Joma offers truce to Duterte admin
COMMUNIST Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison has offered an immediate mutual ceasefire with the incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte as the leftists prepare to nominate members to join the new Cabinet.
Sison said Fidel Agcaoili, chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front, was already in Davao to iron out details with the Duterte camp.
“The CPP and NDF welcome the offer of the Cabinet posts from president-elect Duterte and thank him for showing trust and confidence. They will recommend the department secretaries who are motivated to serve the people, competent, honest and diligent. They are going to form a committee to scout and choose the nominees,” Sison told The Standard in an interview from Utrecht.
He said he himself does not want any government position.
Duterte earlier offered four Cabinet positions to the CPP, namely the departments of Agrarian Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, Labor and Employment, and Social Welfare and Development.
Counter-offer. Communist Party of the Philippines head Jose Ma. Sison, shown in this file photo taken in Utrecht, The Netherlands, has offered a mutual truce between communist rebels and the government of the Philippines, a day after president-in-waiting Rodrigo Duterte announced that he was setting aside four Cabinet positions for nominees of the CPP.
Sison said the original plan was for Duterte, his former student at the Lyceum University, to go to Europe before his inauguration on June 30, after which the self-exiled communist leader would return to the Philippines.
“But I don’t think Duterte has time to make that trip because he has so much work to do before his inauguration. Agcaoili is in Davao now to talk to Duterte,” he said.
“Emissaries are now laying the ground for the resumption of the peace negotiations. The negotiating panels will meet to discuss the release of political prisoners, the implementation of an immediate mutual ceasefire, and the plan to accelerate the peace negotiations,” Sison added.
Sison said once the mutual ceasefire is in effect, he will return to the Philippines.
Formal peace talks between the Aquino administration and the CPP-NDF collapsed in February 2011.
Talks could not resume because the communists have been demanding the reactivation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees which will give safe conduct pass to communist negotiators and political consultants.
The government earlier rejected the NDF’s proposal to draft a new Jasig list after the original one, stored in a very old floppy diskette, got corrupted and could no longer be retrieved.
A spokesman for the Duterte camp, Peter Laviña, took a more conciliatory tone toward the communists Tuesday after calling them “roadblocks to genuine change” on Sunday.
“We did not fire the opening shots. We were merely reacting,” Laviña said, saying his Facebook post Sunday was to “put things in perspective” after the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) criticized Duterte’s economic plan as “a continuation of the neo-liberal poison imposed on the people by the Aquino regime.”
“I am truly sorry for these leftist groups which will be left out in the march of history with their dogma and belligerent styles and methods of work. They need to right their wrongs and stop becoming roadblocks to genuine change,” Laviña had said in his Facebook page.
But in an interview with Davao-based reporters, Laviña insisted that the Left “will have to mend their ways.”
“We cannot just hold a demonstration on every issue, nothing will happen, we need to join hands to address the problems in the country,” he added.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes was also more conciliatory on Tuesday, acknowledging the offer of four Cabinet posts for the Left as “unprecedented and...very much welcome.”
Sison had earlier told The Standard that the “revolutionary forces” would consider Duterte’s offer and make recommendations that may include qualified persons who are not CPP members.
“The appointment of peace negotiators who are acceptable to the NDF also boosts chances of progress in the peace talks. A just and lasting peace entails serious economic and political reforms that address the roots of the armed conflict,” Reyes said.
“We offer our willingness to discuss these programs with the incoming Duterte government. We are glad that the next president has also publicly declared that he was a part of Bayan,” he added.
In a statement the CCP central command said Duterte’s rise to the presidency was a reflection of the “deepening and aggravating crisis of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system.” It added that they welcomed Duterte’s openness to “attain a negotiated political settlement of the long-running civil war.”
The Palace on Tuesday said the offer of four major Cabinet posts to the communists was the prerogative of the next president.
