New People's Army

[patch_rojas]

Hey guys i was just wondering if you've heard of this group of communists fighting for what they believe in the Philippines. I think they said that they're somehow Maoisits. What are your opinions about them?

[Guerrilla22]

Haven't really heard about any recent activity from them, mostly about abu-Sayef, the Islamist group, but here's some info on them from Federation of American Scientist website:

New People's Army (NPA)
Description

The military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the NPA is a Maoist group formed in March 1969 with the aim of overthrowing the government through protracted guerrilla warfare. The chairman of the CPP’s Central Committee and the NPA’s founder, Jose Maria Sison, reportedly directs CPP and NPA activity from the Netherlands, where he lives in self-imposed exile. Fellow Central Committee member and director of the CPP’s overt political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), Luis Jalandoni also lives in the Netherlands and has become a Dutch citizen. Although primarily a rural-based guerrilla group, the NPA has an active urban infrastructure to conduct terrorism and uses city-based assassination squads. Derives most of its funding from contributions of supporters in the Philippines, Europe, and elsewhere and from so-called revolutionary taxes extorted from local businesses and politicians.

Activities

The NPA primarily targets Philippine security forces, politicians, judges, government informers, former rebels who wish to leave the NPA, rival splinter groups, and alleged criminals. Opposes any US military presence in the Philippines and attacked US military interests, killing several US service personnel, before the US base closures in 1992. Press reports in 1999 and in late 2001 indicated that the NPA is again targeting US troops participating in joint military exercises as well as US Embassy personnel. The NPA claimed responsibility for the assassination of two congressmen from Quezon in May 2001 and Cagayan in June 2001 and many other killings. In January 2002, the NPA publicly expressed its intent to target US personnel if discovered in NPA operating areas.

Strength

Slowly growing; estimated at more than 10,000. This number is significantly lower than its peak strength of around 25,000 in the 1980s.

Location/Area of Operations

Operates in rural Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao. Has cells in Manila and other metropolitan centers.

External Aid

Unknown.

[Spirit of Spartacus]

From what little I do know about them, they seem pretty cool.

[TC]

I generally support any communist rebels...

[patch_rojas]

thanks for the info guerilla. thanks also for the opinions. :D

[Janus]

They seem to have a pretty progressive view towards homosexuality at least.

First gay marriage in NPA (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=33411&hl=new+people's+army)

And an old thread on the NPA and the Philippine situation:
http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic...&hl=philippines (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=44224&hl=philippines)

[Armand Iskra]

The New Peoples Army, or Bagong Hukbong Bayan, is a group famous for its continuous war against the fascist philippine military. it was started as a 60 armed men with low powered firearms both from the former Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan or HMB under Bernabe "Ka Dante" Buscayno, who, like Jose Maria Sison, dissatisfied with the old party and joined with Sison in 1969.

The group increased out of the events during the Marcos dictatorship, farmers, workers, and the petty bourgeoisie joined in the ranks in respoonse to the oppression being laid by the oppressing classes. Even soldiers who are dissatisfied with the actions of the fascist military also joined with the movement-like Victor Corpus, and Crispin Tagamolilia from the Philippine Army.

The army also got foreign support. Maoist China, Juche Korea, even Titoist Yugoslavia tried to gave arms and funds despite the problems regarding the country, where arrests, torture, and death prevailing. However, tactical offensives cripple the fascist army strength as well as gained territory, mostly in southern tagalog, cordillera, Bicolandia and even visayas and mindanao.

The urban partisan group, known as the ALEX BONCAYAO BRIGADE, was known for assassinating fascist officials. however, they end up dissatisfied and thus broke off to become a seperate group. that group then end up dissolved in late 1990s after entering an agreement with the fascist government as well as being punished for counter-revolutionary crimes like theft, kidnappings, and hired by the fascists as hired killers.

[Sankofa]

In before secretarians invade this thread and bash a legidimate revolutionary movement because those icky Maoists actually use violence (!!) to further their cause instead of attacking the borgeois element with slingshots loaded with marshmellows and tea cakes.

Therefore, they kill working class soldiers in a Capitalist army and for that, their cause isn't progressive, period, and the population is much better silently suffering under oppression until the country is 100% ready for revolution.

Don't forget they also export drugs! Possibly to your own kids! And personally go around cutting open the pregnant wombs of random Filipino women, take the fetus and drink baby blood as a ritual sacrifice to Mao! We, of course, know that's true because Fox News said so...and their news is fair and balanced!

