LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL A Publication of the International Office of the National Democratic Front of the

Comrades Ales, Adrian and Errel: Youth for the revolution page 2 AGRARIAN REVOLUTION NDFP sets up Special Office for Rural population reaps the Protection of Children page 6 economic and political gains Framework Agreement biased Thousands of poor peasant families improved their economic situation against Moro people – Jalandoni in the past twelve months, owing to agrarian reform campaigns launched by page 7 revolutionary peasant associations within the territories of the people's democratic government. Peasant associations were able to launch victorious campaigns to reduce agricultural land rent, raise farm workers wages, raise the price of peasants' agricultural products, increase production, and encourage various forms of cooperation among the peasants themselves. These resulted in significant increases in the productivity and income of thousands of peasant families, as well as in raising the revolutionary spirit of the general population. ? page 5

October-December 2012 Y O U T H

COMRADES ALEX, ADRIAN AND ERREL Youth for the revolution omrades Alex, Adrian and Errel are typical supplies in nearby towns. From time to time, he attends countryside youth. Even at a young age, they educational discussions in the barrio and even with the Red have been helping their parents and partici- fighters. pate in production. Like growing numbers of Ka Alex was inspired to become a Red fighter because other youth, they are politically conscious, of the good example shown to him by the guerrillas. working for and honing themselves to con- Meanwhile, the comrades have asked Ka Alex’s parents C tribute to the revolution. to tell him to be careful because the youth is on the enemy’s They are among the best sons and daughters of the watchlist. Ka Alex has stopped going to school and is await- peasantry who have joined the New People’s Army (NPA) to ing his 18th birthday so he could finally become a defend and further advance their gains in agrarian revolu- fullfledged Red fighter. tion and other programs of the people’s democratic gov- Ka Adrian and Ka Errel ernment. Ka Adrian and Ka Errel are brother revolutionaries. Ka Alex Ka Adrian is the eldest and Ka Errel is his younger sibling. “I am determined to join the NPA when I turn 18.” Their parents are both active members of the Party branch This is Ka** Alex’s firm commitment. He will be reaching in their barrio. his 18th year on November 30. It was not difficult for the two brothers to decide on Alex is the fifth of six siblings. His parents usually eke taking the path of revolution. Growing up in the country- out a living by planting coconut and rice. His uncle is a side, poverty was not a stranger to them. former Red fighter and their barrio is often visited by com- They became aware of the revolution because their rades. father and uncle were former Red fighters. Ka Adrian was Ka Alex was just a Fourth Grader when he first decided only six years old when he started mingling with the Red to become a Red fighter. He liked joining the guerrillas in fighters operating in their area, while Ka Errel joined the their tasks and treks, but he was too young. The guerrillas children’s group in their barrio early on. They both attend encouraged him to help in various revolutionary tasks in the discussions at the National-Democratic School and join cul- village. He joined a children’s group that often staged cul- tural presentations in their barrio and other areas. tural presentations and participated in other children’s pro- The brothers have a typical relationship. They often grams. tease each other and play, and sometimes get peeved with His elder brother became a Red fighter in 2010 and each other and quarrel. was transferred to another area. Ka Alex then tried again to Ka Adrian is more outgoing while Ka Errel is the seri- join the NPA. But he was just 16 then and was not allowed ous and shy type. into the people’s army. He was advised to continue working When Ka Adrian turned 18, he decided to join the in the barrio and help in various ways. NPA while Ka Errel continued his tasks in the barrio. Ka Alex was not discouraged and continued working Ka Adrian was assigned to their barrio for a while but with the village youth group as the team leader. Part of his was eventually transferred. It was in the NPA that he took duties is to report on enemy movements in their barrio to up other Party courses and became a full member of the the comrades. He is also asked by comrades to purchase CPP. He undertakes various tasks in the people’s army –

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 2 Y O U T H

from security to kitchen duty to ensuring that their platoon Ka Errel became the leader of the youth group in the bar- has enough food supplies. rio and has been active in reporting on the enemy’s move- Ka Adrian misses his family but his homesickness is ments in their area. alleviated by daily organizing work among the masses. More than being brothers, however, they have under- Sometimes, Ka Errel is able to visit him and join in some of scored their relationship as comrades serving the revolution the unit’s activities. Through Ka Errel, Ka Adrian is able in different capacities. to send his regards to his parents and two younger siblings. Even now, Ka Errel is already preparing to join the The two brothers have been able to talk more often since NPA when the right time comes. n

PATRIOTIC YOUTH Serve the people, set ablaze the fire and daringness of the Kabataang Makabayan

