Comac (youth movement) explained

COMAC
Chairperson:Sander Claessens
Headquarters:Bd Lemonnier 171, 1000, Brussels
Ideology:Socialism[1]
Marxism[2] [3]
Feminism[4]
Pacifism[5]
Environmentalism
Anti-racism[6]
LGBTQ-activism[7]
Mother Party:Workers' Party of Belgium
International:World Federation of Democratic Youth
Colorcode:red
Website:
Official YouTube channel

Comac is the student youth wing of the Belgian Marxist political party, the Workers' Party of Belgium (WPB), (known as PTB-PVDA in Belgium). The movement is active in 11 places across Belgium, operating in different cities, universities, as well as hogescholen.[8] Comac's projects engage in political and symbolic movements, and it frequently hosts gatherings, protests, or other actions. The organization is bilingual, with Flemish and Walloon sections cooperating on a national level.

The student wing strives for a spectrum of social goals, such as a sustainable future, universal access to quality education, attention for mental health and climate action. Reversely, it opposes forms of discrimination, sexism, racism and aims to counteract the far-right.[9] Comac envisions a radically democratic, social and diverse society. While being politically aligned to PVDA-PTB, Comac is autonomous in their affairs; it is not required to be a WPB-member to join Comac.

The student wing's abbreviation reflects its goals:

The organization has a joint movement, RedFox, for high-school students.[10]

History

Comac (short for Change, Optimisme, Marxisme, Activisme, Creativiteit in Dutch and Changement, Optimisme, Marxisme, Activisme, Créativité in French)[11] is a result of the 2002 merger of the Leninist MML, Mouvement marxiste leniniste, and Marxistisch-Leninistische Beweging (MLB),[12] which were active at universities, and Rebelle or Rode Jeugd, who were active in the secondary schools.In April 2016, a split was made to demarcate between university students and younger members, as well as to represent the movement in high schools, leading to the creation of the sister movement RedFox.[13]

In 2018, Max Vancauwenberge was elected as national chairman, succeeding Charlie Le Paige, who had served the position for three years.[14]

In 2022, internal documents of the youth organisation , a far-right Flemish nationalist group, contained plans to infiltrate Comac and gain control from the inside-out, as well as secure influential positions in society.[15] Comac chairman Max Vancauwenberge has strongly condemned these tactics, calling them "typical methods of fascist organisations: physical and digital intimidation, provocation and violence."[16] Schild en Vrienden has been known to launch troll attacks on social media.[17]

Sander Claessens was elected new chairman in November 2022, succeeding Max Vancauwenberge. Octave Daube was voted for vice chairman.[18] As of 2023, Comac has institutions in the VUB, ULB, Leuven, Antwerp, Ghent, Saint-Louis, Louvain-la-Neuve, Mons, Namur, Charleroi and Liège.

Activism

Comac is active via protests, direct action, and by manifesting in other symbolic events to support LGBT pride,[19] women's rights, feminism[20] and political action.[21] Comac members have also volunteered for many solidarity actions, often jointly with other organizations and non-members, or in cooperation with the WPB or RedFox. These events aim to support disadvantaged groups, such as low-wage workers or refugees. The student wing furthermore has an online shop where stickers with messages can be purchased, such as against sexism[22] and racism.[23]

Climate protests

Members from Comac have frequently participated in large-scale climate protests,[24] as well its own actions to advocate for climate action, such as blockading the entrance of the VBO (pictured), a building representing polluting multinational corporations. Comac called for a more collective climate approach as well as investments in transport and public transit to make these carbon-neutral.[25] The youth wing also criticizes the proposed carbon tax, opting for expansion on green energy alternatives as well as taxing polluting multinationals themselves.[26] [27]

The youth organisation has furthermore sent 200 members to Glasgow to demonstrate at the COP26 summit for climate action.[28] [29]

Anti-war protests

Comac and the WPB have organized and participated in pacifist rallies, calling on the Belgian government to discard military spending.[30] The coalition government had approved over 12.2 billion euro in military allocation, meant to further purchase F-35s, frigates and drones, as well as fund more personnel and digital security.[31]

Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Comac opposed escalation of the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, as the movement has called on Russia and Ukraine to strive for peaceful and diplomatic dialogue.[32] Since the invasion, Comac has attended peace protests[33] and has directed actions in universities, such as an open letter and raising peace flags at campuses.[34]

Students' action

In early 2022, during the exam period of the first semester, Covid-19 quarantine prevented students from multiple universities from attending their midterm examinations. Some were granted catch-up examinations, but these overlapped with existing exam dates, leading to multiple tests on a single day. Other catch-up tests were postponed for months, forcing students into re-taking them during the summer months.[35] In response, Comac launched a petition to demand guaranteed catch-up exams right after the exam period for those affected by the mandatory Covid-19 isolation. As of the end of the midterms, around 2,000 had signed.[36]

In February 2022, students from the Ghent University, VUB and KU Leuven reported cases of sexual harassment by professors.[37] An associate professor was also fired in the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp.[38] Comac has since joined a movement strongly denouncing their acts and demanding zero-tolerance for unacceptable behaviour.[39] On 15 February, students across several Flemish cities protested, among which Comac members.

Disadvantaged groups

On 20 July 2021 (on World Refugee Day) Comac members demonstrated in support of undocumented migrants (sans-papiers) who organized a hunger strike for better regulations of their legal status.[40] The youth wing has also provided supplies and food for refugees.[41]

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent refugee crisis, the organization held actions at universities such as KU Leuven[42] and UGent as part of a peace initiative. Comac wishes to mobilize Belgian universities in a call for de-escalation of the war and diplomatic resolution, as well as raise awareness for student refugees, many of whom faced discrimination while fleeing the country. Comac furthermore opposes Belgian weapon deliveries to Ukraine.[43]

Comac also manifested in support of cleaning personnel, advocating for better working conditions and fairer salaries.[44]

Disaster relief

In cooperation with the WPB as well as RedFox, so-called SolidariTeams were created to help victims of the 2021 European floods in Flanders and Wallonia,[45] many of which needed their houses rid of debris, the interior cleaned and repainted, as well as their basements drained. Around 41,000 households were left without electricity in Wallonia.[46] Since 2022, over 1,500 people have volunteered for the program.[47]

Sociocultural activities

Comac also host a many events for members and non-members, some of which return yearly.

Comac also participates in outside events, such as the World Festival of Youth and Students or the yearly ManiFiesta, a two-day concert in Belgium featuring world music and hip hop, guest speakers, debates, workshops and bookshops.[53]

Relations

Comac connects with intranational movements as well as foreign organizations. It has ties with other socialist youth wings as the Dutch Communist Youth Movement (CYM) and French Mouvement Jeunes Communistes de France and is a member of the World Federation of Democratic Youth.[54] Intranationally, it has ties with several feminist, anti-fascist, pacifist and volunteer movements. Comac also works with a multitude of peace movements, such as Pax Christi and the Belgian Vrede vzw and Hart Boven Hard. Comac also seeks close cooperation with Belgian civil society organizations.

RedFox

Chairman:Alice Verlinden
RedFox
Founded:2015
Headquarters:Bd Lemonnier 171, 1000, Brussels
Mother Party:Workers' Party of Belgium
Ideology:Feminism
Gender equality
LGBT activism
Anti-racism
Colorcode:red
Website:RedFox official website

The WPB is home to a second youth wing, RedFox, for people between 14 and 18 years of age. The organization was founded in 2015. Much like Comac, it engages in solidarity actions and political movements as anti-racism, anti-sexism, climate movement,[55] gender equality and LGBT support.

The youth wing has its own online shop, where free movement stickers can be obtained.[56]

