Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP-1930)                          Hunyo 2021

 

Party website : www.pkp-1930.com

 

E-mail : philcompar@yahoo.com                 E-mail : parisantonio2001@yahoo.com

 

 

CONTENTS  OF  THE  JUNE  2021  ISSUE  OF  SULONG ! (Forward !),

THE  MONTHLY  ORGAN  OF  THE  PARTIDO  KOMUNISTA NG  PILIPINAS

(PKP-1930, the Philippine Communist Party)

 

 

1. International Criminal Court takes Initial Step which may Lead to Punishing

                        “The Punisher”.

 

2. Joint Statement of Communist and Workers’ Parties : The Peoples must Strengthen the Struggle Against NATO and Imperialist Plans !

 

3. Bagong Pamunuang Ultra-Rightist sa Israel – Walang Pagkakaiba sa Dating Rehimeng Netanyahu.

 

4. Nais Baguhin ni Pangulong Digong ang Posisyon ng Pilipinas Hinggil sa Israel

                        at Palestine.

 

5. Afghanistan --- Nahaharap sa Giyera-Sibil na Maaaring Pagwagian Muli ng

                        Grupong Taliban.

 

6. Mga Refugees na Venezolano sa Bansang Colombia, Nagiging Target ng

                        Pang-Aabuso at Diskriminasyon.

 

7. Teroristang Pagpapasabog ng N.P.A. ng Land Mine sa Masbate, Mariing Kinokondena.

 

8. UNICEF, Nanawagan sa Pamahalaan na Imbestigahan ang Pamamaslang sa

                        mga Bata.

 

9. Felicitations on the 90^TH Birthday of Cuban Comrade, Army Gen. Raul Castro Ruz.

 

10. Greetings to the 21^st Congress of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

 

11. Support the Colombian People’s Uprising !

 

12. Present Main Concerns of the Philippine Peace and Solidarity Council (PPSC)

            (Contribution to the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of the World Peace

                   Council, conducted thru ZOOM from Kathmandu, Nepal, on June 19, 2021)

 

13. Message of Condolence to the Family and Friends of Former President Benigno

                        Simeon C. “P-NOY” Aquino, III.

 

 