By Jorge Madlos, Spokesperson, NDFP-Mindanao When Martial Law was declared and KM pronounced ith great joy, the National Democratic illegal, most members of KM opted to struggle beyond the Front of the Philippines - Mindanao boundaries of the legal arena, and took to the mountains to congratulates all leading cadres and plant the seed of armed revolutionary struggle. Armed only members of the Kabataang Maka- with the ideology and zeal of the re-established Communist bayan (KM, Patriotic Youth) who, upon Party of the Philippines (CPP-MLM), they set the revolu- its 48th founding anniversary today, tionary fire anew, but this time in the countryside across the W have vowed to carry forward the blaz- archipelago, organizing among poor peasants in order to ing torch of the militant and revolu- build the proletarian army and establish Red bases. tionary youth movement in the Philippines towards the vic- KM activists did not lose sight of the vision to carry tory of the people’s war. With great pride, we salute all forward Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan’s revolution. members of the KM who, since the dark days of the Mar- They kept this in their hearts and minds, and practiced it by cos dictatorship, have heroically offered their lives for the arousing and organizing the people on how to wage their revolution, as well as to all those who persevere until now. war, even to the point of laying down their own lives so that Like a spark that began a prairie fire, KM’s inception in the revolution may advance. the 1960s led to the rise of the militant youth and students’ Today, the KM continues to organize among the cross- movement that took upon itself the task of reinvestigating section of the Filipino youth, which accounts for almost half Philippine society and openly oppose the ills of imperialism, of country’s populace. The country’s youth and students are feudalism and bureaucrat- capitalism. one of the most oppressed and exploited sectors, submerged

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 3 Y O U T H under the most heinous of social conditions, which are fur- of their identity as national minorities. The severity of na- ther heightened by the rapacity of imperialism and of the tional oppression and chauvinism has intensified, and has local ruling classes and its reactionary state. blatantly impinged on their right to self -determination. The Aquino government brags that it has allocated They are under constant attack by security forces of the 2.8% for education in the 2013 budget. In truth, there is reactionary state. With regard to the Moro struggle, it frus- nothing to crow about because, apart from being far lower trates the Moro youth that, despite the recent signing of the than the UN allowable minimum of 6%, Aquino is only Framework on the Bangsamoro between the Moro Islamic making sure that its highly pro-monopoly capitalist schema Liberation Front (MILF) and the government of the Repub- for education, such as the K-12 program and the privatiza- lic of the Philippines (GPH), the attainment of genuine self- tion of state colleges and universities (SCUs), remain un- determination remains elusive. As it is, the AFP has not hampered. moved an inch away from Moro areas and remains a griev- The K-12 is excruciatingly burdensome to teachers, ous threat to the Moro people. students and the people. Not only does it pose additional In light of this objective condition, it is therefore in- expenses, but the new curricula only satisfy the need of for- cumbent upon the present leaders and members of the Ka- eign monopoly capitalists for the continued generation of bataang Makabayan to further arouse, organize and mobi- cheap, docile and skilled Filipino laborers with the end in lize the Filipino youth by the hundreds of thousands in or- view of acquiring superprofit. While the approved Php 37 der to advance the people’s national-democratic revolution. Billion allocation for SCUs for 2013 is nothing but Aquino’s The KM must help extricate the Filipino youth from docil- feeble attempt to trick students and parents into believing ity and aim for the all -round resurgence of militancy, as was the government “cares” for the Filipino youth. Unfortu- felt during the . nately, Aquino does not care for the youth nor for education It should be creative in its methods and, if necessary, because the hefty budget is no more than a pumped-up use all available popular avenues to reach out to a greater “capital outlay” number of youth for SCUs to turn and students, in- “self-reliant,” or to cluding the inter- begin running as a net, social net- private business working, texting starting next year, and other forms of and eventually be technological ad- dependent on pri- vancement. Bring vate funds. SCUs back the fire and compete with pri- daringness of the vate colleges and KM, enliven the universities in tui- unrelenting spirit tion fee hikes and – the true spirit of other exorbitant serving the people! fees, which make Strive to emulate the title “Iskolar the indefatigable ng Bayan” (peo- fervor and bravery ple's scholar) shown by the ini- shamefully a thing tiators of KM in of the past. spreading the es- Apart from sence of the having poor or no access at all to quality education, the ma- national-democratic struggle among the youth in particular jority peasant youth are exploited and oppressed with feroc- and the people in general. Why be content with a handful ity by semi-feudalism in the countryside. They have no land few, when you have the power to mobilize the youth in their to till and are forced to sell their labor power as agricultural millions against the basic problems of Philippine society? workers in exchange for subhuman wages. With your deep grasp of the objective condition, it is After a few years in primary education, most, if not all, within your power to make them understand the necessity are forced to work at a very young age to help augment their to rise up and serve the people. With this, we challenge KM parents’ measly income. They also fall victim to the brutal leaders and members to answer the call of the people’s war military operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for more cadres and political officers and instructors in the in the countryside, and are often rendered helpless in the New People’s Army. As we brace to meet the requirement of face of grizzly human rights violations. the people’s war, you are ever more needed to serve the Worker youths suffer similarly because they are exposed people through your Red army! to inhuman working conditions and receive highly unjust Long live the Kabataang Makabayan! pay. Apart from these inequities, the youth are also forced Long live the Filipino Youth! into prostitution and are victimized by drug and gambling syndicates. The Moro and Lumad youth in Mindanao are also severely oppressed, not only due to poverty but also because

