Ang Bayan April 21, 2013

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Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng PilipinasPinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-MaoismoANG

English EditionVol.XLIV No. 8April 21, 2013

www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial

The Filipino people will be celebrating the 40th founding anni-versary of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines onApril 24th. This celebration is especially significant as the

armed revolutionary movement all over the Philippines continues togain strength and advance.

Expand and strengthenthe NDFP and the unity

of the Filipino people!It represents the people in

establishing diplomatic relationswith other governments andbuilding anti-imperialist solidar-ity with peoples in various partsof the globe.

It represents the people's

democratic government in peacenegotiations with the rulingstate to push for national anddemocratic changes in order toresolve the roots of the armedconflict in the Philippines.

The NDFP's role as an in-strument of the Filipino peoplein building their national anddemocratic unity and strength isespecially crucial now in the

In this issue...

Arbitration atthe barrio level 4

Tribute

to Ka Abon 6DPRKtakes standagainst USwarmongering 9

From the establishment ofthe NDF Preparatory Commis-sion in 1973, the NDFP is nowcomposed of 16 revolutionarymass organizations. It repre-sents millions of people underthe emergent organs of newdemocratic people's govern-ment.

Since 1973, the NDFP hasplayed a major role in the revo-lutionary struggle of the Filipino

people. Under the leadership ofthe Communist Party of thePhilippines, and on thestrength of

the basic alliance of workersand peasants, the NDFP embra-ces the progressive and patriot-ic classes, sectors and forces.The NDFP played a big role inuniting the people and advanc-ing their struggles against theUS-Marcos dictatorship and thesucceeding reactionary govern-ments. It likewise played a bigrole in the struggles for genuineland reform, against the US mil-

itary bases and for humanrights.

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2 ANG BAYAN April 21, 2013

face of the further deteriorationof the semicolonial and semifeu-dal system and the worseningcorruption, puppetry and bru-tality of the US-Aquino regime.

The US-Aquino regime hasproven that its class rule is nodifferent from that of previousreactionary regimes. It is notfar off from the Arroyo regimeand other previous governmentsnotorious for rampant corrup-tion.

Aquino's "righteous road"and "clean governance" slogansrepeated ad nauseam could notcover up the stench of anoma-

lies reeked by his regime.The Aquino regime's biggest

businessman-cronies like Edu-ardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Lu-cio Tan, Manny Pangilinan, Hen-ry Sy, Lucio Co and their ilk arealso the biggest tax evaders.They are the biggest beneficia-ries of contracts under the Pub-lic-Private Partnership Program.

The Cojuangco-Aquino camp hasbeen seizing contracts for infra-structure projects from its busi-nessman-rivals and exacting thebiggest percentages to line its

pockets. It is engaged in a dog-eat-dog struggle for controlover the operations of smug-gling and illegal gambling syndi-cates and other criminal opera-tions.

On the other hand, the Filipi-no people are being squeezeddry with taxes and other fees.Taxes on basic commodities, in-cluding petroleum products re-main sky-high, and are a hugeburden on the people. Budgetsfor health services and educa-tion are grossly inadequate.Hospitals and public schools arein various states of decay. Ur-

ban poor shanties are being de-molished to give way to infra-structure projects for foreigncompanies.

Aquino's gimmickry couldnot cover up the people's pover-ty. Unemployment and under-employment are worsening.Workers' wages remain peggedand their rights to form unions

and strike suppressed. Genuineland reform is absent, and reac-tionary laws used to pave theway for foreign and feudal con-trol of vast landholdings.

Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee

of the Communist Party of the Philippines

Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino,

Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray and

English editions.

It is available for downloading at

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Ang Bayan welcomes contributions

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Readers are likewise enjoined to send

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Vol. XLIV No. 8 April 21, 2013

Contents

Editorial: Expand and strengthen the NDFPand the unity of the Filipino people 1NPA victories in NEMR 3Arbitration at the barrio level 4Tribute to Ka Abon 617 killed, 22 enemy elements wounded 77 POW released in CARAGA 7Military victimizes civilians 8Killing of boy in Comval slammed 8Peasants oppose eviction from Stockfarm

in Capiz 9DPRK takes stand against US

warmongering 9SC lambasted for decision of partylist 11

ANG

Aquino challenges the peo-ple's patriotism by granting fullaccess to US soldiers, warshipsand warplanes and allowing un-bridled insults to Philippine sov-ereignty. He allows the use of

the Philippines for US hegemo-nism, warmongering and inter-vention in the Asia-Pacific. Hepermits the US military to oper-ate and base itself in the Philip-pines. It is no wonder that hisimperialist master has been allpraises for Aquino, even includ-ing him in Time magazine's listof the most influential personal-ities.