Fucking cult murdering bastards.

:rolleyes:

[redguard2009]

The Communist Party of the Philippines (the political counterpart of the New People's Army) is an old organization which is involved in the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations (ICMLPO). As mentioned it is involved in a guerilla campaign which has lasted nearly 40 years, unfortunately without much sign of success besides initial gains. They are listed as a terrorist organization by the US. They appear to have little direct contact with other Maoist movements in Asia (namely Nepal and India). The founder of the CPP, Jose Maria Sison, has lived in exile in the Netherlands for some time; recently he was arrested by Netherlands police who threatened to extradite him back to the Philippines, but the charges and deportation were overturned and Sison remains there.

In the Philippines the CPP seems to command a lot of respect and moderate support among the masses, having survived and maintained itself for 40 years. Its targets have mainly been Philippine national forces but they have been known to target US military interests when they are in the Philippines (such as when the US had bases in the Philippines during the Marcos dictatorship and more recently when the US military was holding joint exercises with the Filipino military).

[Wakizashi the Bolshevik]

I support them. They fight for Communism.
I don't really need to know much more:cool:.

[Saorsa]

The NPA and the CPP are one of the most important and strongest revolutionary forces in the world. They are true communist militants who dedicate their entire lives to struggling for revolution and serving the people.

[Armand Iskra]

In fact, they are the last genuine Maoist fighting force, winning the support of the proletarian masses despite the mistakes they confessed back then. However, Most of the groups who opposed the Party, like the rejectionist faction (composed of those who made atrocities in the name of the Party), Trotskyists, and authoritarians in "democrat's" clothing continue to subjectively oppose and even destroy the name of the party.

Well...
Not all things an urban Insurrection like in Europe can carry through, for a different terrain, especially in a peasant majority country needs a different action to undertake. China had the capacity to do like in Russia, but why they had failed in Shanghai?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Here's what another Filipino communist (and former member) said about them, before he was murdered:

PSR: A Semi-feudal Alibi for Protracted War (http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/marxists/archive/lagman/works/psr.htm), 1994
A critique of Sison's book (under the nom de guerre - Amado Guerrero) Philippine Society and Revolution, which characterized Philippine society's mode of production as semi-feudal and semi-colonial

PPDR: Class Line vs. Mass Line (http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/marxists/archive/lagman/works/ppdr.htm), 1994
A critique of the CPP's 'People's Program for a Democratic Revolution, which laid down its standpoint on the bourgeois democratic revolution and the agrarian question.

PPW: A New-Type Revolution of the Wrong Type (http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/marxists/archive/lagman/works/ppw.htm), 1994
A critique of Sison's dogma of the armed struggle as the primary form of struggle for the Filipino proletariat, a review of Chinese society and history

[PRC-UTE]

it would be fascinating to see an account of how they've managed to unite so many different ethnic and linguistic groups spread across a wide landmass. it's truly an impressive accomplishment that speaks to the great power of what a programme of universal emancipation can accomplish.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

The NPA started with the remnants of the Huks, a popular army which waged guerrilla war against the Japanese, then U.S., then Filipino puppet governments. Their main period of growth was during the period of martial law under Marcos, when a number of students joined their ranks.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I would suggest reading the material from Ka Papoy that I linked to. It's from over ten years ago, but it's very relevant.

[Leo]

And here's a critique of Ka Popoy and the PMP: http://en.internationalism.org/icconline/2007/lagman

[rebelworker]

^ Fix Link.

[PRC-UTE]

I'm reading the critique of their ideology, from one of the links NHIA posted. and from what I'm reading it does seem very confused (the semi feudal theory...). I don't care for the writer's style but he makes a good argument.

[Saorsa]

The Philippines is a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country, the CPP's approach is totally relevant.

[Leo]

The Philippines is a semi-feudalLabeling countries semi-feudal is borderline chauvinism and has no historical or material basis in any way; let alone the fact that the term is entirely meaningless.

[Armand Iskra]

The Philippines is a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country, the CPP's approach is totally relevant.

I consider the Philippines as a semi-feudal since there are remnants of feudalism in the provincial ares, and most of the landlords were also backward capitalists like the Zobel de Ayalas and the Cojuangcos.