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 4 C O V E R Rural population reaps economic and political gains from agrarian revolution

> page 1 By Roselle Valerio The revolutionary organizations have been stepping up their efforts in advancing the anti-feudal struggle in the countryside, in accordance with the call of the Central Committee of the Com- munist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to advance the people's war to the next stage of the strategic stalemate. Cadres of the CPP, New People's Army, and the peasant associations conducted social investigation in their areas of responsi- bility in order to determine the concrete conditions of the rently US$14.60). Additionally, payment for palay loans was peasant masses. They then drafted the appropriate cam- reduced from 100% to only three liters dry measure for paign plans on how to advance land reform struggles on every sack of palay. ever broader scales from the village, to inter-village, and It was also reported that farm workers of almost all upwards to the town level. categories won from 25 up to 50% increases in their wages. Reporting on the pace of agrarian reform in Eastern Ang Bayan reports that the anti-feudal campaigns in Visayas, in central Philippines, Ang Bayan ( The People), Eastern Visayas were led by the peasant association Pam- CPP’s official publication, says that peasant families were bansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid (PKM, National able to benefit from the reduction of land rent in coconut Peasants League) in one guerrilla front, while a special “Task and abaca plantations, reduction of the interests on loans, Force Agreb” was formed by the regional leadership of the increase in the selling price of palay (unhusked rice), aboli- CPP to lead the campaigns in two other guerrilla fronts. tion of cheating in weighing scales, and reduction in the The campaigns first started in the middle of 2011 in prices of consumer goods. The report says that up to 2,391 one village, and expanded wave upon wave to adjoining families in 32 villages benefited economically from these villages. Peasant leaders conducted negotiations with a total anti-feudal campaigns. of 41 landlords, 47 merchant-usurers, and two big busi- Land rent in coconut lands, for example, was reduced nessmen in the course of over twelve months. from 50% of the net income from production, to a range of The peasants asserted recognition for their associations 40-33%. In abaca plantations, the anti-feudal campaigns and laid down their just demands. At the end of every nego- reduced the land rent from 33.3% to 25%. This means an tiation, village assemblies were held to inform their members increase of 8-17% in the peasants' income from coconut and of the results and in order to achieve firmer unity on the abaca production. course of the campaigns. Ang Bayan reports that in two villages, the peasants even Other mass organizations were also formed to support won the right to postpone the payment of rent on a 20- the anti-feudal campaigns. A sustained propaganda- hectare landholding. This campaign directly benefited some education campaign, assemblies and conferences of mass 20 families. In another guerrilla front, richer peasants and a organizations were conducted to strengthen the unity of the number of petty bourgeois families voluntarily extended people on the goals of the campaigns. financial and material assistance to plantation workers, in Of equal importance to the economic gains achieved in recognition of the value of the peasants' labor. In yet an- the anti-feudal campaigns were the political advances at- other area, farm workers achieved better job security after tained among the peasantry. In the areas of Eastern Visayas demanding that any decision to evict them from the land where the anti-feudal struggles gained victories, membership should first go through a review by the revolutionary peasant in the peasant associations increased by 45%, that of the association. women's associations increased by 48%, and that of the Exorbitant interests on loans contracted by the poor youth association by 39%. peasants were also reduced. In one guerrilla front, Ang Bayan All Party branches reported an average increase of reports that negotiations between the peasant associations 17%. The number of Red fighters of the New People's and usurers were successful in reducing the interest rates Army also increased by more than 50%. from 20% monthly (140% per year) to 10% per quarter, and The economic victories strengthened the democratic even to 20% per year. power of the peasant masses. These victories also demon- In another guerrilla front, the campaign succeeded in strated the superiority of the new social system being built pegging the price of a sack of palay at PhP600.00 (a sack of within the territories of the people's democratic govern- palay is equivalent to 75 liters dry measure, PhP600 is cur- ment. n

