[unclear: Aasama] (Comrade) Roc told us of the oppressions he faced in his poor peasant family. "It is only through the revolution that I can fight for their rights. It is not only my family which suffers, but almost all families in barrios across the country."

Ka Roe was speaking of his feelings about the revolutionary war being waged in the Philippines countryside. Ka Roe is a red fighter of the New People's Army (NPA), the ten year old guerilla army of the Communist Party of the Philippines, whose growing strength is enough to be tying down the massive Marcos armed forces in more than 41 provinces. Ka Roe is still only 14 years old.

Yet as he spoke, only his boyish face and voice belied his age. During the interview, Ka Roe cradled a powerful American made M-16 rifle, captured from the enemy troops in an ambush. It never leaves his side.

Ka Roe is one of 50 others in the NPA camp, which took us a day of walking deep in the Philippines countryside to reach. About 40 were red fighters, the others instructors; for this was a military training camp. Normally, NPA guerillas move constantly in squads of 10 or 11, but for the two weeks our student group was with them, they stayed in the one place receiving intense political and military instruction.

Mass Support Clear

That so many red fighters are able to stay in one place for so long says a lot about the level of influence the NPA has in this area. The peasant families are strongly in support, providing them with food, shelter and information - the source of the revolution's success.

This support contrasts sharply with the peasants' attitude to the government troops. During our stay, the closest the reactionary army came was more than five kilometres away when two Marcos army officers visited a small village. Within 24 hours of their arrival, the peasants' own information system had told our group of their names, rank, the purpose of their visit, and how long they would stay. Government forces had not been in the area for over nine months.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of all the men and women fighters of the NPA is their extreme discipline and dedication to the movement. They are soldiers who risk their lives each day; and who will be fighting until their death, or the complete liberation of the Philippines.

Politics in Command

But the NPA is not singly a military organisation; the Communist Party retains overall control. Almost every part of the guerillas' lives is determined within the collective. Problems, criticisms, plans for action and summing up of experiences are all discussed and resolved by the whole organisation.

The collective life produces a genuinely high morale. Not once during our stay did we see any action which betrayed the intense individual strain and hardships the red fighters face. They were always close to laughter.

The day begins early in an NPA camp. In the half light at about 5.30am in the Philippines wet season, we were awoken after sleeping on the floor of a thatched hut to the sound of morning exercises. Breakfast followed. In camp we ate three meals a day, every one featuring rice (kanin); often purple-husked mountain rice.

Meals were served on squares of banana leaves, and were eaten with fingers. Although we ate meat most days, a unit on the move is often not so well fed. Other staples include mung beans and casava (kamote).

The first half of the day was mostly spent in political education sessions. In an open walled hut, the instructors led particularly lively discussions; covering both political education and analysis, and military theory and tactics, in great detail. However, it was never a one way, lecturing approach. Participation was the key; with instructors and guerillas regarding each other as equals.

Practical Training

Afternoons were often spent putting into practice the tactical theory of the morning session. In an open field, with up to 20 peasants from surrounding barrios in attendance, the guerillas went through military exercises. Although it was a demanding and concentrated lesson, everyone look part in criticising mistakes. Great humour was provoked from peasants and guerillas at sloppy technique, particularly when we students attempted to follow the exercises.

Great stress is placed on involving the peasants in NPA activities, and our camp was constantly visited by peasants from the surrounding areas.

Evenings were almost always spent in discussion with red fighters. Here we interviewed many of them, and learnt of their experiences of oppression before joining the NPA, and their hopes for a future liberated Philippines. They were very interested in conditions in New Zealand; of which, not unnaturally, they knew little. Around gas lights, these sessions lasted usually till after midnight.

Dealing with Landlords

The question of land ownership is a central one to the NPA and peasants. We were told that an immediate campaign is waged for the halving of rent paid to local landlords. Ka lbara, a former medical student, told us that landlords were always hostile at first to NPA presence. But because of mass peasant support of the army, they have been forced to change their attitude.

"Now, when we visit, the landlord is more likely to say 'Come in; have you eaten?'" Ka Ibara told us. He added that the long term aim is the complete confiscation of the landlord's property, owned collectively by the peasants.

Punishment is necessarily harsh for landlords who do not co-operate. Ka Roe told us of a landlord who had raped a peasant woman and beaten her husband on a visit with his band of armed thugs. The decision of the NPA and peasants for punishment was death.

"I was in the blocking force. My commander told me to prevent any attempted escape," Ka Roe said. When the landlord tried to run, Ka Roe shot and wounded him with a 38 revolver.

"I expect to do a better job in the long run," he concluded.