Thus, it likewise comes as nosurprise that in the face of theworsening crisis of the rulingsystem in the Philippines, theFilipino people's desire for na-tional and democratic changehas heightened. They want anend to the oppression, exploita-tion and suffering wrought bythe US-Aquino regime's pro-im-

perialist and antipeople poli-cies. They are determined toadvance their revolutionarystruggles and bring the people'swar to the next stage of thestrategic stalemate in the com-ing years.

Towards this end, the NDFPmust be strengthened and con-solidated as the center of the

people's national-democraticunity. We must propagate theNDFP 12-Point Program as theframework for building nationalsolidarity.

The NDFP must lead inbuilding the people's patrioticunity in the face of the rulingAquino regime's worsening pup-petry and violations of national

sovereignty. We must build thebroadest possible unity to op-pose and effect the abrogationof the Visiting Forces Agree-ment, the Mutual Defense Trea-ty and other unequal treaties.

We must likewise build abroad unity against evil designs

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ANG BAYAN April 21, 2013 3

to amend the reactionary constitution of 1987 toallow fullblown foreign capitalist ownership of lo-cal businesses and reestablish the US military bas-es or allow them to operate in the country anew.

We must gather broad support to advance thepeace negotiations between the NDFP and the

Government of the Philippines. We must demandrespect from the US-Aquino regime for all previ-ously signed agreements, among them those per-taining to the release of NDFP peace talks consult-ants in order to pave the way for negotiations on

socio-economic issues.Organs of people's democratic government

must be built on various levels and the Filipinopeople's capacity for self-governance strength-ened. These measures form part of efforts tostrengthen the NDFP as the representative of the

Filipino people.The NDFP's initiatives to build solidarity withanti-imperialist struggles in various countries andrally the broadest possible support for the Filipinopeople's struggle must be strengthened. ~

NPA's glowing victories in NEMR

T

he New People's Army (NPA) held a heroic and glowing cele-

bration of the 44th NPA anniversary in Northeastern Minda-nao Region (NEMR). The revolutionary movement in the re-

gion was able to reach the height of its development in 2012, saidNDF-NEMR spokesperson Ka Maria Malaya. These victories wereattained through the absolute leadership of the Communist Party ofthe Philippines (CPP) over the NPA and the entire revolutionary

movement.NPA and People's Militia.The region currently has two

battalions of NPA Red fightersarmed with high-powered riflesand assigned to guerrilla pla-toons in the various towns ofNEMR's four provinces. Thereare also five battalions of peo-ple's militias in the villages.This is a huge developmentcompared to 2001, when theNPA in the region had only asmall battalion and there weresome 500 members of the peo-ple's militia.Tactical offensives. TheNPA in NEMR was able tolaunch 148 tactical offensivesin 2012, including 19 annihila-tive actions. It confiscatedenough high-powered rifles toarm an additional platoon ofRed fighters.

The NPA confronted the en-emy's massive operations bylaunching counter-offensives. Itlaunched 104 harassment oper-ations and three ambuscades byway of counter-attack, killing up

to 142 enemy troops andwounding 115. The Red fight-ers also destroyed two heli-

copters. Nine Red fighterswere martyred in these gun-battles.

Sixteen punitive actionswere undertaken against min-ing companies and plantationsthat refused to recognize theauthority of the revolutionarymovement. The main targetswere companies running planta-tions of bananas for export,such as Dole Philippines. Theseplantations are environmentallydestructive and are a bane tothe peasants' livelihood.Mass base. The mass basehas been strengthened andsteeled to withstand enemy at-tacks. The revolutionary move-ment operates in villages with apopulation of up to 640,000, a

third of which may be consid-ered as the revolutionary massbase. On the other hand, thereis still a need to reach out to,and organize, a third of the re-gion's barrios, especially in the

town centers and cities.Agrarian revolution. Grow-ing numbers of families are ben-efiting from various forms ofagrarian revolution. Up to43,779 families or 218,000 indi-viduals have been benefited byagrarian revolution in 330 villa-ges in 29 municipalities. In aprogram encouraging peasantsto resume farming in the up-lands, up to 4,200 families have

been tilling lands within formerbig logging concessions. Farm-ing has been developed in theseareas as a way of ensuring thatpeasant families and communi-ties have food and other basic

