Our silence only serves the oppressor

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In commemoration of the golden anniversary of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the Christians for National Liberation (CNL) – Negros remembers the crucial historical contribution of the church and religious communities of diverse denominations in Negros, who played a vital role in unifying the broad masses of Negrosanons and overthrowing the Marcos dictatorship.

Today, as the world faces unprecedented crises and the Philippines faces another Marcos regime, it is imperative that we revive the spirit of solidarity and take on the mantle of leadership once more. We must continue to advance the people’s democratic revolution to greater heights, fueled by the example of our predecessors and our collective commitment to social justice and national liberation. The church and religious communities must unite with the people to denounce the worsening socio-economic conditions caused by US imperialism’s disastrous neoliberal policies that keep our economy in perpetual backwardness.

The current state of affairs in Negros Island demands our militant response. Rampant militarization and terror tactics deployed by the Marcos Jr regime have resulted in countless human rights violations and displacements. It is time for the church to take a stand and hold the fascist armies accountable for their crimes against the people. We call on all religious individuals to join us in speaking out against these atrocities and standing in solidarity with the oppressed. Our silence only serves the oppressor, and we must uphold our values of compassion and justice for all, no matter the cost.

Christianity has often been co-opted by the powerful to maintain oppressive systems, but Jesus himself was a revolutionary who stood with the marginalized and proclaimed a message of liberation and social justice. While religion has been used to reinforce feudalism and backward ideals, it remains an important part of many Filipinos’ lives. As progressives, we must engage with respect and meaning, helping people see Jesus’ liberatory legacy. CNL Negros is committed to reaching the faithful masses and turning them towards the revolutionary tide. CNL-Negros pledges to bolster its membership by undertaking rigorous studies of revolutionary principles.

CNL-Negros also firmly upholds the revolutionary principle of armed struggle as the primary means of advancing the national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective. It fiercely upholds the New People’s Army (NPA) as the genuine army of the Filipino people with the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines in the genuine struggle towards liberation. Revolutionary Christians must not only work to gather support for the NPA, but also actively join the NPA and the CPP in revolutionary struggle. Only through militant action can we achieve genuine liberation and justice for the Filipino people.

We also demand the immediate resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP without any preconditions and based on mutually acceptable principles, which have been clearly stipulated in previously signed agreements. We also condemn the extrajudicial killings of unarmed revolutionaries and the all-out war waged by the Philippine government against the revolutionary movement, which only leads to further violence and suffering among the masses. It is crucial that we continue to fight for genuine peace and justice, and hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable for their actions.

All christians must participate in transforming the social realities in the new Millennium as it says, “THE CHURCH moves further into the third Millennium of the Christian Era as a pilgrim people, guided by Christ, the ‘great Shepherd’”. (John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Novo Millennia ;Ineunte, 1:AAS 93 (2001))
Inspired by the sacrifice of our revolutionary martyrs, we urge our fellow believers to remain steadfast in our mission to serve the marginalized communities, guided by our Christian praxis to uphold the dignity of the poor. We vow to journey with them, fight for their rights, and never relent until oppression is eradicated from our midst.

Long live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines!
Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines!
Long live the New People’s Army!
Onward with the People’s War!
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Our silence only serves the oppressor