Trinity College Trinity College Digital Repository

Resist Newsletters Resist Collection

2-28-1985

Resist Newsletter, Feb. 1985

Resist

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/resistnewsletter

Recommended Citation Resist, "Resist Newsletter, Feb. 1985" (1985). Resist Newsletters. 180. https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/resistnewsletter/180 Newsletter#l 73 A call to resist illegitimate authority February 1985 The Philippine Opposition Movement

ERIK GUYOT

0 ver the past year, the Philippines has joined the ranks of countries where an entrenched dictatorship is rapidly being challenged by a broad-based op­ position movement. After 13 years of almost virtual one man rule, the Philip­ pine political arena is being swept by new winds of change. In the cities, tens of thousands of demonstrators regular­ ly overflow the streets to be dispersed only by water cannon and gunfire. In the countryside, a strong guerilla move­ ment has called certain areas "off limits'' to the Philippine military. Officials both in Manila and Wash­ ington see the days of the Marcos gov­ ernment as numbered - some say at the outside 18 months. The question has become not who among the promi­ nent political personalities in the Phil­ ippines will supplant Marcos, but what form of economic and political system will replace the current regime. There is a growing sense - of hope in the which are now enacted in the urban a string of one term Presidents. Politics Philippines, apprehension in Washing­ demonstrations and rural resistance. was often an avenue for building pri­ ton - that a post-Marcos government Before the Marcos era, Philippine vate largesse. Senate President Jose will be broad-based, nationalist in pro­ politics was generally characterized by Avelino candidly summed up the un­ gram, democratic in action, and com­ the maneuvering for power among a written rules of the period thus: "If you mitted to genuine land reform. relatively small group of elite politi­ cannot permit abuses you must at least cians. Family and personai ties formed tolerate them. What are we in power Thirteen Years of One Man Rule the basis for power alignments while for? We are not hypocrites. Why The Marcos government's rule since the inability of any one faction to con­ 1965 set in motion the social forces solidate power for long was reflected in Continued on page Two Philippines Continued from page One should we pretend we are saints when in effectively dismantled the business and of a complex web of coconut mills, reality we are not?" upperclass' major power base in the credit associations exclusively for large The Marcos era changed that system National Assembly, their future ability plantations, and export boards. At the of alternating rule by various factions to mount sustained opposition was bottom of the pyramid, the vast majori­ of the pro-U .S. elite. Soon after his severely limited. Second, the massive ty of day laborers or tenants receive election in 1965, Marcos began to in­ crackdown and establishment of the from one-third to one-fourth of their stitutionalize the role of a new actor in military as a major political force con­ crop worth approximately $200 per politics which would guarantee his con­ vinced many of the student, peasant year. Perched on top are Defense Min­ tinued position: the military. Through and worker leaders that parlimentary ister Juan Ponce Enrile and the the expansion and integration of the maneuverings alone could not dislodge "coconut king" Eduardo Cojuangco. military into ''economic development'' the Marcos regime. In the sugar industry, controlled by Marcos was ultimately able to trans­ sugar baron Roberto Benidicto, the top form the military into a power base 7% of the landlords own 46% of the which only he controlled. This deepening immis­ land, while over half of the landowners In the early 1970s a growing na­ eration has given the Phil­ are relegated to 9% of the land. The ex­ tionalist movement demanding eco­ ippines the distinction of pansion of these vast plantations con­ nomic sovereignty and the removal of tinues to be carried out at the expense U.S. military bases began to make its having the second lowest of small landowners who are displaced presence felt both in the courts and in daily food consumption rate through debt mortgaging or military the streets. Marcos responded swiftly to means; Peaceful attempts by farmers to this challenge by declaring Martial Law in Asia, lower than Bangla­ organize and retain their land are on September 21, 1972. The Philippine desh. It also created a social systematically cut short by the Philip­ Congress was abolished, the press was powderkeg waiting to pine military. muzzled, and within a few weeks over In the cities, the government has 30,000 people were jailed. Speaking at a explode. created export processing zones where rally in front of the White House on the it guarantees low wages and no strikes twelfth anniversary of Martial Law, The imposition of Martial Law and for foreign multinationals. The "suc­ former Senator Jose Diokno firmly laid the subsequent militarization were the cess'' of this policy is reflected in the responsibility at the U.S. doorstep: logical outcome of the model of eco­ declining wage rates: from 1972 to 1978 ''Faced with a resurgent nationalism nomic development practiced in the wages for skilled workers dropped which demanded that all foreign bases Philippines. Export-oriented growth 25 CT/o, unskilled 30%. This deepening be removed, the U.S. government, and ''development from above'' be­ immiseration has given the Philippines Marcos, and the elite decided that be­ came the overriding policy. Under the the distinction of having the second fore the organized strength of the peo­ guidance of the IMF and its sister insti­ lowest daily food consumption rate in ple equalled the strength of their rhetor­ tution the World Bank, the Philippine Asia, lower than Bangladesh. It also ic, Martial Law was necessary.'' economy was geared even more created a social powderkeg waiting to By declaring Martial Law Marcos ef­ towards exporting a few agricultural explode. fectively positioned himself as sole products such as coconut, pineapple, guarantor of the U.S. military bases, sugar, and banana as well as the pro­ thereby insuring his position vis a vis duction of light goods by foreign the U.S. while consolidating his power multinationals. To attract multina­ over the domestic opposition. During tionals, low wages, "labor discipline," the early years of Martial Law, Marcos and currency devaluation were neces­ transformed the military into an effec­ sary. In addition, the entire Philippine tive power base expanding it fourfold economy was bound even tighter to the from a modest size of 60,000 to over fluctuations of the world commodities 240,000 personnel. Direct U.S. military market. 2 aid was crucial to this process jumping Along with this form of economic from $10 million for the twenty year development, Marcos introduced the period prior to Martial Law to $170 present system of concentrating eco­ ILLEGITIMATI AUTIIOIZITJ million for the first five years of Mar­ nomic wealth in the hands of a few loy­ ,=...,-.·~ ~-.JC""'", ~ "61 tial Law. Moreover, with U.S. advice alists, which presently carries the epi­ and training, an extensive national thet "crony capitalism." Under crony The Resist New5/et1er is published ten security system was firmly established. capitalism, Marcos expropriated com­ times a year by Resist, Inc., 38 Union U.S. advisors applying their experience mercial holdings from certain busines­ Square, Somerville, MA 02143. (617) from Saigon helped set up the secret in­ ses and transferred them to personal 623-51 lO. telligence agency NISA as well as the friends and the military. The coconut Resist staff: Ken Tangvik crowd control unit METROCOM. 1 industry, which one out of every four Meredith Smith This consolidation of power through Filipinos depends upon and is the Typesetting: Nancy Wechsler the military rather than the traditional largest foreign exchange earner, is the Gay Community News parliamentary methods brought about prime example. The industry was ex­ Printing: Red Sun Press two conditions. First, since Marcos had panded and brought under the control ....

