ANGPahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas

Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo

EDITORIAL

Engl ish Edition

Vol . XLVI I I No. 14

July 21, 2017

www.phi l ippinerevolution. info

Firmly opposethe extensionof martial law

The entire Filipino people and all revolutionary forces must unite inorder to resist with all-out energy the plan of the Duterte regimeto extend martial law in Mindanao to the end of the year.

Martial law extension will surelyresult in worse military and policeabuses.

It will prolong the people’s suf-ferings under restrictions againstcivil and political freedom and ag-gravate violations of their democrat-ic rights.

It will further worsen the sup-pression of information regardingwidespread violations of humanrights in order to perpetuate themartial law narrative to favor theAFP, Duterte and the US. The truthsurrounding the siege of Marawi

City, especially the real reasons, thenumber of civilians and AFP soldierskilled and the extent of the armedresistance, is being concealed by theAFP spokesperson’s layer upon layerof tall tales.

Duterte continues to build thefoundations of dictatorial rule underUS imperialist tutelage. His super-majority of congressional sycophantsare likely to approve without ques-tion Duterte's Mindanao martial lawextension plan. They are droolingover the benefits that will accrue tothem from the big-ticket projects"Offensives. . . , " continued on page 3

Offensives escalate

in the entire

archipelago

FROM NORTHERN Luzon toWestern Mindanao, units of theNew People’s Army (NPA)launched consecutive tactical of-fensives against state forces. Thisis in response to the CommunistParty of the Philippines’ call tointensify the people’s war againstthe Duterte regime’s all-out warand martial law.

Bukidnon. Last July 4, mem-bers of the NPA-North CentralMindanao Region (NCMR)launched harassment operationsagainst 24 troopers of the 8th IBin Sitio Kalakapan, BarangayKanangaan, Cabanglasan. Onewas killed and two more werewounded among the militarytroopers.

The following day, on July 5,the Red fighters foiled an attackon an NPA camp by a unit fromthe 8th IB and the Special Forcesunder the 403rd IBde in Sitio Mi-aray, Barangay Manggaod of thesame town. Three AFP soldierswere killed in the blast of a com-mand-detonated explosive.

Meanwhile, members of theNPA-NCMR Front 6 ambushedelements of the 8th IB inBarangay Dao, San Fernando lastJuly 13.

Killed in the ambush were Jo-as Licawan and Rolan Lumatay,while wounded was Pvt. Benjamin“Nonong” Salusad, all members ofa paramilitary group.

On July 14, another platoon

July 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN2

Davao del Norte, Compostela Valleyand elsewhere. Workers rights havebeen suppressed. Picket lines havebeen dismantled. Attacks againstand occupation of civilian com-munities have stepped up. Paramil-itaries have been emboldened bymartial law and are subjecting theLumad people to threats and har-assments. Across Mindanao, atleast 10,000 people have beenforced to evacuate in less than twomonths in addition to the 410,000evacuees from Marawi and nearbytowns.

Duterte’s martial law, inMindanao or nationwide, is an out-right assault against every Filipino’srights and freedom. Under its cam-ouflage, US military forces are car-rying out outright interventionthrough electronic surveillance anduse of attack drones especially atnight. Duterte also plans to quicklyset up his entire fascist machineryfor suppression. This includes theplan to implement a national IDsystem, which can be weaponized torestrict the people’s rights to freemovement and as a tool for masssurveillance. With Mindanao martiallaw extension and threat of expan-sion, Duterte can exercise thepower to railroad his tax reformplan and other economic policies tothe detriment of the people’s rightsand interests.

Thus, it is imperative for theentire Filipino people to vigorouslyoppose the plan of extending andpossibly expanding Duterte’s mar-tial law in Mindanao. The people arefirmly united and ever determinedto resist Duterte’s plans.

The New People's Army mustcontinue to strengthen itself na-tionwide. New Red fighters must berapidly recruited. The NPA mustseize the initiative in carrying outtactical offensives and counterac-tions across the country to defeatmartial law in Mindanao and thenationwide all-out war.

Editorial: Firmly oppose the extension ofmartial law 1

Offensives accelerate 1

APC in the time of martial law 4

Tindeg Ranao opposes martial law 5

Activities before the SONA 2017 5

Commercial plantations 6

Oil palm plantation expansion 7

G20 reveals capitalist crisis 8

October Revolution government 10

Human rights violations escalate 11

Vol . XLVI I I No. 14 | Ju ly 21, 2017

which Duterte aims to railroad un-der martial law.

Duterte wants to extend martiallaw in the vain hope of completingthe suppression of the armed res-istance in Marawi City. He haslaunched a war which he cannotfinish. The Duterte-US-AFP war hasroused the Moro people to take uparms to seek retribution for all thedeath and destructionperpetrated by thefascist siege and in-cessant aerial bom-bardment of MarawiCity. “Enough!” is theclamor of the people ofMarawi in order thatthey could return totheir homes.

Duterte has sub-mitted the revampeddraft of the Bangsam-oro Basic Law as anurgent bill in congresswith the vain hope ofpacifying the Moropeople. Contrary to

Duterte’s wish, an enactment of theBBL and his empty declaration of“forming a new country under theconstitution” of will only lead to arenewed war to genuinely advancetheir right for self-determination. Aconflagration of Moro armed res-istance is bound to flare up acrossthe Bangsamoro.

