The Party welcome measures to tackle exploitation of irregular immigrants and the addressing of abusive work practices in government contracts. The Government should introduce legislation against precarious employment”.                

 

"What’s happening in Libya and why is it important? From Africa’s Richest State Under Gaddafi to Failed State After NATO aggression ."

Maltese-Libyan Relations during “The Socialist Libyan Jamaharija” years

The role the Maltese Government played in the US, NATO aggression against Libya was completely unconstitutional as it went directly opposite to the neutral clause in Malta’s constitution. According to the Maltese Constitution, Malta should not have taken sides. Also when one remembers, that back in 1971 it was Libya under Col, Muammar Ghaddafi that had given financial aid to Malta, to rid itself of the NATO military presence here instead Malta stabbed Libya in the back by taking the side of the Western powers, which wanted to take control of Libya for its natural resources.

Like the Iraqi Aggression by the Bush administration in the United States and the Blair Government in the United Kingdom had criminally attacked had Iraq without the approval and the backing of the UN Security Council. The NATO war against Libya was also illegal as it was not sanctioned by the UN Security Council, The only resolution that had passed through the UN Security Council was for “a no fly zone” in Libya and not for a full scale attack on Libya, as NATO had eventually perpetrated.

This led to:

1)   The mass slaughter of Libyan Civilians

2)   The murder of the Libyan leader Col. Muammar Ghaddafi

3)   The dismemberment of the Libyan State and total collapse as now different Governments rival each other for total control that is beyond their reach as armed group of terrorist bandits opposing each other have taken control of different areas of the countries.

On the 1st of September of 1969, after the overthrow of King Idris, the Green revolution was born under the leadership of Col Muammar Ghaddafi. This eventually led to founding of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya whose ideals are stated in the Green Book where the Libyan mass population became entitled to health care, education, free social housing and a say in the governance of the country by the introduction the popular councils.

The progressive anti-imperialist stances that the now new Libyan Government was taking plus the fact that it wrested Libya’s main natural resource Petroleum from foreign control made enemies the US, being the main instigator against Libya. 

Libya was being blamed for all things bad that were happening this culminated in the Lockerbie affair, when UN sanctions against Libya were applied, thus stopping all air flights to Libya, travelling to Libya from Malta could only be done by sea. After the Lockerbie affair was settled. The Libyan authorities tried a new approach with the US and the other Imperialist countries, this however proved to be fatal through the CIA and under covert US organisation a revolt was fermented by terrorist organisations financed by the US. What resulted after is well known.

The relations that Malta had with the neighbouring Libyan state were on the whole very good except for a brief period where there was a disagreement over the median line which was eventually settled by the international court. These good relations that existed between the countries were of benefit to both Malta and Libya, in many economical spheres.

Libya invested and exported from Malta, also employed Maltese nationals in many Libyan projects, while Malta also invested in Libya and imported oil at very moderate prices when the price of petroleum went up sky high globally.

All this was lost as the criminal war that was imposed on Libya had devastated and left this country in a sorry state, which will take years before Libya, can return to its former glory. However there is hope as green flags are being seen on the streets once more.

