News
NDFP's 30th anniversary commemorated
ON April 24, it was exactly 30 years since the National Democratic Front's (NDF) 10-Point Program was drafted, signalling the birth of the revolutionary alliance. The occasion was commemorated by comrades and allies in the Philippines and Europe through a lightning rally on April 23 in Manila, a forum and photo exhibit on April 24 at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and a salusalo (shared meal) in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
More than 60 members of revolutionary underground mass organizations joined the lightning rally at Avenida. As they marched, they waved banners of the NDFP, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People's Army, Makabayang Samahang Pangkalusugan, Christians for National Liberation, Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions, Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan, Kabataang Makabayan, Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan, Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan and Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino.
The highlight of the forum at the UP was a telephone call by CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, greeting comrades on the occasion of the NDFP's anniversary. The more than 300 who attended the forum gave Ka Roger thunderous applause. In a statement he read, Ka Roger described the NDFP as an indestructible bastion of the Filipino people's struggle.
Also read during the gathering were statements from the NDFP National Executive Committee, NDFP allied organizations and comrades Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni.
Meantime, a photo exhibit portrayed the NDFP's objectives and the various fields of revolutionary work, from military work to international work and diplomacy. A multimedia presentation was also shown on the NDFP's 12-Point Program.
Karl Marx's 185th birth anniversary celebrated
"WITHOUT a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement," was Prof. Jose Ma. Sison's opening remarks before youth and teachers who had gathered on May 5 to celebrate the 185th birth anniversary of the great communist teacher Karl Marx.
"The most important instrument for a revolutionary movement for it to have a strong foundation are cadres with a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the revolutionary ideology of the proletarian class....," said Prof. Sison. He likewise said that it was the continuing study of Marxism-Leninism that molds activists to become full-fledged cadres.
Sison added that "we must form study circles and increase the number of cadres with a firm grasp of Marxism-Leninism." This will ensure the consolidation of the broad mass movement towards the correct revolutionary direction.
American troops fire at anti-US demonstration in Iraq
US President George W. Bush declared on May 2 that the war in Iraq was over. Thanks to American troops, he said, the Iraqi people are now happy with the restoration of peace and democracy.
This is a far cry from the actual events. Disorder and an intense economic crisis now prevail in Iraq. There is no water, electricity or food in the cities. Criminality and lawlessness are rampant. And a bloody confrontation looms between American troops and the Iraqi people angered at the US occupation.
Up to 13 Iraqis, among them children age seven to 10, were killed and scores wounded when American soldiers opened fire at demonstrators on April 28 and 30 in the town of Falluja. The demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of American troops from a school being used as a barracks by the soldiers.
This is not the first time American troops dealt violently with demonstrations. In the early part of April, more than 10 Iraqis who rallied at Mosul were killed by American troops.
As anti-US demonstrations spread in the various Iraqi towns, the US occupation of the country will remain unstable. The war is supposedly over, but there are plans to send three to four thousand more American troops to Baghdad.
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