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• INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT TAKES INITIAL STEP
• WHICH MAY LEAD TO PUNISHING “THE PUNISHER”
• President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte is proud of the monicker, “The Punisher” that local and foreign media gave him when he was still mayor of Davao City. A former hardened prosecutor, the mayor made regular motorcycle rounds at night of seedy and remote areas of the city with select bodyguards (later nicknamed as his “death squad”), building a reputation of toughness in meting instant “justice”, or punishment, upon suspected criminals, primarily drug pushers and addicts.
• He instilled fear to project an image of city discipline which is good for business and capitalist attraction. Tales circulated about drug pushers and violent criminals disappearing into unknown killing fields. It was dangerous to get his ire. He was “The Punisher” who cannot and will not be punished for any of his own transgressions of the law and of human rights.
• During the past Noynoy Aquino administration, then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima dared to investigate the mayor for reported cases of “extrajudicial killings” (EJKs) in his anti-drugs/anti-crime vigilante-type of “war” in Davao City. As later revealed during a senate investigation by Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed former member of the “Davao death squad”, De Lima would have been assassinated during her trip to Davao, had she pursued her plan to dig up suspected Davao killing fields. De Lima later ended up in detention when Duterte became president and made allegations of her involvement in the illegal drugs trade –- allegations based on tales offered by convicted drug lords serving time at the national penitentiary.
• As mayor, Duterte consorted with the maoist terrorists, turning a blind eye to their extortion, equipment-burning, assassination and other terrorist activities which victimized both businessmen and ordinary people in their so-called “liberated areas” in or near his city. In turn, the maoists didn't mind the bloody excesses in his tough “law-and-order” stance as he prepared his bid for the highest national position, as both the mayor and the maoist terrorists were not unacquainted with human righs violations. (Torture and murder were also employed in the maoists' internal purging campaigns, which reportedly victimized a thousand of their own members who were suspected of being government agents.)
• Then Mayor Duterte cultivated alliances with political moneybags – the heirs of the Marcos dictatorship, the Villar housing and real estate family empire, the Quiboloy church-cum-media “holy empire”, and many more. In the 2016 elections, he also got the maoists' support for his presidential bid, even if the above-ground leaders of the maoist movement were already allied with another presidential candidate (Grace Poe, who included a maoist leader in her senatorial line-up).
• Duterte launched his “war-on-drugs” as soon as he became president in July 2016, using the unreformed national police force long noted for involvement in the drugs trade as his main implementor. This immediately sparked reports of wholesale nationwide EJKs. At the same time, Duterte awarded cabinet and other ranking positions to a number of maoist leaders who had fantasies about forging a “revolutionary coalition government” with him, never mind if such has no support among the people. The Duterte-maoist honeymoon later ended when maoist attacks on government forces continued despite the holding of “peace talks” hosted by the Norwegian government.
• According to government figures, around 6,000 were killed in Duterte's “war-on-drugs”, most of them poor drug addicts and small-time dealers allegedly killed by arresting officers when they “fought back” (“nanlaban”) with weapons. Others were simply assassinated or “executed” by unknown vigilantes. Human rights campaigners now claim that the casualty is actually more than 3 times the government figure, with many of the victims executed by unknown assailants who are suspected to be the police and other drug suppliers out to silence their distributors (the small-time “pushers”) and end-users (the addicts).
• Duterte also compiled and made public a “narcolist” of local government officials, middle-level police officers and civilians allegedly involved in bigtime illegal drugs trade, based on “intelligence” reports culled by him from undisclosed sources. Inclusion in this list became the greatest fear of everyone, and silenced any dissent against him. The successive liquidation (assassination) of a number of those listed, along with a number of “collateral damage”, prompted the immediate migration to other countries of many others in the list, along with their families. The most sensational liquidation was that of a town mayor who was killed by policemen who were allegedly serving an arrest warrant on him while he was already detained at a local jail. The usual narrative of “fighting-back-with-a-weapon” was given as justification, and the head of the murderous police team was promoted.
• Duterte never stopped being a prosecutor, or “The Punisher”. During the 2016 electoral campaign, he promised to end criminality, government corruption and the illegal drug problem within 3 to 6 months of his inauguration. He also promised to fatten the fish in Manila Bay by filling the waters with the cadavers of drug pushers, addicts and other criminals. To him, all addicts are potential murderers, brigands and rapists, citing reports that the use of the crystal meth chemical (or “poor man's cocaine”, the country's common illegal drug) allegedly always lead to brain damage and to being a menace to society due to criminal derangement.
• On many public occasions, he justified the police use of superior force to subdue suspects, and even the preemptive shooting of those who would appear to “fight back” with any weapon. The usual suspects are those in the ever-expanding village lists of “reported” drug pushers and addicts. They are not presented with any search or arrest warrant, but are simply “visited” in their homes under Operation “Tokhang” (“knock-and-advice”), and then “invited” for a ride to the police station. Many fall victim while being “visited” or while under “invitation”.
• With Duterte and his national police chief (now Senator Bato de la Rosa) egging a more hardline “war-on-drugs”, police forces throughout the country responded with virtual contests or “quotas” on the number of hits. In turn, human rights groups started to submit complaints to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), claiming Duterte's personal direction and liability for the murder (EJK) of thousands, adding up to a genocidal crime against humanity. Information were also submitted about the pattern of EJKs allegedly committed or ordered by Duterte when he was still mayor of Davao City, starting at the turn of this century.
