ANGPahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas

Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo

Engl ish Edition

Vol . L No. 22

November 21, 2019

www.cpp.ph

EDITORIAL

End martial law andplunder in Mindanaoand the entire country

NPA-Eastern

Samar ambushes

14th IB

THE NEW PEOPLE'S Army(NPA)-Eastern Samar ambusheda unit of the 14th IB at SitioBangon, Barangay Pinanag-an,Borongan City on November 11,5 p.m. The said enemy trooperswere blasted with a command-detonated explosive.

Initial reports indicate thatat least six soldiers were killed,including three officials. Addi-tionally, at least 20 werewounded during the blast.

The 14th IB is notorious forperpetrating human rightsabuses, particularly againstchildren. In 2011, two minors,both children of peasants, whowere on their way to their farmto gather copra were illegally

"NPA...," continued on page 3

The people of Mindanao are tired of living under military rule and stateterrorism. For more than three years, they suffer everyday fromkillings, arrest and detention, intimidation, surveillance and other

military abuses. They are denied of their rights to express dissent or protestagainst the suffering and exploitation they experience. Anyone who speaks isimmediately tagged as a communist and is suppressed.

Defense Secretary Delfin Loren-zana's statement that the Min-danao martial law could already belifted is plain hogwash. Lorenzanaonly said this because he knowsthat even without martial law, thefoundations and system they havebuilt for their military rule, not onlyin Mindanao, but across the wholecountry will continue to exist.Without dismantling these, martiallaw will carry on in essence despitebeing lifted explicity.

To end the military rule in Min-danao, the people demand to im-plement the following democraticmeasures:

(a) allow the several thousandsof Marawi City residents to returmto their homes and lands, and in-demnify them over damages causedby the massive bombing of the cityin 2017;

(b) withdraw all abusive militaryunits camping in the middle of

"End...," continued on page 2

November 21 , 2019 ANG BAYAN2

communities under the guise of“peace and development;”

(c) dismantle all CAFGU unitsand paramilitary groups along withtheir detachments in and aroundbarrios;

(d) stop the arbitrary tagging ofcivilians as “rebels” to force them to“surrender” even though no casesare filed against them;

(e) stop aerial bombing andstrafing which endangers the lives ofresidents in farms and mountains;

(g) end “Red tagging” or thepractice of declaring organizationsand activists as “communist fronts”or “NPA recruiters" which is beingused to subject them to militarysurveillance and other repressivemeasures;

(h) release all political prisonersand end the scheme of filing oftrumped up criminal charges andplanting of evidences.

Beyond Mindanao, Duterte'smartial law and tyranny is imple-mented across the country through

Executive Order 70 (EO 70) and hisso called “counter-insurgency”program to end the armed revolu-tion in the country. These are on topof the Memorandum Order 32 (MO32) which placed Samar, Negros andBicol under military rule.

Through EO 70, Duterte placedthe whole Philippines under thecontrol of the so called NationalTask Force (NTF) which is led byDuterte and dominated by his mili-tary officials. The NTF has regionaland provincial offices which sub-sumed various agencies of the civil-ian bureaucracy to serve its“counter-insurgency” interest.

The AFP interferes and sets theprograms of all government agencies.It also encroaches in economic pro-grams and social services which ac-tually are not military-related. Newlyelected local government officials arerendered powerless because of AFPsurveillance. The congress and sen-ate are but ornamental. Those whodo not abide by the program set bythe AFP and NTF are put into a tight

situation as they are tagged as NPA“supporters” or implicated in drugsyndicates.

Military rule is worst in farmsand mountains as the direct pres-ence of fascist military troops inbarrios and communities are main-tained. Barangay officials are co-erced to serve as their subordi-nates; those who refuse to followare harassed or suppressed. Manywere killed. In Mindanao, severalbogus leaders were appointed bythe AFP as “datu” (cheiftain) todeceive and divide the Lumadmasses.

