PAME that represents the class oriented, trade union movement of Greece, expresses its sorrow for the death of Nelson Mandela.

In Mandela’s face, was expressed the struggle of the people of South Africa against the brutal, racist regime of Apartheid, and in general, the struggles of the African people against colonialism. An ally of the SACP and the class trade union movement of his country, he was persecuted for his struggles. He was imprisoned for almost 1/3 of his life.

Today, in Greece and in Europe, in the capitalist crisis we suffer a new brutal attack against the peoples, a new attempt to revitalize racism and Nazism. The European Union, and also the Greek Government cultivate the theory of extremes and anticommunism. People’s and workers’ struggles are called as “terrorism”, while hundred of PAME’s cadres and other militant are persecuted for their struggles.

Under these conditions, we must safeguard the history of people’s struggles. Against the inhumane Apartheid regime, Mandela and the other militants we also called terrorists, troublemakers and were persecuted by a system that protected the profitability of the Gold and Diamond multinationals. They stood unyielding against oppression and they prevailed.

PAME expresses its condolences to the working class and the people of South Africa, to our comrades of the WFTU of Africa and to COSATU.