Martial law in Mindanao alsoaims to continue and intensify

Duterte’s all-out waragainst the NewPeople's Army(NPA). Over thepast two monthsunder martial law,AFP armed of-fensives againstthe NPA and itssuspected massbase have been

relentless. Aerialbombings and

shelling have beencarried out in North

Cotabato, Bukidnon,Davao del Sur, Davao City,

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ANG BAYAN July 21 , 2017 3

belonging to the 8th IB conductingCivil Military Operations was har-assed by a unit of the Front 6 inBarangay Mahayag, Quezon, Bukid-non. Two soldiers were killed, whilean NPA fighter was martyred.

North Cotabato. The NPA-SMRRegional Operations Command re-ported that an unmarked and heav-ily tinted van was flagged down at acheckpoint put up by the 1st PulangBagani Company (PBC) on July 19along the Davao-Cotabato-Bukid-non highway in Barangay Katipu-nan, Arakan.

The checkpoint was part of theNPA's response to the CPP’s call tofight martial law in Mindanao.

The vehicle’s driver introducedhimself as an AFP soldier. Uponrealizing that the checkpoint wasnot manned by AFP troopers, heimmediately drew his gun andstepped on the gas. The Red fight-ers were compelled to fire at thevehicle in order to immobilize it. Atthis point, a second vehicle of theconvoy arrived and fired at theNPA unit. The vehicle managed togo past the checkpoint but wasalso met with fire by another NPAplatoon before speeding away. TheNPA unit later learned that thepassengers of both vans were ele-ments of the Presidential SecurityGroup.

Upon receiving orders, the NPAwithdrew from the area. Beforethis, Rogelio Magno, an agent be-longing to the Criminal Investiga-tion and Detection Group-Bukidnon,was arrested by the NPA. He is cur-rently under the custody of the Redarmy for investigation.

Compostela Valley. On July 11,Red fighters arrested PO1 AlfredoSillada Basabica, Jr. at a checkpointput up by the NPA-Comval-DavaoEast Coast Subregional OperationsCommand at Km. 26, BarangayPanansalan, Compostela Valley.PO1 Pasabeca is currently being in-

vestigated for possible crimesagainst the people and the revolu-tionary movement. Pasabeca is de-tailed at the Cateel Municipal PoliceSubstation in Barangay Aliwagwag,Compostela Valley. This unit is em-ployed by the local reactionary gov-ernment in its anti-peasant andanti-Lumad projects. He is also be-ing investigated for the prolifera-tion of illegal drug sale in Cateel,the torture of five farmers illegallyarrested last March and May, andspying on civilians.

Two police officers are cur-rently under the custody of Redfighters.

Meanwhile, the 1st PBC raidedthe residence of a businessman andknown military intelligence agent atRiverside, Talomo, Calinan District,Davao City last July 7. A carbinewas confiscated from the operation.

Zamboanga. On July 16, theNPA-Zamboanga Peninsula RegionalOperations Command ambushed aunit of the 44th IB in Purok Biwa,Barangay Titik 1, Leon Postigo,Zamboanga del Norte. The firefightlasted for one and a half hours untilenemy reinforcements frombarangays Bukana and Titik 2 ar-rived. One was killed while sevenwere wounded on the part of themilitary. Five Red fighters werewounded. A civilian was killed in theexchange of gunfire.

On the same day, another NPA

platoon ambushed troops belongingto the 42nd IB aboard a KM450truck on the way to reinforce theAFP unit ambushed earlier thatmorning. Ten were killed while threemore were wounded among the AFP.Meanwhile, one NPA was wounded.Ka Masaw, a Red fighter, was killedin action.

Surigao del Sur. A unit of theNPA-Northeastern Mindanao Re-gion raided the residence of CortesVice Mayor Emmanuel Suarez inBarangay Mabahid last July 18.Four firearms were confiscatedfrom him. The NPA warned Suarezto stop the widespread illegal log-ging and fishing in the town of Cor-tes.

Samar. Red fighters of NPA-Samar harassed two columns of the14th IB last July 7 at 7:30 a.m. inBarangay Salvacion, Canavid, East-ern Samar. Three soldiers werekilled.

Negros. The Roselyn PelleCommand of the NPA-Negros metedout punishment to the RPA-ABBleader Charlie Boliboli in SalvadorBenedicto, Negros Occidental.

Boliboli is involved in a series ofcrimes against the people includingmurder, landgrabbing and violenceagainst peasants in Barangay Bago,Salvador Benedicto.

According to Ka Cecil Estrella,spokesperson of the Roselyn PelleCommand, Boliboli is active in plot-

"Offensives. . . , " continued from page 1

July 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN4

APC in the time of martial law

In the past three months, around 200 Party members and Red fighters suc-cessfully finished the Advanced Party Course (APC) in Mindanao. Duterte’s

martial law failed to hamper the Party’s resolve to hold formal courses to raiseits membership’s Marxist-Leninist-Maoist consciousness. This is part of theall-round advance of the revolutionary movement in the island.

In June, two batches were al-most simultaneously launched intwo regions. The North CentralMindanao Region (NCMR) launchedits first batch. The course openedwith a program where the studentsshowcased their cultural talents. Inthe course of the study, studentsactively shared their experiencesand what they understood in thetheoretical studies. The region’ssumming-up paper was enrichedthrough collective studies, particu-larly of bureaucratism. The in-structors enlivened their presenta-tions with visuals and stories whichamused the students. For those whoarrived late, their fellow studentsorganized make-up classes for themto catch up.