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 5 C H I L D R E N

NDFP sets up Special Ofce for the Protection of Children

By Ed Ladera Assist all allied organizations and instrumentalities of the n a major step to NDFP with advice on all build the structures matters related to the protec- of the people's tion of children in the armed democratic govern- conflict. ment, the National Organize educational pro- Democratic Front of grams within all allied or- I ganizations of the NDFP on the Philippines (NDFP) announced on Oc- children’s rights and encour- tober 2 the setting up of a age the formation of child Special Office for the Protec- protection units under the tion of Children, and named auspices of the organs of political power and mass or- Coni K. Ledesma to head desma. It is directly under the NDFP the office. ganizations, especially of children, Human Rights Committee headed by youth and women. The announcement was made by Fidel V. Agcaoili. Ledesma herself in a speech she deliv- Establish and maintain contacts The tasks and functions of the and relations with all relevant interna- ered before the National Conference Special Office are: on Children's Rights held on 2 Octo- tional bodies and non-government Oversee the implementation by organizations. ber at the University of the Philip- all NDFP organizations and instru- pines, Diliman, Quezon City. Issue an annual report on the mentalities of this Program of Action situation of children in the Philippines The Special Office, according to and the conformity of all actions Ledesma (photo), was defined in the in relation to the armed conflict, and taken by the New People's Army and on the activities to uphold, defend and provisions of the NDFP Program of all allied organizations of the NDFP. Action for the Rights, Protection and promote the rights of children. Report widely the achievements “The Special Office has been set Welfare of Children, which was ap- of the aforementioned forces in up- proved by the NDFP National Coun- up,” Ledesma said, “slightly before the holding the rights of the children, six months deadline stipulated by the cil on April 24, 2012. protecting them and promoting their Aside from Ledesma, the Special Declaration. We have already begun welfare. our work, and we hope that after a Office is composed of Margarita Receive complaints about viola- Ocampo, Nancy de Guia, and Sandra year's time, we will issue our first tions of children’s rights and refer the yearly report on the situation of chil- Vidal as members. A fifth member will complaints to the organs concerned dren in the Philippines.” n be named shortly, according to Le- for the appropriate action.

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 6 M O R O I S S U E

LUIS JALANDONI: Framework Agreement biased against the Moro people Interview with Luis G. Jalandoni by Alexander Lopez, Davao Today

By Alexander Lopez created a Transition Commission through an Executive Order and sup- Luis G. Jalandoni is the ported by Congressional Resolutions.” Chief International Repre- While there is no express re- sentative of the NDFP and quirement of adhering to GPH Con- the Chairperson of the stitutional and Legal Processes (as in NDFP Negotiating Panel the Tripoli Agreement of 1976) there L holding peace talks with the are, in essence, such requirements, government of the Repub- and GPH Panel Head Prof. Marvic lic of the Philippines Leonen has declared that everything 1. What is your opinion re- in the Framework Agreement must be garding the newly forged in accord with the GPH Constitution framework agreement? and legal processes. Luis Jalandoni (LJ): It is a result A major point is also the stress on of the persistent major striving of the “decommissioning”. In no. 5 under Moro Islamic Liberation Front The current draft contains cer- Normalization, “The MILF shall un- (MILF) to attain the Moro people's tain dangers. There is a lot of de- dertake a graduated program for de- right to national self-determination. pendence on the executive and legisla- commissioning of its forces so that However, there are still major points tive branches of the government of they are put beyond use.” to be negotiated, namely Power Shar- the Republic of the Philippines (also In no. 7 of the same section, ing, Wealth Sharing, Transitional Ar- known as GPH or government of the “...until the full decommissioning of rangements and Modalities, and Philippines). For example, “the draft the MILF forces.” and under no. 9 of Normalization. These have to be ne- Bangsa Moro Basic Law submitted by the same section, “The details of the gotiated in detail and put down in the Transition Commission shall be normalization process and timetables four annexes which will form part of certified as an urgent bill by the Presi- for decommissioning shall be in an the Framework Agreement. dent.” Furthermore, “There shall be

