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1April - June 2010

LIBERATIONINTERNATIONAL

Publication of the International Information Ofce of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines

April - June 2010

By Bagani Dong-ilay

Is there hope for genuine change? Thishas been the question inside and outsidethe country in the aftermath of the 10 May2010 national elections in the Philippines.

The Filipino people can expect nothing byway of real change from the recently con-cluded elections. The same old names, thesame old political dynasties, have been pro-claimed winners. All the mainstream bour-geois parties represent the interests of thelocal exploiting classes of big compradorsand landlords. They act as junior partners ofUS imperialism in exploiting and oppress-ing the Filipino people and in keeping thecountry backward, non-industrialized andagrarian.

There is clearly no hope that the twomost important reforms needed to turnthe Philippines into a modern industrial-ized country land reform and nationalindustrialization will be carried out un-der the incoming government of BenignoAquino III.

Aquino III was a non-performer as acongressman and as a senator. His onlyqualication was being the son of SenatorBenigno Aquino, Jr. who was murdered in1983 on orders of the dictator FerdinandMarcos, and Corazon Aquino who was

catapulted to the presidency as the widowof Aquino, Jr. and for leading the bourgeoisopposition against Marcos.

Noynoy, as the younger Aquino is called,belongs to a big comprador-landlord fam-ily that owns Hacienda Luisita and is vehe-mently opposed to land reform.

On 16 November 2004, security troopsof the government of the Republic of thePhilippines red at striking workers and

peasants demanding compliance with acourt decision ordering Hacienda Luisita to

be subjected to land reform. The shootingkilled seven of the strikers and woundedscores of others.

Filipino people have little to gainfrom May national elections

By Communist Partyof the Philippines

The Communist Party of the Philippines(CPP) and all Filipino revolution-ary forces join the Indian people

in condemning the summary executionof Comrade Azad (Cherukuri Rajkumar)

and his companion journalist Hem Pandey(Jitender) by the fascist Indian police lastJuly 2 in the Adilabad jungles near theMaharashtra border, Andhra Pradesh.

Comrade Azad and Hem Pandey were enroute to meet other comrades in NagpurDistrict, Maharashtra when they were ab-ducted by the notorious Andhra PradeshSpecial Branch Police. They were likelyown by helicopter to the jungles wherethey were summarily executed.

To cover up its fascist crime, the Indian po-

lice claim that Comrade Azad was killed inan armed encounter and to have recoveredan AK-47 rie at the scene. According to

reports, Comrade Azad was traveling un-armed when he was accosted. His killingwas carried out by the Indian police in cold

blood and in complete disregard of interna-tional laws of war.

Comrade Azad was a member of the CentralCommittee of the Communist Party of India

and served as its spokesperson. He was adisciplined student of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism who dedicated three and a halfdecades of his life to the revolutionarystruggle of the Indian people. He was wellregarded for living a simple life and work-ing hard for the revolutionary cause. Hisdeath is mourned by the working class andoppressed people of India, the Philippinesand the world over.

The CPP pays the highest revolutionarytribute to Comrade Azad and encouragesall its members and revolutionary forces

under its leadership to read and study thelife story of Comrade Azad and be inspired

by his revolutionary dedication. n

Filipino revolutionariescondemn Comrade Azad

New US puppetpresident Benigno

Aquino III needsto account for his

familys refusalto submit theirlandholdings to

agrarian reform.Striking peasantsand farmworkersin family-ownedHacienda Luisitawere massacredby government

security forces inNovember 2004.

photo from ohnoy.wordpress.com.

May elections, page 2, col 1 ...


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2 LIBERATIONINTERNATIONAL

IN THIS ISSUE:LIBERATIONINTERNATIONAL

April - June 2010

Filipinos have little to gain from May national elections . . . . 1

Filipino revolutionaries condemn Comrade Azad execution . . . 1

Organized masses, consolidated areas grew 80% in 10 years . .3

N P A o f f e n s i v e s e x p o s e f a i l u r e o f U S - A r r o y o

regimes security program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

World condemns Israeli massacre on Freedom Flotilla . . . 9

Violations of human rights presented before UN and EU . . . 11

Comrade Joan Hinton, proletarian internationalist . . . . . 12

HOMEFRONT

The National Democratic Frontof the Philippines (NDFP) is an alliance

of revolutionary organizations withroots in the various sectors and

regions of the Philippines. Its goal isto build a society that enjoys national

sovereignty, genuine democracy, socialjustice, progress and peace.

It seeks to unite with all forces willingto achieve these goals.

NDFP International

Information OfcePostbus 19195 | 3501 DD UtrechtThe Netherlands

Email: [email protected]

LIBERATIONINTERNATIONAL

BOARD OF EDITORS

Roselle ValerioEd Ladera

Isah AntonioJose Emilio Jacinto III

Bagani Dong-Ilay

Liberation Internationalis a publication of the NDFP

International Information Ofce

In an interview right after the incident,Noynoy Aquino publicly defended the ac-tion of the military. Two years later, RicardoRamos, union president of the CentralAzucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU)

in Hacienda Luisita that had led the strike,was killed by state assassins.

All the main candidates who ran for presi-dent are known advocates of the currentorthodox line of free market globaliza-tion, which is opposed to national indus-trialization. Only Manuel Villar of the

Nacionalista Party agreed, albeit with littleenthusiasm, to carry the line of nationalindustrialization in his partys political

platform.

There is every indication that NoynoyAquino will pursue basically the same ap-

proach that the discredited Gloria Arroyoregime had pursued against the revolu-tionary forces under the direction of USimperialism.

In a speech on peace and security beforeforeign correspondents on 22 April, Aquinodid not mention anything on peace negotia-tions with the National Democratic Front ofthe Philippines to address the roots of thearmed conict nor on forging agreementson social, economic and political reforms inorder to lay the basis for a just peace.

On the other hand, he echoed the line of therecently published US CounterinsurgencyGuide that the reactionary government candestroy, co-opt or render the revolutionarymovement inconsequential by implement-ing the following guideposts: good gov-ernance, delivery of services, economicrehabilitation and development and secu-rity reforms.

Election results under a cloud

A delegation of 86 foreign observers thatcovered the elections, called the Peoples

International Observers Mission (PIOM),concluded in their report that the politi-cal exercise was neither fair nor honest,contrary to government claims. The dele-gation went to election hotspots in vari-ous provinces in Northern Luzon, CentralLuzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Visayas,Davao, Mindanao, and the National CapitalRegion.

The foreign observers reported widespreadvoters disenfranchisement, vote-buying,corruption and violence in all places theywent to. They cited the systematic vilica-tion campaign against progressive senato-rial bets Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza andeight progressive partylist groups by themilitary and paramilitary groups.

Sharp criticism has been leveled againstthe Automated Election System (AES) thatwas implemented for the May 2010 elec-tions under the control of a foreign rmSmartmatic. It is quite instructive to note

that the Dutch and German governmentshave already dropped the AES for beingawed and unreliable. They have since re-turned to the manual system in the conductof their elections.

NDFP Chief Political Consultant JoseMaria Sison has made the charge in an in-terview by Liberation International that

Noynoy Aquinos unusually huge leadagainst his rivals was due to pre-program-ming done under the AES. Noynoy Aquinowas widely-known to be the candidate ofchoice of Washington.

A source told this writer that a PrecinctCount Optical Scanner or PCOS machinethat covered an equivalent of 1,000 votescould be bought by a candidate for one mil-lion pesos. He said that a mayoral candidatein his hometown paid two million pesos fortwo PCOS machines to ensure his victory.

