1May - August 2008

LIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERATIONTIONTIONTIONTIONINTERNATIONAL

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

May - August 2008

Learning to read & write inthe midst of war

page 5

Global food crisis: bane tothe poor, boon to the

agro-industrial monopoliespage 7

Protests unmask oppression and extremepoverty under US-Arroyo Regime

Gloria Arroyo’s SONA of lies

By Isah Antonio

The Philippines and the internationalworking class movement lost anoutstanding leader last 20 May when

Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran fell to his deathwhile preparing his roof for the rainyseason. In a way, his death showed thatKa Bel lived by one of the ideals heexpounded: simple living and hard work.He was 75 years old at the time of his death.

An outpouring of grief, condolences andtributes were bestowed upon a man whogave 64 years of his life to the service ofthe toiling people. More than 200 foreignorganizations from 35 countries sentmessages of condolence and tributes to thefamily and organizations of Ka Bel even as

millions of Filipinos grieved his passing.[visit www.arkibongbayan.org for some ofthe messages and tributes]

Ka Bel’s life is entwined in the history ofthe working class movement and in thehistory of the national democraticrevolution in the Philippines. His strugglewas not bound by the interest of theFilipino people alone. He was also astaunch anti-imperialist who broughtinspiration and prestige to the internationalmovement against monopoly capitalismand its wars of aggression.

Born to poor farmers on 7 January 1933, heknew that he had to fight for societalchange for the oppressed and exploited

Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran,Hero of the working class movement

Protesters in Manila burn an effigy of Gloria Arroyo, here depicted trying to rideout the political and economic crisis with the plane of the United States of

America. photo from Arkibong Bayan.

Ka Bel, page 2 ...

By Jose Emilio Jacinto III

With barely two years beforeending her presidency in 2010,bogus president of the

Government of the Republic of thePhilippines (GRP) Gloria Arroyo deliveredher 8th State of the Nation Address(SONA) at the Philippine Congress on 28July, that was widely denounced in thePhilippines and around the world.

Massive protests in Manila and other partsof the country spearheaded by militantmass organizations unmasked the heap oflies that Arroyo spewed during her SONA.On the streets, the people’s shouts attestedthat there is unprecedented hunger andfood shortage in the country and the poorare lining up to buy rice; that the sky-rocketing prices of petroleum products andbasic commodities have furtherimpoverished Filipino workers, peasantsand the urban petty bourgeoisie whoreceive starvation wages; that massiveunemployment has forced thousands ofFilipinos a day to leave in order to workoverseas; that militarization and brutalrepression against the civilian populationcontinue on a daily basis, and that theArroyo family and the highest GRP officialsare deeply embroiled in the biggestcorruption scandals.

Even before Arroyo could deliver herSONA, transport strikes and protestmarches had already erupted in Northernand Central Luzon, in southern Tagalog

SONA protests, page 4, col 1 ...

2 LIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERATIONTIONTIONTIONTIONINTERNATIONAL

IN THIS ISSUE:LIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERATIONTIONTIONTIONTIONINTERNATIONAL

May - August 2008

Protests unmask US-Arroyo Regime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran: Working class hero . . . . . . . . . . . 1

US-Arroyo Regime escalates war in Mindanao . . . . . . . . . 3

Agrarian revolution surges anew in Negros . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Learning to read and write in the midst of war . . . . . . . . . 5Global food crisis: Bane to the poor, boon to the agro-industrialmonopolies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Global migrants’ alliance hold founding assembly . . . . . . . 8

International anti-imperialist league hold third assembly . . . 9

US, Russia stoke genocidal war in the Caucasus . . . . . . . 10Comrade Prachanda elected first Prime Ministerof Republic of Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Messages of condolences on the passing awayof Capt. Danilo Vizmanos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Ka Dan Vizmanos: Great hero and true soldier of the people . 12

HOMEFRONT

The National Democratic Frontof the Philippines (NDFP) is an

alliance of revolutionaryorganizations with roots in the

various sectors and regions of thePhilippines. Its goal is to build a

society that enjoys nationalsovereignty, genuine democracy,

social justice, progress and peace.It seeks to unite with all forceswilling to achieve these goals.

NDFP InternationalInformation Office

Postbus 19195 | 3501 DD UtrechtThe Netherlands

Email: ndf@casema.nlwww.ndfp.net

L I B E R AL I B E R AL I B E R AL I B E R AL I B E R A T I O NT I O NT I O NT I O NT I O NI N T E R NI N T E R NI N T E R NI N T E R NI N T E R N AAAAAT I O NT I O NT I O NT I O NT I O N A LA LA LA LA L

BOARD OF EDITORSRoselle Valerio

Ed LaderaIsah Antonio

Jose Emilio Jacinto IIIN. Timmerman-Francisco

Bagani Dong-Ilay

Liberation Internationalis a publication of the NDFP

International Information Office

classes to have a better future. His questfor this future brought him into the path ofmilitant trade unionism, people’s war andparliamentary struggle. In every path hetrod, he upheld the interest of the toilingmasses first and foremost.

At the age of 11, Ka Bel volunteered as acourier for the armed guerilla movementagainst the Japanese occupation. At 20, hegot his first experience of state violencewhen he and his co-workers at the ManilaYellow Taxicab Company launched a strikeagainst unfair labor practices. Three co-workers were killed by the violent attacksof policemen and hired goons.Theexperience encouraged Ka Bel to learn moreabout the rights of the workers and this ledhim to the path of militant unionism.Together with labor leaders like FelixbertoOlalia and Feliciano Reyes, he organizedthe Confederation of Labor of the

Philippines, Philippine Workers Congress,and other labor organizations.

Even when Ferdinand Marcos declaredmartial law on 21 September 1972, themilitant labor movement persisted in theirstruggle for the interest of the workingclass with the formation of federations ofunions in Rizal, and the PhilippineNationalist Labor Organizations, until theeventual establishment of the KilusangMayo Uno (KMU-May First Movement)in 1980.

In August 1982, Ka Bel, together with othermilitant labor leaders, was arrested andimprisoned. But even the steel bars ofprison did not deter Ka Bel from the pathof the people’s struggle. He escaped fromprison in 1984 and joined the undergroundrevolutionary movement in thecountryside. Instead of a rifle, his weaponwas a portable typewriter. He became amember of a propaganda and informationunit and did organizing work among thepeasant masses. His experience in the

countryside enriched his knowledge of theconditions of the peasantry and the unitedfront principle between the workers and thepeasants.

When the US-Marcos regime fell inFebruary 1986, Ka Bel surfaced andreturned to the legal mass movement. Heassumed the chairmanship of the KMUwhen Rolando Olalia was abducted andmurdered by elements of the Armed Forcesof the Philippines. Under the leadership ofKa Bel, KMU built a strong foundation ofinternational solidarity for the working classmovement in the Philippines.

In 2001, Ka Bel took the path ofparliamentary struggle. Running under theBayan Muna (People First) party list, KaBel won a seat in Congress. He would thenwin anew in 2004, this time running underthe AnakPawis (Toiling Masses) party list.