• When ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda took cognizance of the submissions and started to undertake a preliminary investigation, Duterte publicly warned her never to come to the Philippines, as he would personally feed her to the crocodiles at the crocodile farm in Davao. When this threat did not stop Bensouda from continuing with her preliminary investigation, Duterte ordered Philippine withdrawal from the ICC. This move was of no effect, as the ICC had already assumed jurisdiction over the Duterte case. This only raised questions as to the propriety of Duterte's withdrawal order, considering that it was the Senate which approved Philippine adherence to the Rome Statute that created the ICC.
• (Note : Earlier, Duterte also publicly threatened to slap and kick then US president Barack Obama when he meets him, for criticizing his bloody anti-drug war in the Philippines. But when the chance came for them to meet at an ASEAN summit, he did not come to the meeting that Obama attended, feigning some illness. Duterte's trolls are always quick to justify his threats as mere “jokes”.)
• This June 14, a day before she retired from the ICC, Bensouda formally requested the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC for authority to commence an investigation into Duterte's war on drugs, “for possible crimes against humanity involving murder.” Her 57-page “Request for Authorization of Investigation on the Situation in the Republic of the Philippines” is the result of only the preliminary investigation, which is just the first phase of the investigation. The next phase is the formal investigation, also by the Office of the Chief Prosecutor, if the request to investigate is approved by the Pre-Trial Chamber. Approval will be based on the ICC's jurisdiction and the admissibility of the case.
• Jurisdiction was already acquired by the ICC even before Duterte was able to withdraw Philippine membership in the ICC. As regards admissibility, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque contends that this case is inadmissible because Philippine authorities are able and willing to prosecute the alleged crimes, and that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now investigating EJK cases in the anti-drug war. Under the ICC's complementarity rule,  the  ICC will investigate and prosecute only when Philippine authorities are “unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution” of the alleged crimes of the official involved (i.e., Pres. Duterte).
• Clearly, the DOJ investigation does not concern Duterte, but low-ranking police officers only, and on this matter, the office of the president even objects to the full disclosure of police records for reasons of “national security”. The DOJ investigation cannot therefore be used to prevent the ICC's investigation of Duterte under the complementarity rule. Also, Philippine law and jurisprudence contradict any invocation by Philippine authorities of the complementarity rule. First of all, regular investigative and prosecutory offices and agencies in our country (DOJ, NBI, PNP) are all under the control of the president. Any act or decision of these offices and agencies can be stopped, reversed or modified by the president, at any time.
• Secondly, even the Ombudsman, the constitutional body authorized to investigate and prosecute cases against all appointive and electives officials, has no power to investigate and prosecute a sitting president, members of Congress, or any other official who may be removed only by impeachment. Thirdly, a sitting president in the Philippines cannot be sued in any criminal or civil case. As in the case of Pres. Estrada and Pres. Arroyo, they were sued and prosecuted only after they stepped down from office. Thus, Philippine authorities are clearly “unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution” of the alleged crimes of Pres. Duterte.
• It can therefore be expected that the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC will grant the authority to its chief prosecutor to proceed with the investigation of Duterte. So much will now rest on the new Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan of England, in conducting the investigation, and in prosecuting Duterte in the final trial phase of this case. Duterte of course cannot be expected to recognize the ICC, and would be free of the ICC up to the end of his term in June 2022. He cannot run for another presidential term, as that would violate the single presidential term limitation in the Constitution. He cannot circumvent this by running for vice-president, because in case he wins, he could again be president if something suddenly happens to the elected president.
• What Duterte badly needs is a very friendly administration to be elected next year. Because if the opposition wins, they would only be too happy to turn over “The Punisher” and his minions (primarily Bato de la Rosa) to the ICC for appropriate punishment.
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• JOINT STATEMENT OF COMMUNIST AND WORKERS' PARTIES :
• THE PEOPLES MUST STRENGTHEN THE STRUGGLE
• AGAINST NATO AND IMPERIALIST PLANS
• • (Paunawa : Ang pinagkaisahang pahayag na ito ng mga Partido Komunista at Partido ng Manggagawa sa buong daigdig ay hinggil sa bagong mga mapandigmang balak ng North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) na binalangkas sa pagpupulong nito sa Brussels, Belgium, sa buwang ito. Ang pagbubuo ng pinagkaisahang pahayag na ito ay sa inisyatiba ng Partido Komunista ng Gresya.)
    • • The Communist and Workers’ Parties declare loud and clear that they denounce the aggressive plans of the imperialist organization of NATO, which are being escalated following its recent Summit. New and old pretexts are being utilized such as security, defence, climate change, cyberattacks, and other asymmetric threats in order to escalate their aggression  against the peoples, causing a new unbridled arms race.
    • The “NATO 2030” agenda, which is essentially the strategic doctrine of NATO for the next decade, updates and implements all the previous dangerous decisions taken over the previous period. Thus, “NATO 2030” constitutes the escalation of aggression, a preparation for war, and a proof of fierce competition with Russia and China. The military encirclement of Russia, the targeting of China and Iran, the announcement about a nuclear first strike, and the giant exercise “DEFENDER-Europe 21” refute any bogus claims about “the peace and security of the peoples”.
    • The workers and the other popular strata are not in need of a so-called “new Cold War”, nor any imperialist plans, interventions, and wars in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, the Caucasus region, the Black Sea, the Southeast Mediterranean, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
    • The peoples have shed enough blood!
    • They have the power to fight against the dangerous plans and to strengthen the struggle in every country against NATO and any kind of imperialist plans that massacre the peoples; against military bases and any kind of weapons of mass destruction possessed by the imperialists.
      • They need to struggle to form the conditions for the workers and their power to end inter-imperialist competition, wars, and organizations.
    • • The most fatal and dangerous virus is capitalism !
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BAGONG PAMUNUANG ULTRA-RIGHT SA ISRAEL –