At least 549 AFP and CAFGUtroops are currently operating invarious barrios across four Min-danao regions: 217 in SouthernMindanao (in 2018), 139 in NorthCentral Mindanao (including 105CAFGU detachments), more than100 in Northeast Mindanao (exclud-ing SCAA detachments put up bymining companies); and 93 in FarSouth Mindanao. Majority of theseare situated in areas that are beingtargeted as sites for mining opera-tions and destructive infrastructureprojects. In Southern Mindanao,64% or 137 CAFGU detachments areoperating in 43 towns and cities withmining companies currently or plan-ning to expand their operations.

The imposition of de facto mar-tial law in the face of EO 70 acrossthe country, and especially theoutright implementation of martiallaw in Mindanao, are closely linkedto advancing the economic inter-ests of big multinational corpora-tions and the local bourgeois com-prador and landlord counterparts.

Fascism is needed to suppressall forms of dissent against the en-try of destructive mining, expansionof palm oil, rubber, pinapple andother plantations, tourism projects,and energy and other infrastruc-tures that are funded by foreigners.Since 2017, the suppression andmilitary operations escalated in ar-

"End...," from page 1

"End...," continued on page 3

Vol L No. 22 | November 21, 2019

ContentsANG

instagram.com/prwcnewsroom

@prwc_info

cppinformationbureau@gmail.com

Ang Bayan is publ ished fortnightly by the Central Committee

of the Communist Party of the Phi l ippines

Ang Ang Bayan is publ ished

in Pi l ipino, Bisaya, I loko,

Hi l igaynon, Waray and Engl ish.

Ang Bayan welcomes

contributions in the form

of articles and news items.

Readers are encouraged

to send feedback and

recommendations

for improving our newspaper.

Editorial: End martial law and plunder inMindanao and the entire country 1NPA ambushes 14th IB 1Anomalous SEA Games spendings 3CSP in Masbate 4Maranaos oppose new military camp 5Yolanda's 6th year 5AFP kills barangay captain 6PNP harassment vs. Ibon Foundation,Altermidya 6Regent strike dispersal 6Delta Serra 7Ampatuan massacre 7Tribute to judge in Cordillera 7US-orchestrated coup in Bolivia 8

ANG BAYAN November 21 , 2019 3

eas targeted for mining operationsin Andap Valley, as well as palm oilplantations in the Pantaron moun-tain range along the border ofDavao del Norte and Bukidnon, andthe plan to expand plantation andlogging operations in the Dagumamountain range. Big military opera-tions are also part of the plan forthe construction of the Chico RiverPump Irrigation Project in Kalinga,the Kaliwa Dam in Rizal and Laguna,the Pulangi 5 Hydro Power Project inBukidnon, amd also various eco-tourism projects in Masbate.

Under de facto martial law, cor-ruption is worst and concentratedunder Duterte and his AFP and mili-tary officials in form of bribes frombig companies, kickbacks from infra-structure projects, and pocketing offunds allocated for the military op-erations of soldiers and paramili-taries.

In plain words, the US-Duterteregime's martial law and fascism iscorrelated with foreign plunder ofPhilippine patrimony and environ-ment, corruption, exploitation of thetoiling masses, and the worseningpoverty of the people.

The Filipino people must con-tinue to strengthen their strugglefor democracy and defend their pat-rimony from foreign plunder. Theyhave to wage this along their fightagainst the US-Duterte regime'styranny and fascism.

Assiduously expose and opposemultinational companies that ex-tract huge amounts of money byplundering our country and de-stroying the environment. Unite andmilitantly fight these companiesthat grab the ancestral lands of na-tional minorities and the farmlandsof peasants. Expose Duterte's bogusland reform program, which he isvaunting of, as a scheme to fasttrack the use-conversion and grab-bing of peasant lands.

The New People's Army (NPA) istasked to defend the social and eco-nomic interests of the Filipino peopleagainst foreign capitalist plunderers.The NPA must strictly implement thepolicies of the revolutionary move-ment to defend the environment andthe livelihood of the masses, andhold destructive mining companiesand big local capitalists accountable.The revolutionary movement musttirelessly rouse and mobilize thebroad peasant masses to advancethe struggles for their right to landand the revolutionary program forgenuine land reform.