“Every president exercises the prerogative to appoint Cabinet members who are deemed capable and trustworthy,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“In exercising this power, the President must submit the appointees to the scrutiny of Congress through its Commission on Appointments, as provided by the Constitution,” said Coloma.
“While reviewing such appointments, Congress may engage stakeholders in dialogues that would surface concerns or objections, such as those that have been aired in regard to the incoming president’s plan to appoint nominees from the Communist Party of the Philippines,” he said.
“Let this process unfold and bring about results that will truly serve the national interest,” said Coloma.
The human rights group Karapatan, meanwhile, urged Duterte to reconsider his decision to name Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, protege of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, as the next military chief.
“Instead of being promoted, Visaya should be prosecuted for the crimes he committed against the Filipino people,” Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay, said in a statement.
Visaya, currently chief of the Southern Luzon Command, was a protégé of Palparan, whom human rights groups had dubbed “The Butcher” for a string of human rights abuses that occurred in areas where he was assigned as military commanader.
The militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) acknowledged Duterte’s offer of four Cabinet posts and urged the incoming president to certify as urgent a genuine agrarian reform bill. -With Sandy Araneta and John Paolo Bencito
Joyce Pangco Panares
* Posted May 18, 2016 at 12:01 am:
http://thestandard.com.ph/news/headlines/205876/joma-offers-truce-to-duterte-admin.html
Why Joma Sison backs critical Left ’honeymoon’ with Duterte
Both the legal national democratic movement and underground leftist groups should welcome a honeymoon with the country’s next president, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison told a big gathering of progressive forces Tuesday afternoon.
Sison, an exile in the Netherlands for decades, spoke soon after the CPP central committee released a statement saying there would be no honeymoon with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, winner by a landslide of the May 2016 presidential election.
In a Skype forum, to which this reporter gained access, Sison praised Duterte on many fronts and urged the legal Left to grab overtures, including the offer of four Cabinet positions, saying these represent inroads for long-term solutions to roots of conflict.
National Democratic Front (NDF) chief negotiating officer Luis Jalandoni echoed Sison’s points Wednesday morning in an interview with Ted Failon over dzMM.
Duterte to grant amnesty to political prisoners: NDF
Jalandoni said, while the CPP and the NDF focuses on forging a final peace with the Duterte presidency, it could help recommend progressive and qualified legal personalities to fill positions at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
“You don’t expect a perfectly anti-imperialist and anti-feudal president,” Sison told the 200-strong gathering, which included groups that had criticized the published 8-point agenda of Duterte’s transition team.
“For the first time, there is an opportunity for the progressive movement to have a president as ally. For the first time there is a president who opens his government to progressive and nationalist forces,” Sison said, referring to Duterte as “Ka Digong.”
He pointed that with the oligarch allies of outgoing President Benigno S. Aquino III preparing to undermine the first Mindanawon president, the Left should work on many major points of unity with Duterte.
“He needs to create a coalition with other forces,” Sison stressed, citing threats of impeachment from Aquino’s allies.
“May bahagi na dapat naging minor,” Sison said. (There are areas of disagreements that can be considered minor.)
"At kailangan ng konting kompromiso sa mga hindi uring anakpawis.” (We need to make some compromise with those who do not belong to the proletariat.)
Referring to Duterte’s economic adviser, Carlos Dominguez, of a big landed and mining clan, and who served under former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sison pointed out Duterte’s openness to discussing the Left’s economic positions.
Sison emphasized that progressive forces should be critical and that nationalist groups are independent of the CCP and the NDF.
He urged activists, “let us struggle with restraint.”
“Kausapin muna.” (Talk to them first.) “Lampas sa Facebook at dyaryo, pwede mag-usap.” (Outside of Facebook and the media, we can always talk.)
CHALLENGE OF GOVERNANCE
Sison challenged legal activists on Duterte’s offer.
“Handa na ba kayo paano punuan?” he asked. (Are you ready to rise to the challenge?) He said nominees for the offered government posts do not have to be communist personalities.
