Will A “Hugo Chavez-type” End the Filipino Revolution?

[The question arises: Can populist rhetoric sway hearts and minds without petrodollars?  —  Frontlines ed.]

Joma sees Duterte as Pinoy-version of Hugo Chavez

October 10, 2015

by JEFRY M. TUPAS, CORRESPONDENT, The Manila Times

UTRECHT, The Netherlands: Jose Maria Sison, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), made himself clear—he did not endorse Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as his preferred next president of the Philippines.

“But how can I do that when he did not yet declare that he is running for president?” he said laughing, in front of him a cup of brewed coffee sitting cold – untouched – on a long white table, the ‘centerpiece’ inside the office of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) here.

Not the Independence and Socialism the Revolutionary Vietnamese Thought They Won

 [That Vietnam won a world-shaking and -inspiring victory against US imperialism 40 years ago, is a fact that is celebrated and studied by all people seeking liberation and revolution everywhere.  But there have been significant problems, renascent bourgeois and ambitiously corrupt officials, united under a phony “socialist” banner, have relentlessly pursued a course of servicing foreign imperialism.  In growing areas, mass protests brew, as early indicated when, in in one such case,  “Security forces cracked down harshly on protestors from the Kim No village outside Hanoi who were protesting the … decision to confiscate their farmlands and hand it over to foreign developers to build a golf course.”  Clearly, new resistance will grow, and a more clear-sighted revolutionary course is debated.  —  Frontlines ed.]

A family at the opening ceremony for Vietnam’s first McDonald’s restaurant, in Ho Chi Minh City in February 2014. Commerce and globalization have trumped ideologies. Le Quang Nhat/AFP

The fall of Saigon: How Vietnam ended up in the US orbit

Analysis: 40 years after war, Asian ‘tiger’ draws close to old adversary with geopolitical, cultural and economic ties

April 29, 2015

by Andrew Lam, Al Jazeera

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Two stores in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, still popularly known as Saigon, told the story of modern Vietnam one Sunday morning in March.

In a souvenir shop foreign tourists haggled over some of Vietnam’s most iconic T-shirts: Those with the image of Ho Chi Minh, the country’s long-dead father of communism, for instance, and those with the hammer and sickle icon. But down the street in a newly opened Apple store, a crowd of young locals all vied to ask questions about the outlet’s most coveted item: the iPhone 6. And a lucky few with disposable income walked out with their new mobile devices in hands, beaming.

While the hammer and sickle and Uncle Ho’s image may still adorn T-shirts it sells to foreign tourists, Vietnam’s heart throbs for all things American, especially Apple. In 2014, in fact, Vietnam became its hottest market. In the first half of the 2014 fiscal year alone, iPhone sales tripled in this country, far surpassing sales growth in China and India.

But it is not just iPhones, of course, that exemplify America’s powerful presence in Vietnam 40 years after the war ended. Facebook entered Vietnam’s market four years ago and at one point was adding a million signups a month. As of October, it had 30 million users, and that’s out of 40 million Vietnamese who have access to the Internet.

Nepal: “Maoist”-Claimant Parties Moving Toward Unity on Political Program and Demands

[Ever since the leading Maoist party in Nepal abandoned its rural peasant base areas, dismantled its Liberation Army and People’s War in 2006, and re-oriented their forces and energies to win urban forces and alliances and reformist electoral prospects, there have been ongoing reductions in their influence, significant drops in support, and a string of organizational splits.  Now their electoral urban orientation has utterly failed, and there are attempts to rise from those bankrupt campaigns with a call to unite all who have similar urban and electoral political lines, and thereby reinvigorate without challenging the opportunism which dropped the revolutionary People’s War as a hot potato which was and is unacceptable to capitalists, regional hegemonists and imperialists.  Readers should not assume there is any substance to these parties’ current claim of the “Maoist” banner, as their every move  reflects a rejection of Maoist history and Maoist political line.  See this article for the latest news on this desperate effort. — Frontlines ed.]

Mao followers say they are close to forming alliance

Himalayan Times, 15 June 2014

TIKA R PRADHAN
KATHMANDU: Realising the strength of unity among like-minded forces, the parties having faith on Maoism and Mao ideology today agreed to join hands.

In a brief meeting of the top brass of the five parties — Unified CPN-Maoist, CPN-Maoist, CPN(Unified), CPN (Maoist) and Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) — at the party headquarters of the CPN-M in Buddhanagar, the five parties have decided to forge a working alliance.

“Due to time constraint we could not draft the agreement today. We have decided to forge the alliance on Saturday,” said Mani Thapa of RCP.

Thapa said the five forces have agreed to create a forum among the like-minded forces to discuss ways to discuss a communist centre in Nepal, which will set the agenda for the overall communist movement in the country.