WALANG PAGKAKAIBA SA DATING REHIMENG NETANYAHU

 

            Naalis mula sa pagiging punong ministro ng Israel si Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, ngunit ang pumalit sa kanya ay katulad rin niyang ultra-reaksiyonaryo. Ang bagong prime minister na si Naftali Bennett, at ang kanyang main coalition partner na si Yair Lapid, ay pawang mga zionist extremists na nais magpatuloy sa pangangamkam ng mga lupa ng mga Palestino, samantalang tumuturing sa lahat ng mga Palestino bilang mga “terorista” daw.

 

            Si Bennett ay matagal nang kinatawan sa Knesset (parliyamento ng Israel) ng mga illegal settlers, at  kilala sa pagyayabang na marami na siyang napatay na mga Arabo. Ilang araw matapos manumpa bilang punong ministro, iniutos ni Bennett ang pag-bomba sa Gaza bilang “pagganti” daw sa ginawang pagpapalipad ng mga “incendiary” na mga lobo mula sa Gaza. Bale bomba ang katapat ng lobo, para kay Bennett.

 

            Ang bagong pamunuan sa Israel ay tagapagtanggol ng konsepto ng “Jewish supremacy” hindi lamang sa loob ng Israel, kundi sa lahat ng occupied territories na kinamkam ng Israel mula sa mga Palestino. Dahil rito, walang maaasahang pagbabago ang mga Palestinong nasa ilalim ng military occupation sa West Bank at East Jerusalem, ang mga Palestinong nasa ilalim ng 15-taon nang “seige” at blokada sa Gaza, ang mga Palestinong nabubuhay bilang mga 3^rd-class o 4^th-class citizens sa loob ng 1948 territory ng Israel, at and mga Palestinong nabubuhay bilang 3^rd o 4^th-generation na mga refugees sa iba't-ibang lugar ng kanilang kinapuntahan (o “diaspora”). 

 

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NAIS BAGUHIN NI PANGULONG DIGONG ANG POSISYON NG

PILIPINAS HINGGIL SA ISRAEL AT PALESTINE

 

            Noong Mayo 27 ay nagkaroon ng botohan sa UN Human Rights Council, kung saan ang Pilipinas ay bumoto nang pabor sa panukala na magbuo ng isang pandaigdigang komisyon na mag-iimbestiga sa mga war crimes na ginawa ng Israel sa panahon ng 11 araw na pananalakay nito sa Gaza Strip. Pinuri natin sa isang artikulo dito sa Sulong! ang hakbang na iyon ng pamahalaan, na consistent sa mga dating posisyon ng pamahalaan na pabor sa karapatan ng mga Palestino.

 

            Ngunit ipinatawag sa Ministry of Foreign Affairs ng Israel si Philippine Ambassador Macairog Alberto, at pinagsabihan na “unacceptable” daw sa Israel ang ginawang botong iyon ng Pilipinas. Imbes na ipagtanggol ang posisyon ng DFA na pabor sa Palestine, pinagalitan ni Pangulong Digong Duterte ang mga kinatawan natin sa UN, at sinabihan na i-withdraw daw nila ang botong iyon. Nang malaman niya na hindi pwedeng i-withdraw ang boto, pinagsabihan ni Digong ang DFA na ang mga maseselang isyu tungkol sa Israel ay dapat munang I-clear sa kanya. Dito makikita na iba ang posisyon ni Digong, na mas pabor pala sa Israel.

 

            Sa ganitong pananaw ni Digong, magbabago ang posisyon na pinangalagaan ng Pilipinas sa loob ng 5 dekada --- mula pa sa panahon ni Marcos hanggang kay Noynoy Aquino. Kapag nawala ang suporta ng Pilipinas sa mga Palestino, at mapalitan ng pagsuporta sa Israel laban sa mga Palestino, mahahanay muli ang Pilipinas sa maliit na grupo ng mga bansang pinamumunuan ng Estados Unidos na nagkakanlong sa Israel na may discredited na mga patakarang racist. Reaksiyunaryo ang ganitong pagbabago ng patakaran ni Digong, na unang ipinahiwatig ni  Digong sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pagbili ng mga armas mula sa Israel, at opisyal na pagdalaw sa Israel (ang unang asawa ni Digong ay isang Amerikanang Hudyo) kasama ang kanyang anak na si Davao City Mayor “Inday Sara”.

 

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AFGHANISTAN --- NAHAHARAP SA GIYERA-SIBIL NA

MAAARING PAGWAGIAN MULI NG GRUPONG TALIBAN

 

            Habang nalalapit ang Setyembre-11 na deadline para sa pag-alis ng mga tropang Kano at iba pang puwersa ng NATO mula sa Afghanistan, patuloy naman ang opensiba ng Taliban upang muling mangibabaw sa bansang iyon. Panay ang teroristang rocket attacks ng Taliban sa mga kampo ng pamahalaan, at nasakop pa nila ang border crossing area patungo sa Tajikistan. Isang rocket attack ng Taliban ang sumira sa isang ospital, at kasamang nawasak doon ang maraming mga bakuna kontra sa covid at polio.

 

            Ang muling pangingibabaw ng Taliban sa kabuuan ng Afghanistan ay isang malagim na pangitain para sa sambayanan doon. Sa panahon ng pangingibabaw noon ng “theocracy” ng Taliban ay may marahas na pamamahala ang mga mullah (mga religious  leaders na muslim), at wala silang pakundangan sa mga karapatang demokratiko at mga karapatang pantao. Hindi pinayagang makapag-aral ang mga babae, walang-paggalang sa mga karapatan ng kababaihan, at hinuhuli at nilalapastangan ang mga babae na lumalabas sa tahanan nang hindi nakasuot ng “burqa” (kasuotang  bumabalot sa buong katawan at may parang screen na nakatabing pa sa mga mata).

 

            Ang mga artworks na sinasabing “un-islamic” ay sinira, at maraming mga cultural treasures ng bansa (lalo na sa mga museo) ang winasak sa panahon ng pamamahala  ng Taliban. Sa panahong iyon ay naging kuta rin ng iba't-ibang grupong terorista ang Afghanistan.