Forty two students and eightreviewees finished the course.Their studies closed with a programwith the students receiving theirdiplomas and giving individualassessments, as well as culturalpresentations. The steering com-mittee sang the song Pakunotay saAgtang (Think Hard) and an ACPditty composed in 2015. A grouppresented a dance number to thetune of Muog na Buo (Solid Fort-ress). The instructors and hostsgave inspiring messages. Everyonewelcomed the announcement thatthey will be taking with them aBisaya translation of Jose MariaSison’s Primer on Marxism-Lenin-ism.

In the Southern Mindanao Re-gion (SMR), 36 students weregathered for another batch. An 18-person core of instructors who werestudents from the previous batches

was assembled. Within the span of15 days, the instructors collectivelyendeavored to carry out the 5-partcourse with the aid of colorful andcreative presentations.

From philosophy to socialistconstruction, the instructors andstudents learned from each other.The students were a mix of peti-bourgeois elements who completedhigher college courses, workers, aswell as peasants who had no formalschooling and learned to read andwrite inside the revolutionarymovement. There were lively sharingof experiences, debates and discus-sions touching on the students’ ex-periences, with empiricism and itsvarious forms in their fields as oneof the specific topics.

Between lectures, news sharing,video showing and snacks were reg-ular features. Before nightfall, stu-dents would assemble into groupsmade up of a mix of “peti-bs,” work-ers and peasants to assess the lec-tures and prepare for the next day.Questions that were missed are re-posed, lessons are summed-up by thegroup tasked to do a recap for thenext day, and students share whatthey understand of the lectures.

ACP will be easier to launch nowthat there are more instructors. TheParty hopes that the ACP target forall cadres and Red fighters to thesubregional level will be reachedwithin the year not only in Mindanaobut also in the entire country.

The knowledge imparted informal Party courses will serve as aweapon not only in advancing thepeople’s war, but also in meetingchallenges after its victory.

ting counter-revolutionary activ-ities and serves as a guide duringmilitary operations.

Camarines Sur. A 30-minutefirefight broke out between theNPA-Camarines Sur (NorbenGruta Command) and elements ofthe 9th ID in Barangay Salvacion,Ragay, Camarines Sur last July 19,where an AFP trooper was killed.

As early as July 18, NPA unitshad monitored three AFP columnsin barangays Baya, Napolidan andCawayan. The following day, aunit of the 9th IB’s Alpha Coyentered Barangay Salvacion fromBarangay Baya.

Kalinga. One was killed whilefive 50th IB troopers werewounded in an encounter with theNPA-Kalinga (Lejo Cawilan Com-mand) last July 4 in BatongBuhay, Barangay Balatoc, Pasil.

According to the NPA-Kalinga, AFP troops have longbeen conducting combat ope-rations in the villages of Balatocand Colayo, bringing great fearand disrupting the lives of theresidents. They encamp amidhomes, at the barangay hall andschool at Barangay Colayo. Theylikewise conduct forcible recruit-ment for the CAFGU in BarangayBalatoc.

Meanwhile, last July 14, theNPA-Cagayan set off a command-detonated explosive against aPNP patrol car in BarangayDiduyon, Maddela, Cagayan. Fivepolicemen and a civilian werewounded.

Palawan. On July 18, a unitof the NPA-South Palawan(Bienvenido Valleber Command)blasted an M35 truck of the 4thMarine Battalion Landing Teamin Barangay Tarusan, Bataraza,Palawan. One 4th MBLT trooperwas wounded. Meanwhile, theNPA-North Palawan punishedtwo abusive Marines in BarangayMagara, Roxas, Palawan.

ANG BAYAN July 21 , 2017 5

Tindeg Ranao opposes Duterte’s Martial Law

MORE THAN 100 victims of forcible evacuation by the AFP's indiscriminatebombings in Marawi and Martial law declaration in Mindanao gathered inIligan City last July 18 to organize Tindeg Ranao. They opposed aerial bomb-ings, demanded the lifting of martial law, and justice for all the victims ofmartial law and comprehensive rehabilitation in Marawi City.

Activities before the SONA 2017

A series of actions was launched by different sectors as build-up forGRP Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address on

July 24. The sectors raised their respective issues, alongside calls to liftmartial law.

Workers’ #KampObrero. TheKilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and AllWorkers Unity set up a workers’camp called the #KampObrero infront of the Department of Laborand Employment (DOLE) office inIntramuros, Manila that willremain from July 10 until Duterte’sSONA.

More than 100 workers parti-cipated in the camp, includingminers from Caraga, and agricul-tural workers of the FreshmaxFruit Corp. and Shin Sun TropicalFruit Corp. from Compostela Val-ley.

According to Jacinto Tanduyan,KMU-Caraga secretary general, at-tacks against workers' rights andcontractualization have intensifiedin the mining sector under martiallaw. Majority of them were illegallyfired by Redfive, a gold miningcompany in Caraga. The workersbelied the declaration of the DOLEthat 70,000 workers have already

been regularized in the Duterteregime’s first year.

According to KMU report, inthe mining industry alone, 90% ofworkers are contractual. In theHinatuan Mining Corporation,DOLE-Caraga declared that 1,827workers have been regularized butonly 89 workers have been directlyemployed by the company while themajority are from labor-contractingagencies.

