40 years of Philippine Society and Revolution

An interview with Comrade Jose Maria Sison (Amado Guerrero), by Ang Bayan.

It has been 40 years since the Central Publishing House of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) first published Philippine Society and Revolution (PSR). In the past 40 years, PSR has served as the CPP’s principal reference and guide in laying down the basic principles of the two-stage revolution in the Philippines based on the analysis of concrete conditions of the semicolonial and semifeudal system. To commemorate the anniversary of PSR and reaffirm the principles it laid down, Ang Bayan decided to interview Comrade Jose Ma. Sison who, as CPP founding chair Amado Guerrero, was the principal author of the PSR.

1. Can you relate to our readers certain historical facts about PSR? When did you start writing it? Who were involved in the research and writing? When was it first published and in what form? To your knowledge, how many times has the book been printed?

Jose Maria Sison (JMS): I wrote it soon after the launching of the people’s war and on the eve of the First Quarter Storm of 1970. I started writing and finished it in the third quarter of 1969. Some comrades in the EC/CC like Charlie del Rosario and Monico Atienza brought me the reference materials that I needed. When I finished the rough draft around August 1969, I gave it to Julie de Lima and other individuals and the members of the Central Committee to gather their suggestions and comments.

Trial of John Graham Begins

As many who have been following this case know, the trial of John Graham, a native from the Yukon in Canada, for the murder in the 1970s his friend and comrade in the American Indian Movement (AIM), Anna Mae Aquash began yesterday. The real intentions though of this so called “trial” has to be understood though.

Firstly, it is an attempt by the State to rewrite history in order to cover up the brutal acts of repression they themselves committed against the indigenous people of the Americas. Secondly, it has the intent is to neutralize Indian struggles for survival in the face of colonial and economic domination.

Background About the “Case”:

In 2003, the US government charged Vancouver resident, John Graham with the 1970’s execution style killing of his friend and comrade in the American Indian Movement (AIM), Anna Mae Aquash. He was extradited from Vancouver in 2007 to stand trial in South Dakota. The trial begins November 29, 2010. He is facing life in prison. He maintains his innocence.

John Graham is a Tuchone native from the Yukon, Canada. Among otherthings, he is a father to eight, a pipe layer and a community organizer. In the 1970’s, Graham was involved with AIM.

Canadian Government Co-opts Sisters In Spirit

On Friday Oct. 29, 2010, the Canadian government announced the end of (by lack of funding) the Sisters in Spirit (SIS) program — disappearing the program just as women disappear — to the point that not even the name or logo of Sisters in Spirit may be used.

The announcement was dumped into the Friday afternoon news cycle, just as was the Federal government’s announcement that it had to agreed to ratify the UN Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples [and may I note the announcement was made by a woman, Conservative MP Rona Ambrose].

As defined by its creator the Native Woman’s Association of Canada (NWAC), SIS is/was: a research, education and policy initiative driven and led by Aboriginal women. Our primary goal is to conduct research and raise awareness of the alarmingly high rates of violence against Aboriginal women and girls in Canada.”