The people's revolutionary unity rising further in the reactionary elections and in the time to come
Fr. Santiago "Sanny" Salas
Spokesperson in Eastern Visayas
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
April 27, 2004
Message of the NDFP-EV on the 31st anniversary of the NDFP
All the progressive and patriotic classes and sectors in Eastern Visayas who are united in the people's democratic revolution stand up to hail the 31st anniversary of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on April 24. The NDF in Eastern Visayas continues to soar through the able leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the fast-growing armed strength of the New People's Army, and the vigorous revolutionary mass organizations. The NDF-EV continues to grow in prestige and potency as the representative of the revolutionary movement and the budding people's democratic government.
Today, the revolutionary movement in Eastern Visayas is present in various levels of strength in all the provinces, more than 90 percent of the municipalities, and in 40 percent of the barangays outside the urban and town centers. The revolutionary movement also has a rapidly growing mass base of several hundreds of thousands. It is in this ever widening and deepening mass base that the NPA continues to develop and further accumulate armed strength from the present level equivalent to three battalions, augmented by militia and self-defense units equivalent to seven battalions. The rising capability of the NPA is seen in increasing numbers of both big and small tactical offensives, as well as in several defensive actions where NPA units actually got the better of military and police units.
The revolutionary armed strength in the countryside of the region built up over the decades also serves as the precondition for the rise of united front work. Because they recognize the armed strength of the people, various fruitful aboveground and underground alliances have been formed with individuals and groups even in reactionary institutions like the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police. The revolutionary movement has also sought cordial relations with the mass media and other sectors in support of their democratic rights as well as to show respect for their opinions.
Nowhere is the revolutionary unity of the people more concretely manifested than in the successful implementation of revolutionary dual tactics in exposing and opposing the present reactionary elections. The revolutionary forces in the countryside expose the bankruptcy of the elections and propagate the revolutionary solution. On the other hand, revolutionary power is asserted and tacitly recognized by the reactionary power in the successful implementation of the Permit-to-Campaign (PTC) fee in the revolutionary territories. Furthermore, the strength of the revolutionary movement is such that it has encouraged more and more patriotic and progressive elements and forces to assert their rights and interests. Lesser reactionaries have also sought support and coordination with the revolutionary movement against the die-hard reactionaries. As the reactionary elections show, the surging armed revolutionary movement is inspiring other progressive and patriotic forces and movements.
The various reactionary candidates are handled with proper consideration of their positive attitude towards the revolutionary movement, their willingness to resolve the roots of the armed conflict, and their interest in pursuing formal peace negotiations.
Whether or not a new puppet regime will be in charge after the reactionary elections, the NDF-EV will continue to support the peace initiatives of the NDFP national leadership. We urge the local political candidates in the region to help influence their principals in the national level to continue formal peace negotiations with the NDFP in the framework of The Hague Joint Declaration and the subsequent mutually-acceptable agreements. As one of the poorest regions in the Philippines, the NDF-EV believes that the peace talks should continue towards the formation of an agreement on socio-economic reforms that is on the agenda. The NDF-EV also supports the formation of the Joint Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. We believe that it is only just and correct that the Philippine government should move for the striking of the CPP-NPA and Prof. Jose Ma. Sison from the "terror list" of the US and European Union. All political prisoners should also be released as an additional confidence-building measure.
Finally, we in the National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas call on the peasants, workers, women, youth and students, professionals, church people, government employees and national minorities in the region to join and continue fighting for national democracy and socialism in the country.
Long live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines!
Long live the Filipino people!
-----------------------------------------------------
For confirmation, contact:
Roy Santos, NDF-EV Media Liaison Officer
Cellphone No. 0918-3112138
-----------------------------------------------------
Back to top
| 