On the camp’s second day, July11, they were met by DOLE Sec.Silvestre Bello and Usec. Joel Mag-lunsod. They were able to assertthe holding of a dialogue with themanagement of Redfive on July 18to hear the cases of illegal dis-missal and union-busting.

On July 17, the workers trans-ferred their camp to Mendiola nearMalacanang in Manila.

Peasants' call: “Magtagum-pay!” In time with its 32nd an-niversary, the Kilusang Magbubukid

ng Pilipinas (KMP) launched its 8thnational congress at the IbalongCentrum for Recreation in Legazpi,Albay on July 12-13. The parti-cipants reached almost 2,000 from67 KMP chapters in 15 regions na-tionwide. The congress was heldamid the surging local peasantstruggles in the whole country. Theactivity primarily called for genu-ine land reform and free distribu-tion of land. The KMP demandedthe return of the P75 billion cocolevy fund to small coconut plant-ers.

Their theme ‘Magtagumpay’(Be victorious) serves as responseto the Duterte regime’s violentmoves that desperately seek toretain the country’s pro-imperialisteconomy and semifeudal order.The eviction of peasants heralds anew wave of land grabbing by for-eign interests. On July 14, thou-sands of delegates held a shortprogram at the PinaglabananShrine in Legazpi City and marchedto the Philippine Coconut Authorityoffice in Albay to call for the re-turn of the coco levy funds to thefarmers.

Drivers’ rally against cor-poratization. Some 4,000 driversand operators joined PISTON’s

Majority of the delegates camefrom different evacuation centers inIligan City, Lanao del Norte andLanao del Sur, areas which werecovered by the National InterfaithHumanitarian Mission led by Kal-inaw Mindanao last June.

Jerome Succor Aba, chairper-son of Suara Bangsamoro and Ms.Aida Ibrahim of KalinawMindanao-Northern Mindanao Re-gion also expressed solidarity to

the activity. Both discussed thesituation of Moro people underDuterte administration and theconditions of evacuees in Lanaocommunities.

Victims expressed their demandfor speedy return to their homes.The group also called for a thoroughand independent investigation onthe Marawi siege which led to thedestruction of the city and worsen-ing humanitarian crisis.

Almost 410,000 individuals arenow affected by the ongoing siegeby Duterte in Marawi. As a result,hundreds are dead, while few arewounded due to bombings.

Last July 19, Dansalan Tano saKalilintad was also formed, an alli-ance of ulamas (preachers), pro-fessionals and various sectors inMarawi.

First among its activities is theseries of consultations amongevacuees. The group will also holda dialogue with AFP officers, localofficials and ARMM. The allianceplans to hold a “Peace March toMarawi” on Duterte’s SONA, July24.

July 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN6

wages are already pegged at morethan P1,000 nationwide. To make upfor their family's needs, all familymembers frequently work together inplantations, including children. In oilpalm plantations, one of every fourworkers is below 18.

Expansion in the coming yearsThrough arrangements such as

“managed farms” and contractgrowing agreements with cooperat-ives or individual farmers, commercialplantation operations are set to ex-pand further. In the past decadealone, these expanded by 80%. Rub-ber plantations tripled (from 81,667hectares in 2005 to 214,315 hectaresin 2014) and oil palm plantationsdoubled (from 23,478 hectares to42,731 hectares for the same period).

These plantations are set toexpand further in the next years.In 2014, Dole Philippines an-nounced its plan to add 12,000hectares to its plantations. Thismonth, it inaugurated a new can-

Land monopoly of commercial plantations

As large tracts of land fall under the hacienda system, large portions of agricultural lands in the country are alsocovered by commercial plantations. Most of these are in Mindanao, where almost half a million hectares or 12% of

the island's agricultural land are utilized by these plantations.

Most of these are rubber planta-tions (43%), followed by plantationsof sugarcane (19%), Cavendish ba-nanas (17%), pineapples (10%), oilpalm (9%) and cacao (2%). Of thenational yield, almost 100% of theseproducts except sugar and oil palmare harvested in Mindanao. Some oilpalm plantations are in Palawan(8.4% of the national output) andBohol (12%) while majority of sugarplantations are under the haciendasystem in Central Luzon and Negros.

From the beginning, corporateagricultural monopolies dominatedcommercial plantation operations inthe country. American company DelMonte established its plantations forexport in the 1920s while Dole es-tablished theirs in 1960. Using un-equal trade agreements, these com-panies tied local agriculturalproduction to the US market. In1920-1939, for example, Philippineexports to the US grew from 50% to79%. Meanwhile, US imports to thePhilippines grew by 65%.

In the successive decades, oth-er foreign monopoly capitalists ar-rived at the scene and partneredwith the puppet state and locallandlords. Aside from Dole and DelMonte, large tracts of land are nowunder control of Japanese companySumifru and Italian company Uni-frutti in producing bananas andpineapples. Japanese companieslike Yokohama and US companyDunlop control rubber plantations.

Oil palm plantationsare owned byFilipino-Malaysiancompanies while cacaoplantations have linksto American companieslike Mars Inc. and Nestle.

These companies expandedtheir plantations through landgrabbing, forest denudation and vi-olence. They partnered with thepuppet state which passed laws fa-cilitating the eviction of farmersand minorities from the lands thesecompanies wanted to exploit. Cent-ral among these is the fake land re-form law which entrapped benefi-ciaries in anomalous contractgrowing or agricultural venturesagreements (AVA). Under suchcontracts, multinational companies”rent” land from the farmers for upto 25 years for as low asP166/month per hectare. In grow-ing bananas, beneficiaries are tiedto contracts where their produce isbought at very low prices, such as$2.50 or P125 per 13-kilo box.

