Against War and NATO

The development of the world situation is more uncertain, more insecure and more dangerous than before. The claims according to which the present globalisation would strengthen peace have proved to be wrong, because it serves only the interests of big corporations and of the wealthy minority. This entails a continuous struggle for natural resources and world domination. The number of wars is increasing and the arms race is intensifying. At the same time as poverty is growing, numerous other social problems worsen and the destruction of the environment accelerates. The gap between rich and poor deepens both globally and inside countries.

In Iraq the brutal occupation war led by US troops continues. The Administration of President Bush threatens to strike against Iran too. Nato led troops occupy Afghanistan. In the name of ”war on terror” the USA try to consolidate their control over the entire Middle East and Central Asia, where the world biggest energy resources are located. Part of this is the arming and supporting of Israel, which continues the occupation of Palestinian territories, attacks against other neighbouring countries and brutally attacks refugee camps.

The US government allocates an ever-increasing amount of resources to the development of new weapons of mass destruction, to the arms race and to military bases around the globe. The United States together with other rich industrialised countries subjugate the developing countries using unfair trade agreements and demanding that developing countries implement the neo-liberal programmes of the World Bank and of the International Monetary Fund. The plundering of natural resources increases the ecological debt of the wealthy North vis-à-vis the developing world. The blockade against Cuba, which has continued for over 45 years is an example showing how little the United States care for UN principles and decisions.

Militarism and imperialistic ambitions have become stronger in Europe too. The European Union is arming its rapid deployment battle groups and is ready to use them also without UN mandate. This takes place in close cooperation with NATO. Although the ”cold war” is supposedly over, the US and NATO expand their network of military bases around Russia. In Europe, the upswing of the Right wing has strengthened the attacks against democracy and increased racism and anti-communism.

Next to these concern-raising threats one can however distinguish trends, which inspire hope. There is a broad anti-war movement and its influence has grown in particular in the United States. International cooperation between trade unions and civil movements against war, against neo-liberalism and imperialism has taken off. Developments in Latin America show that also in the present situation it is possible to achieve results through the struggle of the labour and civil movements against imperialism.

What is the role of Finland?

The majority of Finns supports military non-alignment and opposes US war policy and NATO. In spite of this, government and parliament have made Finland join the EU battle groups and move towards ever-closer cooperation with Nato. The amount of money spent for purchasing armaments continues to grow. It is intended to equip the Hornet fighters with offensive weapons. Government prepares Finlands participation in NATO battle groups.

A Security Policy Report is under way and both the Right wing and mainstream national media demand new approaches opening up the way towards joining NATO. They try to use increased nationalism in Russia and disputes between Russia and Estonia to build up perceived threats projections as an argument in favour of NATO membership. The Finnish Government, too, has fed such images of threat by opposing a ban on cluster bombs using the argument that they are needed on Finland’s Eastern border. In this connection it is imperative to put forward with greater emphasis the opinion of the majority of people in favour of military non-alignment and to demand that representatives of political parties commit themselves to respect it.

Issues of war and peace should not be the competence of leaders and generals only. Each one of us can exert influence by taking part in the peace movement, promoting education for peace, raising peace related issues in the trade union movement, taking responsible decisions as consumer and demanding practical measures from decision makers.

Back to military non-alignment

The majority of MPs declared on the eve of parliamentary elections that they support military non-alignment and oppose joining NATO. The Congress of the CPF demands that parliament acts in accordance with such promises.

The next Security Policy Report must state explicitly that Finland is a militarily non-aligned country and that it will not join NATO. Finnish troops must be withdrawn from NATO led occupation forces in Afghanistan. Finnish army troops must not join EU or NATO battle groups. Finland must reduce military expenditures; join the Treaty banning cluster bombs and refrain from cooperating with NATO countries’ armaments industries.

For a Referendum on the EU

The leaders of the European Union try to call back to life the proposal for a European Constitutional Treaty rejected by the French and Dutch referendums. An attempt is made to push it through with small modifications that would not change in any way the neo-liberal, anti-democratic and militaristic nature of the new Treaty.

The CPF opposes the European Union and the Constitutional project of the Euro elite. We demand that citizens be given the possibility to decide by way of referendum whether to accept or to reject the new Constitutional Treaty.

We want to build a different Europe, where the well being of humans and nature is not submitted to profit making by capital. We do not accept racism, discrimination against minorities nor do we accept attempts to belittle or denigrate the history of the struggle against fascism.

We propose that government starts preparing to take an initiative for a new type Treaty on European Security and Cooperation on the occasion of Finland’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2008. Such Treaty could be the starting point for cooperation based on equality between all people living in Europe and all European countries, for socially and ecologically sustainable development, for fair trade and reduction of armaments. We demand that the government of Finland gives its support to the initiative of developing countries at the WTO in favour of a more equitable agreement.

Peace in the Middle East

The Finnish government has shamefully kept silent over US war policy and stressed closer cooperation with the Bush administration. Government should take a stance against war and demand the withdrawal of US led occupation forces from Iraq. Finnish troops must be withdrawn from NATO led military operations in Afghanistan. The government must oppose in the EU all measures aiming at supporting US policy of force against Iran or any other country. The Finnish government must recognize the legally elected government of Palestine and demand for an end of EU sanctions against it.

Solidarity with Latin America

We support anti-imperialist movements in Latin America and we demand that the governments of Finland and of other EU countries support efforts by Latin-American countries to secure their independent development. Finland must stop following the US line and take the side of those countries that wish to bring the US blockade against Cuba to an end. Finland must support cooperation within the ALBA agreement launched by Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia, the aim of which is to implement an integration process based upon a new type of equal and socially equitable development.

Russia and the Baltic Sea

Cooperation with Russia offers us Finns particularly great opportunities. At the same time, it is a matter pertaining to the development of the entire Baltic Sea region.

The CPF demands that government, State owned corporations and municipalities be more active in developing economic and other cooperation with Russia. The expansion of the natural gas network is an example of the numerous possibilities that open up in this field. While we are concerned about undemocratic trends in the development of Russia – such as growing discrimination against Communists and numerous shortcomings in the field of labour relations and social rights – we reject attempts aiming at reviving threats of the cold war and at feeding anti-Russian sentiments. We wish to develop the dialogue at citizens’ level between Finland and Russia, promote the learning of Russian language and cooperation with people who emigrated from Russia to Finland.

We demand that measures to protect the Baltic Sea be accelerated and that growing military activity in the region be reduced. Public authorities and the trade union movement must take actions to prevent attempts to undermine labour standards as a result of increased mobility of the labour force in the region.

Cooperation between trade unions and civil movements

Capitalistic globalisation and the growing role of the European Union represent a major challenge for the cooperation at national and European level between workers and citizens’ movements. The CPF is a part of the international Communist movement and a part of the Labour movement. We are participating in the activity of the European Left Party and we wish to develop pan-European cooperation of Left wing forces in Europe.

The struggle against war, neo-liberalism and imperialism calls for broad cooperation. We take part in the Social Forum movement, among others in the global Day of Action in January 2008 and later during autumn in the European Social Forum. We wish to promote internationalism of the labour movement, which has a decisive role to play in preventing social dumping, in safeguarding human rights and in promoting multicultural development nationally and globally.

CPF Congress 9.-10.6.2007