But where progressives are needed, he stressed, they must step in.
“Kesa naman ahente ng oligarchs,” he quipped to laughter from his audience. (You don’t want agents of oligarchs there.)
Both Sison and Jalandoni said they would concentrate on advancing peace talks stalled during the six years of the Aquino presidency.
“We need time for peace negotiations to advance substantially,” Sison pointed out.
Jalandoni told dzMM that personnel of the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) and the NDF would not join the government immediately.
But he said they would give a list of “qualified and competent” personalities from the legal democratic movement.
He said Duterte has given the green light for delegations from both sides to start the process of resuming peace talks.
Sison said progressives should work to set the foundations of national industrialization and complete the agrarian reform process, for higher wages and better work conditions, for livelihood opportunities that would ease the poor’s dependence on political patronage.
These reforms, he stressed, must also benefit the small and middle entrepreneurs.
“You don’t just attack capitalists,” he said. “We can work with nationalist capitalists even as we talk to and persuade kompradors (agents of foreign capitalists) to invest funds and talents in national industrialization.”
POLITICAL PRISONERS
“The most important thing to me is for the release of more than 500 political prisoners,” Sison said. “That will be a challenge to Duterte.”
He urged, for a start, the release of aging and ailing and women political prisoners.
But Sison said “si Ka Digong matapang,” and would probably match the gestures of Mrs. Aquino and former President Fidel V. Ramos, who both opened the gates of political detention centers.
Sison and Jalandoni welcomed the promised ceasefire but stressed rebels would give up arms only after the signing of a final peace agreement.
When someone asked what the NPA would do during the ceasefire, Sison said guerrillas would remain in their “natural habitat.”
While rebels would welcome the rest from fighting, he stressed, “wag masyadong mag-relax.” (Don’t relax too much.)
Firearms must remain with the NPA for now, Sison said, who also pointed out the many pressures exerted by the right on Duterte.
The NDF wants completion of the economic rights document, which includes national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform.
Sison praised Duterte’s wisdom in his long years of recognizing the legal and underground leftist movements as important social
reformers.
“Of the different left groups, it is the CPP, NPA and NDF that has consistently grown its underground machinery. The force of the legal mass movement cannot be ignored, nor the underground armed movement, where the CPP leads millions of masses and 120 guerrilla fronts in 71 provinces.”
While traditional thought sees power emanating only from the center, the Left’s strategy of continuing to focus on the poor of the countryside has paid fruits, Sison said.
MESSAGE FOR CPP CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Sison was asked about the harsher tone of the CPP central committee’s statement, published before Duterte made the offer.
He stressed that the Davao mayor’s offers were unilateral and umprompted.
“I think the central committee will open up a bit and be more open now because of the statements and actions of Ka Digong,” Sison said. “May konting itutuwid.” (There is room for improvement of its position.)
He said the central committee was right to lay down revolutionary principles and world views and to recognize the plus and minuses “as they see the situation.”
But, “masyadong nagaabante,” he opined of the central committee statement. (They moved too fast.)”
“Nagumpisa na nga ang honeymoon. Kinakausap natin. Nag-offer ng positions. Tinanggap ang offer ng mutual ceasefire.” (The honeymoon has started. We are talking. He has offered positions and accepted the need for a mutual ceasefire.)
On Wednesday, the CPP leadership released a new, more conciliatory statement.
“The CPP and the revolutionary forces welcome the possibility of joining presumptive president Duterte in an alliance government, whether in the form of assigning cabinet positions to the CPP or its endorsees or some other more radical form of unity government which the maverick new president might be open to consider,” said the CPP in an email sent to journalists.
“While the CPP is not averse to being assigned cabinet positions under certain conditions, incoming president Duterte knows fully well that what is more important to the revolutionary forces are the necessary changes in the policies and programs that govern these departments and the entire government,” it elaborated.
“A u-turn in the neoliberal policies of the past three decades, to say the least, must be carried out,” said the CPP.