Strengthen the clamor to endmartial law, EO 70, MO 32 andcrush the foundation of Duterte'sfascist rule. Forge the broadestunity among the Filipino people toadvance the struggle for democracy,the fight against military rule, andend Duterte's tyranny and terror-ism.

held by 14th IB troopers.The two were also pho-tographed and subjected tointerrogation. The victimswere traumatized due to theincident. The soldiers alsostole their farming tools.

In 2006, a young manand two minors were illegallyarrested by the same battal-ion and were presented asNPA fighters.

The 14th IB also mas-terminded a corruptionscheme through the anoma-lous mass surrender of civil-ians in Eastern Samar. OnNovember 18, it coerced 16farmers to attend a meetingat the provincial capitol inBorongan City who werelater presented as "NPAsurrenderees." The batallionalso employed this scheme inDecember 2018 against 27peasants from BarangayConcepcion, Paranas.

In Panay, the NPA re-ported that 13 troopers ofthe 61st IB and CAFGU werekilled while four others werewounded in successive mili-tary offensives mounted byRed fighters.

The NPA mounted a ha-rassment operation againstthe 61st IB on September 20in Barangay Ungyod, Miag-ao, Iloilo, and against aCAFGU detachment inDagami, Maasin on Septem-ber 23. On September 25,the security guards of Cen-tury Peak Hydrodam in Ig-cabugao, Igbaras were alsoharassed.

The revolutionary move-ment and the people offertheir highest tribute to KaDenden and Ka Aden whowere martyred during thesaid offensives.

"NPA...," from page 1"End...," from page 2

Anomalous SEA Games spendings

THE EXTRAVAGANT COST for the construction of a monument for the 30thSoutheast Asian (SEA) Games which will kick of on November 30 was widelycriticized.

The monument, satirically called "Cayetano's cauldron" costs about P50million. It was named after Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano, chairperson of thePhilippine SEA Games Organizing Committee.

The P50-million budget used for the construction of the monument is partof the P11-billion loan from a Malaysian bank for the construction of newsports facilities in New Clark City. Among the provisions of the loan contract isa P2.5-billion sovereign guarantee which will benefit the company. The com-pany will also get 50% of the income generated from facilities in the next 25years.

November 21 , 2019 ANG BAYAN4

CSP: The face of the "whole-of-nation"approach in Masbate

In Masbate, the "whole-of-nation" approach, the US-Duterte regime'scounterinsurgency program, is characterized by the military occupation

of civilian communities under the guise of the Community Support Program(CSP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"CSP...," continued on page 5

Regional corresponsal

The three major islands of theMasbate province, Ticao, Burias andMasbate, have been under de factomartial law since Rodrigo Duterte'sissuance of Memorandum Order(MO) 32. Duterte further consoli-dated the military rule in the islandby issuing the Executive Order 70which created the National TaskForce to End Local CommunistArmed Conflict (ELCAC).

As per the AFP's design, the de-ployment of combat units for the CSPis in support for Oplan Kapayapaanwhich purportedly aims to "clean"areas that it alleges as bases or po-tential bases of the New People'sArmy. These are also called COPD(community organizing for peace anddevelopment) operations whereinlocal government units and agenciesare tapped by the AFP for its coun-terinsurgency program. Under EO70, the AFP fully subsumed the civil-ian bureaucracy and its structures

through the creation of local taskforces against communism.

The CSP primarily aims to evictresidents from areas targeted assites for businesses of both local andforeign capitalists. A large portion ofthese are agricultural lands culti-vated by poor peasants and ances-tral lands of national minorities.

Bogus land reform, anti-peopleprojects

In January 2018, Duterte or-dered the distribution of lands inMasbate to purportedly counter thegrowing strength and influence ofthe NPA in the island. In truth,Duterte plans to have these lands,which have long been tilled by peas-ants, titled in order to award theseto his favored individuals. Thisscheme will ease the process of sell-ing lands to real estate developerswho intend to invest in tourismprojects, export processing zones

and mining companies.Simultaneous with the imple-

mentation of bogus land reform, theDuterte regime is peddling itsprojects under the National Devel-opment Plan 2018-2022. Amongthese is a contract for the MasbatePark tourisim project which wasawarded to Chinese capitalist HuangRolon. These also include the Mas-bate International Economic Zone(MIEZ) which will cater to foreigncapitalists. In peddling these,Duterte is making it appear thatsuch projects will generate jobs inthe province and help the livelihoodof residents.