See also

External links

RedFox official website Official YouTube channel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Serluppens . Enio . 3 September 2018 . Comac: Students For Change . 5 April 2022 . PVDA . nl-BE.
  2. Web site: 22 March 2020 . Het marxisme: een alternatief op de status quo. 7 December 2023. Comac NL . nl-BE.
  3. Web site: 2023 . Karl Marx School. 7 December 2023. Comac NL . nl-BE.
  4. Web site: 15 March 2022 . Een 8 maart met Debo - Als vrouwen stoppen, stopt de wereld . 5 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  5. Web site: Mertens . Bart . Vredesvlag voor Oekraïne: "Oorlog is een menselijk drama" . 5 April 2022 . hln.be . nl.
  6. Web site: 21 March 2021 . Action contre le racisme et la discrimination ce dimanche . 5 April 2022 . lavenir.net . fr.
  7. Web site: 8 July 2021 . La loi anti-gay hongroise sert à diviser les gens . 5 April 2022 . Solidaire . fr.
  8. Web site: Over Comac . 14 September 2020 . comac-studenten.be . COMAC . nl.
  9. Web site: Durf Doen! - Comac . 2 April 2022 . durfdoen.be . nl.
  10. Web site: Wat is RedFox . 26 January 2020 . nl.redfox.be . nl.
  11. Web site: Comac c'est quoi? . 14 September 2020 . comac-etudiants.be . COMAC . fr.
  12. "Marxistisch-Leninistische Beweging (MLB) — Universiteit Gent", UGent.be, 2010, web: -->collectie/studenten/verenigingen/MLB.html UG-MLB.
  13. Web site: De Block . Dirk . 29 April 2016 . Les RedFox arrivent ! - PTB . 3 February 2022 . archive.ptb.be . fr.
  14. Web site: Charlie Le Paige - Comac . 10 March 2022 . nl . 20 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170320052003/http://www.comac-studenten.be/contact/charlie-le-paige . dead .
  15. News: Atillah . Samira . De Coninck . Douglas . 13 April 2022 . Interne documenten Schild en Vrienden: leden moesten 'invloedrijke posities in de maatschappij' innemen . nl-NL . 10 July 2022.
  16. Web site: 13 April 2022 . Comac reageert tegen infiltratie- en intimidatie pogingen Schild & Vrienden . 10 July 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  17. News: 6 September 2018 . 'Pano' legt tactieken van Schild & Vrienden-trollenleger bloot: "Kunnen er eens een paar mensen een vals profiel van mij aanmaken?" . nl . 10 July 2022.
  18. Web site: 2022-11-03 . Sander Claessens neemt de fakkel over bij Comac . 2023-02-14 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  19. Web site: 28 June 2021 . Comac en RedFox vieren Pride: 'Wij willen dat iedereen zichzelf kan zijn' . 1 February 2022 . dewereldmorgen.be . nl.
  20. Web site: Quatre féminicides en moins de deux semaines : le PTB tire la sonnette d'alarme . 1 February 2022 . ptb.be . fr.
  21. Web site: 29 January 2021 . Studenten voeren actie voor meer perspectief . 26 January 2022 . dewereldmorgen.be . nl.
  22. Web site: Stickers against sexism . 5 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  23. Web site: Commande ton sticker Comac ! . 5 April 2022 . Comac FR . fr-BE.
  24. Web site: 10 October 2021 . Tienduizenden demonstranten liepen mee in klimaatmars in Brussel . 1 February 2022 . metronieuws.nl . nl.
  25. Web site: Schaut . Cassandra . Studentenvereniging Comac blokkeert ingang van VBO tijdens klimaatactie . 1 February 2022 . hln.be . nl.
  26. Web site: 6 October 2021 . Back To The Climate: na de overstromingen is het meer dan ooit tijd voor een sociaal en ambitieus klimaatbeleid . 3 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  27. Web site: 16 November 2020 . Ik ben niet gaan wandelen in de klimaatmarsen voor meer taksen . 2 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  28. Web site: 8 November 2021 . COP26 Summit: Thousands March Glasgow Action Against Climate Change . 25 January 2022 . www.newsclick.in.
  29. Web site: 14 September 2021 . Comac gaat met 200 studenten naar de klimaattop in Glasgow . 8 February 2022 . dewereldmorgen.be . nl.
  30. Web site: 7 February 2022 . Progressive sections in Belgium slam government plan to increase military spending . 8 February 2022 . peoplesdispatch.org.
  31. Web site: Peter . De Lobel . 21 January 2022 . Leger krijgt extra budget voor heli's, personeel en digitale bescherming . 27 March 2022 . standaard.be . nl.
