[Editorial Note: We are republishing a joint statement by the People’s Defense Committee, New Labor Organizing Committee, and Revolutionary Student Union on the recent massacre of 19 activists and members of the masses in Toboso, Negros Occidental, by the Old Philippine State. The Philippines is a semi-colonial, semi-feudal country under the rule of US imperialism. As of writing, it has been confirmed that an American citizen, Lyle Prijoles, has also been martyred in the massacre.]
On April 20th, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the armed thugs of the Philippine Old State and puppets of the US government, massacred 19 civilians and displaced 653 residents in the peasant communities of Toboso in Negros Occidental. Among the victims, the mass activists RJ Ledesma, Alyssa Alano, Maureen Keil Santuyo, and Errol Wendel have been identified. The AFP in Negros Occidental has a long track record of attacks on activists under dubious justifications. In this case, the AFP and the US-backed Marcos regime have been quick to misrepresent this massacre as an attack against “armed rebels” and members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
In reality, these murders are part of an intensifying process of terror, militarization, and repression against the just and righteous anger of the Filipino masses against their oppressors. The people of Negros Occidental are exploited on all sides by the feudal hacienda system, corrupt politicians, and imperialist aggression from the USA, and it is completely justified to organize for a better world. We extend our utmost solidarity to the National Democratic movement in the Philippines which RJ Ledesma, Alyssa Alano, Maureen Keil Santuyo, and Errol Wendel gave their lives to.
The workers of the US have every reason to take interest in and support the struggle for the liberation of the Filipino people. These attacks are carried out using American weapons, with training and assistance by the US military, funded through money taken out of American worker’s wages. The very same tactics of terror and repression deployed in the Philippines are also deployed in the US as part of the overall fascistization and militarization of our society. Therefore, the People’s Defense Committee, New Labor – Organizing Committee, and Revolutionary Student Union condemn in the strongest terms these brutal attacks on the Filipino masses, and we join the call to demand justice for those killed and displaced, and demand an end to US military involvement in the Philippines.
U.S OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!
JUSTICE FOR ALYSSA ALANO!
JUSTICE FOR RJ LEDESMA!
JUSTICE FOR MAUREEN KEIL SANTUYO!
JUSTICE FOR ERROL WENDEL!
JUSTICE FOR THE 19 MASSACRED!
GLORY TO THE MARTYRS!
