CPP/NDF: The US-Aquino regime is inept at achieving genuine peace

Posted to the CPP Website (Sep 12): The US-Aquino regime is inept at achieving genuine peace

Cesar Renerio
Spokesperson
NDFP North Central Mindanao Chapter

Nothing could be starker than the US-Aquino regime’s incompetence in addressing the crisis brought about by its failure to provide a genuine solution to the long-running struggle of the Moro people for their right to self-determination. Hostilities have been going on in Zamboanga City for half a week now, claiming several lives, wounding a number of people and dislocating some 16,000 civilians. Until now, a positive outcome is yet to be seen. Just and lasting peace remains elusive in Mindanao.

The devious Bangsamoro Framework Agreement it has offered the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has only succeeded in further dividing the ranks of the Moro people. The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement under Ameril Umra Kato rose to continue armed resistance, while Nur Misuari’s MNLF is taking up arms once more to pressure the reactionary government to heed their demands.

Clearly, the Filipino people could expect no genuine change under the incumbent regime. Amidst the ruckus over the P10 billion Pork Barrel Scam and global condemnation of the Aquino government by Filipinos around the world for systematically robbing money from the impoverished Filipino people, crocodilian bureaucrats try to outdo each other in denying their involvement. Amidst widespread protests of enraged taxpayers calling for the abolition of pork barrel, the ruling Aquino clique spares no time in slamming those in the opposition who are involved, while shamelessly protecting his own trillion-peso pork. Worst of all is the undeniable photo of the puppet president cavorting with the daughter of the queen of thieves herself, Janet Lim Napoles.

Instead of solving the basic problems of Philippine society which have long burdened the people, and which are the root causes of armed conflict in the nation, it turned its back on peace negotiations with NDFP, and resorted to its “new approach” in the implementation of its Oplan Bayanihan. This means the unbridled use of military force to ostensibly crush the revolutionary movement in the last two years and few months of his term.

Under Oplan Bayanihan, combat operations in the countryside, intelligence and psy-war operations are intensified with the aim of crushing the guerilla army and destroying mass organizations and people’s organs of Red political power. Psy-war operations dubbed “peace and development” activities led by psy-war teams intimidate and incriminate the civilian populace, and incite them to oppose the revolution.

Oplan Bayanihan does not limit itself in the countryside. It is actively carried out even in urban areas. On the pretext of protecting communities against terrorist activities like the bombing in Limketkai Center last July, AFP’s Bayanihan teams were effortlessly deployed in six barangays in Cagayan de Oro City without much ruckus. Starting this month, the Bayanihan Alert for Peace and Development (BAPD) is in full operation in barangays Bugo, Carmen, Consolacion, Cugman, Lapasan and Macabalan without proper consultation with the public. In these barangays, thousands of poor families hit by typhoon Sendong continue to demand proper relocation, livelihood and aid promised to them.

In close coordination with a former representative of Anak Mindanao Partylist, DILG and the city mayor, BAPD teams of the AFP are deployed. Contrary to their stated aim of ensuring the security of the civilian population, they are clearly after suppressing the right of the poor to voice their complaints. Their presence in these areas not only threaten security, also, it violates the civil rights of the locals. These BAPD teams, armed with high-tech equipment, do patrols together with barangay tanods and make a show of helping in clean-ups and construction work. They are, however, clearly monitoring mass leaders in these communities.

The series of killings in Cagayan de Oro of suspected robbers and drug smugglers is public knowledge by now. This shows that whoever is responsible for these killings does not recognize any due process of law any longer. While they go about in a killing spree of petty criminals, they have never lifted a hand in prosecuting the biggest plunderers involved in the pork barrel scandal.

More alarming is the assignment of Gen. Ricardo Visaya as Commanding General of 4th ID PA. The public must know that Visaya was once a right-hand of Gen. Jovito Palparan. He was directly involved in countless cases of suppressing the people’s struggle in many parts of the country, including the Hacienda Luisita Massacre of 2004 and the witch-hunting of activists in the legal field.

On his orders, three innocent civilians were illegally arrested for alleged involvement in the Guingona incident of April 20. Recently, Joel Yagao was arrested. He was among those unfortunate scapegoats in the police’s made-up list of suspects. Once more, the National Democratic Front-North Central Mindanao Region denies the involvement of Mr. Yagao, Dodo Bernas and Reynaldo Gundaya in the NPA checkpoint in Gingoog City. These trumped-up charges are a great injustice and an affront to their human rights and their families’.

We must continue struggling to solve the basic problems of the Filipino people of we are to achieve just and lasting peace. We must further strengthen our armed struggle and democratic mass movements to foil Oplan Bayanihan. This week, the New People’s Army in many different guerrilla fronts in the region has launched six offensive actions against enemy troops launching combat operations. In the cities, we must encourage participation in protests against human rights violations, for the abolition of pork barrel and to demand social services in health, education, housing and employment.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20130912_the-us-aquino-regime-is-inept-at-achieving-genuine-peace