However, Ma. Roja Banua,spokesperson of the NationalDemocratic Front-Bicol, said thatthe promised "biggest ecotourismproject" which will purportedlybenefit the town of Dimasalang andMasbateño masses is a big fat lie.

She said that "the administra-tion is peddling its grandiose Mas-bate Park and Masbate Interna-tional Economic Zone in an attemptto woo Masbateños, and make itappear that the regime has concreteplans to address poverty in theprovince. By spewing these enticingand deceptive promises, the regimeaims to make Masbateños shun theirsupport for the revolutionary move-ment in the province.

On top of the Masbate Park andMIEZ, there are also other massiveprojects in the province such as theMasbate International Tourism En-terprise and Special Economic Zone,a project of the Masbate Park andLand Development Corporation(MPark) in the towns of Palanas andDimasalang, and Matibay CementFactory and Coal Power Plant inBarangay Casabangan, Pio V. Cor-pus.

ANG BAYAN November 21 , 2019 5

100,000 Maranaos oppose

creation of new military camp

Marawi and Lanao del Sur residents filed a petition at the Malacañangon November 15 to oppose the planned creation of a new military

camp in their city. Around 100,000 signed the said petition. The camp willbe constructed in Barangay Kapantaran, one of the 24 barangays that weremost ravaged by Armed Forces of the Philippines bombings in 2017.

The petitioners said that thenew camp will have an adverse po-litical and social effect. Theystated that the presence of sol-diers in their city is against theirculture and religion and will onlysow fear among residents. Theyasserted that the Maranao identityis dependent on Marawi and thatthe creation of a camp will affectthe future generations ofMaranaos.

Contrary to the petition, Ro-drigo Duterte signed MemorandumOrder 41, also on November 15,and ordered the creation of a com-mittee that will take charge of con-ducting "studies" on the creationof the said camp. Duterte issuedthe order almost two years after

inaugurating the target area inJanuary 2018.

It has also been a year sincethe Department of National De-fense was allocated a P51-millionfund for the procurement of landproperties in Kapantaran. Withintwo years, the value of the land inthe area has increased from P100-P200 per square-meter to P1000-P2000 in 2018. Until today, theregime is still in the process ofidentifying the owner of the land.

The newly formed committeeneither includes representativesfrom the local government ofMarawi nor the residents. Accord-ing to Moro Consensus Group, thisviolates their right to free priorand informed consent.

These projects exclude miningcompanies such as the Masbate GoldProject which has long been operat-ing in eight barangays of Aroroy.

Killings, fake surrender and PNGTo railroad the delivery of these

projects, the regime implemented anew wave of military occupation af-ter the May midterm election. Ac-cording to Ka Luz Del Mar,spokesperon of the NPA-Masbate(Jose Rapsing Command), the AFPand PNP heightened their operationsin the province in order to declareMasbate as “conflict manageable”and “ready for development.” Cur-rently, CSP operations cover up to59 barangays in nine towns of theprovince. (See infographic.)

The relentless military occupa-tion resulted in more than 27 casesof political killings, 12 cases of frus-

trated killings, 302 cases of illegalarrest and detention, and 14 casesof abduction. More than 1,000 indi-viduals were subjected to threatsand other forms of intimidation. Sol-diers also perpetrated indiscriminatestrafing, aerial bombings, ransackingand hamletting. Because of this,more than 1,000 residents have beencompelled to evacuate from theirbarrios.

