AN EXERCISE IN WORLDMAKING 2009 - ISS

13 Imaging Women and Compassion in the New People’s Army 157
Compassion
Compassion emerged as a relevant theme in the identity building of a
strong, fighting army. The text utilized elements such as the story of Armand,
an innocent witness of the affairs of his barrio, who observes that
“The army they cherish and consider as their own has helped the people
in the area in so many ways” (p. 98). The NPA’s task in land reform and
peace and order is an expression of compassion that is returned by the
families such as Armand’s.
The commitment of the CPP-NPA to human rights and international
laws such as the CARHRIHL are also signs of compassion in the NPA’s
conduct of war. Image 5 illustrates this well in showing two military rivals
in embrace. The humane treatment of the prisoner of war is evidenced
by the gratitude expressed by Maj. Bernal.
Identifying the CPP-NPA as compassionate is again important in negating
the 2001 terrorist tag imposed on their organizations by the US
government. Against this, the CPP asserts that common people do not
consider the NPA as a terrorist, and that the NPA is needed and supplied
by the people. For the purpose of the book, however, a compassionate
identity is most relevant in its appeal to audiences (pathos) in
supporting its cause.
CONCLUSION
The identity being built by the CPP of the NPA is one that is a balance
of strength and compassion. It is one that plays up its strength as an organization
in its optimism for the sure victory of its just cause. This
boosts the morale of its members and supporters, and solicits further
support from outside its circle, satisfying the main function of the publication.
The NPA thrives where the government neglects the people. The
othering language the CPP uses to distinguish its army from the Armed
Forces of the Philippines depends largely upon atrocities of the military.
The violence of the NPA is a response to a structural violence of poverty
and oppression from the ruling elite in society.
The NPA distinguishes itself apart from its perceived enemies by
constructing itself as “just” and its antagonists, “unjust”. It depicts its
perceived enemies, as the ones threatening the security and therefore,
terrorizing the people. Together with its emphasis on strength, the CPP