Philippines: Celebrate The 52nd Anniversary Of The Founding Of Christians For National Liberation
Christians For National Liberation | National Democratic Front Of The Philippines
February 17, 2024
“Is this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58: 6-7)
The protracted stagnation and crises of the moribund global capitalist system have resulted in the escalation of US-led inter-imperialist proxy wars especially in Ukraine and Palestine. The crisis of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system of the Philippines continues to worsen. The Filipino suffer from greater poverty and destitution due to bureaucratic corruption and social injustice under the US-Marcos II regime. But the people continue to resist, organize themselves, and wage revolution.
Against this backdrop, we celebrate today, February 17, 2024, the 52nd founding anniversary of the Christians for National Liberation (CNL) with the theme: “Rectify errors, consolidate and expand our ranks! Defeat the US-Marcos II regime! Onward with the people’s war!”
We salute and give the highest tribute to our CNL revolutionary martyrs and heroes who selflessly offered their lives in the struggle and the revolution. Their blood poured and offered to nourish and blossom the CNL and the national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective.
On this date, we also remember in our history 152 years ago the martyrdom of the three Filipino Priests—Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, known as GOMBURZA, that sparked the 1896 Philippine Revolution which crushed over three centuries of dominance of Spanish colonialism in our country.
Like gold tested in fire, CNL has stood firmly on its Christian revolutionary standpoint and praxis, for more than five decades of full and vigorous participation in the struggle of the Filipino people for national liberation and democracy with socialist perspective.
Since its founding in 1972, CNL has successfully held nine National Congresses and set-out calls and plans strengthening its organization to help advance the revolution. CNL’s principles, praxis, organization and strategic program had been asserted, affirmed, and practiced throughout the years. It has persevered in establishing and activating itself nationwide as a revolutionary underground political organization of Christians and church people as part of the overall revolutionary mass movement.
Hundreds of CNL members serve as revolutionary catalysts in the Christian churches and communities in the different regions and areas of the country. They contribute in building and advancing the revolutionary armed struggle in the countryside. Many CNL members had since volunteered to directly help in the preparation and sustaining of guerilla zones, base building and advancing the agrarian revolution.
As one of the founding and pioneer members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on April 24, 1973, CNL contributes in forming, strengthening and expanding the revolutionary united front by direct organizing of underground mass organizations. The building and advancement of the united front is founded on the strength of the basic alliance of workers and peasants, augmented by the broad formations of sectors from the middle class and the national bourgeoisie.
CNL has actively taken part in the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal, anti-fascist, mass movement to combat the ultra-reactionary schemes of the succeeding US-backed regimes of Marcos Sr., Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino, Duterte and Marcos Jr. It has also contributed in waging the struggle against the colonial, feudal, and fascist culture and promote a national and scientific culture.
CNL members, while always mindful of the limits of reactionary institutions they operate, strive to lead the struggle for democratic reforms within the churches in all levels, thwarting the reactionary trends and promoting the progressive trends and bringing the power and resources of the churches on the side of the national democratic revolution. This includes international work especially with the presence of CNL formations in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.
In all of the this, CNL recognizes shortcomings and challenges that it needs to rectify and overcome in order to advance the revolution. This includes rectification of subjectivism in the form of empiricism pushed by bourgeois and petty-bourgeois mindset and actions.
We thus persevere in sustaining membership consolidation and expansion nationwide for a widespread, dynamic and vibrant participation and support principally for the armed struggle. This is augmented and complemented by anti-imperialist, anti-fascist, anti-feudal mass movements, parliamentary struggle and peace negotiations.
We dare to struggle, dare to win.
Long live the Christians for National Liberation!
Long live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines!
Long live the New People’s Army!
Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines!
Long live the Filipino People!
Source : https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/rectify-errors-consolidate-and-expand-our-ranks-defeat-the-us-marcos-ii-regime-onward-with-the-peoples-war/