Of Bicol's six provinces, the sec-ond highest number of politicalkillings and other human rightsabuses were recorded in Masbate,next to Sorsogon. According toKarapatan-Masbate, peasants, fish-erfolks, drivers, municipal andbarangay officials are severely af-fected and victimized. Soldiers andpolice operatives primarily targetmembers of progressive organiza-tions such as the Kilusang Mag-

bubukid ng Masbate (KMM), Mas-bate People’s Organisation (MAPO)and the local offices of Karapatanand Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

Similarly, the forced surrenderof civilians either as sympathizers ofRed fighters is a major aspect of theCSP in the province. The AFP imple-ments the surrender campaign un-der the guise of the Enhanced Com-prehensive Livelihood IntegrationProgram (ECLIP). Data from the AFPindicate that about 539 civilianshave “surrendered.”

To hinder the strength of themass and revolutionary movement,residents and local government of-ficials are coerced to sign "personanon grata" declarations against theCommunist Party of the Philippines,and even legal organizations thatstand for the rights and livelihood ofMasbateños.

March in commemoration

of Yolanda's 6th year

PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS,led by People Surge, marched toTacloban last November 8 tocommemorate the 6th year ofthe super typhoon Yolandawhich devastated EasternVisayas. The groups condemnedthe Duterte regime's neglectand his henchmen's brazencorruption of rehabilitationfunds.

Relatedly, 400 members ofthe Coalition of Yolanda Sur-vivors and Partners filed a peti-tion at the Office of the Ombuds-man in Tacloban last November 7to demand a stop to the anoma-lous housing projects of the Na-tional Housing Authority in East-ern Samar.

"CSP...," from page 4

November 21 , 2019 ANG BAYAN6

AFP murders barangay captain in Masbate

Elements of the 2nd IB and PNP killed a barangay captain and six othercivilians in Masbate during the first week of November. The captain was

identified as Wolfert Dalanon of Barangay Libertad, Cawayan. He was gunneddown by soldiers on November 6 in what soldiers claim as an encounter withthe New People's Army (NPA).

Dalanon and four other civilianswere falsely presented as NPAmembers. The two other victimswere identified as Joan Versaga andArnel Ortillano, both members ofthe Masbate People’s Organizationwho were gunned down in separateincidents last November 1 and 2.

In Batuan, Bohol, Rolando Pat-aca, captain of Barangay Rizal wasalso intimidated by police and 47thIB elements. On November 7, stateelements forcibly entered and ille-gally searched his residence. Aweek before this, Pataca helped insearching for and rescuing resi-dents who were coerced by the mili-tary to serve as guide in their com-bat operations.

In Iloilo, police and military el-ements illegally arrested peasantleader Herman Allesa in BarangayBolo, Maasin on November 10.Allesa was a former official of thePaghugpong sang mga Man-gunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras(Pamanggas). He was accused ofparticipating in a raid against policestation in Maasin on June 2017.

In Montalban, Rizal, urban poorleader Lilibeth Gelith was arrestedby the police last November 6. Lili-beth Gelith was charged with de-privation of property. Gelith was aleader of the Montalban HomelessAlliance, an urban poor alliancethat demands the state for housingservices.

In Davao, Hanimay Suazo, for-mer secretary general of Karap-atan-Southern Mindanao, was re-ported missing by her relatives lastNovember 2. She was last seen rid-ing a motorcycle on her way homeafter going to the cemetery. Amonth before this, Suazo reportedthe relentless surveillance againsther and her family.

In Macalelon, Quezon, ele-ments of the 85th IB besiegedBarangay Malabahay on November17. They trooped to the residenceof peasant leader Eliseo Batarlo tocoerce him again to surrender asan NPA member. The 83rd IB hasbeen perpetrating various rightsviolations against residents of thesaid barangay since the early partof the year. Among the incidentsthat were documented were casesof interrogation, intimidation, ille-gal detention, coerced surrenderand physical assault.

PNP attempts to enter

Ibon Foundation and Altermidya offices

POLICE OPERATIVES ATTEMPTED to enter the officesof Ibon Foundation and Altermidya in Timog Avenue inQuezon City and the Philippine Collegian office, campuspublication of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

On November 7, officers of the National CapitalRegion Police Office called on the said officesprompting that they will be conducting an inspection atthe Ibon Building wherein Altermidya and other legaland international organizations are based. Three menalso attempted to forcibly enter the PhilippineCollegian office on November 16, also purportedly toconduct an inspection.