The progressive Left

The progressive Left elded two candi-dates, Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna andLiza Maza of Gabriela Womens Party,

to the senate race under the coalitionMakabayan. Together with other progres-sive political parties, they also vied for seatsunder the party list system for the lowerhouse of congress.

Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza failed tomake it to the Magic 12, the winning12 candidates to the senate. The progres-sive Left parties Bayan Muna (People

First), Gabriela Womens Party, Anakpawis(Toiling Masses), Kabataan (Youth) Partyand ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers)won a total of seven seats in the lowerhouse.

According to an election analyst, the pro-gressive Left improved its vote-getting ca-

pability by 30% compared to the previouselections. This was no mean achievementconsidering that these parties were subject-ed to the combined attack of the military,

paramilitaries, the extreme-right pseudo-partylist groups led by extra-judicial-kill-

ing-proponent Gen. Jovito Palparan andpseudo-left partylist groups like Akbayan.

The progressive party list groups haveserved as the voice of the oppressed andexploited masses inside the big compradorand landlord dominated congress. Theyhave fought for legislation for the benetof the workers, peasants, migrants, women

... May elections, page 1, col 3

May elections, page 3, col 2 ...


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3April - June 2010

HOMEFRONT

and the youth, and rallied others to opposelegislation that would further entrench thedomination of foreign and local vestedinterests.

They have exposed the corruption in highplaces, anomalous contracts, and the grossviolations of human rights perpetrated bystate security forces against unarmed civil-ians within the halls of congress and com-

bined with the various mass organizationsin rallies and demonstrations to oppose the

pro-imperialist and anti-people policies ofthe reactionary clique in power.

To win the votes, Noynoy Aquino promisedthat he would prosecute Gloria Arroyo forcorruption and for the numerous cases ofextrajudicial killings, disappearances, tor-ture, illegal arrest and detention of unarmedactivists by state security forces. The pro-gressive mass organizations have issuedthe challenge to the incoming president

to make true that promise. Otherwise, hewould expose himself as a liar and a bigdeceiver of the people.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Frontof the Philippines (NDFP), on behalf ofthe revolutionary forces including theCommunist Party of the Philippines (CPP)

and the New Peoples Army (NPA), has ex-pressed its openness to resume formal peacenegotiations with the incoming Governmentof the Republic of the Philippines, repre-sented by Noynoy Aquino.

The resumption of the negotiations, ac-cording to the NDFP, should be based on

previously signed agreements between thetwo sides, in order to address the roots ofthe ongoing armed conict and attain a justand lasting peace. The revolutionary forceshave also indicated that they are ready to

pursue the revolutionary struggle to fulll

the Filipino peoples aspirations for nationalfreedom, social emancipation, progress and

peace.n

Interview with Maria MalayaSpokesperson, NDFPNortheastern Mindanao

By Roselle Valerio

Following is the third part in a se-

ries of interviews conducted byLiberation Internationalwith

Regional Spokespersons of the NDFP re-garding the current strength of the revolu-tionary movement and its prospects in thenext ve years.

1. The government of Gloria Arroyo hasboasted of defeating the revolutionarymovement led by the Communist Party ofthe Philippines by the end of its term inJune 2010. How far has it gone in termsof achieving this goal? In the region,how much damage has the Arroyo re-

gimes national security program OplanBantay Laya wrought against the peoplesarmy, the local organs of political pow-er, the mass movement and the peopleslivelihood?

Gloria Arroyos government failed to defeatthe revolutionary movement.

The mass base expanded and deepenedthroughout the region. From the timeArroyo assumed power in 2001 until theend of OBL1 in 2006, the area covered bythe revolutionary movement in the regionexpanded by 13%. It further expanded by29% within the three years of OBL2. Thearea has grown by a total of 46% withinthe nine-year duration of OBL 1 and 2. Wehave also linked all guerrilla fronts in theregion, broadening the area of maneuverof NPA units.

From 2001 to 2006, consolidated areas grew92%. In the three years of OBL2, however,the expansion of consolidated areas was justenough to compensate for areas lost due tointensied enemy attacks. But in the entirenine years of OBL, our consolidated ar-eas grew by 87%. In these areas, we havestrengthened the mass organizations andestablished several organs of democratic

peoples government in the communitiesand villages. With its widening and deep-ening mass base, it is no wonder the NPAin the region has been able to launch biggerand successful tactical offensives.

Nine years of brutality under the US-Arroyoregimes OBL 1 and 2 failed to hinder theadvance of armed struggle in the region.In the six years of OBL1, NPA tactical of-fensives increased by 39% throughout theregion, and the same number was sustainedin the next three years of OBL 2. Despite

Organized masses,consolidated areas grew80% in past 10 years

... May elections, page 2, col 3

Maria Malaya, page 4, col 1 ...

Revolutionary cadres organize schools for indigenous peoples in the region whootherwise have limited access to the mainstream school system. The new schoolsteach literacy and numeracy, as well as political education. photo by Ang Bayan.


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HOMEFRONT

the number and intensity of the brutal mili-tary operations under OBL 1 and 2 in thelast nine years, NPA tactical offensives in-creased by 32% in the entire region.

As a result, the NPAs high-powered re-

arms increased by 19% in six years of OBL1 and 10% in three years of OBL 2, andoverall, by 31% in the entire region in thenine years of the entire OBL.

Aside from seizing rearms, the Red armywas likewise able to annihilate a big numberof enemy forces and destroy a relatively bignumber of enemy equipment. Red ghterssustained only one casualty for every 10they inicted upon enemy forces.

From 2003 to 2004, although there wereonly relatively fewer tactical offensives

in the whole of the Caraga region, unitsof the NPA successfully raided the armoryof the Paper Industries Corp. of the Phils.(PICOP), where the Red ghters cons-cated 92 high-powered ries.

In 2005, NPA units in the region were ableto launch 31 military actions, which reapedthree M16, three M14, two Garand andtwo Carbine ries; one shotgun; and twohandguns. The biggest action was the raidagainst the 36th IB-CAA detachment inTandawan, Bigaan, Hinatuan, Surigao delSur, Philippines on Sept. 28, 2005, where

three M14 and two Garand rifles wereconscated.

The year 2006 saw 93 NPA military actionsin the region, seizing 17 high-powered ri-es all-in-all: six M16, seven M14 and oneFAL, and two Carbine rie, and ve shortarms: two cal .45, one cal .357, and one cal.9mm). An armed personnel carrier (APC)was also destroyed. The most daring amongthese was the raid against the 23rd IB-CAAcamp in Maputi, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur,where seven M14 ries, one FAL rie, andone cal .38 handgun were conscated.

In 2007, in spite of the ercest militarycampaign of Oplan Bantay Laya 2, the NPAwas able to launch 58 tactical offensives,conscating 17 high-powered ries: 16M16 and one M14 ries, two shotguns; fourcal .45, one .9mm, and one cal .38 hand-guns. On February 9, 2007, a unit under the58th IB PA, conducting military oparation,was ambushed in Sitio Quarry, BarangayHuwangan, Diatagon town, Surigao delSur, which reportedly suffered 14 killed inaction. Subsequently, on March 7, anotherunit of the 58th IB PA was ambushed while

operating in Barangay Cagbaoto, Bayabas,Surigao del Sur; 19 were reportedly killedin action and eight were wounded. Then onMarch 22, eight soldiers of the 58th IB were

killed in an ambush Barangay Laperian,Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.

