As we remember the 54th anniversary of the imposition of Martial Law by then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr, we recall the moment when the state shed its democratic disguise and revealed the overtly brutal character of the dictatorship—a regime marked by authoritarian rule, widespread human rights violations, repression, and the suppression of democratic freedoms. Thus, we remember it with defiance, righteous indignation, courage and determination to continue the struggle and to win the people’s democratic revolution.

Even before the Martial Law, dire economic condition, rampant corruption, electoral manipulation was already causing social unrest. Thus, streets were filled with massive waves of protest led by the youth and students. The Martial Law declaration suppressed dissent and wielded unchecked political power, that led to the suspension of constitutional rights of the people. But even so, the militarist, fascist and violent rule was not able to extinguish the people’ uproar, but rather ignited it and even gave them inspiration to topple the Marcos’ regime, and join the People’s Revolution with a socialist perspective.

It was state violence that aroused even the most conservative and religious sectors to join the people’s democratic revolution, even prior to the declaration of Martial Law. Thus, the Christians for National Liberation (CNL) was established in 1972, in which religious people were not content with only kneeling down, and praying; priests, pastors, nuns, deaconesses and lay members offered themselves for the revolution. They became cadres, who took up arms, and actively joined the New People’s Army.

At present, nothing has changed from the Marcos of yesterday to the Marcos of today. The Filipinos continue to suffer from the same rampant and spiraling poverty, unbridled corruption, and violence under the yoke of feudalism, bureaucrat capitalism, and imperialism. The cause for revolution still exists and remains to be all the more relevant . Thus, the Filipino people must continue to struggle and resist, and continue on the peoples revolution.

The political alliance of the corrupt, egregious and abusive Marcos and Duterte camp have turned into open and direct confrontation against each other. Having a power advantage, the Marcos camp appears determined to crush Vice President Sara Duterte’s political career, now eyeing new alliances with the Liberal and Akbayan Party. Nevertheless, none of them truly represents the interest of the Filipino people. Genuine social change will not be born out from the present government of political dynasties, characterized by bureaucrat capitalism, our hope only lies through the people’s democratic revolution with a socialist perspective that topples down regimes and not by a pseudo-democratic election.

Only the New People’s Army can defend the peasants’ farmlands and people’s livelihoods. Only through the government of the people, led by the working class, we can can promote and protect the welfare of the wider masses, and make sure that martial law will never be on repeat.

Thus, it is the CNL’s prophetic duty to announce and advance the cause and justness of the people’s war and of the inevitable victory of the people’s democratic revolution.

It is through this spirit that the Christian for National Liberation will continue to expand its ranks from the homefront to the wider global sphere through massive political education and revolutionary fervor and practice, and continue on the revolution.

May the names of our heroes and martyred comrades in the Martial Law years remain etched in our hearts. May the unquenchable fire of their spirits burn within us, strengthening our resoluteness as we continue to commit ourselves to the struggle in the people’s protracted war and revolution.

The post The People’s Defiant Spirit Against Dictatorship: CNL Statement on the Imposition of Martial Law appeared first on PRWC | Philippine Revolution Web Central.

From PRWC | Philippine Revolution Web Central via This RSS Feed.