The Introduction of Anticommunist Law in Poland

[bie]

The Introduction of Anticommunist Law in Poland


The essence of the issue

On the 8th of June new law is introduced in Poland. Law changes accepted couple of months ago by the Parliament and former President comes into a force on that day. These amendments will concern among with the others article 256 of the Criminal Code.

Before the 8th of June it stated:

Who publicly propagates fascist or other totalitarian formation of state or calls upon hatred based on national, ethnic, racial, religious, or concerning lack of religion, differences, is subjected to the punishment of fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to 2 years.

After the 8th of June it will state:

§ 1. Who publicly propagates fascist or other totalitarian formation of state or calls upon hatred based on national, ethnic, racial, religious, or concerning lack of religion, differences, is subjected to the punishment of fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to 2 years.

§ 2. Who in order to popularize produces, records, imports, stores, possess, presents, transports or sends printing, record or other item containing content described in § 1 or being a carrier of fascist, communist or other totalitarian symbolism is subjected to the same punishment.

§ 3. The perpetrator of prohibited act defined in § 2 does not commit a crime if he was acting in the framework of his artistic, educational, collector's of scientific activity.

§ 4. In case of condemnation for the crime defined in § 2 the court shall judge the forfeiture of items described in § 2 even if they are not the property of the perpetrator.

The background

The draft of amendment included several changes in the Criminal Code and originally did not mention communist symbolism. Generally, the direction of all changes was making the criminal law more severe. Stricter control over the internet was planned, that was officially told to be a part of a fight with paedophilia.

The proposer of the anticommunist "correction" MP Stanisław Pięta submitted his proposal at a very late stage. It's probably why he added "communist" adjective to § 2 of article 256 omitting to add it also to § 1. His direct intention, expressed directly was to finish with Che Guevara or Lenin faces wore on t-shirts. And obviously making a step forward in equation of communism and nazism.

The commission of Ministry of Justice expressed sceptical opinion about this correction however recognised Parliament right to state the law.

Former President Lech Kaczyński in spite of a complaint made by MP Tadeusz Iwiński's about unconstitutional character of this particular regulation, has signed the amendment. On that day President in his speech referred to "dozens of billions" of victims of communism.

Short analysis

The new regulation has two major defects, that have been probably already noticed but due to the parliamentary way of legislation could not be already "fixed" and due to political bigotry could not be stopped in the Senate or during the initial act by the President.

What exactly does the ban concern?

It is hard to find out. While banning the "communist symbolism" the article fails to state what symbols or elements are exactly banned. The list of current and potentially new elements of communist symbolism is not only long but also open to changes as communist parties in the world (and in Poland) may have a variety of symbols and such formulation of the ban, due to it's literal meaning concerns each of them.

If it was true that Che and Lenin pictures were banned by this law, the question would be why only them and not others. The Communist movement has many other heroes and leaders. And for sure will have more in the future. Some of them may be alive and even have a right to travel to Poland... If they faces are banned on a t-shirt what with their real faces then?

All that creates circumstances wherein the list of features of criminal behaviours is very unclear submitted to changes.

The only factor that actually decides what communist symbolism is for sure in are communist parties in the office. According to literal meaning of this formulation, communist parties will get a power to modify the list of features of behaviours that are prosecuted in Poland by registering symbols in their home countries. That is a strange kind of the power but incredible large.

How will courts interpret this ban is yet a puzzle even for judges. Why to find banned the sickle and hammer, that is in the symbolism of many communist parties but not the cherry that is a symbol of Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia no? What about the dove, gears, scythe and many others?

What about the symbols of Polish People's Republic? They included: the white and the red on the flag and the white eagle in the emblem, but just without the crown on the emblem? As another already named Polish People's Republic "the communist state" so aren't symbols of "communist state" also "communist symbolism"?


M. Adam
Communist Party of Poland

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

I just love the irony of this sort of laws. :laugh:

[bie]

On 8.06. CP of Poland organized the highly successful protest against the new anticommunist law, that started with the happening in the prosecutor office. Seven people, including a member of CP of Ireland went into a building wearing T-shirts with many communist symbols, inc. symbols of communist parties, symbol of victory over Nazism, red flag with hammer and sickle over Reichstag, an emblem of Peoples Republic of Poland,. We handed the note asking the prosecutor if we are breaking the law or not. It started the legal battle that can end in even Strasburg court of human rights. We received positive reception even from the prosecutor himself, who probably understand the absurdity of the new anticommunist law.