On 23 September 2007, while OBL 2 fo-cused its attacks on Guerrilla Front 14, Redghters were able to execute a daring raidagainst the Cantilan PNP station in Surigaodel Sur. The NPA concated 14 M16 ries,two shotguns, one .9mm, and one cal .38handguns. Cantilan, a far-ung town in

Surigao del Sur, is ruled over by Rep. ButchPichay, the foremost Arroyo lackey inCaraga. Members of the police in Cantilanhave been responsible for a number sum-mary killings and have been involved inillegal drugs and gambling.

In 2008, the NPA was able to sustain theintensity of the tactical offensives in theregion despite OBL 2s continued attacks,with a total of 57 T.O.s that conscated sixM16 ries, one shotgun, and 12 short arms.On June 28, seven simultaneous tacticaloffensives thundered their way through-

out two municipalities in Siargao island:against a PNP station in Dapa, and anotherPNP station and a CAFGU detachment,

both in General Luna. Simultaneouslyalso, on the same day, the NPA paralyzedfour communcation towers of both Globeand Smart companies in Dapa and in Gen.Luna to prevent the police from calling forreinforcements from the mainland. SiargaoIsland could be reached by a three-hourferry boat ride from Surigao City. GeneralLuna in the Island of Siargao, consideredto be the surng capital of the Philippines,

is a favorite vacation spot of Arroyo. Redghters were able to withdraw despite thedifculties posed by the enemys aerial sup-

port (with helicopters), the use of K9 dogs,and heavy artillery ring.

23 December 2008: The NPA in the re-gion sanctioned San Roque Metals, Inc.(SRMI), a mining company operating inTubay, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, fordenying payment of the 1% royalty shareto the Lumad peoples, for its anti-labor

practices, and for causing severe damage tothe environment. Conscated from SRMI

were 21 rearms: nine baby M16 and oneA2 M16 ries, three shotguns, three cal.38 revolvers, two 9mm pistols, one cal.45

pistol, one 40mm pistol, and one cal .22revolver. Two base VHF radio receiverswere also conscated. Simultaneously, NPARed ghters raided and took control of theTubay Police Station, where only one 9 mm

pistol was seized because police elementsin that particular station ed with their re-arms in fear.

The increase in NPA tactical offensiveswas sustained in 2009 in the region, six

months before Arroyos term ends, and,consequently, the reactionary regimesOplan Bantay Laya 2. There were 80 tac-tical offensives launched by the NPA that

amassed high-caliber weapons, enough toarm an additional platoon for the NPA. The

biggest among these was the military ac-tion that sanctioned SUDECOR LoggingCompany in Barangay Puyat, Carmen,Surigao del Sur. NPA Red ghters demobi-lized the SUDECORs destructive loggingmachineries and conscated their securityguards rearms. Seized from the company

were two M14, ve Garand and six Carbineries. The NPA unit in the offensive alsoambushed the reinforcement Scout Platoonof the 58th IB, at Km.18, Pakwan, Carmen,and, conscataed four M16 ries. Morethan 20 enemy soldiers were killed, not in-cluding an unknown number of woundedtroops. On the side of the NPA, two RedFighters were martyred in battle.

Mass movements demanding basic reforms,specially land reform; exposing and oppos-ing human rights violations; ghting theenvironmental hazards posed by logging,

mining and the use of chemicals in planta-tions; and the plunder of natural resourcesspecially by foreign companies have grownwider and stronger.

The AFPs brutal suppression campaignwas unable to stop the peoples daringnessin participating in the revolution. The num-

ber of people joining revolutionary massorganizations grew by 61% in six years un-der OBL1, and grew by another 18% in thethree years under the more brutal OBL 2.In the face of OBL operations the last nineyears, the number grew by 89%.

Despite delays in revolutionary workcaused by enemy operations under OBL,a total of 44,531 peasant families over220,000 individuals benefited fromagrarian revolution in 242 barangays (vil-lages) in various towns within guerrillafronts. Eighteen thousand fty-six (18,056)families gained the right to till within log-ging concessions that have long deprivedthem of land. Ten thousand nine hundredninety-eight (10,998) peasant families suc-ceeded in their struggle for the reductionof rent for land and agricultural equip-

ment. Raising the prices of copra, abaca,bananas, rattan and falcatta beneted some6,250 families. Five thousand three hun-dred sixty-nine (5,369) families of farmworkers and poor peasants won the ghtfor higher wages. Initial efforts to reduceusury beneted 1,321 farmers. A self-suf-cient economy has been established as wellas cooperatives and the practice of mutualexchange of labor. Mass movements to pro-mote health and social services have beenlaunched. Peace and order were maintainedand the spread of illegal drugs, illegal gam-

bling and criminality stopped. In 2009, the

number agrarian revolution beneciariesincreased by 18%.




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5April - June 2010

HOMEFRONT

The enemys OBL campaign has failed todestroy the organization of the CommunistParty in the region. The leading committeesat the regional and guerrilla front levels aswell as in urban areas, in Party brancheswithin guerrilla units remain strong and

deeply rooted among the basic masses inthe communities and villages. Overall,Party membership grew by 72% duringthe nine years of terrorist brutality underthe US-Arroyo regimes national security

program OBL.

The almost relentless military operationsfailed to stop the ideological consolida-tion of the Party in the region. Study ofthe Basic Party Course by Party memberswithin the Red army is widespread. Partycadres within guerrilla fronts and white ar-eas are also given the Intermediate Course,and some have also nished the AdvanceCourse. Conferences on military and masswork were launched.

In the span of nine years, the US-Arroyoregime used almost all means to dismantlethe revolutionary movement in the region.At the height of the militarys brutality, theAFP poured in more than ten battalions toencircle and suppress NPA units in a num-

ber of areas in the region. It used airplanes,helicopters and cannons to bombard the

NPA. But the NPAs areas of maneuverexpanded and deepened, with support fromthe broad masses of the people. The enemyresorted to psywar and intrigues, includingthe killing of a number of mass activists.

The US-Arroyo regimes term is due to endin June 2010 with its counterinsurgencycampaign an utter failure. But, until now,

the AFPs generals continue with the delu-sion that their OBL 1 and 2 have succeeded.They deceive themselves and their troops

by claiming successes, such as the fakeor recycled surrenderees, or overstating thenumber of NPA casualties.

The statistics are concrete proof that despitethe onslaught of OBL 1 and 2, the revolu-tionary movement grew and continues toadvance.

The people suffered economic dislocationduring massive military operations whichhalted all peasant economic activity espe-cially in the ve towns of Surigao del Suron which the AFP in Caraga focused itsdestructive operations and especially dur-ing the anti-militarization protest evacua-tions. In 2007-2009, we estimate that theeconomic dislocations caused by AFP op-erations in the Caraga region has cost the

people at least P390 million in terms oflost income.

2. Do you think that the enemy is still ca-pable of launching massive military op-erations against the armed revolutionarymovement before June 2010? In the re-gion, which units of the Arroyo regimessecurity forces are most responsible forlaunching brutal attacks against the peo-ple and the revolutionary movement?

A brigade-sized operation with widespreadbattalion and company operations, all underGen. Augustus Tolentino, 401st InfantryBrigade commander, that ran from February

2010 to the rst week of April, has just n-ished. The operation planned and led bythe brigade and that employed a battalionof troops, plus a company (or three pla-toons) from the 6th Scout Ranger Company,a company (Bravo Coy) from the 58thInfantry Battalion, and a company from the

36th IB, covered just a single guerrilla front.It failed to accomplish anything except toreport the recovery of an old NPA encamp-ment. The enemy even lost four men due toattritive operations by the NPA.

