Sison: Massive Cheating Can Ignite Protest Movement to Topple Regime

The massive cheating in the elections can ignite a protest movement that is strong enough to topple the Macapagal-Arroyo regime. Thus warned Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

BY BULATLAT.COM

The massive cheating in the elections can ignite a protest movement that is strong enough to topple the Macapagal-Arroyo regime. Thus warned Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

In a statement dated May 15 and emailed to Bulatlat.com, Sison said that the progressive party-list groups and individuals, if deprived of their victory through massive cheating, can enter into alliances with other parties and candidates that the regime has also cheated. Together, he said, they can “rouse and mobilize the broad masses of the people against the cheating regime.”

Sison said the progressive candidates and parties have a good chance of winning because of two factors: the political crisis that has discredited the ruling classes and their representatives, and the relatively high level of organization of the “oppressed and exploited” masses.

However, he said, the national security adviser, military and police officers and “some ultra-reactionary elements” in the government have committed “intimidation, murder and slander” against the party-list groups.

He said proofs show that government officials at various levels are eliminating or drastically shaving off the votes for the party-list.

“Even when the cheating is mainly directed against the major opposition parties in the presidential contest, the methods used also victimize the progressive parties in the party list. The cheaters completely wipe out the votes for the progressive parties in the switching of ballot boxes at the precinct level and changing of the tally sheets and canvass reports from one level to another,” said Sison.

Sison believes the Macapagal-Arroyo government cannot last long in power against sustained and growing mass mobilizations. He said progressive forces united with other forces can isolate and remove it from power even before it can use the military and police forces to attack.

Sison also said he is critical of the elections since these are “mainly and essentially a contest for power among competing political factions and agents of the pro-imperialist exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords.” Bulatlat.com

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