The 22nd International Meeting of the Communist and Workers Parties (IMCWP) gave a clarion call to launch united campaigns against oppressive and exploitative policies of imperialism and capitalism. 145 representatives of 78 Communist and Workers parties from 60 countries participated in the 22nd IMCWP, held for the first time in the heroic Cuba. The IMCWP session was held in Havana, the capital city of Cuba on October 28-29, 2022. A meeting of the Working Group (WG) was held on the 27th.
The main work of the IMCWP was to listen to the experience of the participating parties in the struggles defending the livelihood of people in the respective countries. Interventions by leaders of Communist and Workers Parties shared their experiences in organising movements on the demands of workers, peasants, agricultural labour, women, youth, students and various other marginalized sections of the people.
The global problems of imperialist exploitation and aggression, environmental degradation, subjugation of women, cultural degeneration, unemployment, destitution, poverty, hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy, xenophobia, racial discrimination, apartheid etc were taken up during the deliberations.
The IMCWP considered the request for membership in the fraternity of the organizational structure and unanimously decided to admit Reunionise Communist Party, Communist Party (Switzerland) and the Swiss Communist Party.
Election of the Working Group was another organizational task of the IMCWP. Through consultation, first a 24-member proposal was circulated. Following nomination made by various parties, the strength of the WG was increased to
35. Both CPI(M) and CPI are included in it from India.
Adoption of the Final Declaration of the 22nd IMCWP was also successfully carried out through consultations. The title itself covered most of the areas addressed by the Final Declaration: “Solidarity with Cuba and all the struggling peoples. United we are stronger in the anti-imperialist struggle, together with social and popular movements, in the face of capitalism and its policies, the threat of fascism and war; in defense of peace, the environment, workers' rights, solidarity and socialism…”. The concept of Communist and Workers Parties cooperating and collaborating with social and popular movements against imperialist domination and in defence of the rights of the oppressed and exploited has been stressed in the Final Declaration .
Discussion and adoption of a separate Plan of Action (PoA) provided common ideas to the Communist and Workers Parties to evolve independent and joint activities. The first task in the PoA is to carry out mobilization in defence of peace and rejection of the imperialist war, belligerent interventions, nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, foreign military bases, as well as against NATO and other imperialist alliances like AUKUS.
Observance of September 21 as International Peace Day, with a worldwide mobilization to denounce war is another important proposal.
Call to find a constructive, realist resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, through dialogue and negotiation is another important campaign proposed. Involvement of more and more youth in various activities in future has been stressed in the PoA.
Series of activities – virtual workshops and seminars as well as physical meetings – to exchange, analyse and disseminate theoretical and practical concepts related to Marxism-Leninism and the unique value of socialism would be planned.
The first international meeting of the Editors of Theoretical Publications to be held in Cuba on 10, 11, 12 February, 2023 is an important step in this direction.
Call has been given to actively participate in popular mobilisations to demand the care and protection of the environment and to reject the capitalist mode of production and consumption aimed at mindless profit maximisation.
Another suggestion to achieve a greater and more active participation of IMCWP member parties in solidarity with Cuba to be held on the last weekend of each month is also endorsed. More widespread activities are proposed to
be initiated on international day of solidarity with Palestinian people on November 29. Demand for a just and lasting solution to the question of Western Sahara needs to be raised in a focused manner. While taking up this issue, programmes must be organized on May 10, which is the foundation day of the Polisario Front which spearheaded the liberation struggle for the establishment of the Saharavi Arab Democratic Republic.
PoA underlined the following few land mark political events in the Western Hemisphere.
* The day of the first armed uprising of people of Puerto Rico against US colonial domination is October 30, 1950.
* 2023 is the bicentennial of the independence of Central American countries. It is also the 170th anniversary of the birth of Jose Marti, martyr, poet and the national hero of Cuba.
* The year happens to be the 70th anniversary of the assault on Moncada and Carlos Manuel Cespedes Barracks.
These would be appropriately observed and celebrated as historical events of great importance.
The notorious Monroe Doctrine was proclaimed on December 2, 1823. In the context of growing progressive advance in Latin and Central America and efforts of imperialism led by the USA to intervene there through direct and indirect machinations, it is very important to observe the bicentennial of Monroe Doctrine and the 50th anniversary of the Coup d’ etat in Chile and the 40th anniversary of the US invasion of Grenada.
2023 is the 175th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto and 140th death anniversary of Karl Marx. The significance of these historical moments needs no elaboration. Proper programmes to observe these need to be planned by those who work and struggle for the creation of a classless society.
The 23rd IMCWP would be held in Turkey, as per the request from the Communist Party of Turkey.
The concluding session of the IMCWP was addressed by the President of Cuba, who is also the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez. He stressed the negative impacts of the illegal blockade that USA and its lackeys are imposing on Cuba and all its ill-effects. He declared that Cuba would be able to overcome the difficulties faced by it due to these factors, with the hard-work of the committed comrades and people of Cuba and also with the help of the strong solidarity pouring from all corners of the world.
22nd IMCWP concluded with the singing of the International and reverberating slogans:
United in the struggle against imperialism and capitalism!
Long live socialism! Hasta la Victoria Siempre!