MANILA: The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said yesterday they expect more people to join the decades-old insurgency movement as they suffer “terrible” hardships brought about by the global financial crisis.

In a message marking the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said the rebel group already had “tens of thousands” of members but more were needed for “gigantic tasks ahead.”

Sison said the global economic slowdown would provide an opportunity for the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to recruit more fighters and members.

“The crisis conditions inflict terrible suffering on the people, but also incite them to wage revolutionary struggle,” he said.

Sison blamed “the bankruptcy of the US-instigated policies of neoliberal globalization and war on terror” for the “unprecedentedly rapid worsening of the crisis of the world capitalist system and the Philippine ruling system.”

MILF rejects offer

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has rejected an appeal by the Communist Party of the Philippines for a joint “intensified campaign” against the Arroyo government.

Eid Kabalu, MILF’s civil military affairs chief, said yesterday the communist rebels’ campaign has always been different from theirs.

“While we have a tactical alliance, still we will not join them. Our focus is confined only in Mindanao and we don’t want to expand our concern,” Kabalu said.

Kabalu said while both groups have been fighting a common enemy, their causes have not been the same.

But Kabalu said the MILF could reinforce NPA rebels should they come under attack “in areas where we have active forces.”

“We can only work side by side in areas where we both have forces. But we cannot not join them in their campaign outside of Mindanao,” he said.

The MILF has been fighting for an Islamic state since 1978. It signed a cease-fire with the government, but skirmishes have been going on and off along with the peace talks between the two sides.

The CPP has been waging a protracted war for the establishment of a Maoist government in Asia’s oldest democracy for the past 37 years.

Its armed wing, the NPA, is touted to have a 7,400-strong force in 70 of the country’s 79 provinces.

Talks between the government and the communists have bogged down when the CPP backed out because of its failure to convince Manila to have it removed from Washington and the European Union’s lists of terror organizations.