The Filipino people stand with the masses of Korea!
Onward in the fight against fascism and imperialism!
The masses of Korea have stood up, undeterred by the threat of Yoon Suk-yeol’s iron fist, and put an end to the immediate threat of martial law in just a few hours. Their victory serves as an inspiration to the masses the world over under the boot of imperialist-backed fascism, and as a call to action to struggle without fear even when face-to-face with an enemy armed with automatic rifles and tanks. It is proof that the militant fights against dictators like Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan are not just residuals of the past, but living lessons that course through the democratic struggle of the Korean people to this very day.
For the Filipino people, the Korean masses’ triumph over Yoon’s martial law is a reminder of our own militant history of struggle, one that has similarly thwarted dictatorship and ousted the likes of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. It is a reflection of important lessons shared between our two countries: the decisiveness of the people’s movement — and in particular that of the toiling workers — and the necessity to link the anti-fascist fight with the fight against imperialism.
It also sends a clear message to us: to not let anti-communist rhetoric — peddled by U.S. imperialists and their lap dogs in both countries — be given any validity or power to lead the people’s movement astray from its fight against the root problems of society. The people’s refusal to fall for Yoon’s vilification of communism as a bogeyman to justify martial law must be studied by all, especially those of us fighting for socialism in our countries.
But the fight is far from over. We must support the Korean people as they campaign to impeach Yoon for his crimes against the people, especially as the ruling party boycotted the most recent impeachment vote. We must lend our strength in their struggle against U.S. military occupation and intervention that prevents the reunification of the Korean nation and starves the Korean masses, especially those north of the 38th parallel.
We know that the Korean people’s victory against these forces will bring us closer to our own people’s victory, as well. After all, we too are in a fight to impeach Sara Duterte for her betrayal of the people, a fight to end the dynastic rule of the Marcoses and Dutertes alike, and a fight to oust the U.S. from our sovereign lands. The triumph of the Filipino people’s national democratic struggle will likewise be our best contribution to the Korean masses’ struggle for self-determination.
Linked arm-in-arm, the Filipino people pledge our anti-imperialist solidarity with the peoples of Korea. We will march alongside you to defeat fascist threats of terror, and struggle for a Korea, Philippines, Asia Pacific, and world free of U.S. imperialism and all reaction.
Impeach Yoon! Power to the masses of Korea! U.S. Out of Korea and the Philippines! U.S. Out of Everywhere!
Learn more and support Nodutdol’s “US Out of Korea” campaign: usoutofkorea.org