In Congress, he introduced legislation forwage increase, genuine agrarian reform,revision of tax laws and repeal of theinfamous Human Security Act. Amidst thethievery and corruption in Congress, KaBel made a name for himself as a no-

... Ka Bel, page 1, col 3

“We will continue withyour heroism,Ka Bel”. Comrades andfriends saluteand cherish therevolutionary legacy ofCrispin “Ka Bel” Beltran.file photo.

Ka Bel, page 3, col 2 ...

3May - August 2008

HOMEFRONT

By Roselle Valerio

A humanitarian crisis has erupted inat least five provinces of Mindanao,in southern Philippines, after a fresh

escalation of fighting between the securityforces of the Government of the Republicof the Philippines (GRP) and the MoroIslamic Liberation Front (MILF) ensued on4 August, just hours after the GRP SupremeCourt ordered a stop to the signing of anancestral domain agreement.

According to international aid agencies, anestimated 250,000 civilians have alreadybeen displaced from the villages ofMaguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanaodel Norte, Lanao del Sur and NorthCotabato provinces since the start of theaerial bombings, artillery bombardment andground armed assaults of the GRP’s ArmedForces of the Philippines (AFP)purportedly aimed against units of theMILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces(BIAF). Cramped together in schoolbuildings, sports halls and other makeshiftrefugee centers, the refugees are nowfacing hunger and the increased risk ofinfectious diseases.

The GRP and the MILF were scheduled toformally sign a Memorandum of Agreementon the Bangsamoro ancestral domain on 5August before the issuance of the Court’srestraining order. The MOA calls for thedelineation of the ancestral domain of theBangsamoro people in a large part ofMindanao island and the creation of agoverning Bangsamoro Juridical Entity.

Speaking before journalists on 23 August,MILF Central Committee Chairman Al HajMurad Ebrahim said, “As far as we areconcerned, the MOA is a final document, adone deal.” The MILF, he said, cannot allowthe renegotiation of the deal which tookthe two panels “four years and eightmonths to discuss, and initialed throughthe superb facilitation of the Malaysiangovernment.”

Both panels were mandated to jointly andseparately conduct consultations andadvocacy among their respectiveconstituencies about the MOA.Apparently, according to ChairmanEbrahim, “there was a failure in consultingthe (GRP’s) constituency, to include the

US-Arroyo Regime escalates brutal warin Muslim Mindanao

250,000 civilians flee conflict areas

nonsense and genuine representative ofthe people. Many cannot believe that amember of Congress could live in a tinyand unpainted house in a Manila suburb.One only has to look at his way of life andthey will see an honest and hardworkingman of the masses.

In May 2001, Ka Bel was elected foundingchairperson of the International League ofPeoples’ Struggle, an internationalformation of hundreds of anti-imperialistand democratic organizations from morethan 40 countries. As chairperson of theILPS, Ka Bel enriched the international anti-imperialist movement with his prestige andstatesmanship and his experiences as aleader of the working class.

Ka Bel never ceased to fight and upholdthe interests of the toiling masses evenwith death threats, filing of multiple falsecriminal charges and even imprisonmentthrown at him at every turn. Instead, theseonly made him more determined.

It is perhaps fitting to retell a story abouthow Ka Bel will be forever etched in thehearts and minds of the people he served:A young man was buying a wreath for KaBel’s wake but the flowers cost more thanhe expected and was at a loss on how hecould pay for the wreath. When the vendorfound out that the flowers were for Ka Bel,she told the young man that he did nothave to pay for the wreath. It was free sinceit was for Ka Bel. The other vendors fromother stalls then made the wreath morebeautiful by adding flowers from their ownstall and by making the lettering of the sashmore elegant. They said they knew howKa Bel fought for them, the poor and theordinary folks, and it is their way of sayingthank you to Ka Bel.

Ka Bel died in the manner not to his wishesfor he always said he wanted to die by anassassin’s bullet or in the thick of a fierystruggle. But no matter the manner of hisdeath, Ka Bel is a hero of the Filipino peopleand the international working classmovement because he served them to hisvery last breath.

Residents of Kulambugan town in Lanao del Norte province pick up what’s left of aschool building after aerial and artillery bombardment by security forces of the

US-Arroyo regime. Residents accuse Arroyo of “instigating a series of armedoffensives from the MILF, and of handing over deadly pandemonium to the Moro

and non-Moro populace of Lanao del Norte”. photo from Suara Bangsamoro.

... Ka Bel, page 2

Mindanao war, page 6, col 1 ...

4 LIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERATIONTIONTIONTIONTIONINTERNATIONAL

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speeches, both within the Philippines andinternational forums, he staunchlydefended the Filipino people’s right tonational sovereignty against foreigninterference and intervention in economic,political and military affairs. He was activein all campaigns against US militaryaggression in the country, and he spokefirmly against the treacherous, lopsidedbilateral military agreements between theUS and the Government of the Republic ofthe Philippines. Always adopting theviewpoint and standpoint of one whodeeply loved his country by opposing theills of imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism andfeudalism, Ka Dan Vizmanos never failedto take and project the patriotic stand onissues affecting national sovereignty,political independence and human rights.

We learned that, even in the latter yearswhen his health was failing, Capt. Vizmanosattended rallies, fora and symposia withregularity, seldom, if ever, arriving late. Wewere told that he always gave soft butpointed reminders to the younger staff ofpeople’s organizations he worked with towork conscientiously – all in keeping withhis discipline as a former military man, andmore importantly, as a committedrevolutionary.

Long live the noble memory of Ka DanVizmanos! His great love of country andservice to the people will live on in thepeople’s struggle for national and socialliberation!

The Negotiating Panel, NationalDemocratic Front of the Philippines

provinces, the Bicol region, the Visayas andin Mindanao island.

Jeepney, bus and even tricycle driversdemanded the scrapping of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products and theOil Deregulation Law. Thousands joinedvigils, poverty and hunger fora, signaturecollecting, cultural caravans, protestparades, mock concerts, public market fora,and even a “fish strike” (fishing operationswould be suspended) exposing Arroyo’slies and demanding her ouster.

In Quezon City, where Arroyo wasdelivering her address, militant people’sorganizations like the Bagong AlyansangMakabayan (BAYAN, New PatrioticAlliance), led several thousands indenouncing Arroyo’s SONA, describing itas “pretentious”. The protesters burneddown an effigy of a glowering Arroyo atopher made-in-the-USA plane, to the beat ofdrums and a circle dance reminiscent oftribal rites in Northern Luzon.

Militant lawmakers led by Bayan Muna,Gabriela and Anakpawis congressmenboycotted Arroyo’s SONA and insteadjoined the street protests dubbed as thePeople’s SONA. Former GRP vice presidentTeofisto Guingona and representatives ofthe United Opposition also joined theprotest action. Former Philippine presidentsCory Aquino and Joseph Estrada likewiseboycotted Arroyo’s SONA.

