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Philippines: Solidarity on May Day with Venezuela's revolution

by DeLPhi
On this May 1, a day of international working class solidarity, we in the Philippine labor and progressive movement, stand with the Venezuelan working class and the people of Venezuela in their struggle to elect the government of their choice to pursue their demands and goals for Socialism of the XXI century.

1-may-day-philippines_1.jpg
We congratulate Nicholas Maduro from the Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela on his election victory and condemn the destabilisation campaign conducted by the US backed opposition coalition of Capprilles to undermine the election results and the newly elected government.

We note that the election of President Nicholas Maduro has received wide-spread support across the region, with members of the regional trade bloc Mercosur endorsing a statement congratulating Maduro on his electoral win. Representatives from Colombia, Brazil and the Dominican Republic have also congratulated Maduro, while the Argentinian representative reaffirmed that his nation's observers recognised the elections as successful.

Several European countries have also supported the election results. A spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the Hollande administration's recognition of the results, describing the Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) as “the competent authority in the matter”. Spain has also recognised the new government, with the foreign ministry statement that "Now that the constitutional and legal procedures have ended, the government of Spain respects the National Election Board's proclamation of Nicolas Maduro as the president-elect of the Republic of Venezuela."

The Assistant Chief of Staff of Europe's largest trade union, Unite the Union's Adrian Weir who was an election observer has stated that, “the ballot was free and fair” and that “The count was equally transparent and signed off by party witnesses including those of the Capriles’ coalition, the MUD. I’ve witnessed a robust system”.

We note that the US State Department, however, has stated that it will continue to support the opposition calls. The US comments have been criticized by Bolivian President Evo Morales as “flagrant US interference in Venezuela’s democracy...” and that “Neither that spokesperson nor the US government has moral authority to question electoral results in any Latin American country or around the world”. Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has also criticised the State Department, also demanding that “the government of the United States...recognise the Venezuelan government after transparent and fair elections.”

We call on the Philippine government to come out immediately and recognise President Maduro as the legitimately elected President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Endorsed by:

Francisco Nemenzo, Philippine-Cuba Cultural and Friendship Association (Phil-Cuba)

Reihana Mohideen, Philippines-Venezuela Solidarity Network (Phil-Ven-Sol)

Sonny Melencio, Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

http://www.masa.ph

Josua Mata, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)

http://www.apl.org.ph

Leody de Guzman, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

http://bukluranngmanggagawangpilipino.blogspot.com

Rene Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM)

http://www.partidongmanggagawa2001.blogspot.com

___________________________________________________________________________

Revolución Bolivariana inspira a militantes en Filipinas

Sonny Melencio

El legado del fallecido presidente Hugo Chávez ha sido poderoso para las organizaciones socialistas revolucionarias de todo el mundo. En Filipinas, la Revolución Bolivariana liderada por el comandante Chávez inspiró la construcción de un nuevo partido político, que forma parte de las lecciones y experiencias que renuevan y revitalizan el socialismo en el siglo XXI.

El Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM o Partido de las Masas Trabajadoras) fue construido (o, más precisamente, reconstruido por diversos partidos políticos y grupos de activistas en Filipinas) en 2009. El documento que describe la formación del Partido examinó la experiencia venezolana, la Revolución Bolivariana y las ideas del socialismo del siglo XXI y las hizo guía para la lucha revolucionaria.

La idea principal en la construcción del PLM fue establecer un instrumento político dedicado a la movilización de las masas desde el nivel de las bases, durante la lucha revolucionaria y en el período de intervención electoral. Este tipo de construcción del Partido rechaza el viejo modelo estalinista de la formación de un partido monolítico y los métodos dogmáticos de hacer la revolución. Las fuerzas iniciales que formaron el PLM provenían mayoritariamente de la tradición maoísta, por lo que habían atravesado una estrategia que dogmatizaba el concepto de guerra popular prolongada.