“For instance, a DOLE secretary can only effectively serve the interests of the labor sector when there are laws prohibiting contractualization, promoting unions, establishing a national wage system and substantially raising wages to decent levels.”
“A DAR secretary will only be able to serve the interests of the peasant masses when there is a genuine land reform program that upholds the social justice tenet of free distribution of land to the tillers and which prohibit landlords, plantations and contract-growers from grabbing and monopolizing lands.”
Vigilance remains a critical need, said Sison. “But criticalness must come with restraint. Let us be open because we need to be flexible when dealing with allies,” he added, warning of enemies waiting to break the Left’s unity with Duterte.
What is crucial, Sison said, is that progressive forces constantly re-examine their selves so they are “not weakened and absorbed by the power center.”
Point of reference for the left must always be for the benefit of the people, Sison said. “Ka Digong is frank. He says because he is with the government, he is technically an enemy, but he is offering the hand of peace, with a desire to unite as conditions of peace.”
Inday Espina-Varona, Special to ABS-CBNNews
* Posted at 18 May 2016 03:03 PM | Updated as of 18 May 2016 05:29 PM:
http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/focus/05/18/16/why-joma-sison-backs-critical-left-honeymoon-with-duterte
Joma’s thoughts about Digong, peace, homecoming
Utrecht, The Netherlands - In 1987, a year after the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos via the EDSA People Power Revolution and the assumption of Corazon Aquino as President, Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), then in his late 40s and newly released from prison, left the country of his birth to live in exile in The Netherlands.
Sison, however, made sure his heart, eyes and ears were attuned to Philippine affairs as he led the CPP from his base in Utrecht.
His 30 years in exile saw the CPP, its political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF), and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), continuing the revolution.
The CPP-NDF, however, also did not turn its back on the path of peace as it sat down with the Philippine government representatives in on-and-off negotiations.
While a definitive peace agreement had not quite been forged under five Philippine Presidents – Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III – the now 77-year-old Sison remains hopeful that peace may yet be achieved under the incoming administration of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte.
Sison left the Philippines while an Aquino wielded power under a euphoric and democratic Philippines emerging from more than two decades of iron-fist rule.
Now, Sison is looking forward to a possible return to the Philippines as another Aquino, the son of former President Corazon Aquino and slain Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., is leaving office and a more sympathetic administration under Duterte gets set to take over.
Interaksyon’s Imelda V. Abano sat down with the CPP founder in Utrecht, The Netherlands last week to talk about the prospects of peace under the administration of Duterte, the tough-talking mayor of Davao City who earned the votes of 15 million Filipinos to become the Philippines’ 16th President.
Excerpts:
Question: Are you ready to come home?
Sison: Oo. Sa palagay ko kahit umattend pa ako sa oath taking ni Duterte sa June 30 or come home in July. Pag makadalaw na si Duterte dito sa Netherlands madali na lang yun (Yes. We could attend Duterte’s oath taking or in July. After Duterte visits the Netherlands, that would be an easy thing). We have arranged my meeting with Duterte and homecoming, may mga tao na pumunta sa Davao to discuss our schedule. Of course I cannot divulge the details about that.
Sinasabi nga nila na mag-ingat ako (They are urging me to exercise caution). But Duterte assured my security. Kapag pumarito na siya, may ilang bagay kaming mapag-usapan (When he comes, there are discussions) that can be formalized or semi-formalized in the form of a communiqué. There can be an outline agreement regarding the release of all political prisoners, an immediate mutual ceasefire because, since the Arroyo administration, the truce and cooperation has long been there, but we are still holding continuous negotiations until now, on comprehensive agreements.
So puedeng present ako sa oathtaking puede ring July (So I can be there at the oath taking, or in July). Di ba maganda yung (It’s a wonderful thing, the) oath-taking that is a big event, well not that big, but an electrifying moment. I don’t exaggerate my size [importance] sasamahan pa ng (with the) MILF or what. But we will have a big moment here in The Netherlands, Utrecht, already. Technicalities are being discussed.