An Address read by V. Degiovanni at the conference on 9th October 2015 Following the debate held on the topic of “What’s happening in Libya And Why is it important-Libya from Africa richest state under Gaddafi to a failed state after-NATO Aggression”
All speakers (4) were present and the debate opened in the Council Room at the General Workers Union in Valletta Capital , with an audience of over 85 people , a dozen members of ALBA Malta North Africa Coordination and TV One News at 18.30 hrs, Friday, October 9, 2015.
The presentation of the whole debate was conducted by the Maltese journalist Ramona Wadi.
On the Libyan issue the first speaker Dr. Mohamed Hassan, presented in a clear , instructive, very rich and vivid way, the historical and geopolitical context of the destruction of a sovereign and independent African-Arab state. He placed the NATO aggression in context with the emphasis on inter-imperialist contradictions, the general capitalist crisis in Europe and the USA, the emergence of the new Asian economic power (China, India, Korea,) , the BRICS, SHANGAI TREATY and Latin America ALBA.
He emphasised that in order to dominate your competitors both economically and militarily, to reverse the balance of power they had to develop a strategy, which included;
1- Somalisation and the provocation of a counter-revolution in the name of “democracy.”
2-Implement a “strategy of chaos” in the African continent and proceed with recolonization .
“If you can not dominate a country, destroyed it”
To conclude, he revealed how the strategy of chaos, created by imperialist powers (USA / EU), led to the domination of Africa and the Arab homeland. (This process is described in detail in his writings; “The Strategy of Chaos“, “Jihad Made in USA” and Somalia: How Colonial Powers Drove A Country Into Chaos, written in collaboration with Michel Collon.
Dr. Hassan called for unity of the resistance and invited Libyan activists and the Libyan Popular National Movement to expose what is happening in Libya, everywhere in Europe, particularly during this unique and critical historical period. He extended an invitation for them to give a presentation in Belgium.
We, the Alba Malta North Africa Coordination, strongly support this initiative.
A vigorous debate followed which was exceptional for Malta, where there is repression of this subject by media, all political forces and intellectual clerics.
The second speaker, the Director of the Jesuit Centre for Refugees, Dr. Katrine Camilleri, gave us statistical material about the situation of refugees, since the mainstream media practice “selective humanitarianism”, guiding which victims, refugees and countries they feature.
Our third speaker, the secretary of Communist Party of Malta, Victor de Giovanni , provided an historical overview of the relationship between Libya and Malta and regretted that the  other left forces do not object more strongly to the war against Libya, reminding us of the Maltese complicity in the destruction of a sovereign and independent country. (Libya helped Malta during its financial crisis and in numerous other ways.)
This lively topic on Libya and its destruction as a Nation opened up a polemic that has enabled us to deepen the subject thanks to the representative of the Libyan People’s National Movement who have spoken to the Maltese public for the first time on the fight of this movement against Islamist terrorism in Libya and outside Libya.
Dr. Mohamed Hassan was able to respond to sensitive issues and link the murder of a nation by imperialist powers with that of Yugoslavia, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Afghanistan.
We extend our thanks to the friendly Libyan public who were able to speak for the first time, the attentive Maltese audience, students of the University of Malta on “conflict resolution”, all our staff, The Tricontinental Platform, We the People from Tunisia, the speakers who were present, and all other participants that have accepted our invitation.
Thanks also Investig’Action who provided us the following books:
JIHAD MADE IN USA
THE STRATEGY CHAOS
I AM CHARLIE , AM NOT CHARLIE
We thank the Jesuit Refugee Service who provided us with the document, “Libya Beyond Imagination: Assylum Seekers Testify to Life in Libya“.
Our deep salute and brotherhood go specially to Dr Mohamed Hassan and its excellent revealing presentation. He enhances our comprehension of the current situation.
Long live to the internationalist solidarity and Anti imperialist struggle.
Por la soberanía socialista de los pueblos.
We invite you to forward this message and to multiply the initiative to support the national liberation of Libya.
Alba Malta North Africa Coordination"What’s happening in Libya and why is it important? From Africa’s Richest State Under Gaddafi to Failed State After NATO aggression ."

Strong results for the left in Portugal

 

 

The Communist Party of Malta congratulates the Portuguese Communist Party for not only managing to keep their position in parliament but also for making gains in the General elections held on November the 4th.

 

“In these elections the left has managed to make substantial gains. Together the Socialist Party, the Left Bloc and the Communist Green Coalition have captured 50.9% of the popular vote, a 9.8% gain from the previous elections in 2011. The CDU a coalition of the Portuguese Communist Party and the ecological Party (Greens) obtained 8.7% making a 0.4% gain from 2011 general elections.

 

“The Ruling Centre right coalition comprising of the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic and Social Centre–People's Party have made a loss of 11.9%, as from 50.4 in 2011 they have dropped to 38.5%. Although they have managed to win these elections by being the largest party, they will have to form a minority Government”, stated the Communist Party of Malta.

Communists support Transport strike for better working conditions.

The Communist Party of Malta expresses its’ solidarity with Malta Public Transport workers in their struggle for better working conditions, healthier working environment and for an improvement in their wages.

 

“The Government should take the advice of the new leader of UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn who intends re-nationalisation of the railways transport network. In UK Nationalisation of public services will assure better working conditions for the workers, affordability of the service, and a better service for the public”, stated the Communist Party of Malta.

Postscript

A 50% emergency services renders the strike futile whoever supports this is a class enemy. 

