By Reihana Mohideen
MANILA — Around 300 delegates representing some 10,900 members launched Akbayan (Citizen's Action Party) on January 17. The Philippines left is gearing up for national elections in May.
Well-known Filipino Marxist academic and national executive member of BISIG (Union for Socialist Ideas and Action) Francisco Nemenzo gave the opening keynote address. He described Akbayan as "a party built around a program, a party that stands on definite principles, a party oriented towards a distinct vision".
Referring to the undemocratic and sectarian Stalinist and Maoist heritage that has plagued the Philippines left, Nemenzo said: "Even though we are unabashedly ideological, we are not dogmatic and sectarian. Many of us, including myself, have had unpleasant experiences in underground parties that insist on a uniformity of views ... We who came to Akbayan from such a suffocating framework, value inner party democracy. We regard differences of opinions within the party and the ensuing debates as healthy and necessary ... although as a party we shall ultimately stand united behind our program and resolutions of the national council."
Outlining Akbayan's approach to the economic crisis plaguing the country, Nemenzo said: "We do not retreat from a radical solution if the problem is radically bad ... To take a radical stance in the midst of a grave crisis is more responsible than the stance of [President Fidel] Ramos and his technocrats who tell us that 'our economic fundamentals are sound', even while the peso is tumbling down and thousands are losing their jobs. A radical departure from neo-liberalism makes more sense than their proposal to hasten liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation."
Akbayan describes itself as a party of political and electoral reform. Its objectives include: to engage in elections at every level possible; to run government, particularly at the local executive level; and "to bring the concerns and issues of marginalised sectors to the agenda of the government and the general public with the end view of making government more accessible, genuinely accountable and truly responsive to the people".
The strength of Akbayan is its ability to unite a significant section of an increasingly fragmented Philippine left in the lead up to the elections.
This is reflected in the broad left representation in the party's leadership bodies. Its chairperson is well-known Asian economist Walden Bello. Its secretary general is Etta Rosales, a leader of the anti-Stalinist tendency Siglaya, which broke away from the old Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines. And its president is Ronald Llamas from BISIG, a left movement that developed outside the influence of the Stalinist forces.
The party's national executive includes Joel Rocamora from the Institute for Popular Democracy; Ric Reyes from Siglaya; Benjie de Vera, a well-known leader of the revolutionary movement from the southern islands of Mindanao; Anna Maria Nemenzo, a feminist activist; and Pamela Celares, representing the recently split faction of the regional committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Manila Rizal, aligned with the Revolutionary Workers Party.
The substantial forces grouped under the progressive democratic front Sanlakas and the militant workers' centre, the BMP, did not participate in the conference.
The national elections, in which around 20% or 50 of the House of Representative seats are to be elected by proportional representation, provide a good opportunity for the left.
The quota is 2% of the total number of votes cast, but a registered party cannot win more than three seats. This is designed to split the left vote between a number of left candidates running separate campaigns. Given this, Akbayan's united response is significant.
Akbayan's candidates elected at the founding congress are Etta Rosales, Danny Edralin from the Alliance of Progressive Labour and Benjie de Vera.<>><>41559MS>n<>255D>