Class contradiction behind the economic and political attacks in Negros

Ka Bayani Obrero
NDF-Negros Spokesperson

The reactionary government and big comprador bourgeoisie – landlords are fussing over the future of the sugar industry particularly in Negros Island. However, in reality, the sugar workers in the sugarcane fields and sugar centrals are the slaves of exploitation wherein bureaucrat-landlords and big compradors overindulge on huge profits from their labor.

Negros is the seat of power of despotic bureaucrat-landlords and bourgeois compradors who control Negros’ economy and politics. Central and South Negros are ruled by the families of the Cojuangcos, Alvarezes, Zaycos, Solas, Hinojaleses, Montillas and the Lamatas while the Marañons, Lacsons, Ledesmas, Ballesteroses, Montelibanos and the Golezes hold power in North Negros. Big bourgeois compradors such as the Lopezes, Tans, Sys, Gokongweis, Chans and Pangilinans who own the sugar centrals, bio-ethanol plants, real estate and other businesses also have economic interests rooted here. This is the principal reason why Negros is a priority of the Duterte regime’s military campaign — in order to protect the interest of the ruling class.

Amidst the crisis of the sugar industry, farm workers and sugar mill workers engage in a protracted struggle to fight for their legitimate demands like wage, benefits and the right to organize along with their struggle to achieve genuine land reform and national industrialization.

There is class interest in subduing the growing struggle of the people against Duterte’s fascist-tyrannical reign. The Negrosanons encountered the brutal de facto martial law resulting to widespread extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, red-tagging and trumped-up charges and planting of evidences-firearms-grenades-bombs under the Duterte regime’s Memorandum Order 32 and Executive Order 70.

The Joint Task Force – Negros of the AFP/PNP under the whole-of-nation approach of Duterte takes part in the cycle of failures against the revolutionary movement. It shows the eagerness of the ruling class to resolve the social crisis using violent instruments of the state but actually these only set ablaze the courageous struggle of the oppressed classes.

As class struggle between the exploited classes and the exploiting class sharpens so will the determination of the oppressed classes to advance armed struggle to end the rotten US-Duterte regime.

Carry through national industrialization and genuine land reform! Fight the liberalization of rice ang the sugar industry!

Forward the People’s Democratic Revolution!

Fight, overcome fear!