News
NPA seizes 4 firearms in Western Mindanao ambuscades
The New People's Army in Western Mindanao seized four rifles in two ambushes launched on May 11. According to correspondence reports from the region, four enemy forces were also killed in these offensives.
In Tinuyop, Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte, guerrillas of the NPA's Front Feliciano-A confiscated three M14 rifles when they ambushed patrolling soldiers coming from Barangay Sipakong on May 11. Three CAFGU elements were killed in the fighting.
That same day, in Concepcion, Misamis Occidental, NPA forces from Front Monterosa District I ambushed 12 armed goons who went on a rampage when their boss, ex-Col. Benjamin Pilota, won as mayor of Concepcion. A carbine rifle was confiscated from a slain CAFGU element who belonged to Pilota's private army.
Oil prices hiked anew
Oil prices were raised anew on May 18. Gasoline and diesel prices rose by P1 per liter and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P1 per kilo. The oil companies have announced another hike in the prices of petroleum products in June.
Ever since the reactionary government deregulated the oil industry in April 1996, prices of petroleum products have gone up by over 250%. In recent months, oil prices have gone up by as much as P5.
Because of deregulation, foreign oil companies have unbridledly amassed mounting profits by bleeding the people dry.
Israel massacres Palestinian refugees
The Israeli Defense Forces massacred Palestinians in the Rafah, Nusseirat and al-Bureij refugee camps in the Gaza Strip from May 18 to 20. It was the most heinous massacre of Palestinians in a year.
Israelis opened fire on 3,000 Palestinians protesting Israel's demolition of their houses. The Palestinians fought with rifles, grenades and stones. Forty-one Palestinian youth and children were killed and over 80 others were wounded when Israel launched "Operation Rainbow" which involved the demolition of hundreds of houses, the destruction of roads and the eviction of people from Rafah. Up to 1,600 people lost their homes.
The demolitions were carried out because the area was allegedly being used as a base and armory by Palestinian terrorists.
The destruction of houses and infrastructure, which was accompanied by the indiscriminate firing of missiles from tanks and helicopters, has been strongly condemned by Palestinians and the world's peoples. Leaders of the United Nations considered them war crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law. On May 19, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling on Israel to stop the demolitions and comply with international law. As before, the US was the only country that refused to sign the resolution.
Meanwhile, Palestinian militants said that the dastardly massacre has only strengthened the resolve of the Palestinian people to wage resistance and pledged to carry on the uprising until they free themselves from Israeli occupation and oppression.
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