Nepal ex-Maoists declare “We will follow ‘the path of capitalism’ to achieve ‘communism'”

[Seven years after abandoning the revolutionary People’s War and dismantling the emerging liberation political powers in the countryside, and ending the revolutionary challenge to feudal and semi-feudal relations, and the People’s Liberation Army, the former Maoists led by Prachanda and Bhattarai are now shedding their “Maoist” cover.  A good number of purported revolutionaries who supported these revisionists soon after their abandonment of the revolutionary road–(some even called Prachanda and Bhattarai the “creative Maoists” of our time, and the leaders of 21st Century Communism)–will now be challenged to sum up their promotion of these anti-revolutionaries, and help those they may have influenced to understand how to avoid such retreats in the future.  The world of revolutionary Maoists will be watching.  We encourage our readers to comment on these developments.  Frontlines ed.] Nepal Maoists to change ideology, hint at giving up anti-India stance” Friday, Feb 1, 2013

By Shirish B Pradhan | Place: Kathmandu | Agency: PTI

In a major policy shift, Nepal’s ruling Maoists will adopt a new path to socialism through capitalism and may also give up their anti-India stance at the upcoming national convention of the party. Some 2,500 delegates of the ruling UCPN-Maoist will attend the six-day general convention, to take place after a gap of over 20 years, starting on Saturday in central Nepal’s Hetauda Municipality in an attempt to revamp the guerrilla group-turned-mainstream political party. “We will follow ‘the path of capitalism’ to achieve communism instead of pursuing ‘New Democracy’ as propounded by chairman Mao Zedong,” said Narayan Kaji Shrestha, vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist and deputy prime minister.

Nepal: former Liberation fighters’ disappointing prospects in Nepal Army integration

[Years after the abandonment of the revolutionary people’s war, in exchange for false promises, the illusory “gains” have proven empty and are losing their remaining adherents. — Frontlines ed.]

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The Kathmandu Post:  “993 combatants choose integration in 3 days”

KATHMANDU, SEP 08 – Altogether 993 former Maoist combatants have filled up forms for integration in the seven main cantonments by Saturday. The selection process began on Thursday.
Many of the 3,123 ex-fighters, who were initially waiting for integration, have complained that the age criteria set by the Special Committee forced them to change their priority. The Special Committee has said only those combatants who were born before May 24, 1988 are eligible to opt for integration.
So far, 202 ex-combatants, including 12 females, have filled up integration forms at the Third Division based in Chitwan. Similarly, 171 have expressed desire to go for integration at the Fourth Division, Nawalparasi; 234 at the Sixth Division, Surkhet; 106 at the Fifth Division Rolpa; 99 at the Seventh Division, Kailali; 82 at the First Division, Ilam and 99 at the Second Division, Sindhuli, according to the Directorate of Public Relations of the Nepal Army. The former fighters willing to join in lower ranks can fill up integration forms until September 30 and the result will be announced on October 7, according to the Special Committee Secretariat. The selection for commanders eyeing the officer ranks in the Nepal Army will start on September 12 in Chitwan.

Nepal: The pacified so-called “Maoist” Party is no longer attacked by imperialism

[Mao Zedong, the great revolutionary leader of the 1949 Chinese revolution, speaking on May 26, 1939, stated:  “I hold that it is bad as far as we are concerned if a person, a political party, an army or a school is not attacked by the enemy, for in that case it would definitely mean that we have sunk to the level of the enemy. It is good if we are attacked by the enemy, since it proves that we have drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves. It is still better if the enemy attacks us wildly and paints us as utterly black and without a single virtue; it demonstrates that we have not only drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves but achieved a great deal in our work.”  His words continue to resonate and are relevant today. (Please note that the US State Department refers to the delisting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) it is in fact directed at the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which is the name which was adopted after the Maoist party had abandoned the people’s war and changed its color from red to bourgeois reformist.  See the statement from the State Department, and the news report of the response of the UCPN(M), below.) — Frontlines ed.]

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“Media Note:  Delisting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)”

Office of the Spokesperson, State Department of the United States

Washington, DC

September 6, 2012

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The Department of State has revoked the designation of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN(M)) and its aliases as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity under Executive Order 13224, and as a “terrorist organization” from the Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). With these actions, the CPN(M)’s property and interests in property in the United States or within the possession or control of U.S. persons will no longer be blocked, and U.S. entities may engage in transactions with CPN(M) without having to obtain a license.

After a thorough review, the Department has determined that the CPN(M) is no longer engaged in terrorist activity that threatens the security of U.S. nationals or U.S. foreign policy. Additionally, in recent years, the Maoist party has been elected as the head of Nepal’s coalition government, has taken steps to dismantle its apparatus for the conduct of terrorist operations, and has demonstrated a credible commitment to pursuing the peace and reconciliation process in Nepal. Today’s delisting does not seek to overlook or forget the party’s violent past, but rather looks ahead towards the party’s continued engagement in a peaceful, democratic political dialogue in Nepal.

This delisting reflects the United States’ resolve to keep our terrorism sanctions current and demonstrates that a group need not stay on a terrorist list forever should it demonstrate a credible commitment to pursuing peace and reconciliation.

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“Nepal’s Maoists welcome US’ removal of terror tag”

By Indo Asian News Service

Saturday 8 September, 2012

Kathmandu, Sep 8 (IANS) The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) has welcomed the US State Department removing it from its list of terrorist organisations – six years after the end of the armed rebellion in this Himalayan country.