In exchange for their land,these companies employ selectedbeneficiaries as contractuals andpay them less than the minimumwage. In the island, the lowest wageis P235/day in Zamboanga Peninsulawhile the highest is P306/day in Re-gion XI. This is despite the the factthat minimum wages in the Zam-boanga Peninsula is set at P283/dayand P335/day in Region XI. Living

and No to Jeepney Phase Out Coalition’s caravan onJuly 18. The drivers strongly condemned the plannedphaseout of jeepneys to benefit the interests of a fewmonopoly capitalists.

Similar protests were held in Baguio, Isabela, Bu-lacan, Metro Manila, Laguna, Bicol, Capiz, Iloilo, Cebuand Davao.

Meanwhile, workers of Keyrin Electronics Philip-pines Inc. thwarted company’s efforts to smuggle outmachines and other equipment on July 16. Workers putup barricades inside and outside the factory. In theface of the PEZA-Cavite’s and CALABARZON DOLE of-ficials’ intervention, the workers stood squarely fortheir rights.

"Plantations. . . , " continued on page 7

ANG BAYAN July 21 , 2017 7

ning plant in South Cotabato in themidst of a new 3,000-hectareplantation. In 2015, Unifrutti alsoestablished a new 2,600-hectarebanana plantation in Maguin-danao. Sugar plantations are set toexpand by 256,360 hectares. Thelargest planned expansion is by900,000 hectares for oil palmplantations in Mindanao alone.

Except for oil palm, productionfrom these plantations is geared formarkets abroad. Cavendish bananasare exported to China, Japan, Korea,Middle East and New Zealand. Such isalso the case for pineapples, cacaoand others. A small part of oil palmproduction (15%) is allotted for localconsumption. Although there arealready large oil palm plantations inMindanao, the country still importsmost of its oil palm needs since localharvest is geared to German, Malay-sian and Indian markets.

Plantations, therefore, continueto serve foreign companies and for-eign markets. These have no signi-ficant benefits to the people, exceptfor precarious employment. In-stead, they have brought wide-spread dislocation, environmentaldegradation and hunger.

G20 in Germany: The world’s economicand political crises revealed

Protests of more than 100,000 people from all overEurope as well as other parts of the globe confron-

ted the annual summit of the Group of 20 (G20) lastJuly 7-8 in Hamburg, Germany. Calls of “NO G20,”“Capitalism Kills” and “Make Capitalism History” werehighlighted in censuring the economic system embod-ied by the G20.

The G20 consists of the majorimperialist nations and so-calledemerging economies within their in-fluence and is set up to unite inresolving the crisis confronting cap-italism. Since its establishment after

the 1999 Asian finan-cial crisis, and most especiallyafter the global financial crisis of2008, the G20’s core tasks havebeen to secure financial stability,reignite capitalist growth and pre-

Oil palm plantation expansionGrabbing ancestral landsONE OF THE worst plans the Duterte regime is continuing from the previ-ous US-Aquino regime is the expansion of oil palm plantations. Its 2014-2023 blueprint identified the potential for this expansion for up to a millionhectares, the largest of which is in Caraga (384,000 hectares o 39%), nextin Northern Mindanao (16%), SOCSKSARGEN (11.5%), Western Mindanao,Southern Mindanao and in ARMM (all at 10%). It also identified five townsin Palawan as favorable for expansion.

Most of these areas are ancestral lands of Lumads, Moros and Palaw-ans. In Agusan del Sur, the expansion will cover 43 barangays in eighttowns under 11 Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT). This is alsothe case in Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Potential plantations will also cover large tracts of Moro ancestrallands in ARMM. This year, the regional government has approved the planof Gintong Ani Corporation (GAC), a Filipino-Malaysian company, to es-tablish a 5,000-hectare plantation in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.The GAC plans to put up a 20,000-hectare plantation in the entire provincethis year.

In Lanao del Sur, oil palm plantations were established in 2004 but dueto the residents’ protests, the Malaysian company (Tabung Haji) wasforced to withdraw from the 1,000-hectare thriving plantation. Plantationexpansion is one of the reasons why some clans in Lanao del Sur opposethe Bangsamoro Basic Law as they see it as selling their ancestral land toforeigners.

The first oil palm plantations were established in the island of Basilanby the Menzi company. They expanded in Sultan Kudarat and Agusan delSur in the succeeding decades. By 2012, there were already oil palmplantations in nine other provinces (Palawan, Bohol, Zamboanga Sur atNorte, Surigao Sur, Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, andMaguindanao). The plantations are mainly in Caraga (20,040 hectares)and SOCSKSARGEN (17,241 hectares).

vent the slide to “protectionism”among capitalist economies.

But despite its annual summits,the G20 is far from resolving the

"Plantations. . . , " continued from page 6

"G20. . . , " continued on page 8

July 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN8

crisis. In the recently concludedsummit in Hamburg, disagreementsamong the countries remained re-garding “free trade.” The US ac-cused China and other Europeancountries of dumping steel at cheapprices, and threatened to imposehigh tariffs (amounting to as much as266%) on these, a measure con-sidered as “protectionism” by itsrival countries. However, a study re-vealed that more than 1,880 eco-nomic policies by the other G20countries exist to safeguard the in-terests of their own monopoly-capit-alists.