Battalion operations are usually able tocover one town within a guerrilla front, andsometimes only the towns mountainous ar-eas. The enemy can launch similar militaryoperations, but since such operations canonly cover small areas, the guerrilla unitsare able to operate widely in other areas.

Currently, enemy forces are mostly tied upin securing the coming national elections.Major military operations are launchedmainly as a reaction to NPA tactical offen-sives, or when they have a clear target.

The PNP, being tasked as the main forcein maintaining peace and order during theelection period, can hardly participate inany counterinsurgency operation of the

AFP. The PNP alone (including its mo-bile forces) is undermannned even for thegigantic task of securing the elections.Considering that a lot of areas in the regionare classied as election hotspots, theAFP is compelled to work with the PNP inelection-related operations.

Aside from this, AFP units are also en-gaged in campaigns for certain candidatesor for certain party-list groups put up by theArroyo regime, elite politicos, big business-men or even the AFP itself and its formergenerals. They are even busier in campaigns

against progressive party-list organizationsand candidates. They are also conductingmilitary operations to protect the turf oftheir political patrons wherever there isstrong NPA presence. Every time their po-litical patron makes some campaign sweepin rural towns and barrios, they are used asescorts in big formations. AFP units lovethese types of operations because there isless risk involved and they are rewardedwith fat allowances, a lot of food and otheramenities.

The AFP is still the main force in the

counterinsurgency campaigns of the re-actionary regime, and as such their fascistforces are most notorious. The 58th IBand 36th IB of the 4th Infantry Divisions401st Brigade are the ones particularly in-volved in counterinsugency operationsagainst the more active guerrilla fronts inthe Caraga region.

The 36th IB was the lead battalion duringthe 4th IDs encirclement and suppressioncampaign against our forces in Front 14(Surigao del sur-Agusan del Sur boundaryareas). This battalion wrought havoc among

the masses, committing extrajudicial kill-ings and other human rights violations,



NPA guerrillas preparing for a cultural presentation. The brutal counter-insurgencycampaigns of the US-Arroyo government failed to suppress these mass gatherings.

photo by Ang Bayan.


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and directly participating in or supportingillegal logging activities in areas they con-sidered cleared of NPA guerrillas.

The 58th IB has been tasked mainly toneutralize the NPA Front 19, located in the

central part of Surigao del Sur, and Front30, located in the southern part of Surigaodel Sur. It has encountered stiff resistancefrom the NPA units in these two fronts re-sulting in a number of casualties on theside of the AFP and rearms seized by the

NPA. Every time they lose a battle withthe NPA unit in the area, in desperationthey vent their ire against the masses, com-mitting numerous human rights violationssuch as summary executions, abductions,and forced recruitment of the populace for

paramilitary service.

3. Have US military forces been involvedin counter-revolutionary activities in theregion?

There have been no US military forcesmonitored as openly operating in the area,

but there have been unconrmed reportsof US soldiers frequenting the PhilippineArmy brigade headquarters.

4. Despite the vicious attacks of theArroyo regime, the revolutionary move-ment has managed to advance signicant-ly in the last 10 years. What were the ma-jor victories achieved in the region within

the last decade?

In the main, this question has been an-swered in number 1.

The revolutionary movement now hascomprehensively advanced compared toits level 10 years ago. In the year 2000,we were still patching up the negative ef-fects of erroneous lines. After one decade,the revolutionary forces have grown andgained strength. While we have yet to sur-

pass the peak we reached in the mid-1980s,the revolutionary forces are now stronger,

more well-rounded and in a position to ad-vance more comprehensively.

Following are the growth rates within nineyears (except for agrarian revolution whosegrowth rate was determined for a period ofone year alone):

growth of organized masses: 89%growth of consolidated areas: 87%growth of Party membership: 72%area expansion: 46%growth in no. of tactical offensives:32%growth in no. of high-powered ries:

31%growth in no. of agrarian reform ben-eciaries: 18%

As our agrarian revolution gains momen-tum, it can cover wide areas. Agrarianrevolution can take various forms and themasses can carry these out even if there isenemy presence. The masses will denitelydefend their gains, and will not easily becowed by the enemys Special OperatingTeams (SOTs). The number of NPA andParty recruits among the peasant masses

will rise, because they can see concretelyhow they are beneting from the revo-lutionary movement. There will be morerecruits, and therefore, more new platoonsof the NPA.

5. In its statement marking the 41st an-niversary of the re-establishment of theCommunist Party of the Philippines on26 December 2009, the Partys CentralCommittee declared that the peoples warshould advance from the strategic defensiveto the strategic stalemate within the nextve years. How have the people and the

revolutionary mass movement in the regionreacted to this declaration?

The peoples enthusiasm in areas wherethere are clear victories especially with re-spect to agrarian revolution or land reformdenitely indicates that this can be achievedand that the peoples democratic revolutionwill be victorious, thus the organized mass-es are determined to reach out to other areasin order to launch agrarian revolution. In ar-eas where the agrarian revolution is not yetfully developed and where the people have

been terrorized by the military, the people

and their revolutionary forces are still in theprocess of studying diligently how they canovercome the militarys campaign of sup-

pression and contribute to the overall effortto advance the peoples war.

6. Do you think that this target is achiev-able in the next ve years, given the ob-jective situation and the condition of therevolutionary forces in the region?

7. In your opinion, what are the main ob-stacles internal and external to the rev-olutionary movement in the region youwill need to overcome in order to con-tribute to the achievement of the ve-yeargoal of strategic stalemate?

Answers combined for the two questions:

Two factors determine the viability of sucha projection from our point of view. Oneis the objective politico-economic situa-tion in our region, country and the wholeworld. The second is the capability of thesubjective forces in the region for such achallenging task. Given the trend nowa-days, clearly the overall semicolonial andsemifeudal situation in our country is get-

ting much worse. And the ruling reactionaryclique cannot expect substantial help fromtheir imperialist masters who themselvesare mired in a global crisis of capitalism.

This situation can get even worse for thereactionary ruling system, but would befavorable for the advance of our peoples

protracted revolutionary struggle, if thecoming election would not be able to tem-

porarily solve, and instead even heighten,the antagonistic contradictions among fac-tions of the ruling classes.

Given this favorable condition, the state of

our subjective forces will then be the deter-mining factor. If we really have to move for-ward in bigger strides and win bigger victo-ries, we have to completely depart from ourconservative practices in the armed struggleand development of the mass movement.We must come up with more creative waysof carrying out the tasks set by the Partyscentral leadership, adapting them to the

particular conditions in the region.

Yes, we have grown and gained strengthin the last decade in our region but judgingfrom our pace, we must do more to com-

plete the requisites set by our central leader-ship. We need to grow in geometric, and notsimply in arithmetic, terms. We need to re-lease the full potential of our forces and themasses both in the armed struggle and themass movement. We need to be more reso-lute in carrying out agrarian revolution asthe prime motivation for a full blown massmovement and support for armed strugglein the countryside. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism must deeply take root among themasses. Our mass movement in the urbanand town centers must develop its full po-

tential to ll our growing requirement forcadres from the intelligentsia.

