Workers Resistance

Category: Asia

  • PFLP reviews past, make plans for future

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

    Statement on the work of the Seventh National Conference of the PFLP

    The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issued the following statement regarding the Seventh National Conference of the Front, recently convened, as an important station on the road to return and the ongoing revolution until the liberation of the entire Palestinian national soil.

    The National Conference was held in three sessions in the homeland and in diaspora to carry out a comprehensive review and evaluation of the Front’s methods, work, overall policies and plans, and the formulation of a political vision and organizational methods for the new phase of struggle. The Conference aimed to form the base for developing the Front’s positions and policies, building the Front’s effectiveness, role, and presence in the struggle to achieving our goals of national and social liberation.

    The Front began with a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs of our people and our nation who sacrificed their lives for Palestine and its freedom, and in respect of the prisoners, detainees and the freedom fighters who continue to march on a difficult path to obtain our inalienable, legitimate, and historical national rights of our Arab Palestinian people.

    After the adoption of the agenda, the Conference was presented with a comprehensive statement and letter from imprisoned General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat, addressing political issues, organizational matters, and theoretical issues, as well as addressing the role of the Seventh National Conference in the future direction of the Front.

    The conference discussed draft reports submitted by the Central Committee, as well as recommendations submitted by the conferences of the Front’s branches, and ended with the election of the members of the General Central Committee and the Central Supervisory Board. The conference’s output reflected democratic principles on the workings of the internal life of the Front, as well as emphasizing the importance of wider participation in formulating the policies, programs, plans, and basic direction of the Front. The Conference emphasized the importance of strengthening the unity of the organization through the deepening of democratic systems and structures at all levels.

    The Seventh National Conference came at a time of serious political concern and complexity, when continuing U.S. imperialist and Zionist schemes aim at the liquidation of the Palestinian national cause by exploiting the conditions within Arab countries and their internal political, economic and social programs to exercise additional pressure on the Palestinian Authority to conclude more agreements ignoring international law, UN resolutions, and the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people.

    The conference discussed the international environment around the Palestinian and Arab situation and its effects on our national struggle for liberation, and the struggle of the Arab people. The United States government is hostile to the aspirations and goals of our people for freedom, self-determination and return, a fact that is reflected every day on the ground and in international diplomatic forums, engaged in a security partnership with Zionist aggression. The Conference also noted the historical impact of international and regional events on the Arab scene.

    The rise of the role of Russia, China, and regional powers has shifted on some level the equations of international conflict. The Conference discussed the Arab political, economic and security situation, in its international context, as well as the structural disorder of Arab regimes and the failure of Arab states to safeguard national sovereignty, political independence, or economic security.

    The Front noted the large mobilizations witnessed in a number of Arab countries which aimed to confront injustice, poverty, and tyranny, and build modern democratic societies. It further noted the high level of imperialist interventions hostile to the aspirations of the Arab nation in an attempt to steal and co-opt the goals and objectives of Arab popular movements through external military interventions and political efforts to spur sectarian and ethnic conflict in order to control the destiny of the Arab peoples while protecting the Zionist entity.

    The Conference also discussed at length the Palestinian reality and the numerous developments in the over a decade that has passed since the Sixth Conference in 2000, reviewing the most important events in the Palestinian scene. At the center of this review are the ongoing and disastrous effects of the turning point in the Palestinian struggle in 1993, marked by the signing of the Oslo agreement. The Conference emphasized multiple issues, particularly the centrality of rejecting the negotiations, which do not serve the Palestinian people’s interests, and the need to fully reject the entire process of negotiations and “solutions” that have failed for over twenty years.

    The importance of rehabilitating the Palestinian national liberation movement and building a new Palestinian strategy based on achieving the full rights of our people was viewed as critical by the Conference. In particular, this will mean drawing lessons from this last stage and entirely ending the absurd negotiations for which our people have paid dearly.

    Further, the Conference discussed the Front’s organizational report, looking at the objective and subjective factors that have affected the structure of the Popular Front. This included engaging in a criticism of the organizational state of the PFLP, and learning lessons from past experience in order to tighten and develop the Front’s organizational structure and theoretical and political vision as a way out of crisis for the Front.

    The Conference also discussed amendments to the rules of procedure and agreed upon a number of amendments to the Front’s internal structural documents.