According to Prof. Jose MariaSison, chairperson of the Interna-tional League of Peoples’ Struggle,monetary policies adopted by theG20 only succeeded in creating newspeculative capital flow and creditbooms in imperialist as well as un-derdeveloped countries. Growth inall the advanced capitalist econom-ies has barely exceeded 2% per yearsince 2010.

Total global debt has reached arecord-high of $217 trillion in thefirst quarter of 2017. Around $20trillion of this is owed by the US,while China’s debt is rising thefastest (estimated at more than$25 trillion), Brazil ($3.6 trillion)and India ($2.9 trillion). Come endof this year, around $2 trillion debtwill mature (which, according toProf. Sison, creates the conditionsfor a new financial convulsion thatwill be worse than 2008-09).

The colossal banks haveprofited the most. The four biggestUS banks became 30% larger by2013 than they had been before thecrisis. Likewise, China’s four biggestbanks grew from 0.4% to 1.9% inprofits last 2016.

On the other hand, the rank ofthe unemployed is expected to ex-ceed 200 million this year accordingto conservative estimates of the In-ternational Labor Organization. Ofthose with jobs, more than 1.4 bil-

lion people all over the globe arenow in precarious kinds of work.This number grows by 11 millioneach year.

Sison likewise shared that morethan 1.6 billion of the world’speoples, including those in the ad-vanced capitalist countries, aredenied health and education ser-vices, and adequate standards ofliving. This is made worse by cut-backs in social spending while milit-ary expenditure is jacked up, andtaxes are reduced for the financeoligarchy.

As in the previous summits, theG20 responded to the protests withfascism. In Germany, protests star-ted days before the arrival of G20leaders. Among those who joinedthe protests were students, workersand even lawyers. One protestersaid, "We know that the people whocause the misery that we have allover the world today—refugees,wars, and so on— they are sittingright now in the G20 and are havinga chat."

In the days towards the G20summit, the protesters wereviolently suppressed by the police.The authorities likewise employedthe Special Forces, armed with highpowered firearms, in quelling theprotests. Protesters were fired atwith tear gas and water cannons,and their barricades bulldozed byarmoured personnel carriers. Therallyists defended themselves withMolotov bombs and firecrackersagainst the police in the streets andin helicopters. More than 30 journ-alists were also banned from theG20 summit.

Contradictions within the G20Meanwhile, contradictions

among imperialist powers surfacedin the G20. A few months before thesummit, German Chancellor Merkelwas quoted as saying that, “Thetimes when we could fully rely onothers are to some extent over. We

Europeans must really take ourdestiny into our own hands.” This isGermany’s response to the US’ pro-tectionist measures like imposinghigh taxes on imported steel fromChina, South Korea and Europe, andUS’ insistence on coal mining con-trary to the Paris agreement on cli-mate change.

Germany also disliked the US’refusal to reaffirm a commitment toArticle 5 of the North AtlanticTreaty Organization (NATO) , whichcompels member states to come toeach other’s assistance when at-tacked. Instead, the US badgeredits other NATO allies to fulfil theirobligation to allocate 2% of theirGross Domestic Product for defensespending.

In Sison’s observation, thisprompts Germany and otherEuropean powers to cozy up more toChina. At present, Germany re-ceives the largest foreign direct in-vestment from China. More than$12 billion worth of contracts weresealed between the two countries in2016. Germany has also designatedfive of its railway systems to be partof China’s One Belt, One Road Ini-tiative which aims to establish eco-nomic enclaves in the EuroAsia re-gion, both on land and at sea.Germany and China are also themajor countries teaming up in cap-italizing in Africa.

Likewise, Germany and Austriaassailed new economic sanctionswhich the US intends to impose onRussia and some EU countries res-ulting from the construction of anew gas pipeline between Russiaand Germany. France, The Nether-lands and UK are also co-investorsin the Nord Stream 2 gas line pro-ject which will supply natural gasfrom Russia to Western Europe.

In responding to the competi-tion, the US guaranteed the supply ofliquefied natural gas to 12 countriesbelonging to the Three Seas Initiat-ive led by Poland. These countries in

ANG BAYAN July 21 , 2017 9

Central and Eastern Europe in-tend to break away from Rus-sia’s control in the latter’smonopoly of natural gas in theregion.

In the security aspect,there is a growing public sen-timent in Germany to forge amilitary alliance with Russia,alongside diminishing supportfor an armed action by Ger-many against Russia. No lessthan Germany’s leader AngelaMerkel said that “we want toinclude Russia as an interna-tional actor in the solution ofmany conflicts.”

Coinciding with the G20summit, defense secretaries ofthe US and the UK held ameeting to discuss ways NATOcould improve its combatpower and deter Russian ag-gression in Eastern Europe. Ina statement released after themeeting, the US Department ofDefense said that “US and UKleaders still view Russia as asevere military threat.”

Following this, the NATOconducted two separate wargames last July 11-20 in theBlack Sea, near Russia’s bor-ders. Participating in the warexercises are a total of 30,000NATO troops, as well as missiledestroyers, fighter jets, andamphibious Marines forces. Fortheir part, Russia and Chinaare also conducting joint navalexercises this July in the Balticregion.