Overseas, the protests and calls to oustthe fake president reverberated in theNetherlands, Italy, Canada (Vancouver,Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto), the USA (LosAngeles and New York), Hong Kong andAustralia. Like their counterparts on thestreets in the Philippines, protesterscondemned the lies and cover-ups inArroyo’s SONA. They exposed theworsening poverty and intensifyingoppression of the Filipino people by theUS-sponsored Arroyo regime.

In a statement issued on the occasion ofthe SONA, Professor Jose Maria Sison,Chief Political Consultant of the NationalDemocratic Front of the Philippines(NDFP), said that Arroyo has such a longrecord of lying that no one expects her todescribe the real state of the nation. Herlies, Sison said, add insult to the injuriesbeing suffered by the Filipino people.

“Only the most corrupt puppet of foreignmonopoly capitalism,” Sison asserted, “canutter such complete nonsense as that theindustrial development of a semifeudalagrarian economy can be achieved through

wanton consumption chieflyby the local exploiting classesand through unbridled foreignborrowing and superprofit-taking by the foreignmonopolies... The broad masses of thepeople are outraged that the Philippinescannot produce enough food for itself andhas become the world’s No. 1 rice importer.Extensive tracts of land have been takenaway from agriculture and used fornonagricultural purposes and real estatespeculation.”

Sison adds, “Arroyo is poised to repeatfor the nth time the lie that the reactionaryarmed forces and police can either destroythe armed revolutionary movement orreduce it to irrelevance by 2010... But therevolutionary armed forces are fightingback and seizing the initiative in politicaland military terms.

“According to reports in the mass media,the frequency and scale of tacticaloffensives and other actions of the armedrevolutionary movement have increased.The forces of the New People’s Army (NPA)under the leadership of the CommunistParty of the Philippines (CPP) are seizingmore arms from enemy military and policeforces as well as from their paramilitary andprivate security adjuncts.”

Jorge Madlos, spokesperson of the NDFPin Mindanao island, pointed out that,despite the sustained and vicious militaryoperations of the US-Arroyo regime, theNPA is getting stronger and has beenlaunching widespread and intensivetactical offensives nationwide.

“In the last six months alone,” Madlosreported, “the NPA launched more than 100tactical offensives in Mindanao island,confiscating high-powered rifles enough toarm a company. It inflicted more than acompany of fatalities and an undeterminednumber of wounded enemies.”

The Filipino people are indeed fightingback against the ever worsening conditionsof oppression and exploitation. They areundertaking all forms of struggle, includingthe legal protest movement and the armedrevolutionary movement.

In his statement, Prof. Sison concludes,“While the Arroyo regime is merely anepisode in the life of the rotten ruling

system, the revolutionary mass movementof the Filipino people for national liberationand democracy is determined to persevereuntil it achieves complete victory. At anyrate, the NDFP is ever ready to avail of anyopportunity at peace negotiations after theArroyo regime is replaced by a governmentthat shows serious interest in a just andlasting peace by addressing the roots ofthe civil war through basic social, economicand political reforms.”

... SONA protests, page 1, col 1

Activists from othercountries show solidaritywith the Filipino people,marching and chanting

against US terrorism andcalling for the ouster of theUS-backed Arroyo regime.

photo from Arkibong Bayan.

... Ka Dan, page 12

5May - August 2008

HOMEFRONT

from Ang Bayan

A literacy and numeracycampaign was launchedin a guerrilla front in the

Southern Tagalog region toprovide Red fighters the abilityto read, write and do numbers —basic requirements to betterunderstand and comprehendtheoretical studies and otherintellectual knowledge.

Just as in the case of many unitsof the New People’s Army (NPA),majority of the fighters in thisguerrilla front hailed from thelowest stratum of the peasantclass, the poor peasantry. Only a few amongthem were able to finish grade school.Others had never even set foot inside abourgeois school and thus did not knowhow to read or count.

Despite their low educational level, theyare able to understand fully the roots oftheir poverty. They are determined to takeon revolutionary tasks to end oppressionand topple the exploitative social system.However, their limited reading skillsconstrict their capacity to carry out otherfunctions that would strengthen thepeople’s army, and other duties inorganizing and mobilizing the masses.

A literacy and numeracy program wasdesigned by the platoon leadership toaddress this situation. The program aimedto teach reading, writing and arithmetic tothe Red fighters, and in the process,develop them, build their confidence andstrengthen their capacity to conducteducation and propaganda work.

The program began with a centralized studysession, which served as a basis to evaluatethe literacy levels of the participants. Thestudents were then grouped into twolevels. Students assigned to the first levelwere those who have never set foot inschool. A program was drawn up thatincluded familiarization with the alphabetand numbers and ways of reading, writingand computing.

The students in the second level, on theother hand, included those who were ableto go to school but failed to finish. Theyhave basic knowledge of reading, writingand arithmetic but they still required furthertraining. They were also taught correctspelling. They used as important readingsthe issues of Ang Bayan and other

revolutionary materials. The instructorswere comrades who attained higher levelsin bourgeois schools. Some were able tofinish high school while some were collegelevel.

In the beginning, it was easy to convincecomrades to take on literacy and numeracystudies. However, there were somestudents, especially in the first level, whobecame easily disheartened by thedifficulties encountered in learning. Theywere not used to using pencils or pens.Some students reasoned out that theysuffered headaches from too much thinkingand memorization. In such cases, theinstructors used a one-on-one approach(one teacher focusing on one student) andconvinced students who were having ahard time to continue with their lessons.

Because they were fulfilling a task that wasnew to them, the instructors alsoencountered difficulties in the course ofthe program. They nonetheless becameflexible in implementing the program, basinglessons on the students’ needs, andchoosing appropriate examples drawn fromtheir daily political tasks. For instance,computing the unit’s expenses or draftingreports on enemy movements. Theinstructors made sure that there werecollective discussions on the lessons athand. Lesson plans were also drawn up bythe instructors.

Classes were conducted daily — the firstlevel in the morning and the second levelin the afternoon. Each session ran for threeto four hours. Before dismissing theclasses, the instructors handed outhomework to the students, which were thendiscussed in class the following morning.

from Ang Bayan

Agrarian revolution is morevigorously being advanced inNegros island, in central

Philippines, along with the intensificationof the armed revolutionary struggle.

In one guerrilla front, farmers succeeded intheir campaign to raise the farmgate pricesof coffee, copra and other agriculturalproducts as a result of a series of dialogueslaunched by farmer delegations withmerchants. Farmgate prices of copraincreased from P0.50 to P1.50 (or 200%increase) per kilo; and coffee, from P2 to P5(or 150% increase) per kilo.

Farm workers also succeeded in almostdoubling their daily wages. They are nowbeing paid P120 from the previous P70.They now also receive an overtime fee ofP10 per hour if they work beyond eighthours. Meanwhile, rates for winnowinghave increased to P2 per day.

