Communist rebels mobilize forces for relief work

MANILA, Philippines - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Tuesday expressed sympathy for the victims of typhoon Frank and called on all revolutionary forces to carry out possible efforts to extend relief and assistance to the victims. The CPP said most of those affected by the calamity are peasants, fisherfolk and ordinary people rendered vulnerable to destruction wrought by typhoons and other calamities due to their impoverished condition, government neglect and disregard for the environment. The rebel group said that decades of rampant commercial mining and logging and the recent rush to strip forests and replace them with hybrid corn plantations resulted in extensive river siltation and vulnerabity to flooding of wide swaths of land in Western Visayas. “We hold the Arroyo regime accountable for its principal role in the destruction of the environment as a result of the wanton violation of the national patrimony, disregard of national food security, and abuse of the country’s natural resources," the rebel group said. The CPP also held the Arroyo government and the owners of Sulpicio Lines particularly responsible for last Saturday's sea tragedy. The rebel group called on all its forces, including members of the New People's Army (NPA), activists and sympathizers, to extend possible assistance within their means and capability to help the victims of the recent typhoon. NPA fighters in typhoon-stricken areas, particularly in Iloilo and Eastern Samar will be on defensive mode as they carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation work. The CPP warned government troops as well as American forces against using “relief work" as a pretext to go into guerrilla zones to carry out offensive military operations. – GMANews.TV