 

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MGA REFUGEES NA VENEZOLANO SA BANSANG COLOMBIA,

NAGIGING TARGET NG PANG-AABUSO AT DISKRIMINASYON

 

            Dahil sa grabeng panggugulo ng imperyalismong Kano sa Venezuela sa nakaraang dekada, nagdulot iyon ng paghihirap ng sambayanan, na naging sanhi ng paglisan ng mga 6 na milyong Venezolano mula sa kanilang bansa. Mga 1.8 milyon sa mga economic refugees na iyon ay nasa Colombia sa ngayon, ngunit sila ay nagiging target ng diskriminasyon, stigmatization at abuso. Sa nakaraang 6 na taon mula 2015 hanggang 2020, hindi kukulangin sa 1,933 na Venezolanong refugees sa Colombia ang pinatay, at 836 ang nawawala.

 

            Mayroon ring 2,319 na kababaihang Venezolana, na ang karamihan ay mga under-aged na mga dalagita, ang nakaranas ng panggagahasa at iba pang porma ng sexual violence mula 2015 hanggang 2020. Samantalang sinasabing bumababa ang crime rate na bumibiktima sa mga Colombiano, tumaas naman nang mga 2.8-times (280%) ang crime rate na bumibiktima sa mga refugees mula sa Venezuela. Ito ay isang nakalulunos na produkto ng “undeclared war” ng Estados Unidos at ng Colombia laban sa rebolusyong Bolivariano sa Venezuela.

 

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TERORISTANG PAGTATANIM AT PAGPAPASABOG NG LAND MINE,

NA GINAWA NG N.P.A.  SA MASBATE, MARIING  KINOKONDENA

 

            Inamin ng nagpapakilalang si “Raymundo Buenfuerza”, tagapagsalita ng “Romulo Jallores Command” ng maoistang New People's Army (NPA) sa Bicol, na sila ang nagtanim at nagpasabog ng anti-personnel land mine (improvised explosive device, o IED) sa Barangay Anas sa Masbate City noong Hunyo 6. Ang pagsabog na iyon ang pumatay sa FEU football player na si Kieth Absalon, 21 anyos, at sa pinsan niyang si Nolven Absalon, 40 anyos, habang sila at ilan nilang kamag-anak ay nagbi-bisikleta lamang. Ang isang 16 anyos na anak ni Nolven ay nasugatan rin sa pagsabog.

 

            Sang-ayon sa pahayag na iyon ng NPA, isa raw pagkakamali ang nangyari, dahil napagkamalang sundalo o pulis ang mga napatay at nasugatan. Hindi ito kapani-paniwala dahil kasama sa grupo ng NPA na nagtanim at nagpasabog sa land mine ay ilang ka-barangay ng mga biktima, at kilala nila na mga sibilyan ang mga biktima. Hindi rin maaaring ituring na “aksidente” lamang ang pangyayari, dahil sa autopsy report ay lumabas na ang 2 nasawi ay nagtamo, hindi lamang ng “blast injuries”, kundi gayundin ng mga tama ng baril. Maliban na sila ay pinasabugan ng improvised na bomba, sila ay tinarget rin at  pinaputukan ng mga baril.

 

            Sa pahayag ng NPA ay humihingi daw sila ng kapatawaran mula sa pamilyang Absalon at sa publiko. Sagot naman ng mga pamilya ng mga biktima na dapat panagutan ng mga NPA ang kanilang teroristang krimen. Dapat lamang na mariing kondenahin ang ginawang teroristang pag-atakeng ito ng NPA sa Masbate, dahil ang paggamit ng land mine ay isang teroristang krimen na ipinagbabawal sa ilalim ng International Humanitarian Law dahil sa idinudulot nitong grabeng panunugat, pambabalda, pagpapahirap at kamatayan, at dahil rin sa walang pagtatangi ito sa mabibiktimang mga combatants at mga civilians.

            Ang mga “person-activated” land mines (IEDs) na naka-disenyo para sa maramihang pamamaslang at pambabalda nang grabe, ay prohibited o ipinagbabawal sa ilalim ng 1997 Ottawa Treaty (ang “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines, and on their Destruction”). Gayundin, ang anumang “command-detonated” o “person-activated” land mines na nakatuon laban sa mga sibilyan ay ipinagbabawal sa ilalim ng 1996 Amended Protocol 2 na lalong nagpalawak sa saklaw ng 1980 Conventional Weapons Convention.

 

            Ang mga pandaigdigang conventions at tratado laban sa paggawa, pagtatanim at pagpapasabog ng mga land mines ay nabuo dahil sa pagkasindak ng pandaigdigang komunidad sa nangyaring maramihang pamamaslang at pambabalda na dulot ng mga land mines na ginamit ng maoistang Khmer Rouge sa Cambodia  noong huling bahagi ng 1970s at unang bahagi ng 1980s, matapos maibagsak ang madugong  rehimen nina Pol Pot doon. Ang paggamit ng land mines ng maoistang CPP-NPA sa ating bansa ay parang pagkopya sa teroristang gawain ng maoistang Khmer Rouge sa Cambodia na pinamunuan noon ng kanilang idolo na si Pol Pot.