After CP of Poland organized the conference and press conference on the issue, in which participated MEP Joao Ferreira from CP of Portugal, MEP Giorgos Toussas from KKE, vice-president of WFDY Yogendra Shahi and comrades from CP of Ireland, KSM and CP of Poland.

After the conference, there was a demonstration in the center of Warsaw, where many communist symbols and flags were present, despite of the ban. Police took the names of people holding the flags. We got a very positive reception that proves that anticommunism in Poland is mainly institutional. It is not the idea of the people, as the bourgeoisie tries to present.

At the same time, in many cities across the world, demonstrations in front of the Polish embassies were organized (Athens, Moscow, London, Madrid, in Hungary, on Cypress and in the many other places). The CP of Poland received the great international support and many messages of solidarity from different group and organizations. WDFY fully supported its struggle against anticommunism. Also many members of other leftist groups supported attended the demonstration, showing its support and solidarity.

The protest got quite a significant coverage in media. There was a positive response from nearly all of the media, despite its traditional anticommunist attitude. The headings were like "A new law. Where are the borders of absurdity?" or "Communists denounced themselves" etc.

http://m.onet.pl/_m/5873c8f61a0de9f3243b1f43f5c5f30f,21,1.jpg
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We are certain that the case will be won, and the new anticommunist law will be canceled. And we believe that will be one of the first of the series of victories of working class against obscurantism, anticommunism and seeds of fascism. This are the first steps on the victorious road towards socialism-communism - road to justice, prosperity and peace.

[Universal Struggle]

Capitalism is very smartly made to look moderate.

Apparently, Fascism and Communism are radical

The truth is, Capitalism is radically inhumane, fascism is the highest stage of that inhumane system, and communism is radically different to the two.

In Capitalism, some nations do not even have healthcare universally, so, that probably results in millions of deaths a year, in curable conditions.

Capitalism, unlike communism, does not provide for its society, instead it becomes so broken over time, it has to go to its next stage, Imperialism, where it monopolises another nations recources, by use of force.

It produces 25 thousand dead bodies a day, just the children who die of starvation, the adult list is bigger, yet, this is not radical??

Ban capitalism and watch the world become one.

[bie]

Speech of G. Toussas, MEP and Member of the CC of KKE in Warsaw


June 8, 2010

Dear comrades and friends,

From this podium you would like to condemn once again the effort to ban the communist symbols in Poland, to penalize the communist ideology and the action of the Communist Party of Poland. We express our full solidarity with the Communist Party of Poland. We are here to express you the internationalist solidarity of KKE and the Greek communists.

Our presence here is part of the activity of our party against anticommunism. Members and friends of KKE and KNE are demonstrating today outside the Polish embassy demanding the abolition of the unacceptable anticommunist measures and bans. In addition, our party protested anticommunism during the recent visit of the president of the European Parliament J. Buzek to Athens on June 3.

The plutocracy in Poland which preys the public property and the last gains and achievements of socialism in Poland, is today leading a severe attack against the working people and the poor popular strata.

With the capitalist crisis being in progress, proving that capitalism cannot solve even the basic problems of the people, the interest of the bourgeoisie is to divert the thought and the action of the workers and the peoples from socialism, the real way-out.

At the same time, the EU, serving the same class oriented plan, is playing a determinative role in the orchestrated campaign of the imperialist centres to rewrite history. In the framework of this effort that targets straight on the working class and the people’s movements, we witness the official institutionalisation of anticommunism and the slandering of the socialism of the 20th century. The ban of the communist symbols in Poland, the similar procedures in Moldova constitute a new, dangerous development. The capital and its political representatives are forming the basis on which they will try to create a more reactionary legal framework for the penalization of the class struggle, the workers’ and people’s movements, the action of communist parties.