 

“Government should address the inequality in housing”

 

The Communist Party of Malta appeals to the Government to address the issue of the rise in property prices. Statistics issued recently by the Central Bank of Malta show that prices of property have risen by 2.8% in first quarter of 2015. Furthermore, the national concern on the amount of properties left vacant for speculative purposes should also be addressed.

 

The Party states that “such increase in property prices is making it more difficult for low income earners to acquire a decent accommodation. To rent a property in Malta is also becoming more expensive”.

 

“The Government should not withdraw from its social responsibility. The effect of the free market economy in the property sector is resulting in more virgin land taken up for development, and an unaffordable market property arrangement system has taken hold”.

 “A property renting system based on an affordable and sustainable model is non-existing in Malta. In the Scandinavian Countries, 95% of all the property in their country is rented at an affordable price”.   

 

 Thus, the Communist Party of Malta suggest to the Government to introduce laws for a progressive taxation on vacant property (third property onwards). The government should also start introducing policies to regulate the property sector, or else increase wages and subsidies to help especially those on low income.

 

Message of solidarity with the KKE for the electoral battle on the 20th of September

We, the communist and workers parties that sign this statement express our solidarity with the communists of Greece in the face of the difficult electoral battle on the 20th of September.

  We call on the workers, the youth, the popular strata of Greece to strengthen the KKE at the ballot box as well. As it is the KKE that militantly defends their rights all these years, against the anti-people policies of the governments, the EU and IMF.

 The increase of the KKE’s forces is what guarantees the strengthening and effectiveness of the struggles of the Greek people for the rights of the working class and the popular strata, for the overthrow of capitalist barbarity, for workers’-people’s power.

1.       CP of Albania

2.       CP of Australia

3.       Party of Labour of Austria

4.       CP of Azerbaijan

5.       WP of Bangladesh

6.       Communist Party of the Workers of Belarus

7.       Brazilian CP

8.       CP of Brazil

9.       CP of Britain

10.     NCP of Britain

11.     CP of Bulgaria

12.     Union of Communists in Bulgaria

13.     Party of the Bulgarian Communists

14.     CP of Canada

15.     Socialist Workers’ Party of Croatia

16.     CP of Bohemia and Moravia, Czech Republic

17.     CP in Denmark

18.     Pole of Communist Revival in France

19.     CP of Macedonia (FYROM)

20.     CP of Georgia

21.     German CP (DKP)

22.     Hungarian WP

23.     CP of India

24.     CP of Ireland

25.     WP of Ireland

26.     Tudeh Party, Iran

27.     CP, Italy

28.     Socialist Movement Kazakhstan

29.     Lebanese CP

30.     CP of Luxembourg

31.     CP of Malta

32.     CP of Mexico

33.     Popular Socialist Party - National Political Association , MEXICO

34.     Movement “ Popular Resistance” , Moldova

35.     NCP of the Netherlands

36.     CP of Norway

37.     CP of Pakistan

38.     Palestinian CP

39.     Palestinian People’s Party

40.     Peruan CP

41.     Philippines CP (PKP-1930)

42.     CP of Poland

43.     CP of Puerto Rico

44.     Russian Communist Workers’ Party

45.     CP of the Russian Federation

46.     CP of the Soviet Union

47.     Party of Communists of Serbia

48.     CP of Slovakia 

49.     CP of the Peoples of Spain

50.     CP of Sweden

51.     Syrian CP

52.     CP, Turkey

53.     CP of Ukraine

54.     Union of Communists of Ukraine

55.     Party of the Communists, USA

56.     Network of Communist Clubs, USA

57.     CP of Venezuela

The statement is still open for signatures

14.09.2015

Malta should support Palestinians to raise their flag at U.N Headquarters.

 The Communist Party of Malta appeals to the Maltese Government to support the Palestinians in their resolution calling upon the UN General Assembly to allow observer states to have their flag raised at U.N Headquarters for this month’s gathering of world leaders.

 The Party said that “the Palestinians are seeking the General Assembly’s approval of a draft resolution that would allow observer states to raise their flags. Several nations along with Malta have already shown support for the Palestinians' pursuit of statehood, amongst them also the Vatican”..

 “Maintaining a position in favour of Palestine should continue to be Malta’s prerogative. This entails that Malta plays an important part as always, for peace and stability in the Mediterranean, together with other nations for Palestinian sovereignty and rights”, stated the Communist Party of Malta.