 

            Kaisa ang PKP-1930 sa pagkondena sa paggamit ng mga land mines at sa iba pang mga teroristang gawain ng maoistang CPP-NPA. Kaisa rin ang PKP-1930 sa panawagang panagutin sa batas ang mga teroristang gawain ng maoistang CPP-NPA.

 

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UNICEF, NANAWAGAN SA PAMAHALAAN NA

IMBESTIGAHAN ANG PAMAMASLANG SA MGA BATA

 

            Ang United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) ay nanawagan sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas na imbestigahan at panagutin ang mga pumatay sa 2 bata kamakailan, kaugnay sa anti-drug at anti-terrorist wars ng pamahalaan. Ang isa rito ay si Angel Rivas, 12, na kabilang sa 3 di-armadong Manobo na pinatay ng militar nang pumunta sila sa kabayanan ng Lianga, Surigao del Sur, noong Hunyo 15. Iniulat ng pamilya ni Rivas na may ebidensiya sa bangkay ni Angel, at gayundin sa bangkay ng kanyang 20-anyos na kapatid na si Lenie, na ginahasa pa ang mga iyon.

 

            Ang isa pang kaso na pina-iimbestigahan ng UNICEF ay iyong kay Johndy Maglinte Helis, 16, na napatay sa Binan, Laguna, habang inaaresto daw ng mga pulis ang isang drug suspect na “nanlaban”. Nanawagan ang UNICEF na igalang ng pamahalaan ang mga karapatan ng mga bata na huwag idadamay sa anumang operasyon ng pulisya at militar. Idiniin ng UNICEF na ang Pilipinas ay signatory sa International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

 

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• FELICITATIONS ON THE 90^TH BIRTHDAY OF
• CUBAN COMRADE, ARMY GENERAL RAUL CASTRO RUZ
• June 3, 2021
• THE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
• Central Committee
• PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CUBA (PCC)
• Thru : H.E. AMBASSADOR FLORENTINO BATISTA
  • Cuban Embassy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Esteemed comrades :
• Through you, the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP-1930, the Philippine Communist Party) sends warmest felicitations to COMRADE ARMY GENERAL RAUL CASTRO RUZ on today's happy occasion of his 90^TH At the same time, we wish to express our deepest appreciation for all the accomplishments of Comrades Fidel and Raul Castro Ruz, and of the PCC, which have led to the socialist advances of the Cuban people –- and which in turn have inspired peoples throughout the world to likewise further struggle against imperialism and for national freedom, democracy and socialism.
• Even though Comrade Raul has already relinquished the leadership of the PCC and of the Cuban government, we nevertheless would like to pay homage to him as a great historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, whose achievements as the leader of Cuba for the past decade will continue to inspire the present and coming generations in Cuba and worldwide. Progressive peoples in the Philippines and other neocolonial countries have always drawn inspiration and strength from the struggles and teachings of Comrades Fidel and Raul against imperialism, and for national freedom, democracy and socialism.
• During the grim period when the USSR and the European socialist community collapsed as a result of the internal maneuverings by special agents of imperialism, it was Comrades Fidel and Raul, and the PCC, which led socialist Cuba through all adversities, and Cuba continued to shine as the international beacon of hope for the defense and advancement of socialism.
• The world would have been a lot worse without the steadfast revolutionary leadership of Comrades Fidel, Raul and the PCC, and the iron will of the Cuban people. A retreat from socialist principles during that “special period” would have meant the loss of freedom and sovereignty, and the return to a neocolonial order characterized by US military interference, transnational control, unemployment, destitution and all the social ills that continue to bedevil neocolonial countries such as the Philippines.
• As we congratulate Comrade Raul on his 90^TH birthday, we pledge to emulate the example of unwavering struggle against imperialism, and for socialism, that Comrades Fidel and Raul have shown. Happy 90^TH birthday, Comrade Raul ! Thank you for your revolutionary examples ! Hasta la victoria siempre ! Venceremos !
• With all the best wishes,
• ANTONIO   PARIS
• General Secretary   
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• GREETINGS TO THE 21^st CONGRESS OF THE
• COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREECE (KKE)
• June 3, 2021
• THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
• COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREECE (KKE)
• 145 Leof. Irakliou Gr.-14231-Athens, Greece
• Dear comrades,
• The Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP-1930, the Philippine Communist Party) sends warmest comradely greetings to the 21^st Congress of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) which will be held in Athens on June 24 to 27, 2021,
• The PKP-1930 and other communist and workers' parties will always be grateful to the KKE for its great role in initiating the regroupment, reorganization and further development of the international communist movement after the triumph of the counter-revolution in the USSR and the former socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The KKE's sponsorship of most of the annual International Meetings of Communist and Workers' Parties since 1999 is an affirmation of the KKE's deep sense of self-sacrifice for the development of proletarian internationalism.
• The vast and valuable experience accumulated by the KKE over the past century of its ideological–political struggles, has enriched its programmatic conceptions of socialism-communism. The KKE's programmatic conceptions were important inputs during the past decade for the present international communist movement, drawing attention to the need to open up the way for the overthrow of capitalism everywhere. These conceptions shared by the KKE have become an input to a re-study, during the past decade, of the programmatic vision of a transitional stage towards socialism in a developing country. Given the uneven development of capitalism, there was also greater realization that there was no longer a “nationalist” bourgeoisie in opposition to imperialism, and that “national” democracy (with a role to be given to a “nationalist” bourgeoisie) was no longer viable as a transitional stage towards socialism. A new conception of an anti-capitalist people's democracy was formulated for our reality as a developing country.
• In a number of issues, the KKE's ideological-political positions have served as a guide for the forging of joint statements and joint declarations of communist and workers' parties. SOLIDNET, as maintained by the KKE, serves as an international lifeline for communist and workers' parties. For all the services of the KKE to the International Communist Movement for the past 3 decades, we therefore wish the KKE greater successes, and its 21^st Congress a new source of strength and unity.
• We are confident that the KKE's 21^st Congress will further stimulate the formation of militant KKE groups and cells in the trade union and other social movements in Greece, extend and deepen the KKE's ideological–political influence on the people of Greece, bring more victories for the KKE's electoral struggles, and strengthen the KKE's leading role in the Social Alliance of the working peoples in an anti-capitalist and anti-monopoly direction, in order to open up the way for the construction of workers’ power, of Socialism–Communism.
• We wish all the office-bearers to be elected by the KKE's 21^st Congress greater strength, perseverance and audacity, as they demonstrate the distinct role of the KKE as the vanguard of the workers and of the people of Greece.
• Long live the KKE ! Long live proletarian internationalism !
• With communist greetings,
• ANTONIO   PARIS
• General Secretary