They know well that this policy creates reactions, preconditions for people’s outbreaks with unforeseeable consequences for monopolies’ political system. For that reason, the EU and the European Parliament, the bourgeois governments, activate and lead the vile anti-communist campaign; the falsification of history by means of equating fascism-Nazism with communism; the slandering of the socialist construction and its achievements; the slandering and the persecutions against the communist parties that have not lowered the flags of Marxism-Leninism and the penalisation of the communist ideology.

Anticommunism constitutes a necessary precondition for passing of the barbaric anti-people measures, and striking a blow on the workers’ and people’s movement.

This reactionary development is the continuation of the reactionary “Anticommunist Memorandum”, of the bans, of the campaign for the equation of communism-Nazism that seeks to contaminate the consciousness of the peoples and especially of the youth. The young people are considered to be the “easiest case” as they have not experienced the history of the struggles of the peoples and the USSR against fascism as well as the period of the socialist construction and its contribution to the drastic improvement of peoples’ lives. This development follows the anticommunist motion approved on 2nd April 2009 by the Plenary of the European Parliament and suggests the proclamation of 23rd August as a “ Europe-wide Remembrance Day for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes“. They believe that people have forgotten the true History although the people’s movements and the communist movement represent its continuance. That is what they seek to erase from the consciousness of the peoples.

With these actions the capitalist staff centres seek to serve multiple goals:
to safeguard the back of the exploitative system and enable its representatives to offend the sacrifices of those who beat the monster of Nazism instead of being accountable for the crimes of imperialism.
to give indulgence to imperialism and its crimes
to update the front of the imperialists against the Marxist-Leninist theory, ideology and policy.

But nowadays they seek something more: to reinforce the propaganda of the EU in the general attack that the EU and its governments have launched against the rights of the working people with the aim to make the people submit so as to beat every resistance and safeguard their power from any future reactions.

The people, their power and the socialist perspective is what they are afraid of. They cannot hide, no matter how hard they try.

They reveal that anticommunism, in general but also here in Poland, has been the vehicle of all forces that serve plutocracy and imperialism. They admit that the communist ideology, the intensification of the class struggle, the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of socialism are not only necessary but they inspire even more people and for that reason they constitute an existent threat for their exploitative system.

They are right to worry, they will come up against us. Hands of the communist symbols, they are people’s property. The working class and its allies do not intend to hand them over to their class enemies. Anticommunism will not pass. Social development continues with new struggles for the abolition of the exploitation of man by man, for people’s prosperity, for the construction of socialism-communism.



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Letter to the Polsh Embassy by CP of Portugal (PCP)

To The Embassy of the Republic of Poland
Mrs. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Katarzyna Skórzyńska


Lisbon, 7th. June 2010



It is with great concern that we have news of a growing anti-communist campaign in Poland,
by means of an announced implementation of measures that seriously limit elementary rights
of freedom of expression and opinion.
Namely, a law that aims to forbid and punish the use of communist symbols – even going as
far as comparing them to Nazi symbology and propaganda – which is expected to come into
force on 8th June. This constitutes a matter of concern and strong repudiation by the
Portuguese communists and democrats in general.
Such anachronistic and persecutory measures, in this beginning of the 21st. century, constitute
a flagrant violation of the basic democratic guarantees and principles of all citizens and also
configure an unacceptable form of intimidation and pressure, representing a grave display of
the most primitive anti-communism.
We cannot avoid noticing that the referred measures are filled with a spirit of civilizational
regression and part of dangerous revanchist purposes, inseparable from the attempts to
institute in Europe a typical climate of witch hunt, bringing back memories of the darkest
pages of 20th century history.
A situation which discredits responsible institutions and the powers responsible for such
condemnable initiatives and which insults the memory of many millions who gave their lives in
the struggle against fascism all over our Continent.
For these reasons and expressing its solidarity with the Communist Party of Poland, the Polish
communists and its sympathizers, the Polish workers and all those who feel affected by the
discriminatory and discretionary measures of the present measures, the PCP demands their
abolition by the responsible bodies of the Republic of Poland and respect for freedom and
democracy.
In publicly announcing the position expressed here, the PCP will continue to voice its solidarity
protest against all attempts and campaigns to curtail the freedom and political activity of the
communists and all those who fight for democracy, social progress and socialism, joining the
innumerous voices that in Europe and the World have expressed their anger and denounced
the anti-communist and anti-democratic escalade patent in Poland.
With our best regards,


The Secretariat of the Central Committee
Portuguese Communist Party



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WDFY statement


Solidarity with Polish communists!