La Revolución Bolivariana en Venezuela abrió la posibilidad de otras formas y métodos de hacer la lucha revolucionaria en la medida que implican la movilización popular masiva y formas de lucha que promueven la participación democrática de las masas. La Revolución Bolivariana mostró una reafirmación de la idea revolucionaria clásica de que la emancipación de la clase obrera tiene que ser llevada a cabo por la misma clase obrera.

A partir de las experiencias de la Revolución Bolivariana, que comenzó en Venezuela y se extendió por muchos países de América Latina, Hugo Chávez conceptualizó las nuevas ideas del socialismo del siglo XXI. Los nuevos métodos de lucha socialista rechazan el procedimiento de ultra-izquierda de pontificar a las masas una única manera absoluta de llevar a cabo la revolución, por ejemplo, la estrategia de la guerra popular prolongada en Filipinas. La experiencia nos ha demostrado, en cambio, que la revolución avanza al arraigarse en la situación concreta de las masas y, desde allí, proporcionándoles la ex-periencia necesaria para avanzar paso a paso hacia la conquista del poder político. Esto significa que en una situación de impasse político, donde las fuerzas revolucionarias no pueden capturar el poder del Estado de una sola vez, y las fuerzas reaccionarias no pueden aniquilar a las fuerzas de la revolución, otras formas tradicionales de lucha como las elecciones se convierten en un importante punto de inflexión en la continuación y ampliación de la marcha de la revolución. La experiencia venezolana y bolivariana ha dado cuenta de esto.

El socialismo del siglo XXI realza el carácter popular de la revolución, garantizando la participación de todos en el esfuerzo por cambiar el sistema. La experiencia latinoamericana nos muestra que la revolución no avanza intentando provocar una gran barrida de inmensas proporciones, como en el modelo ruso de 1917, pero se desa¬rrolla a través de la combinación de la lucha y la movilización de masas (con el levantamiento popular en su cima) y las vías tradicionales de lucha, como las elecciones.

La estrategia revolucionaria del PLM se ha inspirado en las experiencias de Venezuela y de América Latina. En las elecciones de este año en Filipinas, el PLM hizo un llamamiento para transformar la intervención electoral en una lucha de masas, sobre todo en las elecciones barriales previstas para octubre de este año. Esto significa un llamado a todos sus líderes y miembros a participar en las elecciones locales compitiendo como candidatos o formando alianzas electorales a nivel barrial. En ausencia de una situación insurreccional, esta estrategia permitirá que el PLM se desarrolle como un partido político que puede refutar los ejercicios electorales burgueses a través de luchas y movilizaciones de masas desde las bases.

El socialismo del siglo XXI también nos ofrece un nuevo concepto revitalizado del socialismo, uno que toma la movilización y participación de masas en la construcción de los cimientos del socialismo como elemento principal. Este no es un socialismo meramente dirigido por el Estado, sino un socialismo con participación popular al que se busca arribar desde los mecanismos de la democracia participativa. El socialismo del siglo XXI tiene su componente principal en la prestación de amplios servicios de bienestar social para el pueblo, algo que lo ubica en directa oposición y como una clara alternativa al neoliberalismo que caracteriza al declinante capitalismo de hoy.

La plataforma de gobierno del PLM, que explica en detalle el programa de gobierno que el PLM se propone seguir una vez alcanzado el poder, está inspirado en las ideas del socialismo del siglo XXI, la Constitución venezolana y el Programa de gobierno venezolano.

A causa del nivel de la lucha política en Filipinas, todavía no desarrollado, la plataforma del PLM es, sin embargo, transicional y se enfoca en las reformas económicas y políticas inmediatas que el PLM pretende perseguir una vez que gane representación en el gobierno.

El socialismo del siglo XXI también fusiona los diferentes aspectos de las luchas nacionales y sociales que abarcan la revolución hoy en día: la lucha por la soberanía y la independencia; la lucha feminista; la lucha ecológica; la lucha de lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transexuales (Lgtb); y otras. El PLM reconoce esto a través de la incorporación de todas estas luchas como aspectos necesarios de la lucha por un nuevo sistema, por el socialismo.

