NPA to mark founding anniversary on March 29

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet , Philippines   â€“ New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas nationwide will celebrate the rebel group’s 45th founding anniversary on March 29 by firing their guns in the air.

The 21-gun salute, a common military tradition, will be conducted by members of the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in various undisclosed locations in the country.

The CPP said in a statement that the firing of guns would be staged by NPA units where applicable and if the situation allows.

The 21-gun salute will be a tribute to all martyrs of the NPA and the “national democratic revolution.”

The March 29 NPA anniversary would be commemorated in the wake of the arrest of CPP leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon last Saturday in Cebu.

The anniversary celebrations in “guerilla zones,” which the CPP earlier claimed in December as around 135 all over the country, will be marking “victories” of the rebel movement in four decades, like the ousting of two reactionary regimes (of Marcos and Estrada).

On March 29, all regional, sub-regional and front commands of the NPA, including village militias, will do a military formation and parade the CPP, NDF and NPA flags.

Before noon, CPP assemblies will sing the “Internationale” and the 21-gun salute will be executed by the rebels and militias in military formation.