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needs within the framework of the "ekonomiyangsarang sa kaugalingon" (self-sufficient economy).Enemy attacks and NPA counter-offensives.With the goal of crushing the revolutionary forcesin NEMR, the US-Aquino regime deployed five bat-talionsthe 75th, 36th and 30th IB and the 3rd

Special Forces Battalion and four companies fromthe 26th and 38th IB, Scout Ranger Coy, 401st Di-vision Reconnaissance Coy, including the Philip-pine National Police and CAFGU. The enemylaunched 74 military operations mainly in the bigmining areas. Nonetheless, the enemy failed in itsobjective and had to content itself with showingoff its laughable "trophies"abandoned tempo-rary NPA encampments.

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom),the highest AFP command in the eastern portion ofthe island, launched a military operation fromMarch to April 2012, unleashing 1,200 troops in themountainous areas of Surigao del Norte, Surigao delSur and Agusan del Norte. It was an operation big-

ger than that launched during Oplan Bantay Laya 1and 2. Thirty battalion-size operations were like-wise launched by the 4th Infantry Division.

The enemy's massive offensives failed to stymiethe growth and advance of the revolutionary move-ment. They were confronted head-on by the NPA'scounter-offensives and the people's struggles intheir desire to defend and advance the revolution'svictories. ~

Nang Lydia's house

Arbitration at the barrio level

Nang Lydia's house in a remote village in Northeastern Minda-nao is never without visitors who come to seek advice on var-ious matters. There are mass activists who come be advised

on how to better the mass organizations. And there are those with

complaints or who wish to file cases.

that are filed or problemsbrought before them are col-lectively discussed by the BarrioRevolutionary Committee whichserves as the people's organ ofpolitical power. It just so hap-pens that her house is near a

road going to the neighboringsitio and villages. The peoplefind it convenient to come here.

Besides, Nang Lydia was al-so one of the first mass activistswhen the revolutionary move-ment was established in theirvillage.It is clear to the ordi-nary folk that Nang Lydia andher comrades devote time to

taking care of the masses' wel-fare. Their growing tasks haslikewise been the result of theiro r g a n i z a t i o n ' s g r o w i n gstrength. Their organizationearned even more respect whenit took the lead in confrontingseveral big stores in neighbor-ing sitios to demand lower pri-ces for basic commodities. After

they succeeded, they began tohandle various cases, with NangLydia's house virtually becom-ing their organization's office.As their organization gainedstrength, so did their revolu-tionary commitment to servethe people.

"I'm used to it," said NangLydia. "There are times whenthe first thing we wake up to inthe morning are problems. Theyreally are of various kinds, from

neighbors' quarrels to seriouscases like rape, carabao rustlingand homicide."

Nang Lydia said she doesn'tdo all the work alone. All cases

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"At first, we felt shy aboutsettling differences betweentwo warring parties. When webegan, we found it difficult.But with the comrades' gui-dance and the courses we have

attended, we have been able tohandle the cases or problemsbrought to our attention. Therevolution aims to achieve jus-tice so that the people couldenjoy the fruits of their labor.With this objective, there willalways be people filing casesbecause they have been de-prived of their economic rights.They may come in variousforms, but most of the caseswe handle are of this nature.

"Based on our experience,arbitration has become an ef-fective means of uniting thepeople for the revolution. This isbecause the people see that it ispossible to obtain justice evenwhile we are still advancing ourstruggle."

Arbitration is founded on theprinciple of achieving social jus-tice, to which the revolutionholds fast. Aside from this, theParty had issued the Guide toEstablishing the People's Demo-cratic Government as early as1977, which declares the princi-

ples concerning the system ofgovernment, people's court andthe people's duties. The Revolu-tionary Guide to Land Reformwas also issued that same year.Peasants who file cases against

landlords and advance theirright to have land to till use thisas basis.

