“Communism extinguished individual rights and freedoms, with millions murdered in its name. Remembering Communism’s victims and learning from history is essential to safeguarding our liberty for future generations,” said Scott Hargreaves, Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs.
Each year on 7 November, the estimated 100 million lives lost under Communist regimes are honoured in remembrance. Victims of Communism Memorial Day is being increasingly recognised across the globe, marking the day marking the day in the Gregorian calendar of the storming of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg in 1917 by the Bolsheviks.
“The Institute of Public Affairs is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of economic and political freedom. Individual rights and liberty enable human flourishing and prosperity, something not available to the 100 million killed in the name of Communism,” said Mr Hargreaves.
To mark the day the IPA released a short documentary featuring Youhorn Chea, who fled the Communist killing fields of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia for a better life in Australia. His first-hand story details the depravity of Communism and the destruction and atrocity it brought his family and his birth country.
Watch Youhorn Chea’s story, From the killing fields to Australia, here.
“The story of Youhorn Chea is one familiar to many Australians who have been welcomed to our nation to escape the depravity of Communism for a better life,” said Mr Hargreaves.
“Communism, while ideologically framed as a means to promote equality and shared ownership, resulted in the suppression of individual rights and brutal dictatorships.”
Australia’s leaders are being called on to officially designate the 7th of November as a national day of remembrance for the victims of Communism. This day is already recognised by a growing number of states in the United States of America.
“The IPA calls on Australia’s political leaders to officially designate 7 November as the Victims of Communism Memorial Day to ensure we never forget the lives lost under Communist regimes,” said Mr Hargreaves.
“Wherever communist ideology has taken hold it has quickly led to terror, torture, famine, mass deportations and massacres. Remembering its victims ensures future generations will not be blighted by such man-made tragedies.”
To find out more about the IPA’s work remembering the victims of Communism visit: https://ipa.org.au/victimsofcommunism