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 7 said Constitutional amendment is needed to materialize Bang- samoro. LJ: That is a clear requirement, which makes the Bangsamoro (the new autonomous political entity) de- pendent on the Constitutional and legal processes (including a plebiscite) of the GPH. Amending the Constitution will also be used to take away remaining provisions protecting our national patrimony, and open the way for full foreign owner- Annex on Normalization and shall ship of lands, mineral re- form part of this Agreement.” sources, utilities and serv- Even financially, it is the GPH ices. that plays the key role. In VII Transi- 6. How will the forged tion and Implementation, no. 6 states: framework affect the “The GPH shall allocate funds and NDFP-GPH peace nego- provide other resources for its (Transi- tiations? tion Commission) effective operation.” LJ: The propaganda of the 2. Some sectors say it is still Aquino government on the a framework. Do you think vital signing of this Framework issues that affect the lives of or- Agreement next week (on dinary Moro will be included in 15 October) is to pressure the framework? the NDFP to agree on a LJ: Most certainly, the issue re- present GPH-MILF Framework ceasefire, and resume formal GPH- garding revenue and wealth sharing Agreement to be signed next week (on NDFP peace negotiations, without the has still to be negotiated in detail. The 15 October – ed.) is heavily tilted to- Aquino government complying with statement, “The Bangsamoro shall wards the Aquino government, and basic binding bilateral agreements, have a just and equitable share in the lessens the independence and auton- such as the Joint Agreement on Safety revenues generated through the explo- omy of the Bangsamoro. and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), ration, development or utilization of 4. What is your reading on and the Comprehensive Agreement natural resources obtaining in all the the posture of the Aquino re- on Respect for Human Rights and areas/territories, land or water, cov- gime regarding the forged International Humanitarian Law ered by and within the jurisdiction of framework? Some sectors say (CARHRIHL). the Bangsamoro, in accordance with this will be used in Mindanao to The JASIG requires the Aquino the formula agreed upon by the Par- government to release 13 NDFP Con- gather more votes for liberal ties.” is still very general. sultants held in GRP/GPH prisons. candidates. The issue of ancestral domain The CARHRIHL requires the LJ: The Aquino regime is blowing and the concessions given to multina- release of political prisoners who have this out of proportion and making big tionals will affect the lives of the Moro been charged, detained or convicted propaganda for itself to cover up the people and the Lumad communities, for common crimes in violation of the basic problems of the Filipino people, and other parts of the population in Hernandez political offense doctrine. such as the series of oil price hikes, Mindanao. The issue of foreign min- There are some 385 political prison- soaring prices of basic commodities, ing corporations destroying the liveli- ers, 107 of them arrested and de- demolitions of urban poor communi- hood of the people and the environ- tained under the current Aquino re- ties, lack of genuine land reform and ment will affect the ordinary Moro gime. national industrialization, and viola- But as stated above, it remains to and others in Mindanao. tion of national sovereignty in allow- be seen what will happen in the com- 3. Would there be a new per- ing US military intervention in the spective in governing the Bang- ing period of admittedly tough and country. challenging negotiations on the details samoro homeland under the He also hopes to use the targeted of the current draft framework proposed Bangsamoro that will signing of the definitive Framework agreement. n replace the Autonomous Region Agreement with the four annexes by of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)? the end of this year to benefit his can- LJ: It remains to be seen how the didates in the next elections. Bangsamoro, the new autonomous 5. Charter change is another political entity, will be formed. The thing. House Speaker Belmonte

