Solidarity Message to the 3rd Congress of BAYAN-USA

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) extends its utmost solidarity on the occasion of the 3rd Congress of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan–USA Chapter. As a genuine, militant center of the proletarian movement in the Philippines, we support this significant endeavor to advance the struggle of the oppressed Filipinos throughout the world, and to combat imperialist exploitation and tyranny in the international arena, especially right at the belly of the beast.

Indeed, we did not see any truth in the promise of change as a new face occupied the presidency in your country. The current financial and economic crisis is far from over in the US and in the world, no matter how hard they try to hide it. The housing bubble, the fall of stocks and financial capital is yet to run its full course. This translates to harsh downfalls and fatal blows in the real productive economy, as we continue to see in the form of massive retrenchments, wage cuts and freezes and intensified labor flexibilization measures, among others. Stimulus packages and bail-out of banks and lending ¬companies – initiated by the US government and already replicated in governments throughout the world including the Philippines – only serve to prolong the domination of the monopoly capitalists while transferring the burden of the crisis to the people.

In our homeland, joblessness is at a record high of 11 million, and conservatively 200,000 are expected to lose their jobs by the end of the year.  Wage cuts, reduced work hours and work shifts, overtime work without pay, forced leaves, and other unjust labor practices we have long fought against were already legalized by the Arroyo administration to supposedly let the businesses cope up with the crisis. The government and big capitalists connive to use the crisis to exploit further the workers and the people.

Amidst the height of this crisis, our solid resistance becomes most crucial. Our principal task of organizing, educating and mobilizing the broadest number of people reaffirms resoundingly these days. We have to steadfastly pursue the fight against the world’s number one enemy. Initiatives to consolidate anti-imperialist forces in many parts of the world, such as BAYAN-USA’s endeavors, are laudable and fundamental.

We are inspired by the BAYAN-USA’s waving of the torch of the Philippine national democratic movement in the enemy’s territory. Your participation in the first US Senate hearing against political killings in the Philippines, in the building of the immigrants rights movement in the US, in staging protest actions whenever the US puppet Gloria Arroyo visits the US, in the formation of the International League of Peoples' Struggle, among others, are noteworthy contributions appreciated by the people’s movement here in the Philippines.

We hope that you will be able to define your most precious lessons, recognize the obstacles you need to overcome, and chart valuable courses of action to bring your organization to a greater stage of struggle in the occasion of your third Congress.

Linking arms with all the oppressed peoples of the world, let us unleash the potency of the people’s fury over this rotten hegemony.

Isulong ang pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka tungong sosyalismo!
Imperyalismo, ibagsak!