    The Conference addressed the political program, emphasizing the continuation of the struggle of our people to achieve their strategic objective, and that the goal of the struggle of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is to liberate every inch of Palestinian land from colonial occupation and establish a democratic state on the entire Palestinian national soil.

    The Conference confirmed political tasks in the revolutionary struggle, including the following:

    • the utmost importance to rebuild the institutions of the PLO on new democratic and inclusive foundations, rehabilitating the PLO’s original program and charter
    • working to develop and strengthen the unity of the Palestinian people as the sharpest weapon of the national liberation movement to achieve its goals and break the cycle of division
    • armed struggle is fundamental to the confrontation of the occupation, as imposed by the nature of the occupation and its violence, and is central and a primary component of overall resistance against occupation.
    • resistance to all plans and projects of political liquidationism proposed by imperialism and Zionism to bury the Palestinian cause
    • the struggle for the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their lands and homes from which they were expelled in 1948 must be at the center of work, rejecting all plans and projects aimed to liquidate this right
    • the issue of prisoners and the necessity to free them from Israeli jails is a central issue that must be taken up by all political means, through international bodies, and through the national struggle by all means
    • the central importance of the struggle for identity and liberation of the Palestinian people in 1948 occupied areas and their resistance to all attempts to displace them and Judaize the Palestinian cities and villages
    • the need for unwavering struggle against all forms of political discourse that attempt to legitimize the “Jewish nature” of the racist state, to expose the objectives of these attempts and their effects on the future of the national struggle and the Palestinian people
    • emphasize the importance of the role of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in all locations and in exile, including exposure to difficult and complex conditions.

    Our people in diaspora have played a key role in the march of the contemporary Palestinian revolution and it is critical to focus on the issues of our people in exile and diaspora.

    The Conference stressed the need to continue efforts to develop the democratic trend in the broad Palestinian arena. At the conclusion of the Conference, the delegates elected the General Central Committee and Central Supervisory Board in an atmosphere of democracy and transparency, with a significant number of new members elected to the leading bodies.

    The Conference also expressed its constructive criticisms in a spirit of camaraderie and national responsibility, and sent warm greetings to the General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat and all prisoners in Israeli jails, as well as paying tribute to the comrades who retired from their leadership positions to support the advancement of young leaders and the renewal of the Front. The Conference also expressed its vow to the martyrs and the prisoners to continue their struggle and march on the same long road to liberation, saluting the Front’s founder, Dr. George Habash, the martyred General Secretary Abu Ali Mustafa, the martyr leader Abu Maher al-Yamani and tall of the martyrs of the Front and the Palestinian revolution.

    The Conference saluted the Palestinian people, struggling everywhere, and all factions and forces of the Palestinian revolution, the Arab liberation movement, and popular forces of the Arab homeland; and greeted all of the forces of progress, freedom and socialism around the world who oppose and confront injustice, oppression and imperialism, the enemy of the people and the enemy of humanity. Glory to the martyrs and victory to our great people.

    Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
    General Central Committee

     

  • China carries out successful moon landing

    The People’s Republic of China carried out a successful moon landing, Dec. 14, with the soft landing of the lunar probe Chang’e-3. The probe includes a moon rover called Jade Rabbit, a figure in a Chinese myth.

    To date, three countries have carried out successful soft landings on the moon, the former Soviet Union, the U.S. and now China.

    The moon landing is an achievement for Chinese socialism. Since China’s liberation from foreign domination in 1949, the county has seen extremely rapid development in technology and science.

    Better able to organize the application of technology for large scale societal projects, socialist counties have an advantage over capitalist countries like the U.S. in the field of space exploration.

    The Soviet Union launched the first satellite to circle the earth, the Sputnik, and sent the first human into space.

    China is currently in the planning stage of sending a landing team to the moon.

  • Minneapolis holds community dinner to support Rasmea Odeh

    Minneapolis, MN – More than 30 people came together here, Dec 12, for a community dinner to build support for Chicago Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh. Odeh, who is facing a trumped immigration case in Detroit, is at risk for prison and deportation.

    Meredith Aby of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression told the crowd, “Rasmea Odeh overcame vicious torture by Israeli authorities while imprisoned in Palestine in the 1970s. She is one of the millions of Palestinians who have not given up organizing for their rights to liberation, equality and return. It is shameful that the U.S. government is now attempting to imprison her once again.”

    Tracy Molm, also of the MN Committee to Stop FBI Repression, urged people to take action, and encouraged to sign the online petition demanding the charges against Odeh be dropped.