La Revolución Bolivariana bajo el Comandante Chávez también nos mostró la necesidad de atraer y movilizar a las filas del “reaccionario” ejército para servir a las masas y cambiar el sistema. Esta nueva orientación respecto de la tropa de soldados rasos, e incluso con los oficiales medios, permitió al PLM alcanzar y contactar la capa radicalizada de la institución militar durante la crisis política en 2009, cuando los “militares rebeldes” reclamaron la destitución de la entonces presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo y el establecimiento de un gobierno de transición revolucionaria que incluyera a las fuerzas de izquierda. Aunque la rebelión militar y el gobierno de transición no lograron despegar, la vida del comandante Chávez y la experiencia bolivariana se convirtieron en una inspiración para los militares rebeldes. El PLM colaboró en ello mediante la distribución de materiales de lectura y organizando sesiones de educación entre algunos líderes de los militares sublevados.

Nosotros, desde el PLM, también entendemos que la defensa del comandante Chávez al socialismo del siglo XXI incluye la formación de una Internacional (la Quinta Internacional) que asegurará el avance de la causa socialista en distintas partes del mundo, y el apoyo de socialistas en todas partes a las luchas de las masas por la soberanía, la justicia social, la paz y la preservación del planeta. Mientras su formación ha sido dejada de lado por diversos motivos, incluyendo el aumento de las amenazas y la intervención de las potencias imperialistas extranjeras contra Hugo Chávez y el gobierno venezolano, la consolidación de la Revolución Bolivariana y el avance del socialismo del XXI continúa en América Latina. Los éxitos de los gobiernos liderados por socialistas en Venezuela, Bolivia y Ecuador –y la persistencia de la construcción del socialismo en Cuba– atestiguan la marcha hacia adelante de la historia.

El fallecimiento del Comandante Chávez es sin duda un gran golpe para el avance del socialismo del siglo XXI. Pero las lecciones que impartió ya han inspirado a multitudes de socialistas en todas partes del mundo. Su mayor legado cobrará vida en esta nueva generación de socialistas que adhieren al concepto liberador del socialismo del siglo XXI.

http://www.masa.ph

___________________________________________________________________________


Bolivarian Revolution inspires Philippines revolutionaries

By Sonny Melencio

The legacy of Venezuela’s late president Hugo Chavez has been overwhelming for revolutionary socialist organisations all over the world. In the Philippines, the Bolivarian Revolution led by Commandante Chavez inspired us in building a new political party that partakes of lessons and experiences that renews and revitalises socialism in the 21st century.

The Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM or Party of the Labouring Masses) was built (or, precisely, rebuilt by various political parties and activist groups in the Philippines) in 2009. The concept paper that outlined the formation of the party examined the Venezuelan experience, the Bolivarian Revolution and the ideas of Socialism in the 21st century and made them the guiding light in our conduct of revolutionary struggle.

The main idea in building the PLM was to establish a political instrument that engages in mobilising the masses at the grassroots level, during revolutionary struggle and in periods of electoral intervention. This type of party building rejects the old Stalinist model of monolithic party formation and the dogmatic methods of waging revolution. The initial forces that formed the PLM had largely been of the Maoist tradition, so they had gone through a strategy that dogmatised the concept of protracted people’s war.

The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela opened up the possibility of other forms and methods of waging revolutionary struggle as long as they involve massive popular mobilisation and forms of struggle that promote the democratic participation of the masses. The Bolivarian Revolution showcased for us a restatement of the classic revolutionary idea that the emancipation of the working class has to be undertaken by the working class themselves.

From out of the experiences of the Bolivarian Revolution that started in Venezuela and swept through many countries in Latin America, Hugo Chavez conceptualised the new ideas of socialism in the 21st century. The new methods of socialist struggle reject the ultra-left method of pontificating to the masses a single absolute way of conducting the revolution, for instance, the protracted people’s war strategy in the Philippines.

