Thursday, March 25, 2004
Philippines communists to take part in polls but step up attacks
Agence France-Presse Manila, March 25
Communist insurgents in the Philippines on Thursday unveiled a dual-track strategy of taking part in the May elections while stepping up guerrilla attacks.
A Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) statement to news agencies said the May 10 presidential and senatorial elections were a contest of the ruling classes.
"However, at the national and lower levels of the electoral contest, it is possible to work out alliances for the benefit of the people and their struggle," the CPP central committee said.
It said some leaders "know the strength of the revolutionary mass base and they are therefore interested in cooperation and mutual support," while "a few progressive parties and candidates outside of the major parties of the exploiting classes are vying for a few seats in the Lower House of Congress."
The party said peace talks launched by President Gloria Arroyo with the rebels last month provided 'a venue to put forward the basic reforms needed to realise national liberation and democracy.'
The Government and the rebels 'can move towards an alliance and truce through the negotiations,' but only if Manila agreed to back the insurgents against the interventionism and interferences of US imperialism in Philippine affairs.
The Government alleges the rebels are extorting money from candidates, as well as coercing people to vote to communist candidates who it fears would then funnel state funds to the armed struggle.
Meanwhile, the CPP reiterated the importance of its guerrilla campaign to support its 35-year bid for power.
It said the NPA, estimated by the military to have about 8,800 fighters, "is in the process of developing armed units at the regional level" comprising larger "strike force" formations to attack weaker army and police units. The CPP also expressed concern that Washington could step in to back its Southeast Asian ally, Manila, which is also fighting Muslim separatists as well as Islamic militants.
This "can occur at any time when the US unilaterally believes that it can easily wipe out the NPA or decides that the puppet armed forces are no longer capable of keeping the local ruling system," it added.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2004.