    A link to the petition can be found here: http://www.stopfbi.net/2013/10/23/solidarity-palestinian-american-activi…

  • Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh given Nelson Mandela Award

    Chicago, IL – Despite being the target of a major political attack by the U.S. government, Rasmea Odeh continues to work for the Palestinian people. This is why the 22nd Annual People’s Thanksgiving Dinner, held in Chicago Dec. 8, honored her with the “Nelson Mandela Award: Opposing Israeli Apartheid is not a Crime.” 70 people gathered to recognize her and a number of other important activists. They met at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, despite an early blizzard that made getting to the church hazardous. In presenting the award, Muhammad Sunkari of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network referred to the late leader of the national liberation movement in South Africa. “When Ted Koppel interviewed him after his release from prison, Mandela defended the ANC’s [African National Congress] ties to the Palestine Liberation Organization. He called the Palestinians, ‘comrades in arms.’ I would say that a great example of a comrade of Mandela is Rasmea Odeh.” In accepting the award, Odeh was in good spirits. She thanked everyone, saying, “I need your support, and we all need each other’s support to stand strong and continue.” The event is held annually by Fight Back! news and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). The dinner raised over $3000 for Odeh’s defense campaign, as well as $1000 to help continue the work of Fight Back! news. Another emotional moment in the dinner was an award presented to Pete Camarata. Camarata was a co-founder of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU). His award, entitled the “Big Bill Haywood: Class Struggle Award” was presented to him by Richard Berg. Berg, a long time reformer in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), has known Camarata for 25 years. The framed award, reading, “For his lifelong dedication to the liberation of the working class,” was accepted by Camarata’s stepson, Jackson Potter. Potter is the staff coordinator of the Chicago Teachers Union. He explained that Camarata couldn’t attend the dinner because he is fighting cancer. A statement from Camarata read in part, “I thank FRSO for the award, and I accept it with the knowledge that my activism belongs to the movement and the brave people who built TDU, the movement in this country and around the world.” Awards were also presented to Sarah Simmons and Newland Smith, both activists in the Anti-War Committee-Chicago and to Michael Sampson, a Dream Defender from Tallahassee, Florida. Joe Iosbaker of FRSO spoke to the crowd. He noted that last year’s event celebrated the successful defense of Carlos Montes. “Next year, we plan to be back here to celebrate with Rasmea for a victory over this new attack!” Iosbaker put the defense of Odeh in a broader context, including the ongoing investigation of 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists by the U.S. attorney. “Our advances can be quickly taken from us by the likes of Mayor Emmanuel or President Obama or Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas.” Citing the many crimes of the U.S. empire at home and abroad Iosbaker continued, “We in FRSO have come to the conclusion that the existing order of things is unacceptable. For that reason we have decided to build a revolutionary organization.” Summing up, Iosbaker said, “Whenever we celebrate the advances made in the struggles we are part of, FRSO always names the way of life that is better than capitalism – that way of life is called socialism. We know a big change will take a lot of work, but we do think it will happen.”

  • Tens of thousands rally in Gaza to mark PFLP 46th anniversary

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Dec. 7 statement from the Popular Front of the Liberation Palestine (PFLP)

    The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine marked the 46th anniversary of its founding with a mass rally in al-Katiba courtyard in Gaza City, with tens of thousands of participants, including leaders, cadres and members of the Front, women’s, student and youth organizations, with the participation of representatives of the national and Islamic forces.

    Large images of the General Secretaries of the Front – the founder, George Habash (Al-Hakim), Abu Ali Mustafa, and imprisoned General Secretary Ahmad Sa’adat – adorned the banner at the front of the stage, as well as the image of national martyrs and leaders Yasser Arafat, Fathi Shikaki and Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.

    Banners were draped on the walls, calling for Palestinian national unity, and resistance, and saluting the Front’s history over 46 years. Performers played national Palestinian and PFLP songs and danced dabkeh, traditional Palestinian dance.

    Comrades Hani Thawabteh and Shireen Abu Oun chaired the rally, at which Comrade Jamil Majdalawi delivered the keynote address. He saluted the martyrs, the prisoners, and the masses of Palestinians at home and in exile, particularly those in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria facing continued repression and new displacement, and to our people in the Naqab who are confronting the Prawer plan, the new Zionist scheme to displace Palestinians.