Close to 17 barangay (villages) have reapedthe initial benefits of the advancing peasantmovement in the island. These effortsenjoyed the support of other alliedorganizations and individuals in thecountryside, as well as that of churchpeople, barangay officials, municipalgovernments and other middle forces.

News of these victories spread like wildfireto neighboring barrios, towns and districts.The victories serve as a strong basis andinspiration for other farmers and farmworkers to build their organized strengthand fight for their rights.

In one village, peasants easily thwarted alandlord’s attempt to evict farmers from theland he has been claiming for his own. Thedespotic landlord used paid armed goonsand private security guards from hisplantation but he was frustrated by themilitant actions of the farmers who weresupported by other sectors.

In a coastal area, a businessman attemptedto displace some 100 families living alongthe shore. This was easily averted as thebusinessman suspended his ecotourismproject in the area as a result of theresidents’ strong resistance. [visitwww.philippinerevolution.net]

Agrarianrevolution surgesanew in Negros

Learning to read and writein the midst of war

Learning, page 6, col 3 ...

6 LIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERALIBERATIONTIONTIONTIONTIONINTERNATIONAL

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local governments, armed forces and thecross-section of the Philippinebureaucracy. That’s why there is now astrong uproar on their side.”

In a statement released shortly after theescalation of the shooting war, theCommunist Party of the Philippinescondemned the US-backed Arroyo regimefor messing up the peace negotiations inMuslim Mindanao for its own agenda ofindefinitely extending its grip on power.

The National Democratic Front of thePhilippines and all 17 allied organizations,including the CPP, have been supportingthe struggle of the MILF and theBangsamoro people for their right tonational self-determination, the return oftheir ancestral lands and the exercise oftheir full autonomy. The NDFP considersthe struggle of the Bangsamoro asconsistent with, and part of, the entirenational democratic revolutionary struggle.

In their statement, the CPP reveals that “inthe past years, the US-Arroyo regime hasbeen treating peace negotiations with theMILF in the same way that it has beentreating the peace process with the NDFP– full of deceit and treachery.” It added thatthe regime only pretends to talk peace withthe MILF and drafted an agreementdesigned all along to fail.

“The regime has further intentionally andmaliciously induced anti-Bangsamorochauvinism and upheavals,” asserts theCPP, “and is now following through withoutright military offensives against theMILF” and the civilian population.

It concluded that, “the US-Arroyo regimehas all along been interested only in ridingon the controversy raised around theBangsamoro homeland issue to justify thecall to amend the GRP constitution in orderto extend its hold on power beyond 2010.”

According to Prof. Jose Maria Sison, ChiefPolitical Consultant of the NDFP, the USgovernment and the Arroyo regime have“joint obnoxious objectives” in seeming tobe for the MOA and making the MILFbelieve that the GRP was serious aboutsigning the deal.

There were also diagnostic tests after everylesson to gauge the improvement of thestudents. There were short and longquizzes as well.

Each student was given school provisionssuch as paper, notebooks, pencils and pens.The alphabet and flash cards were used aslearning aids for the first level students.Students were also given one blackboardeach so that they could continue studyingeven outside of the designated classroom.

Comrades who were not directly involvedin the classes were likewise given relatedtasks. They contributed to the program bycreating visual aids and drawing upassignments for the students. They alsoprovided advice to students who at timesencountered learning problems.

After a month, the platoon dispersed todifferent barrios to continue with their masswork. Because this situation could no

longer accommodate regular centralizedstudies on literacy and numeracy, a follow-up program was designed to ensure one-on-one teaching. The platoon leadershipthen assigned comrades who would serveas instructors in every smaller formation.Their task was to ensure that studiescontinued during vacant hours even aseveryone performed his or her main tasks.

In a good number of guerrilla fronts acrossthe country, platoons also draw up andimplement literacy campaigns among themasses being organized, who have longbeen deprived by the reactionary state oftheir right to education.

This fruitful experience proved that Redfighters do not only learn the science ofwar. The revolutionary movement alsoensures that comrades continue to developand raise the level of their consciousnessand knowledge to further improve theirability to advance the people’srevolutionary struggles.

“Under the direction of the US StateDepartment, the US Institute of Peace hasbeen busy to help produce something likethe MOA... in order to further strengthenits position in exploiting the human andnatural resources of the Bangsamoro andin deploying US military forces inMindanao.”

Prof. Sison cited a US government reportwhich said that USIP “helped the partiescome up with creative solutions tostubborn issues of ancestral domain andstarted dialogue between disparate Moroethnic groups.” USIP reveals that “today’scomplex diplomatic landscape increasinglyrequires new tools and techniques ofconflict management, including quasi- andnon-governmental actors, to accomplishUS foreign policy goals. Because of itsability to deal with non-state actors andsensitive issues underlying civil conflict,

USIP can be a useful instrument foradvancing US interests.”

Prof. Sison asserts, “The US is notinterested in a just and lasting peace ineither Bangsamoro land or in the entirePhilippines. It is interested solely or mainlyin advancing US interests amidstconditions of armed conflict.”

Reporting on the human and social costs,the MILF revealed that the US-Arroyoregime’s regular and paramilitary armedforces are guilty of killing scores of civilians,destroying private homes, public buildings,farmlands and crops, looting and raidingof private properties. GRP forces alsosuffered more than 180 dead, one C-130transport plane destroyed and four tanksand several other military vehiclesdestroyed or heavily damaged. The MILFreported that 10 BIAF fighters have beenkilled in the armed clashes.

... Mindanao war, page 3, col 1

... Learning, page 5, col 3

Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (standing center, in black),MILF Central Committee Chairman, held a much-

awaited press conference on 23 August to presenttheir stand on the aborted ancestral domain deal

and on the ongoing hostilities in Muslim Mindanao.photo from luwaran.com

7May - August 2008

INTERNATIONAL FRONT

By Bagani Dong-ilay

As a result of the rise in food prices,total world poverty may haveincreased by 73 million to 105 million

people,” the World Bank declared in apaper, entitled “Double Jeopardy:Responding to High Food and Fuel Prices,”published on July 2 this year. In thePhilippines, 66% or 2 out of 3 Filipinos saidin a survey conducted in March 2008 thatthey felt poorer than in 2006.

According to the World Bank, global foodprices rose 83% over the last three years.The Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) on the other hand, points to a 45%increase in their world food price indexduring just the past nine months.

Hard hit by the global food crisis are thegeneral run of third world countries in Asia,Africa and Latin America. The high foodprices caused protests and riots to explodein Mexico, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal,Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Yemen,Egypt, Haiti and the Philippines. Over 100people have been killed and many moreinjured in these protests.

In Haiti, angry demonstrators drove thePrime Minister to resign. People in Haitihad been forced into eating biscuits madefrom mud mixed with vegetable oil.

There is more than enough food in the worldto feed everyone. According to the FAO,food production has risen steadily at over2.0% a year over the last 20 years, whilethe rate of population growth has droppedto 1.14% a year.