According to Altermidya, the illegal entry of thesaid elements in their office can be considered anattack to press freedom.

On November 7, a journalist, identified as DindoGeneroso, was gunned down in Dumaguete City,Negros Oriental. The victim was aboard his car, on theway to a radio station where he works, when he wasshot.

PNP, goons disperse

Regent Foods workers strike

THE POLICE AND goons of Regent Foods Corpora-tion violently dispersed the strike of Regent FoodWorkers Union at its factories in Pasig City andTaguig on November 9. Twenty-four individualswere illegally arrested, including two members ofthe Defend Job Philippines and a tricycle driverwho just passed by the picketline. They werecharged with physical injury, and alarm and scan-dal among other cases. Many workers were injuredduring the dispersal.

The workers mounted their strike to opposethe harassment against their union and demandtheir right to regularization, especially thoseserving the company for several years already. Thestrike also aims to prevent the company fromsneaking out its machines and closing down.

On November 15, 11 workers were releasedafter Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto had a dialoguewith the company. Several others were released onNovember 18 after posting a bail of P8,500 per in-dividual.

ANG BAYAN November 21 , 2019 7

Ampatuan Massacre: a decade of impunity

THE COMMUNIST PARTY of the Philippines (CPP) joined theFilipino people in commemorating last November 17 the 10thyear anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre wherein 53 indi-viduals were killed, mostly journalists. The Party said that themassacre is a manifestation of the rotten state of the politicalsystem in the country which is dominated by feudal landlordsand warlords. They employ their armed goons to perpetuatetheir power, protect their businesses and criminal syndicatesand suppress anyone who challenge their rule.

The party is one with the victims' families in their clamorfor justice. For ten years now, the reactionary justice systemhas failed to decisively resolve the case. It has allowed thelegal maneuvers of the Ampatuans to delay the criminal pro-ceedings.

The same conditions which led to the Ampatuan massacreare present until today. Political dynasties still exist and so aretheir violent rivalries. The Duterte regime has worsened this byperpetrating killings and intimidation against the political op-position, its critics and members of democratic organizations.

In particular, Duterte is attacking the local media, espe-cially practitioners who are critical of his fascist ambitions.Eighty-five harassment incidents against journalists and 14killings have been documented since 2016. Even studentjournalists are subjected to harassment and intimidation bythe state.

The Ampatuan massacre is considered the worst case ofelection-related violence in the country. It is also the worstcase of media violence in the country and in the world.

Progressives pay tribute

to judge in Cordillera

HUMAN RIGHTS AND progressive organi-zations in Cordillera paid tribute to JudgeMario Anacleto Bañez during his wake lastNovember 11. Bañez was gunned down inhis car by several unidentified in BarangayMameltac, San Fernando, La Union on No-vember 6. He is the judge of the RegionalTrial Court in San Fernando, La Union.

The Center for Development Programsin the Cordillera believes that Bañez wasassassinated for standing by a fair and im-partial judiciary. On September 4, she ac-quitted Rachel Mariano, a health workerwho was illegally arrested and accused bythe 8th IB of participating in an ambush bythe New People's Army against a militaryunit in Quirino, Ilocos Sur on October 17.

During the hearing, Bañez upheld thatthe accused is an activist and that the mil-itary's allegations is not sufficient to con-vict Mariano. Four other individuals ac-cused as communists were acquitted byBañez.

Earlier, the AFP asked the SupremeCourt to investigate judges who acquitthose accused by the military as commu-nists.

Establishing thepeople's governmentin Delta Serra

It was during the summer of 2014 when twoplatoons of the New People's Army (NPA) ar-

rived at and converged in Delta Serra after severalmonths of conducting strenuous expansion work.Delta Serra is a vast mountain range which con-nects four provinces in Mindanao. Most parts ofthe area have not yet been penetrated by the rev-olutionary movement in the past decades.