8. What are the targets that have been de-ned for the region, in order to contributeto the achievement of this ve-year stra-tegic goal? Please illustrate what targetshave been set in the region for advancingthe land reform program, the revolution-ary mass movement and the local organsof political power, and the armed struggleagainst the armed counter-revolution.

With regard to armed struggle, the regionalcommittee has projected a faster pace of

building new platoons, one in every townor at least in every two towns; developingall guerrilla fronts to company-size forma-tions; faster pace of peoples militia build-ing; and fullling the frequency of two tothree basic tactical offensives per platoon.Our mass base must encompass the high-ways, shorelines, plains and populated ar-eas. We have to establish and strengthen ourguerrilla bases, more rmly establish the

National Democratic Front and build thedemocratic organs of peoples governmenttherein from the barrio to higher levels.

Minimum land reform is high in our agendain the next ve years, taking note of the pos-

HOMEFRONT

... Maria Malaya, page 5, col 3



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7April - June 2010

HOMEFRONT

sibility set by the central leadership that ofimplementing maximum land reform in thelater phase of the ve year program. Theremust be 10,000 to 15,000 Party membersin the region by then, all with appropriate

education on Marxism-Leninism-Maoism,down to the local party branches, and per-forming a multitude of tasks.

9. The reactionary state will be conduct-ing national and local elections this com-ing May. How will this affect the revo-lutionary work in the region? Can thepeople and the revolutionary movementreap any advantage or benet from thistype of exercise?

During the elections, we aggressively pur-sue our program of launching various agrar-ian revolution campaigns. In the course of

the election campaign, the masses demandcandidates to support their struggles forland, the interests of the peasants and other

basic peoples issues. They have launcheddemonstrations where they have invited anumber of politicians. Those who refuse tosupport the peasants demands are jeered

by the people.

During this period, NPA military actionswill be stepped up, especially disarm-ing operations against private armies andarmed politicians who enter the area. Wehave come up with a particular program

for this period.

The regional leadership, in line with thecentral call, lists among its tasks that oflaunching an educational campaign to ex-

pose the reactionary elections in order toguide the people in viewing the electionsand taking advantage of any and all oppor-tunities to advance their interests. n

By Isah Antonio

A big joke. This was how theCommunist Party of the Philippines(CPP) dismissed the declaration

of newly-installed Armed Forces of thePhilippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.Ricardo Davids bravado that the militarycan defeat the revolutionary armed strugglewithin three years.

Gen. David should be reminded that notonly has the AFP failed to crush the revo-lutionary forces by 30 June 2010, as it has

boasted time and again in the past, butthe US-Arroyo regimes Internal Security

Operational Plan Bantay-Laya (OBL, OplanFreedom Watch) is a complete failure.

Despite the regimes use of brute militaryforce and hundreds of billions of pesosspent in building up its war machinery toimpose a nine-year reign of terror againstthe Filipino people, it has failed to dis-mantle even a single guerrilla front. On thecontrary, the revolutionary movement andthe New Peoples Army (NPA) have grownin strength and expanded its areas of opera-tion in the past nine years.

The Red ghters of the NPA have achieved

great strides in advancing the peoples warby launching tactical offensives across thecountry against the reactionary securityforces. These have resulted in the death,wounding and capture of enemy troops andthe seizure of thousands of high poweredrearms and ammunitions from the AFP,the Philippine National Police (PNP), its

paramilitary groups and private armies. Thevictories of the NPA tactical offensives have

also caused grave demoralization amongenemy troops.

Partial reports received by LiberationInternational cited the following tacticaloffensives launched by the peoples armyin different regions in the Philippines dur-ing the rst half of 2010:

In Mindanao:

The peoples army seized 35 high poweredries (HPRs) including 16 M-1 garand ri-es, two M-16 ries, an M-14 rie, a car-

bine and hundreds of ammunition in a raid

staged by the Red ghters against a detach-ment of the paramilitary Citizens ArmedForces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) inMlang, North Cotabato last 26 March. Amember of the CAFGU was killed whiletwo others were wounded.

Red commanders and ghters from thecomposite striking force of the 3rd PulangBagani Company and the Wilfredo ZapantaCommand-Front 18 Operations Commandof the NPA launched a successful raidon the patrol base of the 28th InfantryBattalion under the 10th Infantry Division

of the Philippine Army on 24 May alongthe Davao-Mati national highway in SitioChapter, Barangay Maputi, Banaybanay,Davao Oriental.

The raid netted two FN Minimi LightMachine Guns, two M-203 grenade launch-ers, three garand ries, three M-14 ries and

NPA offensives expose failureof US-Arroyo regimes security

program

... Maria Malaya, page 5, col 3

NPA offensives, page 8, col 1 ...

While the enemy concentrates its forces in one area, the NPA can move freely in a wider area, in more than 120 guerrilla frontsacross the country. photo by Ang Bayan.


8/12


an M-16 armalite rie. Three enemy troopswere killed and four were wounded. Twoenemy combatants surrendered uninjuredduring the erce gun battle and were freedshortly after.

In Brgy. Panoraon, Maco, CompostelaValley Province, last 6 June, the NewPeoples Army Rhyme Petalcorin-Front27 Operations Command staged two suc-cessive attritive operations against the 71stInfantry Battalion-AFP and the 2nd ScoutRangers Battalion stationed in the province.At least two enemy troops were killed.

On 4 June in Brgy. Sukob, Columbio, SultanKudarat, the Valentin Palamine RegionalOperations Command-NPA initiated a pu-nitive military action against the plantationwhich drove peasants out of their lands to

expand its operations. Refusing to stop itslandgrabbing activities even after protestsfrom the victimized peasants and warningsfrom the revolutionary movement, the NPArazed to the ground the backhoe, multicaband other farm tools of the plantation owned

by Mr. Johnson Ng.

The plantation which operates for themultinational palm oil company Kenram-Agumil, has stolen thousands of hectaresfrom poor farmers living in the area, caus-ing great suffering to the more than 150displaced families. To gain support of the

military in the displacement of the peasant-ry, Ng awarded hectares of lands to militaryofcers such as former commanding of-cer of the 6th Infantry Division, GeneralAugustin Demaala and Major General JerryJalandoni.

Last 13 June, Red ghters of the JulitoTiro Command of the NPA-North CentralMindanao garnered nine HPRs (3 M-16, 5M-1 Garand and one carbine) when it raideda detachment of the CAFGU in Binicalan,San Luis, Agusan del Sur. Three CAFGUswere wounded while one surrendered to the

peoples army.In response to the complaints of the peo-

ple of Cateel, Davao Oriental against the1105th Police Mobile Group-Philippine

National Polices (PMG-PNP) extortion,harassments, hooliganism and conspir-acy with the 67th IB-AFP in the politi-cal killing of Mandayan peasant activistLudenio Monson, the Red ghters of theAntonio Nerio Antao Command-Front 15Operations Command staged a series of pu-nitive actions against the enemy troops last18 June. These resulted in the death of three

members of the 1105th PMG-PNP and thewounding of ve other members.

In the Visayas:

The Efren Martires Command of the NPAin Eastern Visayas carried out a success-ful tactical offensive in Brgy. Cagbana,Burauen, Leyte last 12 March againstthe 19th Infantry Battalion. Five enemycombatants were killed in action and twomore were wounded. The peoples soldiersconscated two high powered ries. The

tactical offensive, according to the Mt.Amandewin Command, is a slap on theface of the AFP which boasted that Leyteis insurgency-free.