In Nang Lydia's experience,most cases involve altercationsamong the people and are re-solved through arbitration.This is a process of resolving is-sues outside of the formalcourts. This is handled by theorgans of political power underthe guidance of the Party andits representatives. Seriouscriminal cases that need longerprocessing and preparationsare referred to the people'scourt. The manner of establish-ing and running this court hasalso been discussed as early as1977 and continues to be de-veloped through actual prac-

tice.In Nang Lydia's opinion,

many people flock to their or-ganization because both thecomplainant and the subject ofthe complaint are satisfied withthe results of their arbitration.Besides the fact that it doesn't

cost them anything, arbitrationis quick and the decisions arebased on laws and policiesfounded on equality and justice.Nang Lydia and her group makesure that both sides are heard.

Anyone who is not content withthe decision may appeal to thenext higher court. Decisions arearrived at quickly because thereare no obstructions to the flowof justice, such as the dirty andshrewd tactics employed in thebourgeois courts where moneyis the main factor that deter-mines how cases will be han-dled. Most of all, the law onwhich the decisions of bourgeoiscourts are founded are alreadyskewed in favor of the rulingclass.

"The constant stream ofcases being filed before therevolutionary movement is arecognition of its ability to at-tain genuine justice for the op-pressed." ~

(This article is based on"Ang panimalay ni Nang Lydia"(Nang Lydia's home) publishedin the March 2013 issue of Su-long, the revolutionary news-magazine of the National Demo-cratic Front-Mindanao).

Revolutionary movement in Cavite to be strengthened

Alongside congratulating the New People's Ar-my on its 44th year, the National Democratic

Front (NDF) in Cavite enthusiastically called on allits members to strengthen the revolutionarymovement in the province.

It cannot be denied that most of the Aquino re-

gime's antipeople policies were jumpstarted inCavite. Among them are the two-tiered system forworkers' wages, the big projects under the Public-Private Partnership such as the Light Rail Transitextension and the privatization of the reclamationarea along Manila Bay. Landgrabbing is being re-lentlessly done to construct private subdivisions

and for tourism. Dirty politics and the longtimerule of powerful dynasties in the province are like-wise unabated. On top of everything, hunger andpoverty continue to stalk the people of Cavite.

The NDF-Cavite showed its strength in a week-long celebration of the NPA anniversary by launch-

ing lightning rallies, putting up improvised stream-ers and conducting studies for their members onthe people's war. The NDF-Cavite foresees that inthe coming years, it will be able to gather enoughstrength to build an NPA unit in the province andcontribute to strengthening the people's war to-wards the strategic stalemate. ~

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A tribute to Ka Abon,valiant Party cadre

"If the line of the Party is correct, a unit of the people's armyarises where there is none either because the local Party membersand mass activists are determined to form the NPA from their ranksor welcome the introduction of NPA seed elements from elsewherein the district, province or region."

Message of the Communist Party of the Philippines on the 44thanniversary of the New People's Army

The life and experiences ofFelino Pecoro, a revolu-tionary martyr who began

as a local activist and advanced

as a valiant fighter and leadingParty cadre in the region mirrorthe establishment and advanceof the armed movement in Sa-mar. In the history of EasternVisayas, revolutionary mass or-ganizations and local Partybranches have played a key rolein the formation of the New Peo-ple's Army (NPA) and the contin-

uing advance of the armed revo-lutionary movement in the re-gion. A striking example is theestablishment of mass organiza-tions and local Party branchesthat led to the formation of theParty organization and NPAunits not only in Samar but in theentire region.

Known as "Ka Abon," (and

Ka Silong and Ka Talino beforethis), Pecoro died on April 26,2012 at the age of 69 due to aserious illness. He became polit-ically conscious in 1970 whenyouth activists assigned by theParty to the area first came totheir barrio in Villareal, Samar.He came from a rich peasantfamily, and was relatively well

off because he was able to es-tablish a small business. Pru-dencio Calubid, who was hisfriend since childhood influ-enced the growth of his politicalconsciousness in a major way.

Ka Abon was one of the firstto be organized and oriented on

how to build the Barrio Organiz-ing Committee (BOC) in Villarealand adjacent villages and towns.He became a Party member in

1973. From the BOC, the peasantorganizations were formed andthe local Party branches estab-lished. Activists and cadresready to work full-time to ex-pand the Party and build the NPAon a broader scale emerged fromtheir ranks. In 1974, Ka Abondecided to work fulltime for theNPA after the military put him on

its wanted list.Ka Abon was reassigned to

his village after a stint with theNPA and served as secretary ofthe territorial Party organiza-tion in three adjacent townsdubbed the "Western Zone" in1975-78. In 1979, he was ap-pointed to the Party committeein the Southwest, which became

a fullfledged District Committeein 1981. He became a member ofthe Samar province provincialcommittee when it was estab-lished in 1984. In the RegionalConference in 1985, he waselected member of the EasternVisayas Regional Committee andserved as secretary of a guerril-la front covering the towns of

the Southwest and a number ofmunicipalities in Eastern Samarfrom 1988 to 2002.