The two platoons started outseparately in both ends of DeltaSerra. After traveling for threemonths, the units have arrived atcommunities of various Lumadtribes, Moros and settlers who forthe first time had the opportunity tointeract with Red fighters. Resi-dents warmly accepted the Red

fighters in their communities andparticipated lively in political dis-cussions and researches. Residentsbridged them to other communitiesand facilitated their safe passage toother areas.

The successful expansion jour-ney of Red fighters served as seedin founding the people's government

in Delta Serra.

History and social conditions inDelta Serra

Distinct in the history of theLumad and Moro masses in DeltaSerra is their century-long andbloody struggle against various log-

"Establishing...," continued on page 8

November 21 , 2019 ANG BAYAN8

ging companies that grab and de-stroy their ancestral lands. In thepast four decades, they sufferedworse forms of oppression and ex-ploitation from the armed goons of alarge logging, mining and plantationcompany. This is owned by a power-ful bourgeois comprador and land-lord who also has a private army.

Comrades thoroughly explainedthat only through unity and waginga democratic revolution will they beable to address their land problemsand poverty. This roused them toorganize their ranks. They industri-ously participate in discussions andattend in political studies that aregiven by Red fighters. They enthusi-astically accepted their role inpoliticizing and revolutionary orga-nizing. The people of Delta Serraare likened to a forest with hugeheaps of dried branches and leaveswhich will conflagrate in one in-stance.

Systematic and quick organizingIn analyzing the social condi-

tions in and planning for the area,the leading Party committee de-cided to establish a front committeeto effectively direct its expansionwork. The committee devised a one-year plan to set the people's army

and the residents' objectives in itsbase, army and Party building work.Mass campaigns and the lines thatwould be carried in the said periodwere also set.

The committee promptly stud-ied the terrain and devised possiblemaneuvers for the people's army. Itcontinuously expanded and deep-ened its analysis to ensure that it isable to firmly understand the gen-eral and particular conditions in thearea. It regularly holds study circlesthat is participated in by more andmore individuals. It immediatelyestablished the organizing commit-tees for the founding of the Rebo-lusyonaryong Organisasyon ngLumad, Kabataang Makabayan andMAKIBAKA in the area, as well assquads of the people's militia. Itactively gave medical services incommunities and participated in thepeople's production activities. Itheld a discussion which was partic-ipated in by 70 tribal leaders fromseven barangays.

Expansion work was conductedquickly with the help of local lead-ers, the militia and organizedmasses. They even reached com-munities and barrangays in adja-cent municipalities.

Newly elected leaders of the

mass movement played an activerole in organizing. Because of ofthis, revolutionary mass organiza-tions, the people's militia and localParty branches continued to ex-pand quickly. Later on, revolution-ary committees were formed in theclusters of various barrios.

Strengthening the massmovement

In the early part of 2015, ahistoric mass action against a log-ging company was mounted in oneof the communities in Delta Sierra.More than 300 residents mounted abarricade to oppose the demolitionof their homes and the constructionof an access road by the company.

The masses also mobilizedagainst the expansion of a com-mercial plantation, and opposedthe attempt of the company tobulldoze their farms. They also op-posed the expansion of commercialtimber plantations.

The participation of DeltaSierra residents in urban mass mo-bilizations is also notable. Thou-sands participate in large demon-strations even as their convoyswere forcibly stopped several timesby the reactionary local govern-ment and the fascists.

US-orchestratedcoup d'état in Bolivia

Progressive peoples and leaders across the worldcondemned the US-orchestrated coup d'état to

oust Evo Morales as the elected president of Bolivialast on November 10. Morales voluntarily resignedamid violent demonstration spearheaded by his po-litical opponents.

Morales decided to seek assy-lum in Mexico after goons ran-sacked his and his sister's houses.Earlier, Morales and his cabinetmembers received threats that theyand their families will be killed.

