Extensive criticism of AKEL/Communist party in failing to prepare for events but instead pacifying the population into oblivion. Echoes of today?
We will quote extensively from the pages of the Morning Star to demonstrate the inadequacy, even foolishness, and in its disastrous effects, even criminal policies of the Communist Party leadership.
“The assassins and the apparent dictators must know that there is not the slightest hope of success for their plans. The unbound Cypriot people and its armed forces, headed by the President of the Republic Archbishop Makarios will smash and nullify every attempt for the imposition of a fascist dictatorial regime in Cyprus.”
Twenty-four hours later the EOKA gangsters seized power. Thus the Communist Party is revealed as not having the foggiest understanding of the processes at work in Cyprus. With the support of 2 percent of the population, the EOKA gangsters seized power and brushed aside resistance within hours.
Can there be a more annihilating declaration of the bankruptcy of the leadership of the Communist Party than this statement in the Morning Star of July 27th:
“In the first few hours after the coup feelings of anger, sorrow and frustration were predominant among the ordinary people. Anger against the Greek Junta, sorrow at what they thought was the fate of president Makarios, and frustration at their inability to do anything.”
“…Ordinary people were further encouraged when it became known that leaders of progressive parties supporting president Makarios, like AKEL general secretary Ezekiel Pappioannou as well as the leader of the Cyprus trade unions and all the top leadership of AKEL, had escaped arrest.”
“Surprise”
“…The EOKA-B gang had also succeeded in penetrating and subverting part of the Cyprus police force”.
Who was responsible for the complete “surprise” of ordinary people, but the leadership of the Communist Party? Who had not organised and prepared the workers theoretically and in its propaganda for these events?
Having prepared nothing and foreseen nothing the activity of the leadership had to go into hiding! That was the extent of the lead and of preparation.
Yet they (AKEL) were powerless because they relied on the capitalist state machine and the capitalist-supported Makarios to protect them.
Had, as many of the rank-and-file of AKEL were ruefully saying, the Communist Party leaders organised an armed workers’ defence force, the EOKA gangsters, and their Junta inspirers, would have hesitated before launching an attack.
I came across this archived article by the famous Marxist, Ted Grant, and was surprised by how much analysis an outsider has poured into our problem. It is worth a read in its entirety, but I shall quote snippets of interest.
