LEARN FROM LENINISM AND THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION

Message to Participants of Gathering to Celebrate

the Centennial of the Great October Socialist Revolution

By Jose Maria Sison

Chairperson, International Coordinating Committee

International League of Peoples’ Struggle

November 5, 2017

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As Chairperson of the International League of Peoples´ Struggle (ILPS), I convey warmest greetings of solidarity to all participants in this gathering to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.

I commend the ILPS-Hongkong & Macau chapter for organizing this event as part of the world wide celebration of the October Revolution, initiated by ILPS and the People´s Resource for International Solidarity and Mass Movement.

It is highly gratifying that the chapter has invited distinguished speakers: the veteran freedom fighter, sociologist and former DSWD cabinet secretary Prof. Judy Taguiwalo who will speak on the historic significance and current relevance of the October Revolution; and Helda Khasmy, Chairperson of the Indonesian Women’s Union (SERUNI) and Executive Committee member of the International Women’s Alliance (IWA) who will speak on women and socialism.

I am glad that the chapter has ensured the attendance of Filipino and Indonesian migrant workers and social activists of various nationalities. It is important for migrants to embrace and take full part in the national struggle in their respective countries while forging solidarity with all anti-imperialist forces including anti-capitalist movements in the country where they work.

I presume that the October Revolution is interesting to all of you because it was the first instance in history when the working class as the leading force took power and held it long enough against tremendous odds to build socialism.

I am sure that those who come from the Philippines, Indonesia and other underdeveloped countries find relevant how Lenin and the Bolsheviks conducted revolution in two stages: the democratic stage against tsarism and feudalism in February and the socialist stage against the Kerensky-led Provisional Government and the bourgeoisie.

Most of the Filipino and Indonesian workers in Hongkong and Macau are women. Certainly, the role of women in the revolution should be keenly interesting to you. Women were in the forefront of the revolution from February to October 1917 and onwards. They were at the head of protest marches that demanded bread, land and freedom and received the main brunt of tsarist brutality but caused the downfall of tsarism.

We are still in the era of modern imperialism and proletarian revolution. To advance our own revolutionary struggles today, we can learn plenty that are relevant and useful from the teachings of Lenin and from the lessons of the October Revolution. All of these are in the even more comprehensive and richer context of the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.

I hope that as a result of listening to the speakers and in subsequent discussions you can learn a lot that is enlightening and that can guide you in fighting for your rights as workers and women and for a future of greater freedom, people´s democracy and socialism.

Long live the legacy of Lenin and the October Revolution!

Fight for national liberation, democracy and socialism!

Long live the proletariat and people of the world!