Editorial:
Resist the terrorism of the US-Arroyo

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

State violence has intensified against leaders of patriotic and democratic people�s organizations, indicating the intensity of the crisis of the ruling system and the Arroyo regime�s worsening political desperation.

From January to March, 26 officials of Bayan Muna and other progressive organizations in various provinces nationwide have been killed, 18 of them in the last two weeks. These killings are meant to instill fear and silence an angry people.

All of the victims were known advocates of the people�s interests and various people�s struggles. Among them were Councilor Abelardo Ladera and Fr. William Tadena, staunch supporters of the just strike launched by mill and farm workers in Hacienda Luisita; and Atty. Felidito Dacut who battled against heinous cases of military violence in Eastern Visayas.

They represented the impoverished people�s thorough loathing for the US-Arroyo regime and led efforts to demand just wages and genuine land reform, fought against military abuses, opposed relentless increases in the prices of oil and other basic goods and services, opposed new tax burdens and called for the ouster of Gloria Arroyo from power. Thus the regime�s ruthless response.

Contrary to Arroyo�s expectations, the mounting cases of armed suppression against progressive and militant organizations have elicited greater sympathy and support from the middle forces, such as church people, media workers, teachers, government officials at the local and national levels and even forces overseas. The people have not been cowed, but are outraged and cry out for justice.

Only the fascist and reactionary armed forces and US military assistance and intervention have been propping up the extremely isolated Arroyo regime.

The regime�s violent response to the people�s resistance further highlights the justness of their demands and struggles. The people must show the connection between their struggles against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism and their demand to overthrow the onerous Arroyo regime with the latter�s intensifying fascist attacks against the people.

It is likewise crucial for the people to grasp an important lesson taught by the Arroyo regime: that the ruling classes will never of their own accord relinquish their privileges to give even the slightest and most immediate relief to the poor. The people, in advancing their struggles, will have to face even greater hardships and sacrifice. They must make a stand and do so with ever greater courage and militancy.

It is correct for militant and progressive organizations to persevere in asserting their civil liberties and political rights as well as their right to struggle for their demands through legal means in the face of the Arroyo regime�s moves toward open fascist rule, and especially its drive to have the Anti-Terrorism Bill enacted.

Their sturdiest shield is the correctness of their struggle and the people�s organized strength. A broad antifascist united front similar to that which brought down the Marcos dictatorship may emerge from this struggle.

There is an even more important lesson being taught by the Arroyo regime: that only revolutionary armed struggle can overthrow reactionary armed rule and completely address the demands of the suffering people.

It is thus correct for the New People�s Army (NPA) to intensify revolutionary armed struggle. As state terrorism holds sway, conditions become excellent for the acceleration of NPA recruitment and the intensification of tactical offensives against the state�s armed minions.

The NPA must target in particular the fascist troops responsible for the killings and other abuses against the people. The people�s army will launch such offensives within guerrilla zones to weaken the AFP and PNP�s fascist forces and draw them away from centers of legal mass struggles.

Through the NPA�s tactical offensives and other military actions, the Arroyo regime and its armed minions are slowly weakened, and justice meted on those responsible for inflicting fascist brutalities on the people. Every offensive, big or small, contributes to the overall objective of smashing the puppet and antipeople Arroyo regime.

21 March 2005
English Edition

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