Following the recent events and laws approved in Poland, from June 8 on the communist symbols will be forbidden in the country. This act, covered and supported by the so self-proclaimed “democratic” European Union, represents an attack to the communist forces of Poland and of the whole world, but also to all those who are true lovers of peace, democratic liberties and rights.WFDY reminds everyone that decision was taken last year, as the president of USA and the remaining NATO members were agreeing on sending 30.000 troops more to continue the occupation of Afghanistan. As a dark coincidence, the decision is being implemented now, as USA is implementing military disposals throughout the lands of Poland to “prevent” any military action coming from East, i.e. Russia.

Once again, as in the wars and occupations of Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, imperialism uses “democracy” and “prevention” to impose its domination suffocating all those who resist against its dominant voice.

Furthermore, in times where the historical limits of the capitalist system are so clear as in the framework of this international crisis, it is necessary for the dominant forces to smash all sources of protest and, specially, all forces that can present an alternative to this inhuman and irrational order in which we live.

WFDY considers this a matter of much more than just
the communist forces. For their revolutionary project communists may be the first to be attacked, but after them surely all others who aim to raise their voices against dominance will be smashed. This means that to stand by the Polish communists in this battle is much more than fighting back the prohibition of some symbols, but it is in fact an act of struggle for true democracy and right to an alternative.

Therefore, WFDY calls upon all its member and friend organizations, as well as the partners of the coming 17th World Festival of the Youth and Students, to vehemently protest against this measures in a week of actions from 8 to 15 of June, demanding from their national governments and the government of Poland concrete action to take back all this measures.

The banning of the Union of the Communist Youth of Czech Republic (KSM) was not successful due to the struggle of the Czech youth alongside with thousands of people all around the world, proving it is upon us and our struggle and solidarity to rise to the challenge and fight back: we will defeat imperialism!

[Red Commissar]

A lot of former eastern bloc countries have some provisions that are aimed against communism. So go as far as to ban their parties out straight.

Many of them don't have to bother making it a law, it's accepted practice. Particularly in a place like Poland, popular perception of communism is negative and as such the Marxist parties that exist there are small. The government wouldn't dare make such a decision if there was a large communist party with political clout. However since that's not the case, they can easily beat them down and people will be supporting them.

Like the United States, even soft left parties have issues with opposition labeling them as communist and thus associating them with the previous regime. It has become a weasel word of sorts.

One day however, the citizens of eastern europe will hopefully realize there is only so long that their governments can keep riding on anti-communist propaganda and blaming their woes on "mismanagement" by those governments.

[bie]

I disagree with the some of this statement. The popular perception of communism is not negative, but on the contrary, many people remember socialism quite well. To the most it is a common sense thing. Communist parties were not banned in any country in the Eastern Europe, but in some the elements of communist symbolism actually was (eg. Baltic states, Moldavia, Czech Republic, Hungary). There were trials to ban KSM, Czech Youth organization, that actually ended in victory of communists. The problem of the communist parties in that region (not everywhere, eg. in Czech Republic Communust Party is a quite strong organization) , is that the anticommunist authorities, that control all the sources of infromation, including schools, are constantly used on the purpose of falsification of history and promotion of anticommunism. Workers organization face huge and well designed campaign, that originates from the institutions of EU. Anticommunist campaign is the part of the EU promoted strategy. It has nothing to do with the people and their political opinions. If you believe that in Eastern Europe there is "democracy" it is actually quite naive.

[Red Commissar]

I disagree with the some of this statement. The popular perception of communism is not negative, but on the contrary, many people remember socialism quite well.

Then why do they not work back towards it? I don't doubt there are people who have nostalgia for the old days, but I don't think they have enough clout to influence other people who got caught up in the deluge of anti-communist sentiment after 1989.


To the most it is a common sense thing. Communist parties were not banned in any country in the Eastern Europe, but in some the elements of communist symbolism actually was (eg. Baltic states, Moldavia, Czech Republic, Hungary).