During the Second GreatRectification Movement, KaAbon steadfastly stood for thecorrect line. This is despite avisit from members of the then

Visayas Commission to Samarto convince him to repudiate theParty leadership and join theirfaction. In 2003, he was as-

signed to the newly establishedRegional Peasant Bureau (RPB).Among the tasks the RPB fo-cused on was achieving break-throughs in socio-economicwork in developing base areas.In 2010, he was assigned to thecommittee of a subregion,where he contributed in a majorway through his grasp of the ar-

ea's history, forces and masses.In accordance with the prin-

ciples of building a revolutionaryfamily, Ka Abon took pains tobring his family close to the rev-olution. With patience, he wasable to convince his wife to workfull-time for the revolution aswell. His two sons both becameRed fighters, and martyrs of the

revolution. His elder son Maure-cio died in 1992, and his youngerson Arnulfo died in 2008, bothfrom serious illnesses.

Ka Abon was naturally jovial,humble and imbued with a posi-tive outlook on life. In his fourdecades of continuous service,not once did his revolutionarystandpoint falter. He calmly and

lightly approached both personaland work-related issues. He ob-jectively addressed problemsand made efforts to resolvedthem by grasping their essenceand through practical means.Thus, he was thoroughly lovedby the comrades and the masses.

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17 enemy elements killed, 22 woundedin gunbattles

In Ifugao and Kalinga. Fiveenemy elements were killed andfour were wounded in two suc-cessive gunbattles. Three po-licemen were killed and threeothers were wounded in an am-bush by people's guerrillas un-der the Nona del Rosario Com-mand on patrolling elements ofthe Special Weapons and Tac-tics (SWAT)-PNP in Asipulo,Ifugao on April 5. The am-bushed SWAT unit was one ofthe best in the region, accord-ing to the Cordillera Police Re-gional Director.

After two days, two soldiers

were killed and another onewounded in a firefight betweenRed fighters of the NPA MarcialDaggay Front and 17th IBtroops in Barangay Apatan, Pi-nukpuk, Kalinga. The NPA wasable to outmaneuver an attack-ing enemy platoon.In Mindoro. Five soldiers

S

eventeen enemy elements were killed and 22 were wounded in

gunbattles with Red fighters of the New People's Army (NPA)in various parts of the country from March 6 to April 10. Therewere no casualties reported on the NPA side.

CAFGU element was killed and

three soldiers wounded whenRed fighters seized the initia-tive and meted blows on the at-tacking enemy in Dugo-dugo,Pelaez, Claveria on March 20.In Butuan City. A soldier un-der the Philippine Army 3rdSpecial Forces (SF) was killedwhen Red fighters sniped enemyelements occupying an aban-doned temporary NPA encamp-ment in Sitio Patagon, Anticalaon March 7. The day before, twosoldiers from the 3rd SF werewounded when people's guerril-las harassed the same camp.In Surigao del Norte. Twosoldiers were killed when Redfighters from Guerrilla Front 16harassed elements of the 30thIB in Villariza, Malimono on

March 6.In Surigao del Sur. PO1 Ro-nald Palma was hit and wound-ed in a sniping operation con-ducted by people's guerrillasfrom Guerrilla Front 19 againstpolicemen on a military opera-tion in KM 7, Aras-asan, Cag-wait town on March 6. ~

from the 76th IB were seriouslywounded in a quickly executedmilitary action launched by aseven-man NPA unit against anattacking military company inSitio Lumintao, Barangay Tan-yag, Calintaan, OccidentalMindoro on April 4.In Bukidnon. Three police-men were wounded when Redfighters under the Mt. KitangladSubregional Command clashedwith elements of the RegionalPolice Public Safety Battalion inSitio Liboron, Barangay Saga-ran, Talacag on April 10.In Misamis Oriental. EightPhilippine Army soldiers werekilled and four were wounded infive harassment operations byRed fighters of the NPA EasternMisamis Oriental-NortheastBukidnon Subregional Commandagainst the 58th IB Alpha Coydetachment in Bangbang, Medi-na on March 24. Prior to this, a

NPA releases 7 POW in Caraga

The New People's Army (NPA) released sevenCAFGU elements on April 17 in two separate

places in Surigao del Sur, days after they were de-tained for invetigation.

