CNL (NDFP) On International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights: Bourgeois Rights And Proletarian Rights

Christians For National Liberation (CNL) | National Democratic Front Of The Philippines

December 10, 2024

In the context of the Philippines, particularly during the mid-term elections, the discussion of human rights (HR) cannot be separated from the underlying issues of class struggle. It’s crucial to understand the concepts of bourgeois rights and proletarian rights, as well as the role of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), as they provide the framework for understanding the current political landscape and the struggles of the oppressed masses. This article will define these terms and relate them to the present political situation in the Philippines, especially in the context of the ongoing battle between factions like that of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) and former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bourgeois rights refer to the rights and freedoms typically associated with the capitalist class, or the bourgeoisie. These rights, rooted in liberal democracy, are often seen as individual rights that ensure the protection of private property, the free market, and the protection of personal freedoms. Bourgeois rights emphasize political participation through elections, freedom of speech, and legal equality, but they are ultimately shaped and constrained by the needs of the capitalist system.

For example, in the context of Philippine politics, the promotion of bourgeois rights often means ensuring the preservation of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system that upholds the interests of the ruling class. It focuses on reforming the state apparatus without fundamentally changing the social and economic system that keeps the poor marginalized and exploited. As seen in the power struggle between BBM and DU30, their rivalry is not about fundamentally altering the oppressive system, but about which faction of the ruling class gets to control the apparatus of the state.

In contrast, proletarian rights refer to the rights of the working class and the oppressed. These rights go beyond individual freedoms and aim to dismantle the structures of exploitation inherent in the capitalist system. Proletarian rights demand social and economic equality, the right to self-determination, the right to control one’s labor, and the abolition of capitalist structures such as wage slavery.

Proletarian rights are collective rights that seek to transform society through revolutionary means. They call for the redistribution of wealth, the end of exploitation, and the establishment of a society based on social justice. The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), for example, advocates for proletarian rights through its 12-point program. This program outlines a vision for a society where the working class and peasantry control the means of production and resources, rather than a few elite families and corporations.

The 12-point program of the NDFP includes demands such as:

1. End to the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system.
2. A government that is genuinely representative of the people.
3. National industrialization and land reform.
4. Control over the country’s resources, including land, water, and minerals.
5. Promotion of genuine democracy and human rights.
6. Equality for women and marginalized sectors.
7. Just wages and benefits for workers.
8. Sovereignty over the country’s territories and resources.
9. Support for the national liberation struggle.
10. Abolition of foreign military bases and imperialist control.
11. Environmental protection and sustainable development.
12. Defending the people’s right to self-determination.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a set of rules that aim to protect individuals during armed conflicts and limit the effects of war. It ensures that parties in conflict adhere to principles such as the protection of civilians, prisoners of war, and those who are no longer participating in the hostilities. While IHL aims to provide a framework for human rights protection during conflicts, it often focuses more on regulating the conduct of war and protecting people from unnecessary suffering.

However, human rights are broader and encompass rights that every individual should have, regardless of war or conflict. In the context of the Philippines, IHL could be used to protect civilians caught in the crossfire of the state’s counter-insurgency operations, but it does little to challenge the root causes of conflict—the economic and political system that perpetuates inequality and exploitation.

The ongoing political rivalry between Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (BBM) and Rodrigo Duterte is a classic example of a struggle over the control of the state apparatus to preserve bourgeois rights. Both BBM and Du30 represent different factions of the ruling class, and their political maneuvering reflects the need to maintain the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system that serves the interests of the elite.

BBM’s push to maintain power and Du30’s desire to return to it are not about creating systemic change but about ensuring that the ruling class continues to dominate the political and economic spheres of the country. Their rivalry is a manifestation of the larger, unresolved contradictions of Philippine society, where the wealthy and powerful continue to hold sway over the state apparatus, while the working class and peasantry remain impoverished and oppressed.

The National Democratic Revolution (NDR), with a socialist perspective, offers a solution to this systemic problem. The NDR is rooted in the understanding that the only way to achieve true social change is through the establishment of a new, revolutionary government that represents the interests of the oppressed and exploited masses. This perspective aligns with proletarian rights, as it calls for the dismantling of the semi-feudal and semi-colonial system and the establishment of a government that serves the working class and the peasantry.

In the context of the NDFP’s 12-point program, the NDR emphasizes the need for land reform, national industrialization, and the redistribution of wealth. It demands a new society where the means of production are under the control of the workers and peasants, not the capitalist elites. The NDR represents a break from the cycle of bourgeois reforms, calling for a fundamental shift in power and control over the nation’s resources.

As the conflict between factions like BBM and Du30 plays out, it becomes increasingly clear that reform within the current system will not lead to meaningful change. Bourgeois rights, while important in protecting individual freedoms, cannot address the deeper issues of exploitation and inequality. These rights merely serve to maintain the status quo, allowing the elite to retain their hold on power.

The NDR with a socialist perspective offers a true solution—a revolutionary transformation of Philippine society. Revolution is the only path to the realization of proletarian rights and the creation of a system that serves the people, not the elite. It is through revolution that the oppressed classes can gain control of their destiny and establish a government that truly represents their interests, in line with the 12-point program of the NDFP.

In conclusion, the ongoing political struggles in the Philippines, symbolized by the rivalry between BBM and Du30, are rooted in the battle to maintain bourgeois rights that serve the ruling class. Proletarian rights, on the other hand, demand a fundamental restructuring of society to serve the oppressed and exploited classes. The NDR, guided by a socialist perspective, provides a revolutionary pathway to achieving these rights and fulfilling the aspirations of the Filipino people. Only through revolution can the fundamental changes necessary to achieve genuine social justice and equality be realized.

Source : https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/international-humanitarian-law-human-rights-bourgeois-rights-and-proletarian-rights/