'Work on alliance with Duterte but don't dream of meaningful change from reactionary govt' - CPP

From InterAksyon (Jun 10): 'Work on alliance with Duterte but don't dream of meaningful change from reactionary govt' - CPP

Communist rebels urged their forces to work on building an alliance with the Duterte administration but also warned against “reformism, particularly the hope of achieving meaningful change through the mere acts of representatives within the reactionary parliament and bureaucracy.”

The editorial of the June 7 issue of Ang Bayan, the publication of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s indications of willingness “to continue the cooperation and friendship with the national democratic movement signals the possibility that an alliance with his government will be fruitful.”

Duterte has said he will resume formal peace negotiations with the rebels and has appointed several nominees of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, which represents the communists in the talks, to key government positions.

He has also indicated that he might release and pardon more than 500 political prisoners, including several consultants of the NDFP peace panel.

“In building an alliance with the incoming Duterte regime, the revolutionary movement is offered a great opportunity to broaden and promote the correctness of the national democratic line and analysis, principles and programs. Let us use this favorable situation to reach the broad masses and expand the organized forces and strengthen the mass struggle of workers, farmers, urban poor, youth and students, and other sectors,” the Ang Bayan editorial, written in Pilipino, said.

It also urged the mobilization of “hundreds of thousands” in Metro Manila and other urban centers to “support the peace talks and highlight the immediate demands of the workers, farmers and all other sectors.”

At the same time, it stressed the need for the mass movement to remain independent and “not following the lead or tied to the limitations of the reactionary parliament and bureaucracy.”

The editorial also said building alliances and advancing the mass movement and armed struggle are complementary “aspects” in engaging with the incoming administration.

“An alliance will help strengthen the democratic mass movement; on the other hand, the extent of the benefits from the alliance will depend on the independent strength of the masses,” it said.

It also stressed the need for “mass struggle and criticism” to convince the Duterte government “to heed the cry of the people” and said “the organized strength of the masses is more important and a truer measure of success for the tactics to engage the incoming regime.”

http://interaksyon.com/article/128889/work-on-alliance-with-duterte-but-dont-dream-of-meaningful-change-from-reactionary-govt---cpp