CPP/Ang Bayan: Tasks in advancing the revolution in Panay in 2015

Propaganda article from the English language edition of the CPP online publication Ang Bayan (Jan 7): Tasks in advancing the revolution in Panay in 2015

Even as it succeeded in maintaining areas under concentrated enemy attack, the NPA was likewise able to expand to new areas in Panay. The NPA took advantage of the enemy’s concentration of relatively large forces to guard the Jalaur River Dam project and other antipeople projects of the government and big capitalists.

At the same time, mass struggles gained momentum in the face of the people’s efforts to recover from the devastation wrought by typhoon Yolanda and battle the Aquino regime’s neglect. Apart from rehabilitating Yolanda-affected areas and even those not severely devastated, production campaigns have also been launched to help the people recover their livelihoods. These efforts have resulted in greater support for the guerrilla war and the NPA.

Struggles were likewise launched to suspend debt payments to usurers and develop crops that would help farmers become less dependent on usurers for capital. The peasants were also able to demand higher farm-gate prices for their products.
In this light, the Communist Party in Panay called for the following:

First, thwart the enemy’s plans to weaken the revolutionary forces in Panay. Seize the initiative and simultaneously disrupt attacks by the enemy which has concentrated two battalions in each guerrilla front. Sustain coordinated tactical offensives against repeated “clearing operations” and renewed efforts to bore “keyholes” in the guerrilla fronts. Oblige military forces to garrison themselves within the compounds of the destructive projects that they have been guarding.

Continue pinning down the military by flexibly concentrating and meting blows on the enemy’s isolated and weak points. Recover areas within guerrilla zones or their environs that have been temporarily abandoned due to concentrated enemy attack. As much as possible, maintain consolidated areas being besieged by the enemy. Shift when there is danger of being embroiled in a decisive battle or of being rendered passive. Abandoned areas can be recovered by disrupting enemy actions.

Raise the fighting spirit of all Red fighters in thwarting enemy attacks. Develop more coordinated and intensified tactical offensives throughout the island. Make sure of seizing arms from the enemy. Further expand the NPA to raise its capability to launch coordinated tactical offensives and attend to the growing number of tasks especially in the countryside.

Second, sustain and strengthen the mass movement in order to contribute to the ouster of the US-Aquino regime. From sustaining coordinated and large mass movements, further develop the capability to hit the regime at its most vulnerable spot—its failure to help typhoon victims and its very belated distribution of limited cash assistance, which even became part of its electioneering.

Give further momentum to efforts to expose the hundreds of billions of pesos worth of pork barrel funds in the hands of Benigno Aquino III which he has been giving to his favored landlord-comprador cronies. Give particular attention to exposés of militarization and the regime’s violations of human rights. Take advantage of national and international activities, like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) secondary ministerial conference to be held in Panay in order to expose the regime’s brutality, rottenness and criminal negligence.

Relentlessly underscore the various issues that anger the people of Panay and the entire country such as high prices of food and other prime commodities. Prepare for and launch sustained, intense and large-scale mass campaigns at the time of the regime’s actual ouster.

Third, pursue the campaign to help in the economic recovery and in rebuilding the houses and social facilities of people who already know how to take organized action. Develop a comprehensive movement that would help the people recover from the typhoon’s devastation and move towards developing governance capabilities as a response to the regime’s criminal incompetence, corruption and brutality.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20150107/tasks-in-advancing-the-revolution-in-panay-in-2015