From May-June in Northern Samar, on theside of Armed Forces of the Philippines,at least 12 were killed in action and sev-en wounded in action in an NPA am-

bush and other military actions, saidKarlos Manuel, Spokesperson of the EfrenMartires Command. Meanwhile, one Redghter was martyred.

Manuel also cited the following offensivesin the region:

2 May: The NPA harassed operating enemytroops in Brgy. Rizal, Gamay.

3 May: An NPA unit had an encounterwith 10 government troops between Brgy.

Nagbubtac and Brgy. Lanubi in Laoangtown. In a two-hour reght, three soldierswere killed and two wounded, while the

NPA had no casualties.

31 May: The NPA ambushed operating en-emy troops between Brgy. Osias and Brgy.

Bangon in Gamay. Seven soldiers werekilled and three wounded, while one Redghter was also killed in action. The NPAlikewise conscated one K3 weapon andone M203 rie.

23 June 23: In Brgy. Poponton, Las Navas,the NPA seized the initiative by attackingrst against an enemy unit of more than 30elements that was part of a four-columnenemy offensive. The alert NPA had dis-covered the enemy presence even thoughthe soldiers moved only at night and did not

pass through the villages to conceal their at-

tack maneuvers. In three reghts, at leasttwo soldiers were killed and two wounded,while the NPA had no casualty. The enemytroops withdrew in confusion as their planwas thrown in disarray.

The Red Limbaong Platoon of the NPAdisarmed the bodyguards of Capt. BadongDivinagracia at a checkpoint in Brgy.Agcalga, Calinog, Iloilo last 14 April.Conscated were two M-16 armalite ries,two baby armalites, two calibre .45 pistols,two 9mm beretta pistols and one calibre.38 revolver.

In Brgy. Jose, Sipalay City, Negros, themembers of the Roger Mahinay Command-

NPA disarmed the elements of the PNPand security guards of Maricalum MiningCorporation last 30 April. Using the ele-ment of surprise, the peoples ghters raid-ed the security detachment and garneredone M-16 armalite, one M-14 rie, two9mm pistols, 12 Moss Berg shotguns, two.38 calibre pistols, two .22 calibre pistols,a hand grenade and hundreds of rounds of

ammunition and military equipment.

In Southern Tagalog:

The CPP lauded the NPA in Mindoro forits successful tactical offensive against the23rd Division Reconnaissance Company(DRC) of the AFP in Mansalay, OrientalMindoro last 6 March. The Red ghters

practically wiped out a platoon of the en-emy troops with the death of 15 reactionarytroops and the wounding of eight others. Asa result of the tactical offensive, the NPAarsenal has increased its stockpile by seven

M-16 ries, two M-14 ries, one Cal. 60machine gun, an Ultimax sub-machinegunand two M-203 grenade launchers.

In spite of the intense enemy militarizationin the island of Mindoro, the successful of-fensive of the NPA shows the continuingvitality of the peoples war, the strengths

possessed by the NPA and its valiant Redghters, and the deep support they enjoyamong the people of Mindoro.

Last 20 April, an NPA unit under the NarcisoAntazo Aramil Command (NAAC-NPA)successfully ambushed a Commando Unit

of the PNP Special Action Force in San Jose,Antipolo City, Rizal. Killed instantly wereve members of the SAF-PNP while 4 oth-ers were wounded. Those who surrenderedwere treated as prisoners-of-war while thosewounded were given medical treatment be-fore being brought to the nearest hospital.

Confiscated from the enemy were oneM-203 grenade launcher, one sniper rie,seven M-16 ries, two .45 calibre pistols,several rounds of ammunitions, and docu-ments with high intelligence value.

Enemy troops pursuing Red ghters thatstaged the above-stated ambush were them-selves attacked by members of the NAAC-

NPA last 22 April in Sitio Tayabasan, SanJose, Antipolo City. The tactical offensiveresulted in the death of 12 enemy troops andthe wounding of 5 others. To avoid beingseen by the people and media, the AFP-PNPairlifted the bodies on board 2 helicoptersat night and declared a news blackout ofthe incident.

In Bicol:

The NPA ambushed the Special Operations

HOMEFRONT

... NPA offensives, page 7, col 3

NPA offensives, page 9, col 1 ...


9/12

9April - June 2010

Team of the 2nd Infantry Battalion ofthe Philippine Army in Brgy. Taplacon,Camalig, Albay last 14 January resultingin the death of one enemy trooper.

On 15 January, two enemy soldiers of the49th IB were killed when an NPA unitambushed their military truck in Brgy.Palogtok, Irosin, Sorsogon. On the sameday, in Lalguan, Mobo, Masbate, four sol-diers of the 9th IB were killed and 6 otherswere wounded when their vehicle was am-

bushed by a unit of the peoples army.

Two members of the CAFGU in Bgy. Sto.Nino, Bula, Camarines Sur were killed inan operation of a unit of the Edmundo JacobCommand-NPA-Rinconada last 20 May.A .38 revolver and homemade pistol withM-16 rie bullets were conscated.

Three enemy troops of the Regional MobileGroup-PNP were killed and many otherswere wounded in an ambush staged by aunit of the NPA in Brgy. Lalaguna, Mobo,Masbate last 28 May.

The peoples army dealt a big blow to the 9thID after it successfully ambushed elements

of the 42nd IBPA in Sitio Guinubat, Brgy.Becalen, Presentacion, Camarines Sur last29 May. Killed in the operation was 42nd

IBPA ofcer 1Lt. Miguel Logronio and 3 en-

emy soldiers, while 3 others were wounded.

The Red ghters garnered three M16 ries,one 5.56mm K3 squad automatic weapon,ammunition and other military materiel.

Members of the Jose Rapsing Command- NPA raided the house of Negro Tirol, acattle rustler and a member of a warlordsarmy in Burias, Masbate, last 8 June andconscated two M16 ries, one .45 cali-

bre and .38 calibre revolvers and severalammunitions.

In the Cordillera and CagayanValley

On 27 January, the NPA ambushed theelite platoon of the 54th IB led by 1Lt.Victor Leopoldo at the vicinity of Mt.Bato, Mainit, Bontoc resulting in the kill-ing of 5 enemy troops and the woundingof four others.

On 31 January, three reactionary troops ofthe 50th IB PA were killed in an encounterwith an NPA unit in Tubo town, borderingthe provinces of Abra and the MountainProvince.

On the same day, NPA forces almost wipedout another platoon of the 41st IB in Brgy.Lat-ey in Malibcong town. Five govern-

INTERNATIONAL FRONT

By Isah Antonio

Deep anger and strong condemnationwere the response of the worlds

peoples to Israels massacre ofmembers of a humanitarian mission on

board the Mavi Marmara, one of the sixaid boats of Gaza Freedom Flottilla last 31May 2010.

Using live ammunition on unarmed ci-vilians, the attack of the Israeli securityforces resulted in the slaughter of at least9 members of the mission and the wound-ing of more than 50. The boats were seizedand members of the mission were arrested,

detained and underwent physical and psy-chological torture.

The Freedom Flotilla was carrying morethan 750 passengers from 40 different coun-tries and the much needed cargo of 10,000tonnes of relief goods, water, medical sup-

plies and construction materials. The mis-sion was meant to aid the people of Gazawho have been under siege from the Israelistate and military.

The brutal invasion of Israel of Gaza inDecember 2008 caused so much destruc-tion in lives and properties that the peopleof Gaza continue to suffer to date. TheIsraeli regime has kept Gaza sealed off fromthe rest of the world in its futile attempt tosuppress the resistance of the Palestinian

people against its continuing occupationof Palestine.

