On intensifying AFP aggression against the MILF-BIAF
Central Committee
Communist Party of the Philippines,
February 22, 2000
The massive military operations of the AFP against the MILF-BIAF's Camp Omar since February 19, the eve of the scheduled round of talks between the MILF and GRP negotiating panels, is an arrogant act of provocation and a flagrant violation of the ongoing peace process between the MILF and GRP.
The Communist Party of the Philippine roundly condemns the AFP for shamelessly stabbing the MILF-BIAF in the back. This treachery is a big insult to the peace negotiations and the ceasefire agreement between the MILF and GRP. More than this, it has wrought great havoc and damage on ordinary Moro and non-Moro peoples in central and southwestern Mindanao.
It is completely within reason for the MILF-BIAF to exhaust all military, political, diplomatic and other means to thoroughly resist and frustrate the reactionary US-Estrada regime's evil assault. It is ever-clear that the reactionary, bloodthirsty USEstrada regime bears full responsibility for the likely eventual collapse of the peace negotiations between the MILF and GRP and more widespread and intense armed conflict.
It is the duty of the Party and all its allied organizations within the NDF to tirelessly support and assist the revolutionary and progressive Moro forces who are relentlessly being attacked by the Manila-based reactionary, puppet and fascist forces. This is in accordance with the NDF-MILF agreement on cooperation and mutual support signed on July 24, 1999 and is strictly demanded by revolutionary principle. Thus, the Communist Party of the Philippines calls for the further intensification of tactical offensives as well as mass protests and struggles in the countryside and urban areas.
Under the direct command of AFP chief Gen. Angelo Reyes, hundreds of troops of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion and other AFP troops supported by cannons, war planes, tanks and armored vehicles attacked Camp Omar in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. Camp Omar is one of the leading camps of the MILF recognized by the GRP as stipulated in the Second Joint Acknowledgment signed by the panels of both parties on October 6, 1999. It is the same camp attacked by AFP troops on January 9-12 while the MILF was busy with prayers at the end of Ramadan, the most important annual religious feast of Muslims the world over, besides being the eve of another scheduled round of talks between the MILF and GRP panels.
The AFP's repeated attacks that were unleashed until the camp was completely overrun merely constituted a step in a scheme by highly placed officials of the GRP under the US-Estrada regime to demolish the peace process and go all-out to enforce a military solution that had already failed in the past. Along with launching Oplan Makabayan against the NPA, the AFP is implementing Oplan Pisces Alpha against the MILF-BIAF. With the start of the year 2000, the AFP began implementing its new Campaign Plan Balangai that focused on extending and intensifying military offensives against the revolutionary forces (particularly the NDF and MILF) nationwide.
Thus, after collapsing the peace talks between the NDF and GRP, it is the MILF-GRP peace negotiation that is now being destroyed by the US-Estrada regime. Armed assaults are being intensified, arbitrary and unreasonable conditions are being imposed in quick succession that are tantamount to no less that the outright surrender and self-criminalization of the MILF, past agreements are repeatedly being violated and an arbitrary and unrealistic deadline is being forcibly imposed. | The AFP�s repeated attacks that were unleashed until the camp was completely overrun merely constituted a step in a scheme by highly placed officials of the grp under the US-Estrada regime to demolish the peace process and go all-out to enforce a military solution that had already failed in the past. |
In 1999, seven more Philippine Army battalions, two oversized Scout Ranger battalions and six Special Forces battalions were transferred to Mindanao. Majority of the armored vehicles, tanks, helicopters and war planes of the AFP were also concentrated in central Mindanao. The entire 6th Infantry Division, a brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division and a brigade of the 4th Infantry Division have set up a huge wall of armor and offensive strength that encircles the major MILF-BIAF camps in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
Since November 1999, attacks against MILF camps have been conducted more and more often, with minor camps being attacked at first and eventually, big camps like Camp Omar. The despised and fascist CAFGU, vigilantes and cultists like the Tadtad are again massively being organized and armed. Surveillance of revolutionary forces and ordinary citizens is being conducted more extensively. There are indications that suggest the revival of the evil genocidal campaign of Marcos, Estrada's fascist master and mentor. Through such attacks and various kinds of pressure, the MILF is being forced into capitulation or else caused to become severely weakened and divided. The ultimate goal of the US-Estrada regime's all-out militarization, armed provocations and attacks and fascist repression is to suppress the Moro people's struggle for self-determination. Along with this is, it ensures that US troops could freely and securely use central and southwestern Mindanao for their basing needs, maneuvers and supplies and that foreign monopoly corporations could seize oil and natural gas deposits in Liguasan Marsh and surrounding areas.
But the rapid deterioration of the reactionary ruling system's economic and political crisis is beyond the USEstrada regime's subjective wishes. The reactionary, puppet and fascist Estrada ruling clique is being seriously exposed and isolated. Even among the ranks of reactionaries, there is rapidly spreading and intensifying disgust over Estrada's corruption, brusqueness and erratic administration. Armed and unarmed resistance against the ruling regime and the corrupt semicolonial and semifeudal system it is defending are fast spreading and gaining strength. Continually developing relations and cooperation between the MILF and NDF constitute a big push to the more rapid advance of revolutionary struggle nationwide and will lead to even bigger blows against reactionary power and strength.
The ruling US-Estrada regime's defilement of the peace negotiations and agreements between the MILF and GRP and before this, of the peace negotiations and agreements between the NDF and GRP, present glaring proof of the closed-mindedness of US imperialism and its local reactionary minions regarding the most impassioned cries of the broad masses of the Filipino people. Repeated, bitter experiences teach us that we can never rely on pleas and negotiations with the reactionary ruling classes to resolve the national and social problems of the Moro people and the entire Filipino people.
To defend their national, social and political rights and welfare, the people must rely mainly on painstakingly advancing the revolutionary armed struggle until total victory.
| 
