Support the National Democratic Struggle of the Filipino People!
| On July 26, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines will be conducting his final State of the Nation Address (SONA), which we can expect to be once more riddled with lies and deceit. As the Filipino people mobilize to call for an end to Duterte’s tyranny, the International League of People’s’ Struggle (ILPS) extends its support to their national democratic struggle. The Duterte regime has opted for a militarist response to the pandemic and has failed to expand mass testing and the capacities of health facilities. At present, the delta variant is already locally transmitted and Covid-19 cases in the provinces have been increasing. Furthermore, the economic crisis in the Philippines is the worst in Southeast Asia. The Social Weather Station statistics state that the number of unemployed Filipinos has reached 12 million, and while poor Filipinos have barely received financial aid, more than US$178 million from the previous pandemic response funds remain unspent. Counterinsurgency and militarization continue to be the main priority of the regime, as well as foreign-funded infrastructure projects and the opening of the economy to foreign capital. Armed with the draconian Anti-terror Law, the regime persists in red-tagging activists and critics of its neoliberal policies, using questionable search warrants and false witnesses, planting false evidence such as guns, explosives, and ammo, which have been used to arrest activists and critics, and for extrajudicial killings. The investigation of the International Criminal Court has found evidence against Duterte for mass murdering 12,000 to 30,000 Filipinos from 2016 to 2019. Duterte is desperate to cling to power through installing his family and his cronies in government posts, and has expressed his interest in running for Vice President in the 2022 elections in the belief that he can escape prosecution for his crimes. In addition, the Duterte regime relies on US military aid and weapons to use against the Filipino people. Military treaties such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) have not been terminated, and neoliberal policies continue to dictate the country, resulting in an import-dependent and export-oriented economy. Despite the pandemic, the Filipino people are resisting Duterte’s tyranny, urged by the aggravated economic crisis in a semicolonial and semifeudal society. Duterte has betrayed the Filipino people through his subservience to the US and China, and the ceaseless repression of civil and democratic liberties. The mass movement in the Philippines perseveres in spite of lockdown restrictions, and the unity of anti-fascist, anti-imperialist, democratic forces throughout the world is crucial for expelling Duterte from power. Thus, we are calling all member organizations and affiliate networks to mobilize on a Global Day of Action on July 26, 2021 in support of the resistance of the Filipino people against Duterte’s tyranny and the call to end his regime. Member organizations may conduct protests at the Philippine embassies of their country or in their communities, or online protest actions supporting the Filipino people’s calls for vaccines and financial aid, to stop the killings in the Philippines, stop US military aid, warmongering, Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, and to end Duterte’s tyranny. End Duterte’s Tyranny! Down with fascism! Support the national democratic struggle of the people of the Philippines! Down with imperialism! Long live international solidarity! In solidarity, Len Cooper Chairperson International League of Peoples’ Struggle 20 July 2021 |
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