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pulang mandirigma
IMAGES OF THE NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

Foreword

The publication of Pulang Mandirigma: Images of the new People's Army responds to suggestions by comrades and friends of the revolutionary movement for some time now, for it to come out with a photobook presenting the New People's Army (NPA) and its revolutionary work.

Its release now is also a way of commemorating the 35th anniversary of the NPA.

Most of the pictures in this book were contributed by different units of the NPA. The book's successful release was made possible by the enthusiastic response of comrades to the open call for them to contribute their favorite images.

Many of these pictures were also taken by professional photographers, friends of the revolutionary movement, who were invited into different guerrilla zones and fronts. There were so many invitations from comrades in the people's army for our photographer friends to visit them.

In just two months, the Information Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) received almost ten thousand pictures. Apart from the pictures taken by our photographer friends, many were taken by NPA units using their digital cameras, video cameras and even cellphones.

The overwhelming support of comrades and the photographers made it easy to collect pictures showing the rich experience and daily life of the NPA. The difficult part was choosing the hundred or so to be used in the book.

In selecting pictures, the aim has been to show the breadth of activities of the NPA: crossing fields, mountains and heart of forests to travel from one barrio to the next; the masses offering their homes; the enthusiastic greetings and steaming hot coffee welcoming the comrades; the Red fighters as students and teachers, friends and advisers, cooks and bakes, dentists and medics, fighters, and partners in the people's struggle.

These pictures from every corner of the country show the oneness of the NPA with the people, and the reality that the NPA is the true army of the people.

They also belie the "terrorist" label that the United States (US) imperialism and the puppet reactionary state want to pin on the NPA. These pictures are far more persuasive than the venomous propaganda spewed by the enemies of the revolution and the Filipino people.

May these images of people's war in the Philippines also bring revolutionary inspiration to the hearts of the thousands of readers who view them.

The book Pulang Mandirigma: Images of the New People's Army is dedicated to the Filipino people -- the bottomless well-spring of strength and support for people's war in the Philippines. Their aspiration to end centuries of misery and oppression and to bring about a free, just and prosperous tomorrow is also in the heart of every Red fighter.

Through this book we also pay tribute to our beloved comrades fallen in battle. We recall our warm camaraderie with our revolutionary martyrs and heroes, their spirit of unreserved service to the people, their determined struggle until their dying breaths, and their invaluable contribution to our continuing struggle towards achieving national freedom and democracy.

Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal
Spokesperson
Communist Party of the Philippines
March 29, 2004