Contrary to claims by some analysts,population growth is not outstripping foodsupply. But according to Josette Sheeran,executive director of the World HungerProgram, “There is food on the shelves butpeople are priced out of the market.”

Forty years ago, much of the countries ofthe third world had yearly trade surplusesin food of $7 billion. Today, the third worldfood deficit has grown to US $11 billionper year. The FAO predicts it will grow to$50 billion by 2030.

What has brought on this present crisis oftragic proportions? It is the result ofdecades of imperialist-imposed“development” policies that haveimpoverished the third world and enrichedthe western agro-industrial monopolies.

From the introduction of the GreenRevolution in the 1960s to the so-calledstructural adjustment programs in the 1970s,and finally to the promotion of “free trade”under the slogan of “free market”globalization, many formerly food self-sufficient countries in the third world havelost their food security.

In the 1960s, the Green Revolutionmarketed “technological packages” ofhybrid seeds, fertilizers and pesticides tocountries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.Initially, the Green Revolution raised yieldsper hectare by developing rice, wheat andmaize hybrids that could be densely plantedand responded well to irrigation and highapplications of fertilizer.

World per-capita food productionincreased by 11%. But the number ofhungry people also increased by 11%. Thisis because the Green Revolution’stechnologies were more easily adopted bylarge-scale farmers. Small producers whocould not afford the technologies requiredfell heavily into debt and were driven intobankruptcy. Many smallholders, pushedout of agriculture, were forced to migrateto the city slums now common throughoutthe third world.

Others cleared new agricultural land inforests and on hillsides. But the GreenRevolution packages requiring ever higherapplications of fertilizers also rapidly

degraded the quality of the soil. Thiseventually led to falling yields.Furthermore, many of the local crop varietiesplanted by traditional farmers steadilydisappeared.

Ostensibly a project to save the world fromhunger, the Green Revolution underminedthe ability of the poor to feed themselvesby displacing them from their land anddamaging the agro-ecosystems theydepended on to produce food. But theagro-industrial monopolies like Monsanto,Cargill and others reaped windfall profitsthrough their control of seeds, fertilizers,pesticides, and other farm inputs.

The spread of the Green Revolutioncoincided with the lending bonanza byimperialist banks awash with petrodollarsto third world governments. For a time,credit was available to peasants to buy thefertilizers, pesticides and other farm inputs.Third world countries were encouraged topromote agricultural exports to pay theloans. But the oil crisis in the 1970s broughtthe world into recession. Many of thecountries of the third world defaulted ontheir loans leading to the global “debtcrisis” of the 1980s.

To enable the defaulting countries to payback their debts, the IMF and World Bankdevised the so-called StructuralAdjustment Programs (SAPs) of the 1980-

Global food crisis: Bane to the poor,boon to the agro-industrial monopolies

The price of rice has risen 100% since Gloria Arroyo came to power in 2001; 3.7million Filipino children are malnourished; the price of the poor man’s fish has

gone up 25% in one year. Filipino women demand the ouster of the US-Arroyoregime for mismanaging the economy and aggravating the food crisis in the

country. photo from Arkibong Bayan.

Food crisis, page 10, col 1 ...

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INTERNATIONAL FRONT

One hundred sixty seven delegatesrepresenting 118 organizations from25 countries gathered in Hong

Kong on 15 and 16 June to hold thefounding assembly of the InternationalMigrants Alliance. Among theorganizations represented, 102 signed upas founding members while 16 came asobservers. The assembly also noted sixorganizations who have signified tobecome founding members but were unableto attend due to travel and financialdifficulties.

“For a long time, others spoke on our behalf.Now we speak for ourselves.” Accordingto the alliance’s initiators, “the time for thevoice of the grassroots migrants has comewith the resounding success of the IMAfounding assembly.”

In the spirit of international solidarity, theparticipants shared each other ’sexperiences, learned from each other’sactions, debated and reached unities whichwould guide the IMA in its future programs.Inputs from a battery of speakers who weremainly from grassroots organizations ofmigrants were helpful for the participantsto arrive at common understanding ofmajor issues that migrants face. After apainstaking process of finding commongrounds, the basic principles of the IMAwere firmed up.

The first day of the assembly featuredpresentations on the different themesrelevant to migrants. Held at the CityUniversity of Hong Kong and co-organizedby the Women Empowerment in MoslemContext of the Southeast Asia ResearchCenter (WEMC-SEARC), the program wasattended by more than 350 migrantsincluding about 200 foreign workers –mostly domestic workers – from HongKong.

The Very Revd Andrew Chan, dean of theSt. John’s Cathedral and board member ofthe Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW)and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants(APMM) that are both based in HongKong, welcomed all the delegates and bidthe conference to achieve its aims.

Afterwards, renowned advocate formigrants, Dr. Irene Fernandez ofTenaganita (Women’s Force) delivered thekeynote address to the assembly. Sheexpounded on the global context of the

current migration process, how theseprocesses have changed and were shapedby the developments of the global capitalistsystem, as well as the increased forcedmigration, especially of women.

She also took note of the apparent debatebetween the right to migrate against theright of people against displacement. Shesaid that such was a false debate, imposedby people with a superficial understandingof what it means to be a migrant. “Freemovement and the right not to bedisplaced, are two essential elements to theassertion of collective and individual self-determination,” Fernandez explained.

A series of panel discussions featuringnoted anti-globalization experts andactivists from around the world outlinedthe broad concerns of the IMA. Thethemes discussed were: wages, jobsecurity, remittances and GATS Mode-4;the war on terror, immigration and refugeesand the criminalization of undocumentedmigrants; violence against women,trafficking and globalization; health, familyand the social costs of forced migration;and organizing, building of alliances andcampaign strategies.

The panel presentations became veryimportant inputs in the finalization of theAlliance’s Consitution and General Programof Action. Included in the activities andprograms is a call to challenge the GlobalForum on Migration and Developmentwhich will be held in Manila in October 2008,

and a challenge to form country chaptersand expansion into Africa and LatinAmerica.

Elected to the governing InternationalCoordinating Body were Jose Gonzales ofFIOB for Latin America; Teresa Gutierrezof May 1st Coalition for the USA; SolPajadura of Migrante-Ontario for Canada;Mr. Ramesh Pandit for South Asia; Mr. UfukBerdan of ATIK for Europe; Mr. NhelMorona for Middle East and Africa; andDr. Irene Fernandez for East Asia andOceania. Also elected in the ICB asmembers-at-large were: Ms. Tess Tesalonaof Immigrant Workers Center, Canada; Prof.Robyn Rodriquez of PhilForum, USA; Ms.Rumana Sheikh of BOMSA, Bangladesh;Ms. Grace Punongbayan of MIGRANTE-Europe; Ms. Eni Lestari of AMCB,HK; Mr.Ali of Federation of Workers from Turkeyin Switzerland; Hsia Hsiao-chuan ofTaiwan; Ms. Connie Bragas-Regalado ofMigrante-International, Philippines.