How soon would you want Duterte to grant amnesty to all political prisoners?
Sison: Immediately. We hope the new administration will release all the more than 500 political prisoners. Peace negotiations failed in 2011 because the government refused to release political prisoners. So they must honor, too, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law signed during the Ramos administration. Well, kung kaya ni Cory noong 1986 at ni Ramos noong 1992 na magpalaya ng hundreds (If Cory and Ramos were able to do free hundreds), why not Duterte dahil mas progresibo at mas matapang pa (he is more progressive and courageous)?
The revolutionary forces and the people led by the Communist Party of the Philippines have forged agreements from 1992 to 1998 in peace negotiations with the government, and had formed the national Democratic Front of the Philippines to form a negotiating panel. Objectives such as addressing the roots of the armed conflict through comprehensive agreements on social, economic and political reforms, and end of hostilities were discussed.
Is the Duterte Administration the right time that you are waiting for to end the communist rebellion?
Sison: Yes. Even while he was contemplating about running for president, Duterte has been saying that he is open to a coalition with the CPP. There can be a just and lasting peace if the agreements can be achieved. The agreement is possible. [We’re an] open book eh, even if you go to the program of the NDF and see if it is workable for the good of the people.
What is crucial is to uphold the rights of people to national self-determination and liberation in the face of the economic, political and social crisis due to globalization and being self-reliant at wag magpakontrol sa [and not to be under the yoke of the] United States. You vary investors [or the investment mix] in the Philippines to boost our economy, not just left to the control of the US. Importante yung national industrialization, sa Pilipinas at sa Pilipino itatayo mo (National industrialization is important, and you stake it here in the Philippines, with Filipinos). Ang pinakamahirap na condition na walang foreign investor ay yung (The absence of foreign investors is arguably a steep condition for being) self-reliant and industrial development, nakalink yun sa (it’s all linked to) agrarian reform. Being self-reliant, you are going to strengthen Filipino capitalism and that’s what is possible.
Now in this new administration, we will try to negotiate, susubukan natin (we will try), we are open. Hindi nag-succeed ang peace negotiations in the past kasi ang alam nilang habol lang sa natin ay (because all they were after was) surrender, disarming.
Have you been offered a position in the government?
Sison: Natural lang yan mga offer. But that’s the least concern. Hindi naman kami nagrebolusyon para magkaposisyon sa (we didn’t launch the revolution to gain positions with the) reactionary government. Magkaroon muna ng (let’s first have the) peace negotiations. Kapag maganda pinagkasunduan (If the outcome is good) then mabuo na yung (we can go about forming a) government of national unity peace and development. Para bang kung talagang magkaigihan na sa negotiations bago mabuo lahat ng agreements, pwedeng may (When both sides are on good terms after the negotiations before all agreements are firmed up, then we can have) reciprocal advisers and liason officers.
Why are you pushing for the arrest of Aquino and Abad?
Sison: Oo talagang natural na yan. Marami nagged demand for their arrest not only us. Pinakaabusado mga yan e, mas matindi pa kay Arroyo. Mas malalaki ang nakuha nina Aquino. He is a spoiled brat multiplied a trillion times. You have a monster. Kapag hindi iproprosecute, ... the Ombudsman prosecute him at walang magagawa si Duterte. But influence of the president is essential.
(It’s the most natural thing. Many are pushing for it. They’re the most abusive; worse than Arroyo. They pillaged a much bigger pile under Aquino.)
My advise to PNoy is to go quietly to the night until you are arrested for your crimes of plunder and acts of brutality ... the human rights violations. He will be like Marcos, baka magtago sa US yan. Facing the music, I do not know kung pwede kang maghabol dun unless nasa (if it’s possible to go after him, unless you do it in the) US.
What do you think of the Duterte-Leni administration?
