By Reihana Mohideen
"In our experience, the newspaper is an instrument ... [which] serves as a mechanism to unite the people and to become a spark for collective action ... Progresibo is an attempt to open a forum for discussion of progressive groups and organisations.
We are doing this not to lambast, but as a conscious attempt to develop unity amongst the progressive ranks. The paper will present diverging views so as to bring forth the differences where they exist, and to point to where we can unite. The paper is published in the spirit of rejecting the Stalinist distortions [of Marxism] and to bring forth socialist democracy. Progresibo is a non-sectarian paper and its pages are open to all progressive and socialist groups."
So stated the editorial of the first issue of Progresibo, launched in the Philippines on International Women's Day, March 8.
The paper was initiated by some members of the mass organisations aligned with the Manila Rizal regional committee. The editorial board includes Sonny Melencio and J.V. Vistro, leaders of the broad democratic front Sanlakas; Jo Vistro, a leading member of the women's organisation Kababaihan; and Mar Midel (Jr), Gerry Arances, Peter Leano, Tracy Pabico and Victor Vargas, leaders of the socialist youth organisation Kamalayan.
In a situation where the left has been marked by the Stalinist/Maoist political culture of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) — which stifled political discussion and debate, and invariably led to sharp factional splits — the stance taken by Progresibo is refreshing and significant.
The most significant anti-Stalinist split from the CPP took place in 1993, led by the Manila Rizal regional committee of the party. However, this was only a partial split from the Maoist politics of the CPP and the process started in 1993 has suffered several setbacks. Progresibo aims to help continue the clarification and renewal of the movement in a genuinely Marxist direction.
Women's liberation
The front cover of the first issue carries the title, "A woman's work is never done". The feature article by Vistro, an analysis of the origins of women's oppression, is path-breaking for the Philippines socialist movement in that it clarifies the Stalinist distortions of the women's question.
The article states that it "becomes [a] necessity that the women's movement becomes part and parcel of the working-class [movement] because of the very nature of women's oppression, which is also a class question.
"However, the women's movement is a multi-class movement because of the very nature of women's oppression as a sex. It is in this context that the women's movement is a separate movement from the working class.
"Reproductive issues and sexual violence, for instance, are cross-class issues and concerns. The degree, intensity and scope of these issues differ depending on a woman's class position. Hence, given the multi-class nature of women's oppression, it cannot be reduced to only or even primarily the struggle of women as workers."
The article also acknowledges the Marxist critique of the family as fundamental to the development of class society and, along with it, the oppression of women.
Youth radicalisation
The article by Mar Midel (Jr), entitled "The role of a revolutionary socialist youth organisation", looks at the state of youth radicalisation in the Philippines and the role of Kamalayan.
It points out that "young people are radicalising, but it is a much slower process today [compared to the youth radicalisation of the sixties] given the non-revolutionary character of the period, when the class struggle is not that acute and when the ideological hold of the ruling classes over the masses is strong."
The article argues that Kamalayan needs to relate to this "low intensity radicalisation" by involving young people in mass campaigns around issues such as education rights, which can "hasten the development of a revolutionary situation". But these campaigns are "in danger of veering to the right, towards submission to bourgeois politics, or to the ultra-left demagogy of the national democratic [CPP-influenced] left" without the "conscious intervention of revolutionaries who can bring socialist politics in to the movement and convince the activists to take up the struggle for socialism".
The article concludes with a call for the formation of a revolutionary party: "A revolutionary youth organisation ... cannot lead the mass movement in the struggle for socialism. This is the task of the party of the proletariat ... Kamalayan is conscious of the need to build this party."
Elections
Sonny Melencio's article discusses the socialist position on the May elections in the Philippines. "Our stand in the coming election is for the progressive forces to intervene in order to build the mass movement and to intensify the mass struggle, especially in the midst of the economic crisis that is hitting the country today."
The article discusses the political basis on which progressive organisations should participate in the election, and the criteria used in supporting bourgeois candidates. It also criticises the CPP organisations' position of boycotting elections. The electoral system now allows various people's organisations to vie for a few seats in the bourgeois-dominated congress.
In the midst of practical politics today (such as the elections), Melencio cautions, the progressive forces should not forget that their aim is still to regroup the advanced layer of workers and students in order to build a socialist party in the Philippines.
The first issue of the paper also carries an article on alliances and the united front by J.V. Vistro, which is an abridged version of his article "The 'Manifesto' in the era of globalisation", first published in Liberation, the monthly magazine of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). The issue also contains a translation of an article from Green Left Weekly on the role of socialist women in the women's movement this century.
While the editorial board hopes to be able to produce the newspaper more frequently in the future, current financial constraints mean that Progresibo will initially be published every three weeks.
Overseas subscriptions are A$100 for 24 issues and A$50 for 12 issues. Subscriptions and donations should be sent to Cesar Melencio, 25-A Matiaga Street, Barangay Central, Quezon City, Philippines.