Prof. Sison said that un-derlying the increasing inter-imperialist conflicts and re-alignments is the intensifyinggeneral crisis of monopolycapitalism and the increasingdesperation of US imperialismto retain its primacy and theUS-led world order it has se-cured since the end of WorldWar 2.

The October Revolution 1917government

The October Revolution tookplace and triumphed amid

the First World War’s rampagethroughout Europe and thepeople’s rising discontent tothe hardships imposed byRussia’s involvement in thewar. The Communist Party ofRussia resolved to wage thewar against the ruling class oftheir own country instead of supporting the imperialist war, and launched theuprising. (See Ang Bayan, November 7, 2016.)

The Second All-Russian Congressof Soviets opened in Smolny,Petrograd, at 10:45 in the evening ofOctober 25 (November 7 in thepresent calendar), 1917, at theheight of the Petrograd uprising andpolitical power in the capital hadactually passed into the hands of thePetrograd Soviet. The congressdeclared that all state power hadalready passed into the hands of theSoviets.

In the evening of October 26,several hours after the declaration ofvictory, the Second All-RussianCongress of Soviets immediatelypassed the Decree on Peace thatcalled on all warring countries toconclude an immediate armistice for aperiod of not less than three monthsto permit negotiations for peace. Italso called on the class-consciousworkers of the three most advancednations and the largest states to aidthe cause of peace while at the sametime advancing the cause of thetoiling masses for emancipation fromall forms of slavery and exploitation.

That same night, the SecondCongress of Soviets approved theDecree on Land, which confiscatedlandlord holdings. As recognition ofthe peasant’s voice, the Bolshevikgovernment adopted in full up to thelast word the Nakaz (mandate) of thepeasants. The Nakaz was compiledfrom 242 mandates of peasants ofvarious localities. More than162,000,000 hectares of land was

passed on for peasants to till. Allmineral resources—oil, carbon andore—became the property of thepeople.

The Second All-Russian Congressof Soviets elected the Sovietgovernment—the Council of thePeople’s Commissars—to superviseand administer socialist revolutionand construction. It was assigned thetasks to: prevent the bourgeoisie’sefforts to return to power, draw themajority of peasants into the side ofthe workers, organize wide scaleproduction of machinery usingfactories seized from the bourgeoisie,and organize socialism from the ruinsof capitalism. This was thedictatorship of the proletariat, ordictatorship of the majority of toilingmasses against the few bourgeoisieand landlord class that previouslyenslaved them.

Ministers of the bourgeoisgovernment were removed andreplaced by the appropriate People’sCommissariats. Poor peasantcommittees were organized to lead inconsolidating Red political power inthe countryside, and later absorbedinto the established Soviets.

Four days since victory, the eight-hour workday was legislated. Thus,Russia became the first country in theworld to legislate this. After a week,the law on social security was passedand later expanded until it includedall workers regarding disabilities, old-age pensions, allowances for mothers

"October. . . , " continued on page 10

July 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN10

Human rights violations escalate

Violations of human rights under the Duterte regime have worsened ac-cording to reports from different regions.

Massive forced evacuationsAlmost half a mil-

lion people havebeen displacedfrom their com-

munities underDute rte's reign. This isprimarily induced by massive bomb-ings and attacks by the military whoseem to have no intention of allow-

ing the return of the residents tocommunities they have attacked.These are underscored by incidentsin the communities of peasants,Moros and the Lumads.

Within a year, 80,211 individu-als evacuated their communitiesfrom Quirino, Samar, Negros Occi-dental, Sarangani, Compostela Val-ley, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del

This item is seventh of a series of articles incommemoration of the 100th anniversary of the OctoberRevolution. For more details, read the History of theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks), 1939

with three or more children, pension for dependents ofwho lost their breadwinners, and financial grants tostudents of schools of higher learning. In the followingyears, social security was extended to collectivizedpeasants. Free health care services, specially prenatalcare and reproductive services, were extended to all.

Compulsory, free and universal education forchildren three to 16 years of age was implemented in1919, and schools for children with learning disabilities.Literacy rate rose from 30% before the revolution to 75%in 1937. Non-Russian languages were promoted suchthat textbooks were printed in 44 languages. Everyone,including teachers and janitors, participated in thestudent governments in schools. Students could removesubjects they considered irrelevant from the curriculum.Lectures were conducted free for everyone, the artswere made public, and the number of librariesdramatically increased. Even in conditions of famine andhardship brought about by the war, the education budgetwas increased tenfold, and local governments had toprovide food for the hungry students and teachers aspart of their education program.

In the Declaration of Rights of the Peoples of Russia,the equality of all people were promoted, especially therights of the minority nations for self-determination, andrights to belief and religion. In this law, women’s rightsto jobs, equal pay for equal work, and other rights withinand outside the family were promoted. Women weregiven trainings in technical skills or higher education,and encouraged to speak out on their problems in theworkplace.

These developments were never enjoyed by theRussian people during the time of bourgeois“democracy”, even in the declared bourgeois“democracies” of the richest imperialist countries at thattime such as the US, Britain, Germany and Japan. Wealththat was once controlled by the few were given over tothe service of the many and the people were given the

freedom and opportunity for self-development under thedictatorship of the proletariat. This was the essence oftrue democracy, socialist democracy.