The CAFGU elements were captured by theNPA in two separate incidents on April 15. Three

of them were arrested when Red fighters attackedtheir detachment in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Onthe same day, four other CAFGU elements were ar-rested by NPA Red fighters in a remote village inSan Luis town, Agusan del Sur.

Before they were released, NDF-Mindanaospokesperson Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos said that

"the prisoners of war would be subjected to a dem-ocratic process of investigation to determine thegravity of their crimes." The CAFGU elements werereleased after they were proven not to have com-mitted serious crimes against the people and afterhaving expressed remorse for their abuses against

the masses.Earlier, Red fighters arrested two policemen in

Loreto, Agusan del Sur on April 14. PO1 Ronald Al-lan Muez and PO1 Nemuel Espina were capturedin a cockpit while extorting from the people. Theyhad been undergoing investigation for a number ofdays before they escaped on April 18. The NPA

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Military victimizescivilians in Comvaland Mindoro

The fascist military's fangs areplain to see even as the US-Aqui-no regime's Oplan Bayanihan

continues to be unmasked. Relentlessmilitary abuses against civilians havebeen reported in Compostela Valleyand Mindoro this April. Meanwhile, aworkers' protest was attacked in Que-zon City.In Compostela Valley.On April 6 ataround 9:30 p.m., Nomer Ogaw, a member of the paramilitaryBlackfighter group and an asset of the Military IntelligenceBattalion shot and wounded Gary Rautraut, 32 and anotherunidentified civilian. The shooting occurred near the DolePhilippines packing house in Barangay Baguio, Baguio Districtin Davao City. Earlier, another civilian, Elias Acero was killedby soldiers of the 69th IB on April 8 at 7:20 p.m. in BarangayDalisay, Panabo City. Acero's unidentified civilian companionwas wounded.In Mindoro. Two civilians were wounded, including a 7-year old child when soldiers from the 76th IB indiscriminately

fired their weapons in Barangay Tanyag, Calintaan, Occiden-tal Mindoro on the mornng of April 4. The shooting took placeeven if the military's encounter with the NPA that day waslong over.

Meanwhile, more than a hundred Buhid Mangyan minori-ties who feared the fascist military conducting operationswere forced to evacuate the area on April 4. On April 5, ayoung boy was wounded when 76th IB troops shot him in SitioBato Singit, Barangay Manoot, Rizal town.

On March 29, soldiers arrested and detained seven civil-

ians who were hunting in Tintingan, Barangay Manoot, Rizal.In Metro Manila. Six workers were arrested and sevenwere wounded when goons hired by Pentagon Steel Corpora-tion attacked a workers' protest picket on April 15 in SamsonRoad, Quezon City.

The workers accused Pablito Alcover, brother of anti-com-munist Rep. Pastor Alcover of masterminding the attack. Pab-lito heads the company's Human Resource Department. ~

command pointed out the weaknesses of the NPAcustodial unit.

The NPA command said the two policemen wereproven to have been involved in abusing their au-thority, engaging in extortion activities and intimi-dating the people. Nonetheless, they were not in-

volved in serious human rights violations and werenot guilty of any grave crimes against the masses.

Because of their escape, they are now consideredfugitives from revolutionary law.

Meanwhile, NPA Red fighters raided the DolePhilippines banana packing plant in Claveria, Misa-mis Oriental on April 15, burning huge pieces ofequipment. The NPA also burned down the Agri-

nanas Development Corp. packing plant in Libona,Bukidnon. ~

Progressive groups

slam boy's killing

in ComVal

Members of the Bagong Al-yansang Makabayan (BA-

YAN), Children's RehabilitationCenter (CRC) and other support-ers from Southern Tagaloglaunched a protest action androundly assailed successive actsof violence by the military againstcivilians, including children. Theylaunched a mass action right infront of Camp Aguinaldo, theheadquarters of the Armed Forcesof the Philippines.

Prior to this, the 71st IB killedeight-year old Roque H. Antivoand wounded his two brothersEarl Jhun, 12, and Jeffrey Her-nan, 13, in Sitio Kidaraan, Baran-gay Anitapan, Mabini town onApril 3.