Condemnation on the barbaric attack wasswift from the international community.

In a statement issued by the ExecutiveCouncil of the National Democratic Frontof the Philippines (NDFP), it stated:

Israel Premier Netanyahus claim that theattack was in self-defense is ridiculous andtotally unacceptable.

This outrageous attack is a blatant viola-tion of international law and Israel must becondemned for committing a crime againsthumanity. This latest condemnable act bythe Israeli state reminds the people of theworld of its other hideous crimes againsthumanity committed against the Palestinian

people, such as the Sabra and Shatila mas-

sacre of 1982, the Deir Yassin massacre of1948, the invasion and massacre in Gazain December 2008 and January 2009, andthe blockade and siege of Gaza since 2007,among many others.

Furthermore, the NDFP joins the world-wide protest and condemnation of Israelfor this latest crime against humanity com-mitted against people bringing humanitar-

ian aid in solidarity with the Palestinianpeople in Gaza.

The NDFP rmly supports the struggleof the Palestinian people for their inalien-able right to national self-determination,the right of the uprooted and displacedPalestinians to return to their homeland,and their other fundamental human anddemocratic rights.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (NewPatriotic Alliance-Bayan) and the localchapter of the International League of

Peoples Struggle (ILPS) in the Philippinesled the picket protest of the Israeli embassyin the nancial district of Makati City anddenounced the attack.

In the United States, protesters stageda picket line in the Port of Oakland andsuccessfully blocked the unloading of anIsraeli cargo ship for 24 hours. In a showof support, port workers refused to cross

World condemns Israeli massacreon Freedom Flotilla

ment troopers were killed and eight others

were wounded.Two enemy troopers and one member of theCAFGU were killed in a sniping operationstaged by a team of the Reynaldo PionCommand-NPA last 01 February in Brgy.Libertad, San Mariano Isabela. Amongthose killed was the detachment command-ing ofcer, Sgt. Go.

These tactical offensives of the NewPeoples Army were victorious because ofthe iron determination of the Red ghtersto ght, the NPAs application of creativeguerrilla tactics and their mastery of the

terrain and arena of battle, and because ofthe deep support of the peasant masses forits army.

The people are willing to ght and sacriceto bring an end to the rapacious, corrupt andunjust system that brings them nothing butcontinuing economic hardship and political

bankruptcy. The cruelty of poverty, land-lessness, displacement and the grave vio-lations of human rights only heightens theclass hatred of the people against the state,the military and the ruling classes.

Only by participating in revolution willthey ensure the realization of their aspira-tion for a peaceful, genuinely free and justsociety. n

... NPA offensives, page 8, col 3

Freedom Flotilla, page 10, col 1...


10/12


INTERNATIONAL FRONT

the picket line to unload the cargo fromthe Israeli ship.

This was the rst time that an Israeli shipwas blocked from unloading in a US port.

Meanwhile, reports received byLiberationInternational indicate that pickets, dem-onstrations and other protest actions werealso held in Bahrain, Belgium, Canada,Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Germany,Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jordan,

Kuwait, Lebanon, Nepal, Netherlands,Norway, Sweden and Syria. Letters andstatements of condemnation continue to

bombard the embassies and consulates ofthe Zionist state.

The attack of Israeli commandos on theFreedom Flotilla some 70 kilometers offthe Israeli coast, thus clearly in interna-tional waters, was premeditated. Israelinaval vessels surrounded the otilla whilemasked commandos slid down ropes fromhelicopters onto the Mavi Marmara, the

biggest of the otilla, and started ring even

before they touched down.

They continued ring even as the shipspassengers were waving white ags during

the invasion. The attack was a clear viola-tion of international maritime law and anact of barbarism and piracy.

It also exhibits Israels deance of interna-tional law when it restricts the ow and out-ow of food, water, fuel and humanitarianaid to Gaza. Even the United Nations andinternational human rights organizationshave criticized Israels imposed blockadeon Gaza for causing untold suffering tothe 1.5 million residents, most especiallywomen, children and the elderly.

The US-led imperialist states and their col-laborators should be made accountable fortheir limitless support for the Zionist statecontrol of the Gaza strips airspace, ter-ritorial waters, offshore maritime accessand inland borders. US President BarackObama has pledged at least $30 billion inmilitary aid to Israel over the next 10 years.Their continuing support emboldens Israelto mount attacks such as the commando op-eration against the Freedom Flotilla.

Notwithstanding Israelis aggression, theNDFP stated that the continuing struggleof the Palestinian people and the resistanceof the people of the world against Israeliand US imperialist aggression are bound togrow stronger in the coming years. n

... Freedom Flotilla, page 9, col 3

of its rivals committed by the regimes se-curity forces.

In its 2010 Report, AI stated that the mili-tary subjected civilians to secret detention,torture and other cruel, inhuman and de-grading treatment. A culture of impunitycontinued as almost no perpetrators were

brought to justice. The regime also failedto implement institutional reforms neces-sary to prevent a possible resurgence of

political killings.

In fact, the killings have never stopped, theviolations of peoples rights continue. Thusthe international campaign is needed nowmore than ever. It is noteworthy that inter-national campaign committees have beenset up in different global regions and havetaken up the challenge of defending humanrights in the Philippines.

As Ms. Angelica Gonzales of theInternational Coordinating Committee forHuman Rights in the Philippines stated, Aslong as the international community con-tinues in supporting human rights work in

the Philippines, then I can continue hopingthat Filipino political refugees and migrantworkers around the world can one day -nally come home in peace. n

... UN and EU, page 11, col 3

Protest actions broke out around the world, condemning theIsraeli terrorist attack on the humanitarian aid mission Freedom

Flotilla. photo from eirigisligeach.blogspot.com


11/12

11April - June 2010

INTERNATIONAL FRONT

International campaign forhuman rights in the Philippinesgains support

By Pingkian and Isah Antonio

The international campaign to defend hu-man rights in the Philippines has intensiedits activities to bring to the internationalcommunity the grave situation of humanrights in the country and called for actionto immediately stop the violations and bring

justice to the victims. The campaign waslaunched amidst the public outcry both inthe Philippines and abroad on the impunitywith which the killings are being perpetrat-

ed under the so-called counterinsurgencyscheme Internal Security Operational PlanBantay-Laya (Operation Guard Freedom-OBL).

OBL is a brutal military campaign that es-calated urban and rural militarization andterrorism of entire communities, displacingtens of thousands of civilians, and system-atically targetting leaders and members of

progressive and militant peoples organi-zations, human rights advocates and activ-ists, journalists, and members of religiousorganizations branded as communist for

extra-judicial killing, enforced disappear-ance or illegal arrest and detention.

In June 2010, the Ecumenical Voicefor Peace and Human Rights in thePhilippines (EcuVoice) made oral inter-ventions before the 14th Session of the

United Nations Human Rights Councilin Geneva, Switzerland, and presented

the impunity by which the US-Arroyoregime violated the rights of the Filipino people. The EcuVoice delegation to theUNHRC was composed of representativesfrom Karapatan (Alliance for PeoplesRights), International Association ofPeoples Laywers (IAPL), National Unionof Lawyers of the Philippines (NUPL) andthe International Coordinating Committeeon Human Rights in the Philippines(ICCHRP). The delegation also spoke atforums and side events and met with rep-resentatives and ofcers of international

bodies.