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 8 S T A T E M E N T

REVOLUTIONARY LAWYER NDFP mourns the passing away of Atty. Romeo T. Capulong

he entire National Demo- From 1992 until 2008, despite his Oslo in August 2005. He also joined cratic Front of the Philip- heavy schedule of defending political informal talks in May 2008. Thereaf- pines (NDFP) deeply prisoners, peasants, workers and oth- ter, he remained very active in efforts mourns the passing away of ers subjected to political repression, he to move the GRP/GPH peace nego- Atty. Romeo T. Capulong, came to assist in peace negotiations. tiations forward. As late as April 2012, its Chief Legal Counsel and All 12 bilateral agreements from 1992 even when he was already quite ill, he T champion of the exploited to 2004 were forged with the invalu- still said he “would be on board” in and oppressed. The leadership of the able help of his legal expertise and working for the releases of NDFP NDFP, all its allied organizations, and firm stand for the revolutionary Consultants, Alan Jazmines, Tirso the NDFP Negotiating Panel, its con- movement. Alcantara and other consultants and sultants and staff, express our deepest In January 2000, Romy formu- JASIG-protected personnel. gratitude for the invaluable service he lated the Updated NDFP Position on In addition to all the work he did rendered through so many years, in the Issue of Prisoners of War and the for the NDFP Negotiating Panel and the peace negotiations and other fields GRP-NDFP Peace Negotiations, in for Prof. , the NDFP of people's struggles. which the NDFP “respects and ac- Chief Political Consultant, Romy was We express our sincerest con- the champion of so many dolences to his life partner Sofia exploited and oppressed Culanay; former wife Adoracion people. He took on the Cajucom; children Alexander cases of political prison- Romeo and Sony, Eduardo Ro- ers, unjustly charged, meo and Rebecca, and Roma Pia detained or convicted of and Richard; and grandchildren common crimes in viola- Adam, Leslie Eden, Gabrielle, tion of the Hernandez Renzo Romeo, Elijah, Isabelle, political offense doctrine. Sean Romeo and Sebastian. He championed the Romy, as he was called by cause of the 10,000 his friends and colleagues, was peasants in Hacienda the NDFP Chief Legal Counsel Looc. He integrated with par excellence. In the peace ne- them, stood up with gotiations, he played a key role in them before the threats the formulation and negotiation of those who wanted to of The Hague Joint Declaration, drive them away from The Joint Agreement on Safety and cords its POWs their right to fair trial their land. So loved was he by the Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), The before a duly constituted people's tri- people of Hacienda Looc, they lov- Comprehensive Agreement on Re- bunal or court marital and all the ingly referred to him as “Hulog ng spect for Human Rights and Interna- guarantees of due process.” Langit”. tional Humanitarian Law On 15 March 2004 he wrote the He joined the farmers and work- (CARHRIHL) and other bilateral important paper, “The Meaning, ers of Hacienda Luisita in their strug- agreements. He made full use of his Scope and Implications of the Oslo gle for their land. His firm stand legal expertise and persuasive powers Joint Statement on the “Terrorist” brought upon him the ire of the mili- to bring about consensus even on the Listing of the Communist Party of the tary, which perpetrated the massacre most difficult points. Every document Philippines (CPP), the New People's of November 2004. The threats of the in the GRP/GPH-NDFP peace nego- Army (NPA) and the Chief Political military did not stop him from mili- tiations was checked and reviewed by Consultant of the National Demo- tantly fighting for the workers' and him. cratic Front of the Philippines farmers' rights, even after the assassi- He was already a legal counsel to (NDFP)”. This was adopted in toto by nation of Bishop Alberto Ramento, the NDFP peace negotiators in 1986- the NDFP Negotiating Panel as its Councilor Abel Ladera, Fr. Tadena 1987. In 1989, he accompanied sev- position and presented to the GRP and several labor leaders. eral peace advocates to the Nether- Negotiating Panel at the formal talks Internationally, Romy's legal ex- lands. In 1990, he came with Con- in Oslo on 30 March 2004. pertise was also widely recognized. He gressman Jose V. Yap for extensive Even after then President Gloria was elected by the United Nations discussions on peace negotiations. Arroyo suspended formal talks in July General Assembly as a UN Judge ad 2005, Romy came for informal talks in litem in the UN International Tribu-

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 9 nal on Former Yugoslavia. Among the Threats to his life and several spirit and inspiration will live on in the 24 international judges elected, he had assassination attempts did not stop hearts of the people he served. the third highest number of votes. He him from fighting for the rights of the Mabuhay si Atty. Romeo T. also served as one of the lawyers in exploited and oppressed. He took Capulong, abogado ng bayan, bayani the international team that defended practical and effective steps as precau- ng sambayanan! n Prof. Sison in the European Court tionary measures but he was resolute starting in April 2003 until their vic- in his decision to persevere in his work National Council tory in September 2009. The interna- for the people. tional team consisted of Romy and While we are deeply saddened by National Democratic Front of very able lawyers from Belgium, Ger- Romy's passing away, we know his the Philippines many, France and the Netherlands. September 17, 2012