Roque and his brothers had just

harvested vegetables from theirstepfather Jeffry Hernan's farmwhen they were shot at by troopsunder the 71st IB whose com-manding officer is Lt. Col. JerryBorja.

The AFP claims that an encoun-ter ensued between the militaryand the New People's Army (NPA)and that Roque and his two broth-

ers were caught in the crossfire.But civilians who witnessed theshooting said that no encountertook place in the area.

KARAPATAN said Roque is the16th victim of extrajudicial killingunder the Aquino regime's OplanBayanihan. ~

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Peasants oppose evictionfrom Stockfarm in Capiz

"F

ood, not bullets!" was the peasants' cry regarding the Aqui-no government's plans to evict them from Stockfarm in Du-

marao, Capiz to give way to the construction of the Region-al Training Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Region 6.

The peasants several timesmanifested their strong opposi-tion to the government's plans.They held dialogues, wrote peti-tions and launched several pro-test actions to assert their rightto till the land. They said thatgenuine land reform must be im-plemented and the peasants'right to have land to till recog-nized to alleviate their hungerand poverty. On October 16,2012, they joined a protest ac-tion in Iloilo City during WorldFood Day, in solidarity with vari-ous peasant leaders from all overthe country.

For more than 12 years, atleast 160 peasants have beentilling a 105-hectare area inStockfarm that had been aban-doned by the Bureau of Animal

Industry of the Department ofAgriculture (BAI-DA). The landwas clearly idle, said the peas-ants, who are members of theKatilingban sang mga Mangu-nguma sa Capiz (KAMACA). Theysaid that the government's plansto evict them and their familiesfrom Stockfarm is a violation oftheir right to a decent life.

Stockfarm formed part of aBAI-DA project called DumaraoLivestock Production Center inBarangay Bungsuan, Dumarao.The 105-hectare area is part of a120-hectare lot left over fromthe project after the land was

subjected to the ComprehensiveAgrarian Reform Program. Be-cause it was idle land, the peas-ants began tilling it in the 1980salong with waging a legal strug-

gle to acquire it.

Problems arose in March2012 when the PNP 605th Re-gional Mobile Battalion (RMB)began occupying the land, stay-ing in the BAI-DA building. Late-ly, the villagers learned that theRMB-PNP had longterm plans ofconstructing the PNP RegionalTraining Center in the area. ThePNP connived with Capiz Gov.Victor Tanco to try and convincethe people to allow the RMBtroops' presence, ostensibly fortheir own welfare.

But the peasants are firmlyopposed to the idea. Neither dothey believe the RMB-PNPtroops' claims that they wouldbe relocated to a 50-hectare lotshould the construction of thePNP Regional Training Center

push through. They are deter-mined to defend their farms,which they have won throughtheir collective struggle to occu-py and till the idle land. ~

DPRK takes standagainst US warmongering

Ever since the US declared its goal of "balancing" its armedstrength in the Asia-Pacific under the aegis of "America's Pa-cific Century," it has been relentlessly meddling in various se-

curity concerns to expand its military power and presence in the re-gion. Part of its scheme involves a systematic and continuous vilifi-cation and disinformation campaign against the Democratic People'sRepublic of Korea (DPRK) and whipping up war between the DPRKand the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

There are 28,500 Americansoldiers permanently stationedin South Korea. The US' militarybases in South Korea haveserved as launching pads for USintervention in the Korean Pen-

insula and aggression againstthe DPRK. In March, the USstepped up its aggressionagainst the DPRK by conductingcombat maneuvers along theDPRK-South Korea border under

the guise of "military exercis-es," flying nuclear-capable B-2stealth bombers.

In response to the US ag-gression, the DPRK declared theresumption of a state of warwith South Korea and its readi-ness to use nuclear armsagainst South Korea and the USshould there be an armed inva-sion.

The US invoked the DPRK'sdeclaration in sending thou-

sands of troops, additional war-planes, huge warships and oth-er military equipment to thepeninsula and the surroundingwaters. The US claims that itwas the DPRK that was callingfor war, when all of the US' ac-

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tions have in fact been calculat-ed and form part of a calibratedplan by the Obama regime(called a "playbook") to projectthe US' armed strength in EastAsia and encompass to the full-est extent possible, what it con-siders to be China's territoriesand fields of influence.

