The anniversary of the founding of the Chilean Communist Party was celebrated in Fairfield on February 17.
Artistic and cultural activities were enjoyed by representatives of Latin American communist parties, the communist parties of Iraq and Iran, a number of Asian communist parties, the Australian Communist Party, the Communist Party of Australia and the Socialist Alliance.
Palestinian Australia Khaled Ghannam, who spoke on behalf of the Socialist Alliance, paid tribute to the common struggle across Latin America and Palestine for self-determination.
“The Chilean Communist Party supports the Palestinian people’s rights. In light of Israel’s brutal aggression in the Gaza Strip, we call on the international communist movements to provide more support to the Palestinian people,” Ghannam said.
Ghannam welcomed the Chilean community joining Palestine solidarity rallies across Australia, saying “our common struggle against imperialism and Zionism will achieve a just future for our people”.
Ghannam added that the Palestinian revolution had learned from the Latin American revolutions and that Palestine sees itself as part of the peoples’ struggle against tyranny and racism.
“We ask you not to be fooled by the statements of Australian officials who say they are calling for a ceasefire but are not. They are not calling on Israel to stop its ground invasion of Rafah and they continue to send weapons and soldiers to join the Israeli occupation army.”
Ghannam said protests against Australia’s bias towards the extremist Israeli government needed to continue.