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Communist party calls for action against rights violators

The underground Communist Party of the Philippines celebrated its anniversary yesterday by calling on rebels to recruit thousands of new militants and take action against alleged human rights violators in the police, military and government.

  • AP
  • Published: 00:00 December 27, 2006
  • Gulf News

Manila: The underground Communist Party of the Philippines celebrated its anniversary yesterday by calling on rebels to recruit thousands of new militants and take action against alleged human rights violators in the police, military and government.

The military declared a nationwide alert in anticipation of guerrilla attacks on the 38th anniversary of the rebel organisation.

The party said in a statement more cadres and members were needed to "raise the revolutionary struggle to a new level". It urged its armed wing, the New People's Army, to recruit more militants, step up offensives against the government and improve command structures.

The rebel statement also accused President Gloria Arroyo's government of being behind the killings and abductions of hundreds of left-wing activists. It ordered guerrillas to punish "the most notorious perpetrators of human rights violations and corruption".

Targets

The statement did not identify targets by name, but described a Cabinet committee in charge of internal security as the "director" of the attacks against left-wing activists.

The military and police have blamed the killings on a "purge" among rebels.

Armed forces spokesman Maj Gen Jose Angel Honrado said the military was "ready for them". "In fact, our target is to finish them off before 2010," he told reporters. Military chief of staff Gen Hermogenes Esperon earlier said the NPA currently has 7,100 fighters.

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