    Majdalawi said that over the years, the harvest of the Palestinian national movement has not reached the great sacrifices or the goals of our people, and all of our forms of resistance have been weaker than they should be and can be, which only exacerbates the imbalance of power in favor of the Zionist enemy.

    He described internal Palestinian division and lack of national unity as devastating to the Palestinian movement. In addition, the Palestinian Authority’s return to the dangerous and futile negotiations with the Zionist enemy in open rejection of Palestinian national consensus is particularly damaging.

    Instead of negotiations, what is needed is resistance in all forms and the implementation of our people’s rights to return, self-determination and national liberation, Majdalawi said.

    He saluted the ongoing steadfastness of the Palestinian people, which will be what secures the victory of our people over the criminal enemy. He particularly saluted the steadfastness of our people in Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, in all of its forms to confront the enemy and its continuous plans. Support for the struggle of our people is growing inside and outside Palestine; hundreds of international activists confront soldiers and illegal settlers beside the steadfast Palestinian people and various levels of political, cultural and economic struggle are taking place around the world.

    Majdalawi highlighted the ongoing siege on Gaza which is denying access to the most basic necessities including food, medicine, building materials and fuel, causing an electricity crisis in the sector, and transforming the area into a massive prison due to the ongoing, prolonged and repeated closure of the Rafah crossing, the only exit for the Palestinians of Gaza to the outside world. This comes in addition to mass unemployment and the drinking water crisis, attacks on fishers at sea, and the retreat in services by the UNRWA, when refugees are over two-thirds of the population in Gaza.

    Majdalawi said that there is a decline in the grip of the United States over international affairs, and this weakening of the leader of imperialism and injustice in the world will necessarily mean an increased weakness in the enemy camp that supports and sustains the Zionist aggression on our people, emphasizing that the US is still the primary economic and military power in the world and that there are long years of struggle to come by the people and exploited classes of the world to defeat imperialism and achieve justice and equality.

    On the Arab level, Majdalawi expressed support for the democratic process in Tunisia and the importance of protecting pluralism in Tunisia, warned of the dangerous exclusivity taking place in Egypt that must be discarded in favor of pluralism and democracy for all, and expressed his standing with the Syrian people in the struggle for a united Syria, with democratic freedoms and equal rights for all Syrians and their political and social forces without discrimination, in addition to our stand against external interference which aims to destroy the potential of the country’s future and sink the country into the morass of obscurantism, as supported by the U.S. imperialists and their allies.

    Majdalawi announced that the Front has just completed its seventh national conference. Several historic leaders of the Front have stepped down from their positions and did not put their names forward in the elections at the conference, in order to support renewal in the organization and to prevent ossification and bureaucracy, including comrades Abdel Rahim Mallouh, Younis al-Jalou, Abdelaziz Abu Al-Qaraya and himself, Jamil Majdalawi.

    He concluded by calling for progressive and democratic Palestinian forces to come together to build resistance and unity and mobilize the people towards victory.

  • China refutes lies about new air identification zone

    Minneapolis, MN – Geng Yansheng, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made an important statement in Beijing, Dec. 3 on China’s establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

    The release of the statement coincided with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to China and come on the heels of provocative unannounced flights of U.S. war planes in the identification zone.

    Geng stated that the establishment of the zone is “a necessary measure for China to protect its state sovereignty and territorial and airspace security. It is conducive to maintaining flying safety in international airspace, and is in line with international laws and conventions.”

    Geng noted the ADIZ was not a ‘no fly zone’ and that it did not undermine the freedom of over-flight. He also stated, “Some people doubt China’s monitoring capabilities in the East China Sea ADIZ. The Chinese military’s determination and volition to safeguard the security of national territory and territorial airspace are unwavering and the military is fully capable of exercising effective control over the East China Sea ADIZ. Generally, supervision and control are exercised through reported flight plans and radar response and identification, among other means. Military planes can also take flight if necessary to identify entering targets. Measures to be taken are based on factors such as an entering aircraft’s attributes – military or civilian, the extent of threat, or distance. Fighter planes are unnecessary when an entering aircraft is found to pose no threat to us, but necessary surveillance is needed; when the entering threat is ascertained to reach a certain extent, military aircraft will be mobilized at an appropriate time to dispose of the situation.”

