The Party Organization of Chania held a large rally just a few kilometres from the US–NATO hornet’s nest at the Souda naval air base.
The KKE rally sent a strong message to the government and to the other parties that are dragging the country into war for the interests of the bourgeoisie and the imperialists. It made clear that the people of Crete, and of the entire country, will not stand by and watch developments that will lead to slaughter. They will rise up to demand the closure of all military bases, from Souda in Crete to Alexandroupolis and Larissa; to recall the Greek Patriot missile battery from Saudi Arabia; and the return of all navy frigates and F-16s, every Greek vessel operating in the region. The people, militantly joining forces with the KKE, will provide a way out of this burning world.
“Our people have not given the Mitsotakis government any right to involve us in this carnage for the interests of a handful of plutocrats!” said the speaker, Yannis Protoulis, member of the Central Committee of the KKE.
“Now is the time for popular mobilization and action, demanding: the closure of all US–NATO bases in our country; the return of the frigates and F-16s that are on mission for the US–Israel–NATO and not for the security of the people of Cyprus; the withdrawal of the Greek Patriot missile battery from Saudi Arabia and the return of the navy frigate from the Red Sea. The government’s criminal plans to send military forces to Gaza must be abandoned. The seafarers in vessels stationed in the war zone must return to Greece. Military cooperation with the US and the murderous state of Israel must cease. Solidarity with the peoples, solidarity with those uprooted by war, with all victims of imperialist barbarity! No confidence in the government that is dragging us deeper into the carnage, nor in the parties that support or tolerate its policy of involvement in the slaughterhouse!
Strengthen the KKE, the only party that consistently fights against imperialist wars. The only party that fights to free our country from the dirty plans of a handful of Greek capitalists. The only party fighting to eliminate the causes of imperialist wars, which are the division of the world and natural resources by capitalist exploiters. We struggle for the construction of a society based on peace and mutual cooperation among peoples, where labour and human knowledge will serve the welfare of the people and not the profits of the few —the socialist–communist society. This is the only way to rid ourselves of destructive wars and the brutal exploitation of peoples and countries.
After the rally, a militant march followed through the city centre, with slogans ringing out: “NATO out, close the bases, no participation in interventions”.
