The Bush administration is bringing the Korean peninsula to the brink of war. U.S. threats against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (the DPRK, or North Korea) and Washington’s withdrawal from the 1994 nuclear accords have led to a dramatic escalation of tensions. A growing tide of demonstrations against the presence of U.S. troops has rocked South Korea.

Fight Back! News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on the murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Jose Maria Sison. Sison is a leading figure in the movement to free the Philippines from United States domination. The Bush administration has falsely accused Sison of ‘terrorism’ and is trying to criminalize the Filipino people’s fight for national liberation.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement in defense of Jose Maria Sison. Sison is a leading figure in the movement to free the Philippines from United States domination. The Bush administration has falsely accused Sison of ‘terrorism’ and is trying to criminalize the fight of the Filipino people for national liberation.

The Amado Kadena, a local union of National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU) affiliated to the militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), attained a landslide victory in the certification election, March 27, at the food processing company Dole Phils in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

San Jose, CA - On Feb. 24, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of emergency, banning public protests, allowing for government takeover of the media and arrests without warrants. This declaration came on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the revolt that ousted former dictator Ferdinand Marcos and was aimed at stopping mass protests trying to commemorate the date.

Fight Back! News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines about the wave of repression launched by U.S.-backed President Arroyo.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Pilipino human rights organization KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. A wave of violence, organized by the U.S-backed government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA), has been aimed at that country's progressive movement.

Trade union leader Rolando ‘Ka Rolly’ Mariano, 53 years old, was fatally shot by three unidentified men atop a single motorcycle. Mariano was aboard a minivan on his way to work Oct. 7 in San Fernando village in Victoria, Tarlac.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Sept. 23 statement from the main trade union federation in the Philippines, the KMU (May 1st Workers’ Center), concerning the assassination of one of its leaders, Diosdado Fortuna. The government of U.S.-backed Pilipino President Arroyo is responsible for a wave of human rights violations.

A campaign for the release of political prisoner Donato ‘Donat’ Continente has been announced by BAYAN, an alliance of progressive Pilipino organizations. Background information on this critical case appeared in the summer 2002 issue of Fight Back!

On April 7, 2005, riot police in the Philippines attacked and broke up a demonstration by human rights activists marching near an international parliamentarians' conference. The protesters were gathering at the Malate Church in Manila en route to the Philippine International Convention Center. The police injured various people, including Catholic priests from the organization Promotion for Church People’s Response (PCPR).

The following is an exclusive interview with the Chief Negotiator for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, Luis Jalandoni. He has represented the NDF in peace negotiations with the government of the Philippines. The NDF is an alliance of revolutionary organizations drawing from different sectors of Filipino society, including trade unions, peasants, women, students, and religious organizations. The NDF includes the insurgent New Peoples Army.

The Philippines is a country of extremes. There are very rich people and wealthy U.S. corporations in the Philippines. But most people, millions of them, are very poor. The Philippines is also a country that has been at war for over thirty years-a war between the haves and the have-nots.

Sun Hyung Lee traveled to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (north Korea) as part of a peace delegation of eight Korean Americans from Oakland, Los Angeles and New York in June of 2004. At a time when the Bush administration is carrying out war preparations against north Korea, the interview provides some important insights into developments on the Korean peninsula.

New York - The NY Estrada RESIGN! Movement continued to brave the cold weather in its fourth Saturday outside the Philippine Consulate. The early December protest is was a part of a worldwide movement of the Philipino people and their supporters to remove the corrupt, U.S.-backed President Estrada.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following article from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on the April 5 space launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Commenting on the May 25 nuclear test, the Korean Central News agency stated, “The test will contribute to defending the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism and ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.”

a Fight Back! exclusive interview with Agustin Jimenez

Bogotá, Colombia – Tom Burke, a reporter for Fight Back! conducted the following interview with Agustin Jimenez Cuello, the president of the Committee in Solidarity with Political Prisoners, on Dec. 7. Agustin Jimenez is the lawyer who represents the Colombia Three – three Irish political activists imprisoned in Colombia on politically motivated, false charges. The three are awaiting the continuation of their trial.