Thus, the toiling masses wholeheartedly defendedthe dictatorship from internal and external enemies. Theinternal enemy was the bourgeoisie who wanted toretrieve its lost power and the external enemy was theattacking gigantic German army in the Second WorldWar. Thousands of workers volunteered for the warfront, or worked overtime in the factories to fill up thelack of workers sent to battle. Thus, in just more or less30 years, the Soviet Union had become one of the mostpowerful countries in the world.

When revisionists such as Khrushchev up toGorbachev came to dominate the Communist Party andthe Soviet government, they gradually deviated thedictatorship of the proletariat into a dictatorship of thebourgeoisie, where the government became a privilegedstratum in society with exclusive access to socialservices, luxury and the nation’s wealth. But because ofthe dictatorship of the proletariat’s profound changes inRussia’s social life, it took the bourgeoisie a much longertime to revive capitalism than the time it took thedictorship of the proletariat to create the socialisteconomy.

This is a lesson for the toiling masses of the worldwho wish to establish a government that will serve theirinterests. That as long as the bourgeoisie exists, it willuse all avenues and will not cease to attempt retaking itspower, so that the dictatorship of the proletariat isnecessary to prevent them. Likewise, this dictatorshipneeds increased vigilance to keep its own officials frombeing sucked into the current of revisionism or bourgeoisideas.

Sur, Maguindanao, Misamis Orient-al, Sultan Kudarat, Davao City,Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, NorthCotabato, and Surigao del Sur asidefrom the 410,000 evacuees fromMarawi. Until now, military bomb-ings in Marawi persist even thoughmany civilians are still trapped in-side the city, compounding the hu-manitarian crisis.

Those in the evacuation centersare to be relocated to the tent cityin Pantar, Lanao del Norte. This is

"October. . . , " continued from page 9

ANG BAYAN July 21 , 2017 11

former barangay council memberof Magoyong, San Miguel.

Illegal arrestsSeveral leaders and members of

progressive organizations were il-legally arrested. Last July 11, thepolice arrested a pastor and farm-er, Kama L. Sanung, in BarangayHinlaan in Sultan Kudarat. Sanungis an active member ofKesasabanay Dulangan Manobo(KEDUMA), an organization ofLumads fighting the seizure of theirancestral land by DMCI.

In Valencia, Bukidnon, themilitary and PNP Public SafetyCompany arrested a couple, Ryanand Gretchen Espera, both mem-bers of Kasama-Bukidnon, a peas-ant organization in the province.The couple have not been seenafter they were brought to theprecinct last July 12. Arvin Bac-also, a 17-year old who was noteven presented during the policebriefing has not been seen up tothe present.

A member of Kabataan Partyl-ist in Malibcong, Abra, RegineTadeo, was already four daysmissing when elders of Mataraganin Barangay Amti found herwounded and reported her abduc-ted by the24th IB.When Tadeo’sfatherassumed cus-tody, thePNP-Abraforcibly rear-rested hereven withouta warrant.Her familyand humanrights workersunder theCordilleraHuman RightsAlliance arefighting to

regain custody. Even while she washospitalized, the 24th IB and Gov-ernor Jocelyn Bernos insisted onarresting her.

Farmers Joey Querubin andJaneth Zamora were illegally arres-ted on July 7 in Sitio Landing, Brgy.Busdak, San Francisco, Quezon. Ac-cording to their child, the policeplanted a plastic pack of drugs intheir house to legitimize the arrest.The series of harassments startedwhen they formed an Anakpawischapter in the area. They werethreatened and were forced to sign adocument by the military.

Threats and harassmentSeven farmers from Dupax del

Norte, Nueva Vizcaya were accusedas New People’s Army supportersand harassed by the military lastJune 24. A land dispute case isongoing between them and somelandgrabbers.

Meanwhile, residents of Ba-rangay Lake Danao in Ormoc Citywere once again evicted from theirmakeshift tents when they evacu-ated last July 6 due to an earth-quake. They were driven out by thepolice and employees of TaganitoMining Corporation from the areaand relocated to another evacu-ation center.

what the government did to thesurvivors of typhoon Haiyan in 2012who were not allowed to return totheir homes until now. Instead ofhelping the people to rebuild theirhomes, they even use thedestruction to favor big bourgeoiscompradors in building their busi-nesses where they can squeezeprofits from the people.

Military and paramilitaryattacks on the Lumad schoolspersists. According to the Save OurSchools Network, there are already66 cases of attacks on these schoolsfrom July 2016 to June 2017. Themost recent has resulted in theevacuation of 2,500 Lumads fromLianga, Surigao del Sur last July 5.This is the same community dis-placed on September 2015 becauseof the brutal killing of their com-munity leaders and school adminis-trator.

Compounding the situation, a16-year student evacuee was sexu-ally harassed by a military agentwhile in their protest camp in Pan-acañang.

Political killingsLast July 13, the military indis-

criminately fired on the house ofCarlito Arado in Mabini, CompostelaValley. His wife was immediatelykilled, while he, Analiza (his daugh-ter-in-law), and his two grandchil-dren were injured. Analiza is amember of the Parent Teacher andCommunity Association (PTCA) ofSalugpungan Ta Tanu IgkanogonCommunity Learning Center(STTICLC) which strongly opposesthe militarization of their schooland community.

In Surigao del Sur, a peasantleader, Silvestre Maratas, 38, waskilled last July 16. He was the vice-chairperson of Kapunongan sa mgaMag-uuma sa Surigao Sur(KAMASS-KMP)-San Miguel and amember of the DAR ProvincialAgrarian Reform Committee and