Sison: I wish this tandem well. I hope hindi totoo iyong plan B for Leni to replace Duterte if he fails to deliver. But I am optimistic with this administration. I think Leni will be given a cabinet position so she can side with Duterte.
What will you do first when you come home to the Philippines?
Sison: There’s time to fix everything. So unang gagawin ko e tipunin ko muna ang mga kaibigan at kamag-anak. Gusto ko kumain kung saan-saan ng matatamis, bibingka, prutas lalo na ang manga. Pwedeng initial visit yan (I’ll gather friends and family. Enjoy fruits and dining out. We can do that in my initial visit) as we discuss the comprehensive agreements abroad.
What are the ingredients of a successful peace negotiations?
Sison: We can see that the Duterte administration is interested in the peace negotiations. So we reiterate our offer of truce and alliance previously made with the past administrations. Yung comprehensive agreements, abroad pa rin yan. When we say respect and comply with the existing agreements, foreign neutral venue abroad. Masalimuot yan sa Pilipinas. Sa panahon ni Aquino di ba nag-usap about ceasefire masyadong dehado ang NDF, nasusubaybayan ng military lahat ng kilos ng NDF negotiators plus yung mga tumutulong pagkatapos nagkaroon ng masamang epekto, sinusundan pinapatay. Pwede siguro gawin sa ibang bansa. Dapat merong plan to accelerate the peace negotiations. It’s a matter of technique. For instance, we can copy the one used by the Vatican on how it chose its new pope. Ung gagayahin ung pagkukulong ng mga cardinal until di nila madecide ang sususnod na Pope.
(The comprehensive agreements will still be worked out abroad. This is not a simplistic thing. In the country, during the ceasefire talks, the NDF negotiators were hounded by the military, those who assisted were stalked and killed. There has to be a plan to expedite the peace negotiations. Just like with the Vatican in choosing a new pope, sequester everybody until a solution is forged.)
Reciprocal working teams of committees, when they first meet they have drafts already, nag-usap na sila yan, (they can crunch it out) in 1 week, tapos rest for 2 weeks tapos fourth week, isang comprehensive agreement tapos and peace negotiations within three months.
Do you think Duterte can solve crime in the country within six months?
Sison: Kayang-kaya ni (It’s no sweat for) Duterte yan if it involves crime and drugs, but not kidnap-for-ransom. It takes someone who knows street life to be able to handle it.
What do you think of Duterte’s eight-point economic agenda?
Sison: Yung eight-point economic agenda ni Duterte dapat open yan sa pagbabago at pagkakasunduan sa social and economic reform. Baka oligarchs and foreign investors ang mangibabaw. Dapat ipasok and industrialization at land reform sa usapin. Dapat bukas sa makabubuti sa national interest sa Pilipino thru the process of peace negotiations (The agenda should be agile anough to changes and social and economic reform. Oligarchs and foreign investors might rule the table. It should incorporate industrialization and land reform, and be open to what is going to be good for Filipinos).
Duterte will get the best economic advice thru the NDF. Continue macroeconomic policies. Dapat may sariling pagpapasya at walang kinakatakutan, at yung mga tumutulong sa kanya mga progressive yan, maliban sa ilan. (Duterte would do well to continue macroeconomic policies, but should have his own mind and fear nobody. Those backing him up are progressive, save for a few.)
What is your message to the people?
Sison: Dapat suportahan nila ang peace process para lalong magkalakas loob yung diwa ng dalawang panig na magkasundo. Ang pagkakasundo namn ay naisasagawa na ang point of reference naman e karapatan at kabutihan ng samabayanang Pilipino lalo na yung maggagawa at magsasaka. Yun.
(They should support the peace process to strengthen the resolve of both sides. The point of reference should be the rights and what’s good for the Filipino, especially the farmers and the workers.)
What is your advice to Duterte?