STATE TERRORISM CPP condemns Israeli air strikes in Gaza

By the Communist Party of the Philippines

he Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joins the peoples of the world in condemning in the strongest possible terms the Israeli govern- T ment’s indiscriminate aerial bombing of heavily-populated Palestinian com- munities in Gaza. This despicable crime of the Israeli Zionists against humanity has wrought unprecedented destruction. Israeli airstrikes have ravaged homes, univer- sity buildings, refugee camps and An anti-Israeli protest in Manila other civilian structures and killed close to 400 Palestinians, many of inflicted on their country by the Israeli raeli Zionist regime and demanding a them children, women and the elderly. Zionists. They have won big and small stop to its criminal air strikes. The The Israeli government is blinded by victories in the past through armed revolutionary movement in the Philip- its Zionist expansionist policy of refus- struggle in conjunction with interna- pines extends its hands of solidarity to ing to concede Palestinian independ- tional diplomacy, political work and the Palestinian people and urges them ence, maintaining a policy of continu- mass actions. to rise up in unity against Israel’s bru- ous war against Palestine and seeking It is hypocritical for the United Na- tal crimes against humanity in Pales- to wipe out the Palestinian nation. tions leadership as well as pro-US, tine. In expressing support to the Israeli pro-Israeli and some other govern- The Philippine revolutionary forces bombardment of Gaza, the US impe- ments to condemn Palestine’s Hamas also call on the Israeli people to act in rialists have made themselves equally and Israel on equal terms. The Israeli solidarity with the Palestinian people responsible for their puppet Israeli bombing spree is clearly the most in- and to overthrow the Zionist Israeli regime’s brutal crimes against human- discriminate and brutal ever launched government that has been perpetrat- ity. The US is Israel’s foremost crimi- by Israel in past decades in its genoci- ing the policy of subjugating, attack- nal instigator and No. 1 supplier of dal campaign against the Palestinian ing and eliminating Palestine. arms in exchange for serving as the people. Even as defensive acts of Peace can only be achieved in Gaza extention of US hegemonism and ground rocket-firing by Hamas forces and between Palestine and Israel by terrorism in the Middle East. targeting Israeli centers may also be putting an end to the Israeli govern- The Palestinian people are fully justi- violative of international rules of war, ment’s Zionist policy and giving way fied in waging armed resistance to they are not at par with the criminal to full Palestinian independence and defend their territory and their right and genocidal Israeli aerial strikes. to peaceful co-existence, mutual re- to self-determination against the sub- The CPP urges the peoples of the spect and solidarity between the Israeli jugation, fascism and genocide being world to unite in condemning the Is- and Palestinian people. n

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 10 S O L I D A R I T Y

AFGHAN STRUGGLE Afghanistan support group holds first meeting in the Netherlands

By Roselle Valerio armed forces intend to withdraw by assisted by the worst reactionaries as the end of 2014. puppets. Afghanistan has been turned he newly-formed Solidar- Invited to speak in the meeting into a war front by rival imperialist ity Committee for the was Prof. Jose Maria Sison, founding powers since 1979, resulting in the People of Afghanistan Chairman of the Communist Party of death of more than three million peo- held a successful first the Philippines and currently Chair- ple and the devastation of the lives meeting on 21 October person of the anti-imperialist Interna- and homes of the people, their econ- in Utrecht, The Nether- tional League of Peoples' Struggle omy and social infrastructure.” T lands, attended by activ- (ILPS). Prof. Sison stated that, “the peo- ists and sympathizers from Afghani- In his speech, Prof. Sison declared ple of Afghanistan can achieve na- stan, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia, his solidarity with the people of Af- tional and social liberation only by Nepal, the Netherlands, the Philip- ghanistan “in their revolutionary having a revolutionary party of the pines, Sri Lanka, Tamil, and Turkey. struggle for national liberation and proletariat, a people´s army and a Leading the meeting were activ- democracy against US imperialism, broad united front of anti-imperialist ists Zafar Nader of Afghanistan and the NATO, and the reactionary pup- and democratic forces. While they Anne Verzijl of the Netherlands. pets represented by Karzai and other take their destiny into their own The meeting highlighted the con- warlords.” hands, the people of Afghanistan need tinuing horror of war, disorder and He declared, “The people of Af- the support of the world proletariat turmoil in Afghanistan under the aegis ghanistan are victims of imperialist and people against imperialism, their of the NATO occupying forces. Inno- powers which covet and seek to domi- common enemy.” cent people perish everyday through nate Afghanistan as a source of cheap The participants had ample op- bombardments by bomber planes and labor and raw materials, as a market portunity during the meeting to ex- jet fighters, and in these days, by for industrial manufactures, as a field change information about the situa- drones, carried out by remote control. of superprofit-yielding investments tion in Afghanistan, as well as express It was pointed out that only and as a strategic area for economic, their continuing commitment to sup- through the deep-rooted patriotism of political and military control over port the struggle of the people of Af- the Afghan people, their most deter- Central Asia and the adjoining re- ghanistan. The Committee would be mined and heroic resistance, together gions.” meeting again soon to plan for future with the solidarity of peace-loving “We commiserate with the people activities. n people worldwide, has led to the an- of Afghanistan over their long suffer- nouncement that US and NATO ing from the scourge of imperialism,

Professor Sison (photo, center): “The people of Afghanistan are victims of imperialist powers which covet and seek to dominate Afghanistan as a source of cheap labor and raw materials, as a market for industrial manufactures, as a field of superprofit- yielding investments and as a strategic area for economic, political and military control over Central Asia and the adjoining regions.”

