Japan - June 26th, 2021

For the International Solidarity Campaign with the Workers and People of Colombia

We, militant workers and students in Japan, are sending an ardent message of solidarity to the workers and people of Colombia who are fighting unyieldingly against the brutal repression by the Duque government. This solidarity message of ours is also addressed to all comrades and friends in the world including Latin America who are deeply concerned and are rallying to the support of the people of Colombia by expressing readiness to fight with them.

The Duque government is using all possible military means of atrocity to crack down on Colombian people who have risen up in protest against the rulers who are plunging people into a living hell caused by the spread of the Covid-19 infection, unemployment, semi-unemployment and poverty. By mobilizing the forces of ESMAD, the paramilitaries, and even fascist gangs, this regime is enforcing brutal repression. A great many people are killed, lost and injured. A large number of activists have been detained and put in jail. We are furious about this. We denounce the barbarity of the rulers with the utmost bitterness!

Frightened by the huge explosion of people's protest against the ruling system of the country, the rulers of Colombia are frantic to suffocate the uprising. Colombia, with nine US military bases on its territory, is one of the strong points for the United States' dominance of the world including Latin America. It is obvious that, behind the Duque government, there are rulers of US imperialism.

The Duque government, having been frustrated in its attempt to resolve the situation with just a slight concession (i.e. withdrawal of its plan for a 'tax reform'), will resort, on the one hand, to a crafty method of cajoling established opposition leaders into the abandonment of protest actions, thus trying to destroy people's struggles from within. On the other, it will further strengthen repression. Against such attempts of authoritarian repression, workers and toiling people fighting courageously must build up solidarity and strengthen the power to fight back.

As you know, Japan is located on the front line of US imperialism against China in military terms. US bases are being reinforced day by day. The Yoshihide Suga-led government of Japan, a 'vassal' state of US imperialism, is acting as an obedient servant of the latter and suppressing protest actions of workers, students and residents in Okinawa who are persistently fighting against the construction of a gigantic new US base. This government is now hell-bent on hosting the Tokyo Olympics despite the fact that another possible explosion of Covid-19 infection is as clear as daylight. At the forefront of the toiling masses who are indignant with the government, we, militant workers and students are fighting resolutely with the aim of overthrowing the Suga government.

Geometrically, we are distanced from each other, but we, together with the people of Colombia and of Latin America and the world, are connected to each other through the same struggle. Let us not allow any of the repressive measures and attacks by the oppressive rulers! Let us unite and fight for the purpose of crushing poverty, oppression and war!

Japan Revolutionary Communist League (Revolutionary Marxist Faction)