Press Release: Anti-NATO demonstration in Helsingborg

On Saturday May 16 a large demonstration was held in Helsingborg to protest against the upcoming meeting of the NATO countries' foreign ministers, to be held there on May 21-22. Despite cold and rainy weather around 1000 demonstrators gathered to express their discontent with Sweden's deeper involvement in imperialist military alliance NATO, and to clearly state that it is not welcome in Sweden.

Τhe Communist Party of Sweden (SKP) bloc in the demonstration was joined by our fraternal party, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) along with comrades from the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), as both parties participate in the European Communist Action. Several other fraternal parties joined the SKP bloc, including the Communist Party of Denmark (DKP), Tudeh Party of Iran, Communist Party of Norway (NKP), the Sudanese Communist Party and the Syrian Communist Party. Together we made slogans such as "Withdrawal from NATO can only take place - through struggle against capital, with the SKP!" echo along the streets of Helsingborg.

The demonstration opened with music and speeches in the Furutorp Park, where Zahira Sarhan from SKP's Central Committee was the first speaker, highlighting the state’s deceitfulness and its war plans. To open up for increased exploitation by Swedish capital, the state must present war as the only possible option—and it is you who will be sacrificed for this so-called sacred purpose. It was further made clear that NATO is not the so-called “defensive alliance” that the parliamentary parties claim it to be, but in reality a network of terror that leaves misery and death in its wake. NATO is used by the bourgeoisie as one of many imperialist tools to curb the development of socialism and peace, with the sole aim of continuing the exploitation of the working class.

After the speeches, the demonstration marched through Helsingborg, concluding at the terrace steps in the city center. The struggle for peace and socialism continues, and even if NATO were to disappear or be reshaped in the future, the work of the SKP and the ECA will not be finished. We will fight capitalism and imperialism wherever they exist and in all their forms.

Not one weapon, not one rifle! Not a single Euro for NATO’s war machine!