The Communist Party of Lithuania was banned following 1989. A similar move was taken in Latvia. In these two nations both of the "communist" parties avoid usage of "communism" or any overly Marxist rhetoric to avoid being banned once more.


There were trials to ban KSM, Czech Youth organization, that actually ended in victory of communists. The problem of the communist parties in that region (not everywhere, eg. in Czech Republic Communust Party is a quite strong organization)

The youth organization of the Czech Communist Party was dissolved. They've only prevented their own party from being affected by anti-communist legislation because unlike their compatriots in Poland, they have political clout.


is that the anticommunist authorities, that control all the sources of infromation, including schools, are constantly used on the purpose of falsification of history and promotion of anticommunism. Workers organization face huge and well designed campaign, that originates from the institutions of EU. Anticommunist campaign is the part of the UE promoted strategy.

There is only so much we can attribute to the efforts of the state to discredit communist movements. We can not deny there is ignorance resulting from the people that makes their battle against the state much tougher though.


It has nothing to do with the people and their political opinions. If you believe that in Eastern Europe there is "democracy" it is actually quite naive.

I never said that Eastern Europe is a "democracy", but I don't really think it's far-fetched to say that there are people who hold anti-communist sentiment and at the present it's an opinion of the majority, be it misguided.

[bie]

Then why do they not work back towards it?
First reason is that it is impossible to reverse time, second - that the poeple do not constitute a political force, they are scattered, third - the bourgeoisie propaganda is strong, saying that "socialism doesn't work" (that is of course bullshit), and some of them even start to believe that.

I don't doubt there are people who have nostalgia for the old days, but I don't think they have enough clout to influence other people who got caught up in the deluge of anti-communist sentiment after 1989
A this stage - not. The turn towards a new People Republic is the matter of the future. We don't want to come back to the past, but to remind people that socialism actually works and that it is a solution to the capitalist barbarity. By the way - it is not "nostalgia". This is an argument raised only by the bourgeoisie and bourgeoisie press! People miss the socialism not because of "sentiment" or "nostalgia" but because of the very concrete things - employment, quality of life, security, healthcare and education, culture, social relations etc etc etc. All those things strongly deteriorated after 1989 and in some cases almost ceased to exist.

The Communist Party of Lithuania was banned following 1989. A similar move was taken in Latvia. In these two nations both of the "communist" parties avoid usage of "communism" or any overly Marxist rhetoric to avoid being banned once more
Ok, but this is a sort of the different case. It happened on the wave of counterrevolutionary advance in v. early 90s.

The youth organization of the Czech Communist Party was dissolved.
What is that ? http://www.ksm.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=0&Itemid=86


They've only prevented their own party from being affected by anti-communist legislation because unlike their compatriots in Poland, they have political clout.
We will not allow to ban and criminalize communists in Poland on any other country and we will strongly oppose any trails to do so. We will fight the battle and eventually win.

There is only so much we can attribute to the efforts of the state to discredit communist movements. We can not deny there is ignorance resulting from the people that makes their battle against the state much tougher though.
True, but this ignorance is proportional to the advances of anticommunism and obscurantism.

people who hold anti-communist sentiment and at the present it's an opinion of the majority, be it misguided.
It is the way how bourgeoisie want us to see that. I don't really know how true is that, but I am sure that the potential social support for communist is much stronger than expected.

[Red Commissar]

First reason is that it is impossible to reverse time, second - that the poeple do not constitute a political force, they are scattered, third - the bourgeoisie propaganda is strong, saying that "socialism doesn't work" (that is of course bullshit), and some of them even start to believe that.

Well then you're at least seeing what I'm saying.



A this stage - not. The turn towards a new People Republic is the matter of the future. We don't want to come back to the past, but to remind people that socialism actually works and that it is a solution to the capitalist barbarity. By the way - it is not "nostalgia". This is an argument raised only by the bourgeoisie and bourgeoisie press! People miss the socialism not because of "sentiment" or "nostalgia" but because of the very concrete things - employment, quality of life, security, healthcare and education, culture, social relations etc etc etc. All those things strongly deteriorated after 1989 and in some cases almost ceased to exist.

