On the
Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of CPC(M-L) Tributes Paid at the Party Memorial in Beechwood Cemetery
August
15, 2020
On the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Canada
(Marxist-Leninist), on August 15, 2020, a delegation of the Central
Committee of CPC(M-L) led by its First Secretary and National Leader,
visited the Party Memorial at Beechwood Cemetery in Vanier. The
Memorial represents the modern democratic personality the Party has
given rise to. Its beauty conveys the profound respect of all Party
members and fellow-travellers as well as family members of those whose
sacrifice advanced the cause of modern communism.
Floral tributes were presented by Party organizations, individuals and
family members who came to pay their respects and express their social
love for Comrade Hardial Bains and all those Party members who have
passed away and whose names are inscribed on the monument.
The Party's leadership also accompanied a delegation from the Quebec
Committee of CPC(M-L) and a delegation of the Outaouais Regional
Committee as they paid respects. In the afternoon a delegation from
Ontario paid the respects of the Ontario Committee, followed by a
representative from BC and two from Nova Scotia, as well as family
members.
The Party was also honoured to receive a
delegation from the Embassy of Cuba in Ottawa led by Her Excellency
Ambassador Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, a delegation from the Embassy of
Vietnam in Ottawa led by His Excellency Ambassador Pham Cao Phong, and
the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in Ottawa,
Luis Acuña. Each presented a floral tribute in honour of
Comrade Bains and other comrades, listened to explanations of the lives
and contributions of the comrades whose names are on the monument.
 
 
 
 
August 21,
2020 A floral tribute was also placed at the
Memorial on August 21 in honour of two Party members from Montreal who
were taken from us by COVID-19 this spring, founding Party member Peter
Macrisopoulos and long-time activist Miguel Céspedes Pino.
Comrade Peter
joined Hardial Bains and Marxist-Leninist youth in Montreal in 1968-69,
even before the founding of the Party, to fight against state-organized
racist attacks against the Quebec people and attempts to suppress the
struggle the workers were waging in the late sixties. He was a founding
member of the Intellectuels et Ouvriers Patriotes du Quebec (IOPQ) in
November 1969 and of CPC(M-L) in March 1970.  The Central
Committee recognized Peter's contribution by presenting him
posthumously with the Party's 50th Anniversary Award for championing
the cause of the Greek working class and people all his life and the
cause of the Quebec and Canadian working class since he came to Canada
after World War II. The award recognizes Peter's fidelity to the cause
of the Party and communism as well as his valiant stands when the Party
and he himself were persecuted by the state in the early seventies. It
was his life's work to unite all workers, no matter what their national
origin as one class with one program, in defence of minority rights and
the rights of all and for the recognition of the Quebec nation and its
right to self-determination.
The Party deeply
mourns his death in the COVID-19 pandemic and condemns the callous and
cynical attitude of the Quebec and federal governments towards those
who have sacrificed their lives to look after the well-being of the
society and its members. It is their social irresponsibility that
directly led to Comrade Peter's death in a seniors' home, not COVID-19.
It is unforgivable. The memory of Peter and his deeds live on in all of
us. 
Comrade
Miguel Céspedes Pino was a proud Quebec communist of Chilean
origin. After leaving Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship, he held
high the flag of communism and anti-imperialist solidarity and
participated in the fight of his two homelands for the rights of all to
his dying day. Miguel also succumbed to COVID-19 and his loss is deeply
mourned by his family, his friends, his comrades and all those whose
lives he so gently and profoundly touched.[1] A
fitting memorial to both comrades will be held at the Party
headquarters in Montreal once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted
completely. August 24, 2020
On August
24 with great sadness flowers were also laid at the Party memorial in
honour of Comrade Hardial Bains who passed away that day 23 years ago.
Despite his immense loss, members of the Outaouais Branch of the Party
pointed out that the life of the Party remains vibrant and imbued with
the strength of his legacy, and continues to inspire all those who are
working to open society's path to progress and usher in peace, freedom
and democracy. The Party shows us that the conditions of retreat of
revolution are difficult, but not impossible, they said. With
this spirit they expressed greetings and social love on the part of the
Quebec Committee of CPC(M-L) to the Party's First Secretary, National
Leader and Central Committee.  Every year
delegations visit the Party Memorial which holds high the contribution
of all those whose names are inscribed on it. What is more, it pays
tribute to the modern personality of those who put real life as the
basis of our development and take up Contemporary Marxist-Leninist
Thought as a guide. This personality instinctively gravitates towards
communism and respects the communist and revolutionary leaders the
world over -- those whose hallmark is their participation in changing
society in favour of the peoples. This personality uses Marxism as a
guide to action, never as a replacement for profound activity in real
life.
Comrade Bains pointed out that such a
personality is not accidental; it is not a personality which humankind
gives rise to only once in a while. Far from it, our Party and The Internationalists
before it, has always strived hard to create this personality. Since
the sixties, giving rise to this personality was put on the agenda and
a line of march has been followed in order to nurture such a
personality. This has not been left to chance. It is the result of
organized, planned activity which opens society's path to progress so
as to emancipate the working class and all of humankind. The Party's Deed Is Its Word!
Long Live the Party of Hardial Bains! Note
1.
See In Memoriam here.
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 32 - August 29, 2020
Article Link:
On the
Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of CPC(M-L): Tributes Paid at the Party Memorial in Beechwood Cemetery
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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