Elected members of the ICB ExecutiveCommittee were: Eni Lestari of AMCB-HK,chairperson; Ufuk Berdan of ATIK-Europe,vice chairperson; Connie Bragas-Regaladoof Migrante-Philippines, secretary-general;Teresa Guttierez of the May 1st Coalitionin USA, deputy secretary-general, and;Tess Tesalona of Immigrant Workers Centerin Canada, Treasurer.

The establishment of the IMA marks ahistoric chapter in the movement ofmigrants and immigrants for rights andwelfare and for comprehensive socialchange. It was a timely effort of the migrantsof the world to forge a stronger and higherunity in the face of daunting problems andissues that worsen the exploitation andoppression of the migrants. As theassembly’s theme aptly put it, “it is nowtime to speak for ourselves”. [from IMAcommuniqué]

Global migrants’ allianceholds founding assembly

9May - August 2008

INTERNATIONAL FRONT

The International League of Peoples’Struggle (ILPS) held its ThirdInternational Assembly (TIA) from

June 18 to 20, 2008 in Hong Kong. Theassembly carried the theme, “Strengthenthe peoples’ struggle, unite to build a newworld against imperialist aggression, stateterrorism, plunder and social destruction!”

Two hundred sixty-five (265) participantsrepresenting 165 peoples’ organizationscoming from 30 countries attended theassembly.

GN Saibaba, deputy General Secretary ofthe Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF)of India read the keynote address ofdistinguished poet Varavara Rao, whocould not join the assembly because hewas denied permission to travel by theIndian authorities. In his speech, VaravaraRao underscored the theme of the TIA as“most relevant and urgent in the context ofgrowing imperialist military attacks andunbridled plunder of the resources, laborand markets of oppressed countries.” Hefurther said, “ILPS has grown into amassive league of anti-imperialist,revolutionary democratic forces the worldover. It has emerged as the centre ofoppressed nations and people by bringingtogether the struggles of all continents onthe globe.”

Professor Jose Maria Sison, Chairpersonof the International CoordinatingCommittee (ICC), gave his report byinternet video. He cited the most significantachievements and shortcomings of theILPS since the second assembly, thefavorable conditions for furtherstrengthening the ILPS, the challenges andurgent tasks.

General Secretary Arman Riazi also gavehis report giving further details of ILPSachievements and underlining the brightprospects in further strengthening andbuilding the ILPS. Discussions followed thereports.

A fitting tribute was given to Crispin “KaBel” Beltran, the founding chairperson ofthe ILPS, who passed away on May 20,2008.

A panel of distinguished speakers spokebefore the plenary session of the assembly.The speech on “Neoliberal Globalization

and Labor” which wasto be delivered by “KaBel” was read by ICCmember Elmer C. Labog.ILPS DeputyChairperson ManolisArkolakis spoke on “USMilitarism and War”.Haluk Gerger spoke on“Anti-terror Laws andHuman Rights”. IreneFernandez spoke on“Labor and Migration”.GN Saibaba spoke on“Forced Displacementand Rural Communitiesin India”. And WahuKaara spoke on “African People’sResistance to Imperialist Globalization.”Arundhati Roy who could not bepersonally present sent a contributionentitled “Attacks on Rural Communitiesand Displacement.” A lively open forumfollowed.

Workshops were held on the 18 concernsof the ILPS. They featured prominentresource persons and producedcomprehensive and specific resolutionswith highly important information andanalysis as well as urgent calls to action.

The General Declaration of the assemblysaid: “Today, the world monopoly capitalistsystem is caught up in one of its biggestcrises since the Great Depression. This isprincipally due to the unraveling of theimperialist policies of ‘neoliberalglobalization’ and ‘global war on terror’.The US, which is the core of the system, isafflicted by a grave economic and financialcrisis and is generating waves of economicand social ruin in all imperialist countries,in the largest so-called emerging marketsand worse than ever before in the generalrun of semi-colonies and dependentcountries in Asia, Africa and LatinAmerica…In the face of the intensifiedexploitation and oppression by theimperialists and their reactionary puppets,the people have intensified theirresistance…The daily worseningconditions of oppression and exploitationrequire the ILPS to intensify its efforts toarouse, organize and mobilize the peoplein their millions in building a new and better

world of greater freedom, development,social justice and global peace.”

A new International CoordinatingCommittee was elected composed of 27regular members and 8 alternate members.In its very first meeting, on 21 June 2008,the newly-elected ICC elected its officersto compose the International CoordinatingGroup (ICG) and made several importantdecisions for the ICG and the GeneralSecretariat to implement for thereinvigoration of the ILPS as well as inpreparation for the next ICC meeting laterthis year or early next year.

The ICC re-elected as ICC chairperson,Prof. Jose Maria Sison, chairperson ofInternational Network of Philippine Studies,Netherlands; as Deputy Chairperson, GNSaibaba from the RDF of India; as DeputyChairperson for Internal Affairs, Dr. CarolP. Araullo, chairperson of BAYAN,Philippines; as Deputy Chairperson forExternal Affairs, Manolis Arkolakis from theCommittee Against Military Bases andDependency of Greece; as GeneralSecretary, Arman Riazi from the DemocraticAntiimperialist Organization of Iranians inGreat Britain; as First Deputy GeneralSecretary, Elmer Labog, chairman ofKilusang Mayo Uno of the Philippines; asSecond Deputy General Secretary, AliyahBrunner of Umut Publications of Austria;as Treasurer, Theo Droog from Nederlands-Filippijnse Solidariteitsbeweging of TheNetherlands; and as Auditor, Malcolm Guy,founding member of the Immigrant WorkersCentre from Canada. [from ILPScommuniqué]

International anti-imperialist leagueholds third assembly

ww.ilps-web.com / www.tia-ilps.org

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INTERNATIONAL FRONT

By Roselle Valerio

US-trained and financed armed forcesof Georgia in the Caucasus regionlaunched a massive military attack

against the inhabitants of South Ossetiaand Russian peacekeeping forces on 7 and8 August, killing up to 1,400 civilians andwounding hundreds more, based onreports from South Ossetian officials. Thepeacekeeping troops, according to Russianofficials, suffered 64 dead and about 300wounded.

Artillery fire, missiles and bombs raineddown for two days on the South Ossetiancapital city of Tskhinvali, destroying mostlycivilian structures like private homes,hospitals, schools, power stations, and gasand water supply systems, and sendingthousands of civilians fleeing into themountains several kilometers away.Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvilialso ordered an invasionary armored forceinto South Ossetia. Accusations ofgenocide emerged after refugees told ofhow the Georgian invasionary troopsherded and locked up civilians in theirhomes and set them on fire, and how

Georgian tanks ran over civilians whocouldn’t run fast enough.

Russian security forces retaliated bydriving into and occupying the Georgiancity of Gori. Reports indicated that 160Georgian soldiers were killed and another300 were missing. On 26 August, thegovernment of Russia recognized theindependence of South Ossetia andAbkhazia. Both territories have declaredtheir independence from Georgia severaltimes since 1990. Aside from Russia, theindependent states of South Ossetia andAbkhazia are also recognized by Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, and the Palestineruling party Hamas.

