Protest Against Czech Anti-Communist Ban

By Gawain Little of the Young Communist League

In 1933, the newly-elected government of Germany banned the Communist Youth League of Germany and its parent organisation, the German Communist Party. This was one of the first steps taken by the Nazis towards crushing all internal opposition and creating a totalitarian, fascist state. Now, over sixty years later, the same decision has been taken by a European government. On the October 16, 2006, the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic sent a letter to the leadership of the Communist Youth League (KSM) informing it that it had been dissolved by the state.
This banning of a democratic youth organisation constitutes one of the most dangerous moves in the current wave of anti-communism sweeping Europe. It comes after the campaign to get the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly to brand communism as a crime.

Last December, the KSM were informed that their organisation was in breach of the regulations set down for civic organisations as its work crossed into the field reserved for registered political parties. No specific examples were given and the youth wings of other political parties continue to operate in the same manner. The KSM was given a deadline to comply by ceasing political activity, after which the ministry would consider taking action.
The deadline came and went as the KSM began to organise a domestic and international support campaign including many communist and non-communist individuals and organisations. Over the following months, various arguments were made by the ministry as to why the KSM was in breach of regulations, including its commitment to the principles of Marxism-Leninism and its alleged support for violent revolution.
However, when the letter finally came announcing the dissolution of the KSM, all of these arguments had been dropped and only one clear reason was given. The KSM was banned because it believes in replacing private ownership of the means of production with public ownership.

This makes the intention behind the ban very clear. It is not because the KSM present any threat to Czech society or because they are connected in any way with violence. It is because of their belief that public ownership is a fairer way to distribute society’s wealth than private ownership. They have been banned because they hold different political views to those of the Czech government.

Confused Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon, on the other hand, still trots out the old arguments now abandoned by the Ministry of the Interior. In a letter to George Howarth MP dated November 20, Hoon writes that the KSM were outlawed because 'they were spreading political messages advocating the overthrow of democracy and the forceful implementation of Communism'. Later he reiterates that 'KSM were banned because of advocating the overthrow of democracy; and because they were not registered as a political party'.
He even argues in defence of the decision that the United Kingdom requires political parties to register with the Electoral Commission, although this applies only to parties wishing to contest elections and there is no banning of parties which choose not to register.

Domestic support for the KSM and for its parent party, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (CPBM) is indicated by the CPBM’s recent election results (18.5 per cent of the vote and 26 MPs) and by the large public petitions against the banning of the KSM.
Despite this, the government has conducted a thorough campaign against both organisations in the press which has lead to prominent communists being physically attacked in the street. Some organisations have also begun to print T-shirts with slogans such as 'Support Peace - Kill a Communist'.

The dangers of a government which attempts to quell political opposition through the banning of legitimate organisations and encouraging mob violence is remembered in Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous lines:

'When the Nazis came for the Communists, I did not speak out. I was not a Communist.
When the Nazis came for the Social Democrats, I did not speak out. I was not a Social Democrat.
When the Nazis came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out. I was not a trade unionist.
When the Nazis came for me, there was no-one left to speak out'.

Yet there are some politicians in Britain, and even within the Labour Party, who have defended the actions of the Czech Government. [Geof Hoon quote]

It is essential that we speak out and raise our voices in protest against this clear infringement of the democratic rights of the Czech youth, before this cancer spread across Europe.

The Communist Party and Young Communist League organised a phone/fax blockade of the Czech Embassy on 13th December as part of an international day of solidarity called by the World Federation of Democratic Youth. Copies of the petition against the banning of the KSM can be obtained by emailing ksmsupport@ycl.org.uk. or calling 020 8686 1659