The problem is I don't think any of the eastern bloc states in the 1980s were completely socialist. Most of the claims of employment, healthcare, and other public initiative can easily be hijacked by a social democratic party. Or as we have seen by neo-liberals like Putin in Russia, who has co-opted such sentiment among Russians to legitimize market reforms.

The reason why I call it "nostalgia" is because I don't really think their minds are in the right place. Infact this sentiment I see some people expressing I don't really think is a success of socialism, but a failure of capitalism to meet the expectations of these people when the old states fell in the 1989.



Ok, but this is a sort of the different case. It happened on the wave of counterrevolutionary advance in v. early 90s.

Who is not to say that this sentiment is still continuing though?



What is that ? http://www.ksm.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=0&Itemid=86

I was referring to when the trial originally occurred. I do not keep up with every happening of the KSCM and I was not aware they were able to reverse the decision after the fact.


We will not allow to ban and criminalize communists in Poland on any other country and we will strongly oppose any trails to do so. We will fight the battle and eventually win.

Go right on ahead. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that their parties should be banned. I'm just saying the state has maneuvered sentiment in such a way that appealing to people to oppose such measures may fall on deaf ears.


True, but this ignorance is proportional to the advances of anticommunism and obscurantism.

And when said elements are imbued into society, it will maintain itself with out scheming by the state.


It is the way how bourgeoisie want us to see that. I don't really know how true is that, but I am sure that the potential social support for communist is much stronger than expected.

There was a saying by Upton Sinclair, along the lines of "The people will accept socialism, but not the label", referring to his attempts to campaign under the socialist party platform in California.

However in the end we can not be blind to the fact that there is a steep uphill battle in going around the negative impressions of socialism that people hold. That's my general point here- these kinds of laws can easily be passed with out much issues if you do them in places where anti-communism is rampant.

And don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm saying the Polish state should be doing this. I'm just saying it's not surprising and not unprecedented.

[28350]

http://m.onet.pl/_m/c0b0f96628a449480251c4a8ef4aefd3,21,1.jpg


Lol plastic sickle.
Good article though. What's popular support of this bill like?

[bie]

Good article though. What's popular support of this bill like?
Apart from fanatic rightists, few nationalists, fascists, ultra-liberals etc. - almost none. Even many former members of the "democratic opposition" in the 80s (anticommunist) are against prosecution of communists and communist symbolism.

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Also in Moldova (KKE statement):
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The distortion of history and the adoption of imperialist propaganda about socialism go hand in hand with the persecutions of Communists


The Moldovan government, which recently recognized the “contribution” of all Moldovans who served the Nazi state, made one step further. It formed a “committee for the condemnation of the totalitarian communist regime” which suggested the ban of communist symbols as well as of the use of the word communism and its derivatives. The government of Moldavia is already promoting these proposals that add one more link in the chain of the anticommunist campaign started in Europe and above all in the EU member states where the Communist Parties (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania) and the communist symbols (Hungary, Poland) are outlawed.

The Moldovan government is also seeking to ban the hammer and sickle and the red star that symbolize the struggle for the abolition of the capitalist exploitation; the blood and sacrifice of millions of communists who had been at the forefront of the anti-fascist struggle and played a leading role in the defeat of fascism in the Second World War; the political struggles for 8 hour working day, for social security, for free education and healthcare as well as other important gains achieved by the working people with the communists playing the leading role, thanks to the influence of the socialist construction in the USSR and in other countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Today these gains are cut down due to the anti-people’s policy that serves the profits of the business groups and due to the world capitalist crisis that shows the historical limits of the capitalist system.

Anti-communism goes hand in hand with the attacks against working people who are called to “pay” the consequences of the capitalist crisis, who witness the abolition of their labour and political rights, the increase of unemployment and homeless, the privatization of state owned enterprises, education and healthcare system etc.

The main pillars of this anti-communist attack are the EU and the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the respective Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

This effort is linked with the continuous efforts for the historical distortion of equation of fascism with communism, for the falsification of the history of the Second World War and the socialist construction. It mainly targets on the consciousness of the young people seeking to trap them into capitalism which is presented as the only prospect.