Mr. Roneo Clamor, Deputy SecretaryGeneral of Karapatan, presented the case ofthe Morong 43, 43 community health work-ers and doctors summarily abducted byArroyo security forces, heavily tortured andwho now languish in jail based on trumped-up charges. Mr. Clamor described how hiswife Dr. Merry Clamor, one of the Morong43, was being threatened to admit to beinga member of the New Peoples Army. Rev.Rex Reyes, Jr., meanwhile, informed theBody on the repressive effects of the OBLon the Filipino people.

Atty. Edre Olalia, Chairperson ofInternational Association of PeoplesLawyers and Secretary General of NUPLspoke on the attacks on lawyers and judgeswho were perceived by the state and themilitary as defending those critical of and

opposing the Arroyo regime.

Chairperson of Karapatan Marie Hilao-Enriquez said that it is quite alarmingand deplorable that on the run-up to theso-called peaceful transition between twoadministrations, the killings of activistsand human rights defenders continue to becommitted with brazen impunity. Withina period of 16 days, six people were sum-

marily executed. The victims were humanrights workers, peasants and trade unionleaders.

Aware of the parliamentarians interest onthe recently concluded presidential elec-tions in the Philippines, Ms. AngelicaGonzales of the ICCHRP spoke of humanrights in the context of the elections duringthe session of the European ParliamentsSubcommittee on Human Rights in Brussels,Belgium last May. Leaders and supportersof the opposition groups are often targetsof vilication, harassment and threats, ille-

gal arrests and detentions, enforced disap-pearances, and extra-judicial killings, Ms.Gonzales said.

Support from the internationalcommunity

The International Campaign has gained thesupport of numerous international humanrights organizations, advocates and the net-work of human rights defenders.

In his response to the testimonies of theEcumenical Voice delegation, Mr. Eric

Sottas, Secretary General of the WorldOrganization Against Torture noted that thecase of the Morong 43 is an example of thecriminalization of social protest where thehealth workers are portrayed as criminals.

Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, Directorof the Commission of the Churches forInternational Affairs-World Council ofChurches, stated that the WCC has support-ed the human rights work in the Philippinesand will continue to do so for as long as hu-man rights violations go on.

Mr. Rolf Timans of the European

Commission admitted that the humanrights situation in the Philippines is a causeof concern, especially with the number ofhuman rights violations and the prevailingculture of impunity.

Ms. Renate Bloem of the World Alliance forCitizen Participation (Civicus) in the UNreiterated Civicus support for the Morong43 and will continue calling for their releasefrom prison.

Meanwhile, the London-based humanrights watchdog Amnesty International

linked Gloria Arroyo to a culture of impu-nity with the widespread and systematic po-litical killings and enforced disappearances

Violations of human rightspresented before UN and EU

UN and EU, page 10, col 3 ...

Roneo Clamor of human rights group Karapatan (right), presents the case of theMorong 43 on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva, 6

June. At left is Eric Sottas of the World Organisation Against Torture - OMCT. photofrom ecuvoicephils.wordpress.com.


12/12


INTERNATIONAL FRONT

More than 60 years

service to theChinese and worldrevolution

By Ed Ladera

Joan Hinton, soon after she reachedthe Liberated Area in Yanan, Chinain 1949, said: To be working with

all those people who were thinking so farahead. I realized that I was part of some-thing very, very big, very, very new, and

something that the whole people of theworld should know about, but didnt.

And I also realized that although Id hada lot of experiences, this was somethingId never had. I felt like Id really comehome. Suddenly I was in this family, partof the family of the human race... All the

people around me werent thinking aboutthemselves. They werent thinking aboutYanan, or about Wa Ya Bao. They werethinking about the whole world... It wasan international feeling; they were thinkingabout how to change not just China but the

whole world into a place where everybodycould live.

When I got into that situation, it was ex-tremely exhilarating and liberating. I justfelt like Oh boy, this is it! They didnttreat me like a foreigner; they didnt iso-late me, they treated me like a comrade,

because they considered foreigners part ofthe revolution. They took me as part of theworld. (Dao-yuan Chou, Silage Choppers& Snake Spirits, The Lives & Struggles ofTwo Americans in Modern China, IBONBOOKS, 2009, p. 129).

Joan Hinton died on 8 June 2010 at the ageof 88, after more than 60 years of servingthe Chinese people. She and her husbandand soul mate, Erwin Sid Engst, gave oftheir skills and whole life to help build so-cialism in China under Mao Zedong, andsince 1977 rmly opposed the revisionist

policies of Deng Xiaoping.

Joan was a nuclear physicist selected in1945 to work in the Manhattan Project inLos Alamos, New Mexico to build the rstatomic bombs. When the US used atomic

bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki inAugust 1945, she angrily left the project. Afew years after, she left to join Sid, an agri-

culturist, in the LiberatedAreas in China.

She and Sid worked invarious peoples enter-

prises, including an ironfactory, various dairyfarms and other agri-cultural projects. Tillthe day she died, Joanworked in the smallAgricultural MachineryExperiment Station justoutside Beijing. Sid diedin Beijing in 2003.

She and Sid were prole-tarian internationalists aswell. As the tribute of theCommunist Party of thePhilippines points out:Comrade Joan, as wellas her husband Sid and

brother Bill were long-time friends of the Philippine revolution.Their writings chronicling their experi-ences in building socialism in China fromthe 1950s to 1976 and the rise of revision-ism and restoration of capitalism from 1977onwards have been well read by Filipinocommunists and revolutionaries.

Her writings provided the Filipino com-munists and revolutionaries a clear pictureof the Chinese peoples daily strugglesand practical lessons in the merging ofMarxism-Leninism-Maoism with the con-crete experiences on the ground in the con-text of the Chinese revolution, especiallyin carrying out agrarian revolution and ad-vancing the socialist transformation of ag-riculture. Their incisive analyses and criti-cisms of revisionism and the restoration ofcapitalism have further enriched our graspof Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.

The CPP tribute adds, They helped de-velop solidarity between the Filipino andChinese peoples. They took great interestin the development of the Philippine revolu-tion under the leadership of the CommunistParty of the Philippines, and supported sev-eral progressive causes in the Philippines.

Joan visited the Philippines with her brother Bill in 1996 to participate in thePeoples Campaign Against ImperialistGlobalization and the Peoples Caravan

Against the APEC summit. She warmlywelcomed Filipino comrades who visitedher in China and fostered friendship with

Philippine progressive and democraticforces. She particularly developed a spe-cial interest and close friendship with theFilipino women comrades.

The National Democratic Front of thePhilippines also rendered highest honors toJoan as a proletarian revolutionary heroine.The National Council of the NDFP and theCentral Committee of the CPP awarded acitation to Joan and Sid in 2002: For morethan half a century, you have unselshlyused your unique knowledge and skills inthe service of the Chinese people, and ofall people struggling for national and socialliberation from imperialism and reaction.

We deeply appreciate your keen interest in

the Philippine revolution and your militantsupport for the Filipino people and theirstruggle for national liberation, democracyand socialism. Your seless devotion to thecause of the exploited and the oppressed isa great example to revolutionaries of todayand will be an inspiration to future genera-tions of revolutionaries. n

Note: An online videoclip carries a noteabout Joan Hintons death and a speechshe made three and a half years before shedied to commemorate the 116th anniversaryof Maos birth:

H t t p : / / v . y o u k u . c o m / v _ s h o w / i d _ XMTgwMzU4ODE2.html

Comrade Joan Hinton,Proletarian Internationalist

Photo: Lavina Tien, NPR News

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