                                                                                                                     

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SUPPORT  THE  COLOMBIAN  PEOPLE’s  UPRISING !

 

            The PKP-1930 expresses its support for the people’s uprising in Colombia, initiated on November 2019 and relaunched again on the 28^th of April 2021, against the same oligarchic and pro-imperialist regime of president Iván Duque.

 

            This higher phase of the Colombian resistance has shown much more militancy and heroism than earlier. This is the reason why the Duque regime has not been able to stop the people's demonstrations despite the repressive actions by the National Police, the Anti-riot Mobile Squads (ESMAD acronym in Spanish), and General Eduardo Zapateiro’s army.

 

            The blood-letting of patriots has been enormous, due to the repression ordered by Duque. According to Colombian Humans Rights organisations, up to the middle of May, there were 47 dead demonstrators, 548 disappeared, 1,023 detained and 1,040 wounded. Incensed, left-wing forces of the world have organised demonstrations of solidarity with the Colombian people in many countries, particularly in Latin America.

            The people’s starting point was opposition to the “Tax Reform” of Duque and his finance minister, Alberto Carrasquilla, who imposed new taxes on products, services and income. They wanted more taxes for the government treasury, but they are the same ones who in earlier “tax reforms” cut the taxes paid by mining and oil companies, banks and other big capitalists.

 

            The social strife has become wider and deeper, because inspite of Duque's withdrawal of his tax project on the 2^nd of May, the strikes and demonstrations have already gained the support and participation of organized workers, students, peasants, native peoples, intellectuals, traders, transport people, small and medium entrepeneurs, etc.

 

            President Duque lives his worst political moment, isolated to the maximum and with only 33% approval rating, and it is possible that he would fall due to the current people's struggle, without the need to wait for the elections of May 2022.

 

            The struggle continues with new demands that the Duque regime should withdraw plans for the privatization of the health system, that free anti-Covid vaccines be given to everyone, that the ESMAD be dissolved, and that there be democratic guarantees for those who mobilise and protest.

 

            The PKP-1930 expresses its sympathy and support for the struggling Colombian people, particularly for Colombian communists and the mass of militant youth who are on the frontline of street manifestations, as well as for the combative political and social organisations who are committed to the uprising for the overthrow of the US-propped Duque regime.

 

            As well as condemning Duque’s current repression, the PKP-1930 also condemns the repression against socialist leaders and former (demobilised) guerrillas, as this totally violates the 2016 Peace Accords signed by the Colombian government with the former FARC-EP (Fuerza Armada Revolucionaria de Colombia – Ejercito Popular). Significantly, the Colombian government also never wanted to sign a peace accord with another rebel group, the ELN (Ejercito para la Liberacion Nacional).

 

            Similar to his mentor, the fascist former president Alvaro Uribe, it is evident that Duque totally follows the dictates of big capitalists and multinationals, as well as the big-time drug traffickers. He is a loyal server of US imperialism, the South Command and their military bases which are poised against the legitimate government of Venezuela. Also, as was made evident on the 28^th of April, his hands are stained with blood, as his regime criminalises protests and represses them militarily, with police and para-militaries.

 

            The US-created Organisation of American States (OAS), led by its Secretary-General, the reactionary Uruguayan politician Luis Almagro, which was so active against the Nicolas Maduro government in Venezuela and the Evo Morales government in Bolivia, today maintains a nearly contemplative attitude towards Colombia’s bloody drama.