In many cases the anti-communist initiatives are promoted not only by the liberal parties but also by the social democrat ones. The opportunist forces, which in Europe rally in the so-called European Left Party, are particularly accountable for this situation. And the reason is that the European Left Party stands hostile to the communist traditions and the experience from the socialist construction in the 20th century; that it has accepted the main contrived notion about the “condemnation of Stalinism”; that it rejects the principles of the socialist construction and the contribution of the socialism, constructed in the USSR and the other countries of the Central and Eastern Europe, to the working people all over the world.

The ban pursued by the Moldavian government, which is a fact in other EU countries, reveals the falsehood and hypocrisy of the bourgeois democracy. It shows that the bourgeois governments and mechanisms are afraid of a new counterattack by the workers’ and people’s revolutionary movement because they know how big and irreconcilable the contradictions of capitalism are, because they know that the future belongs to a society without exploitation, namely to socialism communism.

KKE expresses its comradely solidarity to the communists in Moldavia and it declares once again that it will firmly support them for the repulse of anticommunism and the effort to intimidate the people who struggle for the rights of the working class and the perspective of the workers’ state power.

It denounces the Moldavian government and demands the immediate stop of the ban of the communist symbols as well as of every law and persecution against communists.

Athens 9 June 2010 International Section of the CC of KKE

from: http://inter.kke.gr/News/2010news/2010-06-10-moldova/

[bie]

There was a saying by Upton Sinclair, along the lines of "The people will accept socialism, but not the label", referring to his attempts to campaign under the socialist party platform in California.
Ok, but every attempt to change the status quo in any progressive and humane direction WILL be labeled "socialist" or "communist" even if it keeps a distance from the history of XX century socialism by the classes that hold the power. Thats why it is necessary to fight for the social consciousness, to defend the good name of the socialism and communism.


However in the end we can not be blind to the fact that there is a steep uphill battle in going around the negative impressions of socialism that people hold. That's my general point here- these kinds of laws can easily be passed with out much issues if you do them in places where anti-communism is rampant.
True. But the advance of anticommunism has nothing to do with what the people think. It is institutional, not popular.

[Spawn of Stalin]

Pretty disgusting considering how many Poles owe their lives (literally their lives) to Marxism-Leninism, Stalin, and the Red Army. At the height of Nazi terror, capitalism was not there for the Polish people, socialism was their only hope, now they are banning it.

[Adi Shankara]

If anything, this law just proves that we are a force in Poland, and thus they try to ban our movement because we are gaining momentum...afterall, you don't see them passing "anti-gypsy" laws, because gypsies aren't a threat...people only pass laws to prevent threats. this is proof that Communism is a threat in Poland once again, and that our movement is growing in strength worldwide once more.

[Proletarian Ultra]

Time to send couple more planes to Katyn.

[bie]

If anything, this law just proves that we are a force in Poland, and thus they try to ban our movement because we are gaining momentum...afterall, you don't see them passing "anti-gypsy" laws, because gypsies aren't a threat...people only pass laws to prevent threats. this is proof that Communism is a threat in Poland once again, and that our movement is growing in strength worldwide once more.
Exactly! This only proves how much they are afraid of communism. I think it has to do with the high popular support for the socialism labeled as "nostalgia" or "sentiment".

Time to send couple more planes to Katyn.
Lol. Most of the fiercest anticommunists packed themselves on the plane and committed a collective suicide. The rest we can cope :)

[Ligeia]

Though this isn't about Poland, I post it anyway since this thread contains references to other similar bans in central and east Europe:


Hungary equates Communism to Nazism

Hungarian lawmakers have passed a bill equating Communist era crimes to the Holocaust and banned denying it under threat of imprisonment.
An amendment to the Criminal Code was passed by the parliament’s majority center-right party FIDESZ (Hungarian Civic Union) on Tuesday, Itar-Tass reports. According to the new legislation, those denying, casting doubts on, or depreciating the crimes committed by the Communist regime will be facing from one to three years behind bars. Earlier, in February this year, the former coalition of the left wing parties passed a law banning the denial of the Holocaust. Now the rightists – who won over 68% of seats in the parliament in spring 2010 – have struck a balance between Communism and Nazism. The decision is among the first crucial ones made by the Hungarian Civic Union since it came to power.

Link (http://rt.com/Politics/2010-06-10/nazism-communism-hungary-equate.html)

I think that one comes as no surprise at all.