Nepal: Rejecting corruption and betrayal of revolution, Maoists form new party

Maoists split in Nepal, Baidhya-led faction forms new party

Yubaraj Ghimire, Indian Express : Kathmandu, Mon Jun 18 2012

The Mohan Baidhya-led faction of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M) decided to float a new party on Sunday after declaring that “working with corrupt people and foreign stooges” had become impossible.

The new party, the Nepal Communist Party-Maoists Revolutionary (NCP-M R), was reportedly planning to hold its first national convention in February.

Last ditch efforts by Maoist chief Prachanda, who offered to quit the party leadership to prevent a spilt, were dismissed as “not being worthy of trust” at the faction’s meeting that took place in Bouddha, on the outskirts of the capital. “Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai together have compromised on the objectives of the Revolution, and betrayed the Peoples Liberation Army by disarming and handing them over to the Nepal Army,” Baidhya, the vice-chairman of the party, told delegates at the meet, adding, “Our own leaders and comrades have acted as Red-traitors”.

Nepal: Bourgeois leader Koirala crows about Peruvian ex-Maoist’s call to Nepali Maoists: ‘give up the struggle for power’

[Bourgeois calls for revolutionaries to surrender often seize hold of the most tarnished and discredited tools–in this case, Abimael Guzman aka “Gonzalo” who was a founder and leader of the Communist Party of Peru until he was captured and renounced the people’s war for power and for revolutionary transformation of Peru.  While some in Nepal have already taken the path of surrender, Nepali revolutionary Maoists are having nothing of it, as the struggle for revolution against revisionism continues within the UNCN(M) and, importantly, in the streets and villages. — Frontlines ed.]

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President of the Nepali Congress (NC), Sushil Koirala, asks Maoists to renounce revolutionary program, armed struggle, and to adopt peaceful reform

After Peruvian Maoist leader Gonzalo was captured, in time he sang a different tune of surrender, and denounced the Peoples War--winning him praise from reactionaries.

Koirala urges Maoists to follow Gonzalo’s advice

by SANTOSH POKHAREL, myrepublica.com

POKHARA, Jan 7: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala on Saturday has urged the UCPN (Maoist) to follow Peruvian revolutionary leader Gonzalo´s advice to renounce violence and adopt peaceful politics.

Speaking at a function in Pokhara, President Koirala urged the Maoists not to go against the democratic system and derail the peace process. He urged the Maoists to adopt the path of peace and constitution to bring about prosperity in the country.

“Even Peruvian revolutionary leader Gonzalo, who orchestrated the killing of about 70,000 people the guerilla war popularly known as ´Shining Path´, has asked the Maoists to adopt the path of peace. Maoists should follow the path of peace,” he said.

Gonzalo, who is currently serving a jail term, had reportedly sent a letter to the UCPN (Maoist) through his aides.

“The leader who led once of the greatest armed rebellion also acknowledged the importance of peaceful means. The Maoists should also acknowledge the fact,” he further said.

Koirala also warned that the Maoists would perish if they try to impose dictatorship in the country.

Annoyed Nepal Maoist Chief Prachanda curses Students

[Telegraph Nepal is a bourgeois newspaper in Nepal which never has supported the revolutionary struggle of the people in its coverage of events.  They have a history of delighting in, and some would say inventing, difficulties in the people’s struggles and especially among the Maoists.  Nevertheless, this article reveals a lot about the brittle relationship that has developed between those revisionist “Maoists” such as Prachanda (who have led the abandonment of the revolutionary people’s war), on the one hand, and the revolutionary masses (including students) on the other. — Frontlines ed.]

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Telegraph Nepal

The so-called peoples’ leader cum Chairman of Unified Maoists’ Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias ‘Prachanda’ must have woken up from the deep slumber when the students belonging to various political outfits at a program held in Kirtipur, December 12, 2011, hooted and cried foul at him when he was delivering his speech. There were also some Maoists’ students who hooted at Prachanda. This indicates the rising awareness level among the students too. But, Dahal unfortunately had something else in his mind.

Dahal who turned 58 on the same day became so annoyed that he even cursed the students who were howling at him. Happy birthday Mr. Dahal.

“I wish you too become a leader like Prachanda in the future and feel the pain through which I am undergoing now,” said a pained Dahal and added, “It is up to you to take it as a curse or a blessing.”

Who would have thought such an unfortunate day would eventually come in Dahal’s political career?

“I can see that there is the clear trend to blame the leaders for all the faults,” Dahal lamented.

The students replied, “Yes it is true…ho… ho… ho… (Leaders are to be blamed).”

He continued, “It is not that a leader gives birth to the common men, in fact it is the common men who give birth to a leader. It is time that people as well see their face in the mirror.”

The peoples’ leader took the courage to blame the people instead.

“Blaming the leader will provide no solution. Unless awareness among the people attains a new level we will reach nowhere,” he said and added, “There will be no political stability.”

Perhaps it was for the first time that ferocious of the not so distant past was insulted in such an ignominious manner.