On the day before the Georgian aggressionagainst South Ossetia, a joint US-Georgianmilitary exercise, “Immediate Response2008”, was completed. It involved more than1,000 US Army, Marine and National Guardtroops. The US air force had ferried fromIraq 2,000 Georgian troops. Georgia, with apopulation of about 4.6 million, maintainsthe third largest contingent of theoccupation forces in Iraq, after the US andthe UK.

Ever since Georgia became an independentstate in 1991, the US has been working toturn the territory into a pro-Western enclavein the heart of the Caucasus. The aim is tosafeguard the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oilpipeline from the Caspian Sea to theMediterranean, and to stoke political andmilitary turmoil in Russia’s southernborders.

Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chief PoliticalConsultant of the National DemocraticFront of the Philippines (NDFP) asserts,“It is very clear that Georgia would not havegone on its military adventure withoutbacking from the US. Soon after theGeorgian aggression, the US mobilized moreUS military forces to go into Georgia underthe pretext of humanitarian mission ofproviding food and other supplies to thecountry’s population... The US and theEuropean Union within the NATOframework are involved in the armedconflict between Russia and Georgia.”

Prof. Sison contends, “Emboldened by USand NATO support and the US promise ofNATO membership for Georgia, Saakashvilihas long undertaken provocations againstRussia and angled for the fortification ofGeorgia as a base of US military andeconomic power... To stay in power, he hasbeen subservient to and dependent on USimperialism and has frenziedly drummed upGeorgian nationalism against othernationalities in South Ossetia andAbkhazia. These were autonomous regions

US, NATO stoke genocidalwar in the Caucasus

90s. The SAPs were loan programs withconditionalities attached to them. The debt-ridden countries were offered loans so theycould pay back the western banks. To getloans from the World Bank, third worldgovernments had to sign IMF agreementsto remove tariff barriers to foreign importsand privatize state companies.

This opened up these countries towidespread “dumping” of highly-subsidized grain surpluses of the US andEuropean agro-industrial monopolies.Peasants in the third world could notcompete against grain sold at prices belowtheir costs of production and largenumbers were driven to bankruptcy. .

Then came “free market” globalization. TheWTO was formed in 1995 to promote theso-called market-led economicdevelopment. The WTO’s Agreement onAgriculture (AoA) restricts governmentpower to implement agricultural policies ondomestic supports, export subsidies,market access, tariffs, and quotas. Thesemechanisms are needed by sovereign

nations to regulate their farming sector andensure stable food supplies. However, theWTO has a number of rules that allow theUS and EU to exempt their subsidies fromWTO restrictions.

Today three companies, Archer DanielsMidland, Cargill, and Bunge control theworld’s grain trade. Chemical giantMonsanto controls three-fifths of seedproduction. In the last quarter of 2007, evenas the world food crisis was breaking out,Archer Daniels Midland’s profits jumped20%, Monsanto 45%, and Cargill 60%.Speculation is rampant. After buying upgrains, traders are hoarding andwithholding stocks, further causing pricesto spiral.

The imperialist imposed “development”policies have ruined the ability of manythird world nations to feed themselves. Atthe same time, imperialist countries andtheir agro-industrial monopolies have beenable to take control of world foodproduction and trade, putting them in aposition to manipulate prices and squeezethe rest of the world.

Successive Philippine presidents fromFerdinand Marcos to Gloria M. Arroyohave dutifully followed the economicprescriptions of the imperialist-controlledmultilateral agencies, the World Bank, IMFand WTO. The Philippines is now sufferingthe same fate like the rest of the third worldfrom these imperialist imposed“development” policies.

Because of these policies, the Philippineshas become perennially dependent on theimportation of rice and other agriculturalproducts. From 722,000 tons in 1997, riceimportation reached 1.7 million tons in 2006.

From being an exporter of agriculturalproducts in the 1970s and 1980s, thePhilippines has become a net importer sincethe 1990s. The country now has to importup to two million tons of rice per year fromsuch countries as Thailand and Vietnam.Ironically, these countries send theiragricultural technicians to study rice cultureat the International Rice Research Institute(IRRI) which has been based in thePhilippines since 1960.

... Food crisis, page 8, col 3

US, Russia, page 11, col 1 ...

11May - August 2008

INTERNATIONAL FRONT

By Isah Antonio

In another victory for the Nepalesepeople’s revolutionary struggle,Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as

Comrade Prachanda, chairperson of theCommunist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M), was elected prime minister of theFederal Democratic Republic of Nepal(FDRN). Comrade Prachanda, the firstdemocratically elected prime minister of theFDRN, garnered 80 percent of the votescast by the Constituent Assembly of Nepallast 15 August 2008, in Kathmandu.

The election of Comrade Prachanda cameon the heels of the CPN-M gaining apopular mandate in the elections for theConstituent Assembly where they got 40percent of all elected delegates to theAssembly. The CPN-M participated in theelections after a decade-long armedstruggle which deposed the monarchy andestablished Nepal as a republic. Its victoryshowed that the revolutionary movementhas the overwhelming support of theNepalese people and is thus set to advancefrom one major political victory to anotherand continue its historic task of buildingsocialism in Nepal.

In its message of congratulations toComrade Prachanda, the National Councilof the National Democratic Front of thePhilippines (NDFP) hailed the election ofComrade Prachanda as a great achievementin the series of victories in pursuing thegeneral line of new democratic revolutionthrough people’s war. “It is because of theirrevolutionary strength that the Nepalipeople and the CPN-M have successfullyundertaken a series of political actionswhich include peace negotiations, alliancework, mass uprising and parliamentarystruggle, to cause the overthrow of theroyalty and the establishment of the firstNepalese democratic republic.”

The NDFP declared that “the Filipinopeople and the revolutionary movement inthe Philippines have high hopes that underthe leadership of Comrade Prachanda asprime minister, the Communist Party ofNepal-Maoist will continue to build on theiraccumulated revolutionary victories toaccomplish the reforms that will strengthennational independence, realize thedemocratic restructuring of the state andarmy, bring about land reform and developnational industrialization, promote anational, scientific and mass culture andadvance an independent foreign policy forpeace and development.”

Comrade Prachanda electedfirst Prime Minister of Republic of Nepal

within the Georgia Soviet Socialist Republicin the Soviet era.”

Predictably, the propaganda machinery ofUS and its NATO allies worked overtime topresent to the world’s mass media adistorted picture of the conflict. OutgoingUS president George W. Bush spearheadedthe misinformation campaign bymisrepresenting Russia as the aggressorand violator of the sovereignty andterritorial integrity of Georgia.

Largely ignored are official declarations anddirect military aggressions of the US,wantonly violating the sovereignty ofindependent nations. The 1992 DefensePolicy Guidance paper, authored byAmerican neoconservatives PaulWolfowitz and Lewis Libby, explicitlydeclares that the dominant considerationfor US strategy is to prevent the emergenceof Russia or any other country as a newrival. The policy categorically includes “pre-

emptive war” and the use of nuclearweapons.

