‘patay-malisya’ (feigning innocence)
The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) again lambasted the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government for trying to conceal its hand on the recent inclusion of armed revolutionary group CPP-NPA among the United States government's list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTO).
“Even though Malacanang denies without fail its handiwork in the tagging of CPP as a terrorist organization, we are certain that this labeling is linked with plans to prolong US military presence and armed intervention in the country. Now, Malacanang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) could justify their all-out attacks against CPP-NPA members, their supporters and even legal and progressive mass organizations,” said KMU Secretary General Elmer Labog.
“Nagpapatay-malisya pa si Gloria na walang kinalaman ang Malacanang dito. (Gloria feigns innocence with regards to Malacanang's hand on this directive) But even with the repeal of the Anti-Subversion Law, past governments persisted in carrying out vicious militarization campaigns under the pretext of counter-insurgency and its intention to crush the CPP-NPA. The AFP's Oplan Makabayan (Operation Plan Patriot) that started during the Estrada administration and which is being continued by Arroyo, already victimized thousands of innocent civilians in the course of their fight against communists,” Labog said.
Labog further said that the CPP was long before considered a ‘nemesis’ of the United States government. “The group is still the most significant people's armed movement opposing US-dictated policies and worldwide domination. The CPP provided strong leadership in the armed ‘people's war’ in the Philippines for more than 33 years.”
The labor leader said that even if Malacanang underestimates the CPP's record as a revolutionary movement, it is still the most revolutionary organization waging armed resistance against the corrupt and repressive social system perpetuated by Arroyo and her predecessors. “Unlike Arroyo and her ilk, the CPP demonstrates the highest form of patriotism. They want to liberate the country and the Filipino people from local and foreign exploitation.”
“For the record, the CPP was among those who led the successful overthrow of former US puppet and dictator Ferdinand Marcos. After it was outlawed in 1972 with the declaration of Martial Law, it even grew extensively and even united underground revolutionary sectoral groups grew with the formation of the National Democratic Front (NDF). During the broad anti-bases campaign in 1991, it participated actively in the people's fight to kick out US military bases in the country. Very recently, it contributed greatly to the victorious ouster of another corrupt and repressive US puppet, Joseph Estrada. It survived numerous anti-insurgency military campaigns launched by the government. It was also able to correct serious organizational errors that resulted from the government's psy-war operations more effectively. We can say that the CPP is really a formidable force to beat.”
Meanwhile, the labor leader said that Arroyo has no right to demand the CPP-NPA to give up armed struggle. “As long as the government remains ineffective in addressing the people's most important and urgent concerns, armed resistance would persist. More and more people would keep on finding solutions to their problems.”