To The Embassy of the Czech Republic

Dear Mrs. Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Markéta Sarbosová

Lisbon, January 11th. 2010

The news of the past weeks, reporting renewed threats of a persecutory and anti-communist nature in the Czech Republic are a cause for great concern and repudiation to the Portuguese communists and democrats in general.

Following the actions which in a not distant past led to the sad and unprecedented prohibition of the Czech Communist Youth (KSM), a decision which was recently reversed judicially, the attempts under way in the Czech Senate aiming at the suspension of the activity of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, or even its illegalization, represent not only an intolerable form of intimidation, pressure and interference in its internal life, but also a new and deplorable precedent of the utmos tprimary anticommunism and a flagrant violation of the basic democratic guarantees and principles.

Such situations discredit the institutions responsible for these actions and are part of the disturbing aims to create in Europe a typical witch hunt atmosphere, bringing to memory the dark pages of 20th century history.

For this reason, and expressing our full solidarity to the CPBM and its thousands of members and sympathizers, the Portuguese communists demand from the Czech Government and Senate a respect for freedom and democracy.

Furthermore, we affirm that, while making public our stand hereby expressed and together with other voices in Europe and around the world which have expressed the iindignation and denounced the anticommunist campaign targeted towards the CPBM, the PCP will continue to follow closely the evolution of this case and voice its protest against all intents and campaigns of curtailment of freedom and political activity by the communists and all those who fight for democracy, social progress and socialism.

With our best regards,

The Secretariat of the Central Committee Portuguese Communist Party