Sison: Pagbutihan yung pagkampanya sa korapson at criminality. Pagkatapos ng mga usapin tungkol sa pambansang sovereignty and integrity, tingnan nya din yung equal treaties and arrangements and contracts. And lopsidedly on the peoples interest. Bigyan ang mga maggagawa at magsasaka ng empowerment, pagrespeto sa kanilang karapatan to organize, at union ng manggagawa.
(Sustain the campaign against corruption and criminality. Next to the talking points on national sovereignty and integrity, he should look at equal treaties, arrangements, contracts. Be biased in the people’s interest. Empower the working man and the farmer, respect their right to organize.)
I maintain my optimism kay Duterte. In so far for what is good to the country he must be supported. In case there are conflicting interest trying to influence him, people will be vigilant. Kahit anong tao or system, the critical spirit must be consistent, otherwise things will unravel out of control.
How do you want people to remember you?
Sison: Magmula bata ako dun ako nabubuhay sa ipaglaban (Since my youth, my) High School motto ko ay Fight! Fight! Fight! ... Contradictions are always the source of progress. Physically, well lalo kang patay (Worse) if you are not active to relate.
Well, high achievement is not becoming the president, presidents are forgotten but there are things that are worth remembering. Mabuti may share ako sa achievement (I’d like to think I had a share in the achievement).
There are new opportunities for achieving big things, if you assert your sovereignty, you develop the country but that is what you can achieve in alliance with the available forces.
What is your message to Filipino Millennials?
Sison: Happy ako na tuloy-tuloy eh. I think the millennials have not forgotten what Marcos did before. There’s always a measure of remembering. Basta existing at nag-dedevelop pa ang mga organization na nabuo dahil sa aking part (As long as the organizations I have been a part of continue to thrive), happy na ako. Every time may mamatay sabi ko (somebody dies, I’d say) “our spirit and work will always be alive in the organization where you have contributed.”
I feel magnified and gratified by the continuing struggle. Pag namatay iyun at buhay pa ako (I don’t want to live to see it fizzle out), I’ll be sad.
Remember Joma Sison as patriotic and revolutionary.
Imelda V. Abaño, InterAksyon.com
* InterAksyon.com. The online news portal of TV5. May 18, 2016 8:40 PM:
http://interaksyon.com/article/127953/read-here--jomas-thoughts-about-digong-peace-homecoming
Joma also extends welcome to ‘rejectionists’
LUCENA CITY—Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison said the move toward reconciliation would extend not only to the government, through the incoming administration of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, but also to those who broke away from the CPP in the 1990s.
“The government of national unity, peace and development proposed by the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) is inclusive,” Sison said, in reply to an online interview question on whether his move toward reconciliation also extended to his former comrades identified with the CPP’s “rejectionist” (RJ) faction.
“Past differences can be overcome by current resolutions which are good and forward-looking toward a better and brighter social system,” said the CPP founder now based in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Sison did not elaborate.
In the early 1990s, the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, were rocked by differences over strategy and tactics that caused serious division among the party’s top leadership and its members and allied groups.
Those who challenged Sison’s leadership were called “rejectionists,” or RJ, while those who stayed with the CPP founder were called “reaffirmists,” or RA. The rift led to the killing of several known leaders from both factions.
The reaffirmists of Sison wanted to continue its main tactic of protracted people’s war, while the rejectionists led by workers’ leader Filemon “Popoy” Lagman clamored for armed insurrection in the cities to grab power.
Lagman had critiqued Sison’s book “Philippine Society and Revolution” and argued that Philippine society was capitalist in a backward and underdeveloped way, rather than being semifeudal and semicolonial as Sison had contended.
Lagman believed that a workers-led revolution in the city must be waged to dismantle capitalism, rather than a protracted people’s war from the countryside.
The RJ groups and some NDFP leaders later declared autonomy from the CCP, resulting in a split that decimated the number of the party’s supporters and fighters. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
@inquirerdotnet
* Philippine Daily Inquirer. 01:16 AM May 19th, 2016
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/786401/joma-also-extends-welcome-to-rejectionists