Saturday, August 30, 2008 Libre: Communists in five countries By Mel Libre Seriously Now
COMMUNISMis not dead. Communism is founded on four basic principles: Marxist philosophy, class struggle, proletarian internationalism and communist party. There are today five single-party communist states, namely the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Cuba, People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
In 1949, the Communist Party of China established the People’s Republic of China. With its successful staging of the Olympics, China gave the world a glimpse of its system and people. The Olympiad showcased China’s creativity, discipline and commitment. The smooth conduct of the Games was the outcome of tedious preparation, well-led organization and huge sacrifices of the Chinese people.
The secret of the success of the Beijing Olympics was the million-plus volunteers who not only manned all events but also stationed themselves in strategic places where athletes, coaches, delegations and visitors needed assistance. Though there was no opportunity for us to view the mechanism within the political system, we saw how effectively it functioned: during the earthquake that damaged the Sichuan region and in clearing Beijing of smog and pollution.
The Korean Workers Party (which evolved into the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland) has governed North Korea since 1948. Its Juche ideology on self-reliance developed by Kim Il-sung remains in place under his son, Kim Jong-il. US President George W. Bush once described it as within an “axis of evil.” It remains a recluse and is inaccessible to media, making it a misunderstood country. Its threat of developing nuclear missiles has not helped improve its image.
Laos and Vietnam have opened their doors not just for tourists but also for investors. Following China’s model, these two countries shifted its economy from socialist to capitalist. The communist parties reign supreme there in politics with no opposition (other political parties are prohibited).
Cuba, right at the backdoor of capitalist United States, has remained a stable communist state though it has no diplomatic relations with its powerful neighbor. For decades, Fidel Castro outsmarted and outlived American presidents. Though retired and sickly, he continues to rule through his brother Raul, who is starting to be his own man. Fidel’s influence has impacted on socialist leaders (with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez at the lead) who started a pink revolution in many countries in South America.
The communists in these five countries rose to power through class struggle or revolution. This is the route the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is following. But shouldn’t it reconsider? The CPP leadership must take a cue from Nepal where Maoist rebels fought the government for more than 10 years. It entered into a peace agreement and joined a free and democratic election that it won overwhelmingly. On Aug. 15, the Constituent Assembly elected Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” as first prime minister of the federal democratic republic.
With Filipinos having a better understanding of the communist ideology as applied in China, as pursued by Hugo Chavez and other South American presidents and as embraced by the Nepalese people, the CPP-NDF leadership must revisit its armed struggle strategy. With the consistent top-notch performance of leftist groups in the party-list elections, Philippine communists, through the democratic process, can probably make a difference amidst the thankless state of our nation.
