CPP DOES NOT ALTER ITS IDEOLOGICAL LINES EVEN IF IT JOINS POLLS

The Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Partylist warns that the Communist Party of the Philippines’ participation in the forthcoming elections thru the newly-formed Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamayan (MAKABAYAN) does not in any way alter its ideological lines.

“It just simply complemented the revolutionary struggle by widening its mass base, enabling it to achieve its tactical and long term objectives, building up its arsenal, and enhancing its united front efforts courtesy of their fielded and supported political candidates,” said ANAD Partylist-Mindanao Spokesman Arthur Tariman in a statement.

According to Tariman, the CPP, in the past and under the present circumstances, has never believed in the merit of the electoral process as a means of achieving the desired reforms in society.

“An ANAD Partylist study shows that the CPP continuously participates in the electoral exercise in order to weaken and undermine the government, and as a convenient way of rectifying its boycott errors in the 1978 and 1986 elections,” emphasized Tariman, a long time anti-communism activist who hailed from Cebu.
Tariman observed that the CPP leadership has realized that should the Party decide to boycott the future political exercises it could be facing a more damaging dissension that may lead to another split like what happened in early ‘90s.
ANAD Partylist is however aware of the ongoing internal debates over political lines and revolutionary direction of the Party.

“The Nepal experience was said to have provided new revolutionary insights for the Party on how to possibly achieve a ‘qualitative leap’ of the revolutionary struggle,” stressed Tariman.

The aging but ambitious CPP Founding Chairman Jose Ma. Sison is said to be giving more focus on electoral struggle despite some internal opposition.
The hardline Maoist couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon is reportedly opposed to the shift of the primary focus from armed struggle to legal struggle to seize state power in much shorter time.

Encourage by the electoral gains of Bayan Muna and other CPP-affiliated partylist groups in the past, “Sison seriously considered the Nepal experience as an alternative strategic option,” said Tariman, adding that Sison subscribes to the idea of “exploring the arena of the electoral struggle.”

The ANAD Partylist spokesman in Mindanao further contend that the establishment of the MAKABAYAN is a manifestation of the CPP’s serious intention to win as many seats in the Senate, Congress and the local elective posts.

MAKABAYAN’s promotional activities have not been limited to popular mass support, but rather extend to known political personalities, especially opposition leaders as in the case of Davao City where three of its candidates to the City Council have found their way into the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod party of City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. They are Joel Virador, Lea Librado and Ariel Casilao.

Hugpong also backs all partylist groups identified with the Maoist MAKABAYAN like Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, ACT, COURAGE, KATRIBU and Akap Bata.
During the 2001 elections, Alvin Luque, Bayan-Southern Mindanao Region secretary-general-turned-NPA-SMR spokesman, also ran under Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod but lost.
(ANAD PARTLIST-MINDANAO INFONEWS BUREAU)