I even think that feudalism, is the very rotten part of imperialism, since every nation became the vassal of a bigger nation, like USA. And at the same time, these landlord-oligarchs were the ones who run the state, the econony, the culture and the army, in which the NPA needs to be eradicated at all fronts; and through this the era of semi-feudal, semi-colonial backwardness will be destroyed and be replaced by a new national democratic society with a socialist perspective.

[Armand Iskra]

Here's what another Filipino communist (and former member) said about them, before he was murdered:

PSR: A Semi-feudal Alibi for Protracted War (http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/marxists/archive/lagman/works/psr.htm), 1994
A critique of Sison's book (under the nom de guerre - Amado Guerrero) Philippine Society and Revolution, which characterized Philippine society's mode of production as semi-feudal and semi-colonial

PPDR: Class Line vs. Mass Line (http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/marxists/archive/lagman/works/ppdr.htm), 1994
A critique of the CPP's 'People's Program for a Democratic Revolution, which laid down its standpoint on the bourgeois democratic revolution and the agrarian question.

PPW: A New-Type Revolution of the Wrong Type (http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/marxists/archive/lagman/works/ppw.htm), 1994
A critique of Sison's dogma of the armed struggle as the primary form of struggle for the Filipino proletariat, a review of Chinese society and history

That person who created those writeups is Filemon "Popoy" Lagman, who thinks that the philippines is a backward capitalist form of state, as well as preferring urban insurrection over the protracted peoples war through armed urban partisan units, molotov bombs, and pillbox.

he is also the same person who involved with "liquidation" squads, bank robberies, bus burnings, as well as stealing money from the party during the RA-RJ debate.

[chebol]

For a good backgrounder on the struggles in the Phillipines, check out these articles:
http://links.org.au/taxonomy/term/54

Particularly relevant is the critique of the Pol-Mil strategy at http://links.org.au/node/129 although most of the links at the bottom of the page give a lot of good background.

The ones near the top are more recent news.

[Yazman]

I have learnt quite a lot since my last post in here. Living in the phils its hard to get information that doesn't also come with all sorts of rumours and hearsay either way. Regardless though I have learnt a lot so if you guys have any questions I'll be happy to answer them! There's actually NPA activity on occasion in the outskirts of the area I live in sometimes.


that the philippines is a backward capitalist form of state

I'm not sure what you mean by this but the Philippines is indeed a capitalist state, a pretty corrupt one, but a fairly well developed one.

[Mike Morin]

Everybuddy should consider themselves part of the Peoples' Army.

Being a Friend, a lover of life, I believe that we should not advocate violence, just consider me as an advocate of a Peoples' Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (PNCC).

Besides, I have been saying for almost forty years, that I would never advocate anything that I was not willing to do myself.

The Peoples' Ami, if you will.


Mike Morin
(aka Mohandos Lenino)
(aka Hugo Zorro Corro Chavez)
(aka Martin Luther Kin Fox Fourier Owen Renard)
(aka Morehymmed Saddiq)
.
.
.
.
etc.


SumOne, Everybuddy!

All People Kin!

Let's work together!

[CHEtheLIBERATOR]

They're ok but been geting involved with drugs and rape.Hope they stay communist

[Mike Morin]

They're ok but been geting involved with drugs and rape.Hope they stay communist

Hope they stay Capitalist, is what, you mean...

I float like a bee, and sting like a butterfly!

Have you all heard about the Apollo Alliance?

RU Ben Davis.


Mike Ctanzaro Misenti LaRosa Morin
(aka PaChe)
(aka Hugo Corro Chavez)
.
.
.
etc.

SumOne, Everybuddy!

All People Kin


www.peoplesequityunion.blogspot.com (http://www.peoplesequityunion.blogspot.com)

[Yazman]

They're ok but been geting involved with drugs and rape.Hope they stay communist

Where did you hear that? Not even the media here says stuff like that :P

[Armand Iskra]

I have learnt quite a lot since my last post in here. Living in the phils its hard to get information that doesn't also come with all sorts of rumours and hearsay either way. Regardless though I have learnt a lot so if you guys have any questions I'll be happy to answer them! There's actually NPA activity on occasion in the outskirts of the area I live in sometimes.



I'm not sure what you mean by this but the Philippines is indeed a capitalist state, a pretty corrupt one, but a fairly well developed one.

For me, the Philippines is a Semi-feudal, semi-colonial state. Whose people behind these are the landlord-ceo oligarchs who also contolled the political spectrum.

[Yazman]

Under what basis is it "semi-feudal?" Have you ever lived here? Your location says "Frankfurt; Manila"and I'm not sure what that means but there is certainly nothing feudal about the economy of the Philippines. It is one of the more prominent capitalist countries in southeast asia.