Violence broke out afterMorales' victory in the presidentialelection on October 20. He waselected for the fourth time aftergarnering 48% of the total numberof votes. But instead of upholding

the result, his political opponentscalled for a massive demontration.The oppositionists (mostly rightists)particularly target national minori-ties who comprise 60% of the total

"Bolivia...," continued on page 9

"Establishing...," from page 7

ANG BAYAN November 21 , 2019 9

local population in the country. OnNovember 7, the oppositionistsburned down the town hall of Vinto.They dragged Patricia Arce, mayorof the said town, through thestreets. She was shamed in publicand was coerced to sign a resigna-tion letter. On the same day, thegroup attacked the 200,000-strongdemonstration of peasant women insupport for Morales. More than 10of Morales' supporters were killedwhile 400 others were wounded inthe said attacks. The US replacedMorales with Jeanine Añez, a candi-date who garnered a meager 1.6%of the total number of votes in theelection.

Role of the USUS and its allies played a big

role in delivering the "regimechange" in Bolivia. The coup againstMorales is no different to the coupattempt against Venezuela Pres.Nicolas Maduro during the earlypart of the year. In Bolivia, the USparticularly employed the NationalEndowment for Democracy, anagency which poses as a non-gov-ernmental organization (NGO) tofund the political opposition and in-cite its organizations to oustMorales. The opposition is com-posed of local oligarchs who chal-lenged Morales' 14-year presidency.

The US also employed the Or-ganisation of American States, aWashington-based institution, toreverse the election result. Even be-fore completing the tally of votes,the organization along with US andEuropean Union officials, that theelection was "rigged." They de-manded a nullification of resultseven as they failed to provide suffi-cient evidence to prove the allegedelection fraud. They demanded areelection, even as majority of inde-

pendent pollwatchers insist that theelection was legitimate. To face theaccusations, Morales called for areelection. This, however, was un-heeded by the US as it subvertedthe decision of the Bolivian people.It instead called for strikes andboycotts, majority of which ended inviolence. Allies of his political op-ponents along with the police andmilitary violently dispersed thepeaceful protests in support forMorales.

An independent leaderLike Maduro, Morales has long

been targeted by the US for his firmstance against the imperialisthegemony of the US in Latin Amer-ica. In 2017, he declared that Bo-livia is already free from the controlof the International Monetary Fundand World Bank. Many of the big-gest mass movements in Bolivia areagainst privatization of public re-sources, such as water, by imperi-alist companies.

He is known for his pro-peoplepolicies and for fighting against thelocal oligarchs. He frugally controlsthe resources of Bolivia. Among thepolicies he implemented to protecthis country was the implementationof an 82% tax on lithium miningcompanies. Recently, he allowedChinese mining companies to oper-ate in the country. About 70% of thetotal lithium in the world is in Bo-livia. Lithium is a mineral that isused in manufacturing batteries.Bolivia is also rich in hydrocarbon, achemical compound that is a pri-mary component of petroleum andnatural gases.

Morales' regime saw an im-provement in the quality of life inBolivia, especially to that of farm-ers and national minorities. He im-mediately implemented extensive

land distribution to poor farmerswhen he first sat in power in 2006.More than 60 major indigenouscommunities, which comprise al-most 3 million hectares of land,benefitted from the program whichhe dubbed an “agrarian revolu-tion.” Part of his programs werethe construction of infrastructuresin the countryside, such as accessroad, schools, hospital, and facili-ties for water and eletricity. In2017, even US institutions re-ported that the extreme poverty inBolivia decreased by 43%. Thiswas a result of Morales' additional43% budget allocation for socialservices, and 88% for minimumwage.

International supportHundreds of thousands of peo-

ples condemned the US-orches-trated coup in Bolivia and ex-pressed their support for Morales.They condemned the rascist vio-lence which the political oppositionused against national minorities.For its part, the InternationalLeague of Peoples’ Struggles issuedan open letter declaring “Peoples ofthe world for Evo." The organiza-tion said that the destabilizationcampaign against Evo aims to quellthe revolutionary minorities strug-gle for self determination.

Academics, minorities and pro-gressive organizations held aprotest in front of the OblationStatue at the University of thePhilippines Diliman in Quezon City,in support for Morales and thepeople of Bolivia.

Hundreds of thousands offarmers also rallied in Guatamela insupport of Morales. The peoplesand independent leaders Vene-zuela, Cuba and Brazil also ex-pressed their solidarity.

"Bolivia...," from page 8