Prof. Sison lashed out at the “hypocriticalUS preachings about respect for thesovereignty and territorial integrity ofcountries and about honoring internationalconventions.

“US imperialism is the number one violatorof international conventions and norms,”he said, “it has launched wars ofaggression... and continues to flagrantlyviolate the sovereignty of Iraq andAfghanistan.”

Meanwhile, the anti-imperialist networkInternational League of Peoples’ Struggle(ILPS) issued a call on the people of theworld to demand that US imperialism getout of the Caucasus and the Balkans, andthat “the US and NATO cease to engage inmilitary intervention and aggression andthat the imperialist powers US, EuropeanUnion and Russia and their puppets ceaseto generate wars and threaten the peopleof the world with a nuclear war.”

Prof. Jose Maria Sison, chairperson of theInternational League of Peoples’ Struggle(ILPS) and NDFP Chief Political Consultant,pointed out that there are great possibilitiesof global significance arising from therevolutionary strength of the Nepalesepeople, the CPN-M and the FDRN. Hestated that Nepal can serve as a base forpromoting the global historic mission ofthe working class for defeating imperialismand building socialism and for generatingthe broadest possible mass movement ofinternational solidarity against imperialismand reaction.

The Nepalese people and the Party havedaunting tasks at hand. Internally, theforces of feudalism, the compradorbourgeoisie and reaction, and externally,imperialism, will continue to target therevolutionary forces and thwart moves toestablish a socialist Nepal. Local andforeign reactionaries, with US imperialismat their head, will manipulate, sabotage andattack whatever gains the revolutionaryforces have achieved. It is imperative forthe Party and the revolutionary movementto continue undertaking actions to furtherthe interests of the Nepalese people.

In doing so, the revolutionary movementof Nepal led by the Communist Party ofNepal-Maoist will continue to have thesupport of the Nepalese people and thepeoples of the world against any attacksby the imperialists and reactionary forcesto destroy the victories accomplished bythe Nepalese revolutionary movement inbuilding a true democratic and independentNepal.

... US, Russia, page 10, col 3

http://www.nepalmountainnews.com

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By NDFP Negotiating Panel

The Negotiating Panel of the NationalDemocratic Front of the Philippines(NDFP), together with it consultants

and staff, extends its highest tribute toCaptain Danilo Vizmanos and extols the lifehe led in pursuit of the national democraticaspirations of the Filipino people. He liveda life full of wisdom, courage and integrity,using his knowledge and skills as a formermember of the reactionary Philippine Navyto serve the Filipino people.

Ka Dan Vizmanos was a genuine patriot, arevolutionary democrat, a human rightsadvocate, and a good man. He devoted thebest of his years to the Filipino people’sstruggle for national liberation anddemocracy against imperialism and localreaction.

While still in active service in the navy, hewrote a patriotic thesis calling for amongother reforms the reorganization of theArmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)along the lines of the People’s LiberationArmy of China, in order to wean the AFPaway from its dependence on the US for itstraining and equipments. For this, he wasput in a “freezer” by then-presidentFerdinand Marcos and the AFP leadership.He was not intimidated but became evenmore resolute and courageous in fightingfor the cause of national and socialliberation.

When martial law was declared in 1972,Capt. Vizmanos resigned his commission,citing “incompatibility with an armed forcesthat was converted into a huge private armyand an oppressive instrument of theMarcos dictatorship.” Subsequently, hewas arrested in 1974. He showed the depthand strength of his commitment indetention by withstanding two weeks ofbrutal torture, including truth seruminjections, and helping lead the hungerstrike of political prisoners to demandfreedom for nursing mothers, the elderlyand the sick, and for better treatment andconditions of prison. He acted as one ofthe spokespersons of the political prisonersin negotiating with the military custodialforces under the Office for Civil Relationsof Carmelo Barbero, Undersecretary ofNational Defense.

After his release from detention, Capt.Vizmanos took up human rights advocacyon behalf of political prisoners and joinedthe militant mass movement, first in the

Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedomand Democracy (NAJFD), the Justice forAquino, Justice for All (JAJA) and finallyin Bagong Alyansang Makabayan(BAYAN, New Patriotic Alliance). He wasalso instrumental in the formation of SELDA,the organization of former politicaldetainees under Marcos. He was one ofthose who filed a class suit against theMarcos regime and testified against him.

Ka Dan Vizmanos was a man of the sharpestintellect and noble ideals. He believed infighting corruption in the militaryinstitution, and in establishing a militarythat was neither mercenary nor anti-peoplein character, through reforms and patrioticcommitment. Through his writings and

Message of condolences to family and comradeson the passing away of Captain Danilo Vizmanos,

true patriot and soldier of the people

Ka Dan Vizmanos: Great heroand true soldier of the people

Retired Captain Danilo Vizmanos graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academyat Kings Point in New York in 1950 and soon after joined the officer corps of thereactionary Philippine Navy. He was in Vietnam in the 1960s as a member of theOffice of the Inspector General. He saw the burned children victims of US bombings.In 1970 he recommended to the US-Marcos regime the recognition of the People’sRepublic of China, the adoption of a non-aligned policy in foreign relations, andthe abrogation of existing military agreements with the US. In reaction, his superiorsput him on a “freezer”, thus stopping his further promotion.

By 1972, he was favorably comparing the Vietnamese Liberation Movement to theNew People’s Army. Upon declaration of martial law in 1972, he resigned from theArmed Forces of the Philippines. From then on, he became a militant activist leaderfor more than 30 years.

Capt. Vizmanos, or Ka Dan to many, passed away after a long illness on 23 June2008. He is survived by four children, Diane, Erwin, Alice and Danny, and 12grandchildren. His wife, Alicia, died in 2006. Diane said the family would rathercelebrate their father’s life than mourn his death. “He lived a full life and devotedit to the Filipino people…he’s my idol,” she said in an interview. NDFP ChiefPolitical Consultant, Professor Jose Maria Sison, declared: “We and all hiscountrymen take pride in Ka Dan Vizmanos, great hero and true soldier of thepeople.”

Ka Dan wrote three books: Through the Eye of the Storm in 2000, Martial LawDiary and Other Papers in 2003, and A Matter of Conviction in 2006. In theintroduction to his third book, he said it is “a critique of a social order that haschained our country to its colonial moorings despite more than half a century of‘independence.’ It is also a critique of successive regimes whose response to thepeople’s cry for social justice and emancipation from economic bondage has beenthe consistent application of state repression, militarization and counterinsurgencyoperations. It also includes a critical analysis of significant national issues, statedecisions and policies whose effects and implications on the people are far-reachingand extends to future generations.”

At a tribute-celebration in his honor less than two months before he died, he toldeveryone to continue fighting. “Beyond Gloria, we must break free from the chainsof colonial rule.” [By Ed Ladera]

Ka Dan, page 4 ...