            Down with Ivan Duque, the junior associate of U.S. imperialism in Latin America ! If Duque falls, Colombia wins, and we all win !  

 

            SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHO STRUGGLE IN COLOMBIA AGAINST NEOLIBERALISM, FASCISM, CORRUPTION AND DRUG-TRAFFICKING !

 

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PRESENT  MAIN  CONCERNS  OF  THE

PHILIPPINE  PEACE  AND  SOLIDARITY  COUNCIL (PPSC)

 

(PPSC contribution to the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of the World Peace

Council, conducted thru ZOOM from Kathmandu, Nepal, on June 19, 2021)

 

            Aside from the issue of the Covid-19 pandemic, the PPSC is very much concerned about :

 

1. The Biden administration's continuation of the Trump plans in building-up of new nuclear-armed missiles and submarines to modernize its ballistic missile arsenals. This is especially so with Biden's ambiguous position on Trump's unilateral withdrawal from agreements under the previous US-Soviet treaties on Strategic Arms Limitation (SALT) and Strategic Arms Reduction (START). Adding more nuclear weapons and delivery systems will only add to the danger of world-wide nuclear destruction in case of a US-Russian nuclear exchange caused by imperialist design or an accident.

 

2. The Biden administration's continuation of the Trump plans at building-up US-NATO forces in the Ukraine, at the borders of Russia, which could spark a global nuclear conflict with Russia. At the same time, US-NATO forces in the Ukraine are helping the neo-nazi forces of Ukraine in attempts to destroy the independent governments of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic in the Donbass region.

 

3. The Biden administration's continuation of the US-NATO jihadist war against Syria.

 

4. Biden's continued all-out support for zionist Israel's occupation and grabbing of more Palestinian and other Arab lands, and periodic zionist wars against the Palestinian people.

 

5. The Biden administration's continued campaign to destabilize Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia ; its continuation of the US economic, financial and trade blockade against Cuba ; and its provocative interference in some purely internal affairs of Russia and of China.

 

6. The periodic US-led, as well as the Chinese, naval maneuvers and military exercises in the areas of the Paracels and the Spratlys in the South China Sea, which could spark a widespread military conflict in our South-East Asian region.

 

7. China's excessive maritime claims under its “9-dash-line” map, and continued military build-up in the artificial islands that China has built and turned into military bases within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea.

 

8. China's military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait, which could spark a bloody conflict with the US-backed Taiwan regime. The PPSC is wary of China's continued threat to “reunify” Taiwan with the PROC, even through military force. Reunification should be through peaceful and independent processes, in the same way that the PPSC supports the proposal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the peaceful and independent reunification of the Korean peninsula without any recourse to force, or threat of force.

 

9. Philippine President Duterte's suspension of his previous decision to abrogate the US Visiting Forces Agreement. The PPSC constantly calls for the abrogation, not only of the US Visiting Forces Agreement, but also of the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, and of the US-Philippine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement of 2013.

 

10. President Duterte's turn-around on the long-standing Philippine support for the Palestinian people's struggle for an independent Palestinian state, and his purchase of armaments from Israel. Last May 27, the Philippine delegation to the UN Human Rights Council voted in favor of convening an international commission to investigate Israeli war crimes during last month's 11-day Israeli destruction of Gaza. Suddenly, Duterte rebuked the Philippine delegation and wanted them to withdraw their vote, just because of the objection from the Israeli government.

 

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MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF

FORMER PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON “P-NOY” C. AQUINO, III

 

            The PARTIDO KOMUNISTA NG PILIPINAS (PKP-1930, the Philippine Communist Party) condoles with the family and friends of former President Benigno Simeon “P-Noy” C. Aquino, III, on his untimely demise at the age of 61, on June 24, 2021.

 

            He will always be remembered for the Philippine government's filing on January 22, 2013, of a motion for arbitration with the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, to boldly challenge China's bullying and claim to most of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines. While the Arbitral Award was a big success for the Philippines and other concerned ASEAN countries, nullifying China's “9-dash-line” claim over a large part of the South China Sea, it is unfortunate that the present administration has relegated this Arbitral Award to the back burner while kowtowing to China.

 

            We particularly remember that despite our criticism of a number of his policies, primarily his entry into the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the USA during US President Barack Obama's visit, his government never took any unlawful action which violated the legal status of our Party. The unlawful arrest (“invitation”), detention and interrogation in military camps of some leaders of our Party during the time of President Gloria M. Arroyo, particularly in regions supervised by her favorite General Jovito Palparan, Jr., did not happen during the tenure of “P-Noy” Aquino. 

 

            Compared with the present president's brashness and usual recourse to dire threats, misogynistic or other insults, and vulgar curses, “P-Noy” Aquino's deportment as president was decorous and decent. President “P-Noy” Aquino was indeed a gentleman.

 

                                                                                                            ATTY.  ANTONIO  E.  PARIS

June 26, 2021                                                                                          General  Secretary

 

 

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