An overly corrupt state that is at times under a far too strong influence by the corporate sector and organised religion is simply a very corrupt capitalist state. There isn't a whole lot feudal about it.

[Armand Iskra]

Under what basis is it "semi-feudal?" Have you ever lived here? Your location says "Frankfurt; Manila"and I'm not sure what that means but there is certainly nothing feudal about the economy of the Philippines. It is one of the more prominent capitalist countries in southeast asia.

An overly corrupt state that is at times under a far too strong influence by the corporate sector and organised religion is simply a very corrupt capitalist state. There isn't a whole lot feudal about it.

What line r u leaning to? Popoy Lagman? Arturo Tabara? Reyes? Kintanar?

I called the Philippines a semi-feudal state, since 75% of the filipinos are farmers, and thus the majority of the lands they toil are controlled by the landlords who are also controlling the economic and the political power. You may say it is capitalist, for you are focused much in an urban place not in the entire nation in general. Perhaps you haven't read the book entitled "Philippine Society and Revolution by Amado Guerrero" and the "Short Course on Philippine Society and Revolution."

here:
Sinu-sino ang kumokontrol at nagpapasasa sa yaman ng Pilipinas? Ang kumokontrol at nagpapasasa sa yaman ng bayan ay ang imperyalistang US at iba pang dayuhang imperyalista, at ang kasabwat nilang lokal na mga naghaharing uri na malaking burgesyang kumprador at panginoong maylupa. Isang porsyento (1%) lamang sila ng populasyon ng Pilipinas.
Sila ang lubos na nakikinabang sa likas na yaman ng bayan, sa pwersang paggawa at sa likhang yaman ng mamamayang Pilipino. Kontrolado nila ang reaksyunaryong gubyerno at reaksyunaryong armadong pwersa sa Pilipinas. Sila ang mga naghaharing uri na nang-aapi at nagpapahirap sa sambayanang Pilipino.


it stated that, aside from the US and other Foreign imperialists in the Philippines, the Landlords and the Comprador Bourgeoisie controlled the entire population of the Philippines, this 1% controls the reactionary regime, the army, as well as the economy.


And what makes this nation a Semi-feudal despite having industries?

here:
Ganito ang pagkakahanay nila batay sa lawak ng pag-aaring lupa:
Bukod dito, mas marami pang mga panginoong maylupa ang nag-aari ng 49 ektarya pababa. Sa mga lupaing tinatamnan ng palay at mais, halimbawa, halos lahat ng mga panginoong maylupa ay nag-aari ng mas mababa sa 50 ektarya ng lupain. Samantala, mahigit sa 1,500,000 ektarya ang mga taniman ng palay at mais na pag-aari ng mga panginoong maylupa.
Ganito rin sa industriya ng niyog. Sa isang pag-aaral sa industriya, 20% lamang ng mga niyugan sa bansa ang pinaghahati-hatian ng 3.4 milyong magsasaka at manggagawang bukid, samantalang ang 80% ay pag-aari ng mga malalaking panginoong maylupa.(Ang Bayan, Oct. 2001)
Sa kabuuan, walang esensyal na pagbabago ang kaayusang ito, bagkus patuloy pang lumalawak ang lupang pag-aari ng uring panginoong maylupa.


It means that here in the Philippines in General, not in the urban populace you belong, the ones who occupied 49 hectared lands are landlords, and these lands use to plant cash crops like rice and corn, as well as 50 and 1,500,000 rice and corn planted fields. Same as in Coconut Palms where 80% belongs to the landlords according to the CPP's Ang Bayan.



The landlords also controlled the economic spectrum. former Representative Danding Cojuangco, famous for controlling San Miguel Corporation and other industries, is a landlord who controlled 100 hectared lands in the philippines, that planted rice, corn, coconut palm and cassava for its industries, his relatives also controlled one of the biggest azucareras in the Philippines, the Hacienda Luisita. These landlords perhaps are in their posh offices in Makati and in Ortigas, having positions as Chairmans and Ceos, as well as having political powers as Mayors, Governors, Congressmen, and Senators, and yet they have titles proving that they controlled vast lands?



I am not offending you, for the fact that behind reading "Frankfurt; Manila", I've went to rural places, specifically ricefields in the provinces, and through these, it shows the dominance of the landed gentry who also controlled the offices and the factories.