Among these maneuvers isthe so-called "appropriate de-terrence" against the DPRKagreed upon by the US andSouth Korea in October 2012.Its main content is the estab-lishment of a "kill chain" againstmissile launching sites and oth-

er military installations beingused by the DPRK for its own de-fense. The plans include launch-ing US drones or satellites intoDPRK air space to identify tar-gets and sending South Koreanwar planes to bomb these tar-gets. The "kill chain" will be setup in the last quarter of thisyear.

Part of the US' plans inSouth Korea is automatic retali-ation against the DPRK by itsjoint forces using "armedstrength ten times more lethal"that the slightest "provoca-tion," whether or not there has

been a declaration of war. TheUS has already formed a specialmilitary unit that would pene-trate the DPRK ostensibly to se-cure the country's nuclear facil-ities. During wartime, the USwill automatically lead theSouth Korean armed forces.

In December 2012, the USclaimed that the DPRK hadlaunched a ballistic missile,when all it did was launch a sat-ellite into space for scientificobservation. The US invokedthis lie at the United Nations(UN) to claim that the DPRK hadviolated a UN prohibition on

ballistic missile testing, call formore stringent sanctions andforce the country to shut downits nuclear development pro-gram.

In the face of all this, theDPRK and the Korean people arecorrect in resisting the US' andits co-conspirators' arm-twist-ing and provocations, and de-

fending their national sover-eignty and territory. They arecorrect in condemning the USand even the UN's hypocrisy indepriving the Korean people ofthe right to develop their nucle-ar capability for their own de-

velopment and defense.DPRK officials aver that in

the UN's entire history, therehave been 2,000 nuclear testsand 9,000 satellite launches.The country with the most num-

ber of nuclear tests and satel-lite launches is the US. Mean-while, only three of these nucle-ar tests and four of these satel-lite launches were undertakenby the DPRK. And yet the onlycountry that has been sanc-tioned by the UN is the DPRK.

The DPRK reminds the inter-national community of the fatethat has befallen countries thatsuccumbed to the US' bullyingregarding the development oftheir own nuclear programs.Among them are Iraq and Libya,countries that lost their basicline of defense when they wereinvaded by the US and its allies.

The DPRK and the Koreanpeople likewise remind every-one of the bombing by the USand its allies of their country in1950-53, resulting the in deathof 20% of their population andthe destruction of 85% of theirbuildings. The DPRK has made itclear that it has long been call-ing for the Korean Peninsula tobe nuclear-free, but that the UShas vehemently refused to with-draw its more than 1,000 nucle-

ar arms positioned in South Ko-rea since the 1950s.

The DPRK knows that if itgives up its nuclear program, itwill be easy for the US to enterand occupy its territory. Itstands for the right to developnuclear weapons for self-de-fense.

The DPRK and the Korean

people have also renewed theircall for US withdrawal from thepeninsula, for the peaceful reu-nification of the two Koreas andthe advancement of a sovereignand genuinely democratic for-eign policy in East Asia. ~

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SC lambasted for decision on partylist

The Makabayan Coalition roundly assailed a de-cision issued by the Supreme Court on April 2

allowing 41 groups to join the partylist elections.

Most of the groups in question are allied withthe country's wealthy and powerful political par-ties. The Supreme Court has also allowed anyoneto become a partylist nominee even if he or shedoes not belong to the sector being represented. Ithas also granted permission to other groups notbelonging to the oppressed sectors to join the par-tylist elections.

Makabayan said that the partylist systemwould be monopolized by the powerful and the

elite as a result of the Supreme Court decision.With the tiny space granted to the people alreadythe result of mere tokenism, the decision would al-low the wealthy and the political dynasties to com-pletely control Congress. Makabayan called on the

Supreme Court to reverse its decision.Meanwhile, progressive groups protested at

the office of the Commission on Elections (COME-

LEC) because of the looming disqualification ofPISTON and Kabataan Partylist. Makabayan saidthis constituted harassment against progressiveparties that truly represented their sector. It alsoaccused the Aquino regime of suppressing them toprevent them from joining the elections, even asthe COMELEC favored pro-Aquino groups like Ak-bayan, Ako Bicol and Anak Mindanao.

The protesters also assailed a series of at-tacks against progressive parties, among them

the arrest of Katribu Party members in Palawan,the Red-baiting of members of the Kabataan Par-ty in Baguio City and the February killing in Com-postela Valley of Cristina Jose, a member of Ba-yan Muna. ~

Ang Bayan April 21, 2013

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Transcript of Ang Bayan April 21, 2013