Condolences for Comrade Fidel

to: National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Joma Sison

for information to: Len Cooper, Malcom Guy tribute@ndfp.org

Dear comrades, friends, anti-imperialists

Together with the CPP Philippines and the NDFP, ICOR mourns the death of comrade Fidel V. Agcaoili, Chairperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Peace Negotiating Panel. Fidel died on 23 July 2020 in Utrecht, Netherlands, where he lived in exile. He dedicated his whole life selflessly to the liberation struggle of the Filipino people and took a leading role in this struggle. He was the longest held political prisoner during the Marcos dictatorship.

In the complicated peace negotiations with the Filipino government, he led the negotiating delegation of the NDFP.

So it was only logical that he welcomed from the beginning the common idea of ICOR and ILPS to build up an anti-imperialist, anti-fascist international united front (AIAFUF) and took responsibility for this goal which is so urgent today. He was part of a delegation of ILPS at a meeting of the ICC of ICOR. At this meeting he also spoke out strongly in favour of the project of a World Peasants' Conference of the ICOR.

Due to the Corona Pandemic, the further construction phase of the united front could not take place as planned in the first half of 2020 and Fidel will not experience it now. But the seeds of his active, clarifying, guiding and always mediating role in this process will bear fruit for the benefit of the international workers' movement and popular masses. Fidel has remained true to his life's goals for many decades, even under the harshest repression. This makes him a model of tenacity, especially for the steeling of the youth.

On behalf of the ICC I express our heartfelt condolences to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, his children, his widow and all comrades-in-arms and friends of Fidel. I will of course inform all ICOR member parties.

Monika Gärtner-Engel

Main Coordinator of the ICOR