A conscript has been targeted by the bourgeois parties the last few hours, because he attended, along with other conscripts, and spoke at the anti-war rally of the KKE organized in Athens on 5 October 2024.

Journalists, as well as members of bourgeois political parties, including the ruling party of the New Democracy (ND) and a member of parliament of the "leftist" party of SYRIZA, attacked the soldier, demanding that those who serve in the Armed Forces obey orders "without objection", even military orders given to secure business and foreign interests anywhere in the world.

In its statement, the Press Office of the Central Council of KNE stresses the following:

"The attempt to target and intimidate a conscript, member of KNE, by members of the New Democracy and SYRIZA, because he publicly expressed his opposition to our country's support for the murderous state of Israel, as well as his solidarity with the peoples of the region, will fall flat!"

Solidarity Committee for the Rights of Conscripts

The Solidarity Committee for the Rights of Conscripts demands that the attempt to terrorize conscripts who speak out against our country's participation in the wars stop immediately, noting the following:

"The political expression and participation of conscripts in popular and peaceful demonstrations against the wars and our country's participation in them is their inalienable right.

The Solidarity Committee for the Rights of Conscripts calls on the Trade Unions, the school and university student Associations, the Women's, Pensioners’ and Retired Officers’ Associations, every mass organization to condemn the government's attempt to terrorize the young conscripts who oppose all over Greece our country's involvement in the wars.

In various reactionary articles and posts on the internet, social media and TV panel shows, some overtly far-rightist and others allegedly leftist, such us New Democracy MP Th. Plevris and P. Pappas from SYRIZA, attack conscripts. More specifically, they call for the punishment of a conscript for having publicly expressed his opposition to our country's involvement in the wars, as well as his solidarity with the peoples of the region.

The young conscripts took an oath to defend the borders and sovereign rights of our people and our country and not to participate in the massacre of other peoples. They swore an oath to the flag of our country and not to the flag of NATO, or of Israel, or of the United States, that drip with blood of innocent peoples. They never swore an oath to send arms to Ukraine, shiploads for the Americans, or frigates in the Red Sea in the context of the EU operation "ASPIDES". They never swore an oath to participate in the "UNIFIL" mission off Lebanon to monitor the NATO arms embargo, nor to "IRINI" mission in Libya.

The government and the parties of the Euro-Atlantic arc, i.e. SYRIZA, PASOK and others, are accountable to the people for the participation of our country in wars by ordering Greek officers and non-commissioned officers to participate in dozens of war missions and operations abroad under the flag of NATO, which wreaks havoc wherever it intervenes.

Freedom of expression and protest, as well as expressing concern about peace, is a right of conscripts that cannot be revoked or suspended and they cannot be punished for exercising it during the period of their military service.

In this context, our conscripts have every right to participate in the peaceful events and protests of our people against imperialist wars, where they can express their pro-peace feelings and  thoughts, and to condemn the wars and the involvement of our country in them. This right is inalienable during the period of their service and should not be obstructed, challenged or threatened by anyone.

Τoday it is more critical than ever to step up the demand inside and outside the military camps for the return of all military forces from abroad, the closure of US and NATO bases and the full disengagement of our country from the wars for which the people have given no mandate to the government."

09.10.2024