  32. Web site: 4 February 2022 . Geen oorlog om Oekraïne! Geen geld voor NAVO's oorlogen! . 27 March 2022 . Vrede.be . nl.
  33. Web site: 26 February 2022 . Breed gedragen vredesactie zaterdag 26 februari in Brussel: Stop de oorlog! - DeWereldMorgen.beDeWereldMorgen.be . 10 July 2022 . www.dewereldmorgen.be . nl.
  34. Web site: 31 March 2022 . Open brief: KU Leuven voor vrede in Oekraïne . 10 July 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  35. Web site: Vanheusden . Karin . 12 January 2022 . Antwerpse studenten ongerust over inhaalexamens na quarantaine: "Dit is toch niet correct?" . 7 February 2022 . gva.be . nl.
  36. Web site: Garandeer inhaalexamens: teken de petitie! . 7 February 2022 . comac.studenten.be . nl.
  37. Web site: kma . Protesten tegen grensoverschrijdend gedrag aan universiteit: 'Wij eisen nultolerantie' . 15 February 2022 . De Standaard . 9 February 2022 . nl-BE.
  38. Web site: Van Rooy . Dylan . 14 February 2022 . Docent Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen ontslagen na grensoverschrijdend gedrag . 15 February 2022 . vrtnws.be . nl.
  39. Web site: Van Damme . Sabine . 14 February 2022 . Spandoek beschuldigt UGent van grensoverschrijdend gedrag . 15 February 2022 . pzc.n . nl.
  40. Web site: 21 July 2021 . Politicians, unionists demonstrate in support of hunger-striking migrants . 3 February 2022 . brusselstimes.com.
  41. Web site: 10 March 2016 . Comac voor vluchtelingen de straat op . 1 February 2022 . hln.be . nl.
  42. Web site: 31 March 2022 . Open brief: KU Leuven voor vrede in Oekraïne . 2 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  43. Web site: 31 March 2022 . Studenten van Comac vragen aan UGent rector Rik Van De Walle om te pleiten voor de de-escalatie en solidariteit met alle vluchtelingen . 2 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  44. Web site: Van de Pol . Caroline . 6 December 2021 . UA-studenten houden Sinterklaasactie uit solidariteit met poetspersoneel: "Ze verloren uren terwijl de werkdruk bleef stijgen" . 1 February 2022 . pzc.nl . nl.
  45. Web site: Vanheusden . Karin . 11 September 2021 . "De geur van vocht en mazout krijg je op tv niet mee": met de SolidariTeams van Peter Mertens (PVDA) naar Verviers . 2 February 2022 . gva.be . nl.
  46. News: . Inondations en Wallonie: au moins 23 morts, plus de 41.000 ménages sans électricité (direct). Le Soir. French. Flood in Wallonia: at least 23 dead, more than 41,000 households without electricity. Brussels. 16 July 2021. 16 July 2021. 16 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210716111223/https://www.lesoir.be/384339/article/2021-07-16/inondations-en-wallonie-au-moins-23-morts-plus-de-41000-menages-sans-electricite. live.
  47. Web site: SolidariTeams: ik help mee . 2 February 2022 . pvda.be . nl . 9 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220309102258/https://www.pvda.be/solidariteams . dead .
  48. Web site: Week van de solidariteit 2021 . 1 February 2022 . comac-studenten.be . nl.
  49. Web site: solidariteitsreis 2022 . 26 January 2022 . www.comac-studenten.be . nl.
  50. Web site: 30 November 2021 . Ledenvergadering thema wonen . 8 February 2022 . mechelen.pvda.be . nl.
  51. Web site: Help mee: word vrijwilliger! . 2 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  52. Web site: Collectieve Blok Kerst 2021 . 2 April 2022 . Comac NL . nl-BE.
  53. Web site: Feest van de Solidariteit . 5 April 2022 . ManiFiesta . nl.
  54. Web site: 30 December 2014 . Internationale solidariteit voor een sociale, solidaire, ecologische en democratische maatschappij - Comac . 18 October 2017 . 27 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171018191951/http://www.comac-studenten.be/features/internationale-solidariteit-voor-een-sociale-solidaire-ecologische-en-democratische . nl.
  55. Web site: climate action pack - RedFox FR . 2 February 2022 . fr.redfox.be . fr.
  56. Web site: RedFox Shop - RedFox . 27 January 2022 . redfoxshop.be . nl.

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