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 11 S O L I D A R I T Y

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR NDFP joins 16th seminar on the problems of the revolution in Latin America

By Bagani Dong-Ilay he National Democratic Front of the Philip- pines (NDFP) participated in the 16th edition of the International Seminar on the Problems of the Revolution in Latin America with the Theme “Populist Caudillismo and the Revolu- services. All these have worsened the already widespread tionary Struggle in Latin America”, held on hunger and poverty.” T 16-20 July 2012 in Quito, Ecuador. The Jalandoni went on to say that “the intolerable exploita- Seminar was organized by the Communist Party of Ecua- tion and oppression under the Aquino regime is driving the dor Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE). masses to increased organized and militant resistance.” Among the foreign parties that sent representatives to He cited the growing gains of the revolutionary move- the seminar were the Communist Party of Peru Marxist- ment led by the Communist Party of the Philippines in ad- Leninist, Frente Popular Revolucionario, Partido Comunista vancing the armed struggle, in building the organs of politi- de Mexico Marxista-Leninista, Communist Party of Vene- cal power and carrying out programs of land reform, liter- zuela Marxist-Leninist, Revolutionary Communist Party of acy, health and other social and economic projects that Brazil (PCR Brazil), Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany benefit the people. (MLPD), Coordinadora Caribeña y Latinoamericana of Addressing all Puerto Rico, Communist Party of Palestine, Communist the foreign and local Party Bolshevik of the Soviet Union, Revolutionary Com- participants, he said: munist Party of Argentina (PCRA), Colombian Communist “Comrades! We are Party, and the Communist Workers Party of the Dominican carrying out similar Republic. revolutionary strug- The National Democratic Front In its contribution to the seminar, the NDFP through its gles. We fight against of the Philippines (NDFP) is an Chief International Representative the same enemy, US alliance of revolutionary organi- Luis G. Jalandoni, pointed to the populist rhetoric be- imperialism and the zations with roots in the various ing used by Manila President Benigno Aquino III to cover local reactionaries sectors and regions of the Phil- up his anti-people and pro-imperialist policies. subservient to it. We ippines. Its goal is to build a so- Jalandoni said: “Assuming office on 30 June 2010, he defend the rights of ciety that enjoys national sover- declared that the ordinary people would be his 'bosses'. He the workers, peas- eignty, genuine democracy, social proclaimed that he would take 'the righteous path' and ants, urban poor, justice, progress and peace. prosecute former President Gloria Arroyo and other human youth and students, rights violators for perpetrating more than a thousand extra- teachers, women and It seeks to unite with all forces judicial killings and two hundred enforced disappearances, other oppressed sec- willing to achieve these goals. and the displacement of over a million internal refugees. He tors. We uphold and promised that he would undertake reforms for the benefit of defend the rights of BOARD OF EDITORS the workers, peasants and the rest of the people. He de- indigenous peoples Roselle Valerio clared that his new counterinsurgency plan, Oplan Bayani- against destructive Ed Ladera han (Operation Plan Cooperation) would win the peace open pit mining by Isah Antonio through peace and development operations. foreign corporations. Jose Emilio Jacinto III “All these, after two years in office, have turned out to We strive for genuine Bagani Dong-Ilay be purely empty promises. freedom, national Andrea Ibarra “Since 1 July 2010 there have been 79 extrajudicial independence, and killings of unarmed social activists such as anti-mining in- democracy for our CONTACT INFO digenous leaders, workers, peasants, urban poor, youth and countries. Let us NDFP Information Office students, women and teachers. He has favored huge open build strong solidar- Postbus 19195 | pit mining projects of foreign corporations and their local ity ties among us, so 3501 DD Utrecht cohorts. These projects are displacing the indigenous peo- that we can achieve The Netherlands ples and devastating the environment. Aquino's government victory and build Telephone: +31 30 2310431 has allowed repeated oil price increases by the giant oil cor- socialism.” n Email: [email protected] porations, thus causing the spiraling of the prices of food, Website: www.ndfp.net transportation, water, and other basic commodities and

LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL 12