Experience has shown us instead that the revolution advances by taking hold of the given situation of the masses, and from there providing them the necessary experience to advance step by step towards capture of political power. This means that in a situation of political impasse, where the revolutionary forces cannot capture state power at one go, and the reactionary forces cannot annihilate the forces of the revolution, other traditional forms of struggle such as elections become an important point in continuing and extending the march of the revolution. The Venezuelan and Bolivarian experience has both attested to this.

Socialism in the 21st century enhances the grassroots character of the revolution by ensuring the participation of all in the endeavour to change the system. The Latin American experience shows us that the revolution may not proceed in one grand sweep of cataclysmic proportions, like in the 1917 Russian model, but it develops through the combination of mass struggle and mass mobilisation (with popular uprising at its apex) and traditional avenues of struggle such as elections.

The PLM’s revolutionary strategy has been inspired by the Venezuelan and Latin American experiences. In this year’s elections in the Philippines, the PLM has called for transforming the electoral intervention into a mass struggle, especially in the barangay (barrio-level) elections slated for October 2013. It means calling on all its leaders and members to participate in the village elections by running as candidates or by forming electoral alliances at the barangay level. In the absence of an insurrectionary situation, this strategy will allow the PLM to develop as a political party that can contest the bourgeois electoral exercises through grassroots mass mobilisations and struggles.

Socialism in the 21st century also provides us a new revitalised concept of socialism, one that takes mass mobilisation and mass participation in the building of the rudiments of socialism as a main element. This is not socialism that is merely state directed, but socialism with popular participation and pursued under the mechanism of participatory democracy. Socialism in the 21st century has its main component the provision of extensive social welfare services for the people, something that puts it in direct opposition and as a clear alternative to neoliberalism that characterises decaying capitalism today.

The PLM’s platform of government, which explains in detail the program of government that the PLM intends to pursue upon taking power, is inspired by the ideas of socialism in the 21st century, the Venezuelan constitution and the Venezuelan government program. Owing to the still undeveloped level of political struggle in the Philippines, the PLM platform is, however, transitional in character and focuses on the immediate economic and political reforms that the PLM intends to pursue once it wins representation in government.

Socialism in the 21st century also fuses the different aspects of national and social struggles that encompass today’s revolution – the struggle for sovereignty and independence, the feminist struggle, the ecological struggle, the LGBTI struggle, and others. The PLM recognises this by incorporating all these struggles as necessary aspects of the struggle for a new system, for socialism.

The Bolivarian Revolution under Commandante Chavez also showed us the need of attracting and mobilising the ranks of the “reactionary” army to serve the masses and change the system. This new orientation on dealing with the rank-and-file soldiers, and even with the middle-level officers, allowed the PLM to reach out and make contact with the radicalising layer of the military during the political crisis in 2009, when the “military rebels” called for the ouster of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the establishment of a transitional revolutionary government (TRG) that would include the left forces. Although the military rebellion and the TRG failed to take off, the life of Commandante Chavez and the Bolivarian experience became an inspiration to the military rebels. The PLM assisted this by distributing reading material and conducting education sessions among some leaders of the military rebels.

We, from the PLM, also understand that Commandante Chavez’ advocacy of socialism in the 21st century includes the formation of a new International (the Fifth International) that will ensure the advance of socialist cause in various parts of the world, and the assistance of socialists everywhere to the struggles of the masses for sovereignty, social justice, peace and preservation of the planet. While its formation has been shelved for various reasons, including the increased threats and intervention of foreign imperialist powers against Hugo Chavez and the Venezuelan government, the consolidation of the Bolivarian Revolution and the advance of socialism in the 21st century continues in Latin America. The successes of socialist-led governments in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador – and the persistence of socialist construction in Cuba – attest to the forward march of history.

The passing away of Commandante Chavez is surely a big blow to the advance of socialism in the 21st century. But the lessons he imparted have already inspired multitudes of socialists everywhere. His greatest legacy will be borne out by this new generation of socialists that adhere to the liberating concept of socialism in the 21st century.

http://www.masa.ph


§Philippines
by DeLPhi
2013-may-1-labor-day-philippines_1.jpg
§Philippines
by DeLPhi
2013-partido-lakas-ng-masa-plm_1.jpg
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