    Speaking on the role of Japan, which has its own ADIZ, Geng stated, “Since September 2012, Japan has been making trouble over territorial disputes, staging a farce by announcing that it would ‘purchase’ the Diaoyu Islands, frequently sending vessels and planes to disturb Chinese ships and planes in normal exercises or training, openly making provocative remarks such as shooting down Chinese drones, playing up the so-called China threat, escalating regional tension, creating excuses for revising its current constitution and expanding its military, trying to deny the result of the World War II, and refusing to implement the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. Japan’s actions have seriously harmed China’s legitimate rights and security interests and undermined the peace and stability in east Asia. China has to take necessary reactions.”

    One aspect of the U.S. ‘pivot towards Asia’ is strengthening relations with Japan and other countries in the region to counter People’s China. The overall aim of the ‘pivot’ is to dominate the Pacific region.

     

  • China refutes lies about new air identification zone

    Minneapolis, MN – Geng Yansheng, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made an important statement in Beijing, Dec. 3 on China’s establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

    The release of the statement coincided with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to China and come on the heels of provocative unannounced flights of U.S. war planes in the identification zone.

    Geng stated that the establishment of the zone is “a necessary measure for China to protect its state sovereignty and territorial and airspace security. It is conducive to maintaining flying safety in international airspace, and is in line with international laws and conventions.”

    Geng noted the ADIZ was not a ‘no fly zone’ and that it did not undermine the freedom of over-flight. He also stated, “Some people doubt China’s monitoring capabilities in the East China Sea ADIZ. The Chinese military’s determination and volition to safeguard the security of national territory and territorial airspace are unwavering and the military is fully capable of exercising effective control over the East China Sea ADIZ. Generally, supervision and control are exercised through reported flight plans and radar response and identification, among other means. Military planes can also take flight if necessary to identify entering targets. Measures to be taken are based on factors such as an entering aircraft’s attributes – military or civilian, the extent of threat, or distance. Fighter planes are unnecessary when an entering aircraft is found to pose no threat to us, but necessary surveillance is needed; when the entering threat is ascertained to reach a certain extent, military aircraft will be mobilized at an appropriate time to dispose of the situation.”

    Speaking on the role of Japan, which has its own ADIZ, Geng stated, “Since September 2012, Japan has been making trouble over territorial disputes, staging a farce by announcing that it would ‘purchase’ the Diaoyu Islands, frequently sending vessels and planes to disturb Chinese ships and planes in normal exercises or training, openly making provocative remarks such as shooting down Chinese drones, playing up the so-called China threat, escalating regional tension, creating excuses for revising its current constitution and expanding its military, trying to deny the result of the World War II, and refusing to implement the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. Japan’s actions have seriously harmed China’s legitimate rights and security interests and undermined the peace and stability in east Asia. China has to take necessary reactions.”

    One aspect of the U.S. ‘pivot towards Asia’ is strengthening relations with Japan and other countries in the region to counter People’s China. The overall aim of the ‘pivot’ is to dominate the Pacific region.

     

  • PFLP: Iran agreement is a counterweight to advocates of aggression, war and occupation

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 25 statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

    The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine welcomes the agreement on the Iranian nuclear file, and views it as a step in support of security and stability in the region, countering the advocates of occupation, war and aggression.

    The essence of the conflict of the region is the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Zionist conflict, despite the efforts of the occupation and its supporters to replace these fundamental conflicts with the so-called “Iranian nuclear file” and the “Sunni-Shiite conflict.” There have been many attempts to blur this reality and to block the struggle for the Palestinian rights to return, self-determination, independence, and our capital in Jerusalem.

    The Front notes that this agreement confirms that resilience and rejection of imperialism and Zionism is the only way to protect legitimate rights and interests and to open the door before the solidarity and mutual progress of the people of the region, their freedom, development, justice and human dignity.

  • Armed Forces of the Philippines interferes with Typhoon recovery efforts

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 26 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

    Denounce Aquino regime’s relentless offensives amid disaster, ceasefire declaration

    The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounces the Aquino regime and its armed forces for waging relentless armed offensives and brutal campaigns of suppression in Eastern Visayas, Panay, and Negros, in outright contempt of the broad masses, and in complete disregard for their demand for a temporary cessation of armed hostilities in order to give full attention to relief and rehabilitation work.

    “The Aquino regime and its armed forces are treacherously taking advantage of the ceasefire declaration of the CPP in order to wage relentless offensive operations against the New People’s Army and the peasant masses in the revolutionary areas,” said the CPP.

    Two days ago, the Central Committee of the CPP announced a one-month extension of the ceasefire declaration issued to the New People’s Army (NPA) commands in Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Panay and Negros islands. The extended ceasefire period aims to allow all revolutionary forces to concentrate on the urgent task of rehabilitation, and asserting the people’s economic rights amidst the disaster.

    “The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ massive offensive operations are impeding the people and their revolutionary forces from carrying out disaster relief and rehabilitation work, and make the task of resuming economic production more difficult,” said the CPP.

    The CPP issued this statement even as the AFP claimed that a firefight ensued after a unit of the NPA supposedly fired shots at soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pitogo, La Libertad town, Negros Oriental last Sunday. The CPP said that in accordance with the ceasefire declaration issued by its leadership, NPA units will fire only as an act of active defense against the offensive units of the AFP.

    “Even as the people seek urgent relief from the economic devastation brought about by the supertyphoon, the braggart mouthpieces of the 3rd Infantry Division have publicly declared over the past few days that their forces are not letting up in their military offensives, and are focused on waging war against the NPA. The AFP offensives resulted in an armed encounter in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental last weekend with a unit of the NPA engaged in rehabilitation efforts,” pointed out the CPP.

    “Despite the ceasefire declaration, armed encounters are bound to erupt if the AFP continues to insist on waging offensive operations against the people and their people’s army and militia units, compelling the people’s armed revolutionary forces to defend themselves,” added the CPP.

    “The supposed participation of AFP soldiers in disaster relief is being carried out only in urban centers and highways where they are covered by the media. In reality, despite the urgent need to mobilize all possible resources, the bigger part of the AFP’s resources is still currently being geared towards so-called counter-insurgency operations under the brutal Oplan Bayanihan war of suppression against the people,” said the CPP.

    “The high-profile disaster relief operations being conducted by the central headquarters of the AFP serve only to camouflage the continuing brutal war being waged by more than 11,000 ground troops of the AFP’s 8th and 3rd Infantry Division in the interior and coastal areas of the islands of Samar, Leyte, Panay and Negros,” pointed out the CPP.

    “The people demand urgent economic relief in the face of the grave difficulties resulting from the devastation wrought by the recent supertyphoon,” said the CPP. “By waging relentless offensives and suppression campaigns, the AFP is displaying gross disregard for the people’s welfare.”

    “The AFP’s imposition of martial law policies in the countryside and mountainous areas impedes the people’s economic and commercial activities, making efforts at rehabilitation more difficult,” said the CPP. “Thus, the people demand that AFP soldiers withdraw their forces from the interior areas and commit them to their barracks so that the people’s rehabilitation efforts can proceed unencumbered.”

    “The AFP knows full well that many of the areas hit by the supertyphoon are within the scope of operations of the New People’s Army, and are under the jurisdiction of the duly-constituted

    revolutionary organs of governance,” said the CPP. “Many of these areas have been the least of the Aquino government’s priorities in the past and remain so, as these have yet to be reached by the regime’s slow and highly inefficient disaster relief operations.”

     

  • U.S. B-52 bombers carry out anti-China provocation, say reports

    Minneapolis, MN – According to widespread reports in the Western press, the U.S. sent two B-52 bombers into China’s newly established East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone on Nov. 26. According to the reports, the U.S. provocation involved ignoring the Air Defense Identification Zone regulations, which require aircrafts to make their presence and flight plans known.

    Air Defense Identification Zones are a common international practice. More than 20 countries have them. Japan established its Air Defense Identification Zones in 1969.

    The creation of China’s Air Defense Identification Zone comes at a time of growing tension between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, which lie within the new zone. Historically, the islands are a part of China. Japan has physical control over the islands.

    If reports on the U.S. military aircraft ignoring zone regulations are accurate, this move would indicate that the U.S. is upping its support for the Japanese occupation of China’s Diaoyu Islands and would mark an escalation of the U.S. push against China.

    In recent years, an important element of U.S. foreign policy has been a ‘pivot’ towards Asia. Key elements of this policy are to surround China with U.S. military bases and to reach military agreements with China’s neighbors. The overall goal is to maintain U.S. domination over the Pacific region.

    In recent weeks, the U.S. has taken advantage of the massive typhoon that hit the Philippines as a means to create the climate for a greater presence in that country.