Page Two Resist Newsletter February 1985 General Secretary of the Nationalist Alliance, a broad coalition which spans the liberal democrats and the left, described the cooperation between the two thus, " ... all the people's organizations, clandestine or open, are all in the process of dismantling the dic­ tatorship and they are learning to coop­ erate with each other, work with each other, and support each other." The major organization on the left is the National Democratic Front (NDF), an illegal, broad-based coaltion encom­ passing most sectors of Philippine society: workers, peasants, women, na­ tional minorities, clergy, students, and professionals. Drawing its strength from these sectors supporting it, the NDF is recognized as the best-organ­ With the international recession in elite-oriented politicians intent primari­ ized and most potent opposition force 1979, the model of development from ly on replacing Marcos, to issued ori­ in the Philippines. Its twelve point pro- above began to come apart at the ented organizations calling for exten­ seams. Foreign markets for Philippine sive economic and social change, the exports shrunk. The first world erected opposition falls into three broad In the first quarter of protectionist barriers against Philip­ categories. 1984, some 950,000 work­ pine products throwing more employ­ The so-called traditional opposition ers were laid off due to the ees out of work. And the massive is comprised primarily of older politi­ foreign borrowing needed to lubricate cians from the Martial Law and pre­ debt crisis. Unemployment the system began to ratchet the Philip­ Martial Law era. Most prominent has now reached 40% while pine foreign debt up to precarious new among them are Salvador Laurel, a inflation has climbed levels. One tremor and the house of former Senator in Marcos' ruling party cards was likely to collapse. and Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw of the past 65%. liberal party. Due to their pro-U.S. The Opposition stance and acceptance of the U.S. mili­ gram, which reflects both the specific The assassination of Senator tary bases, the State Department has interests of the various sectors and their Benigno Aquino on August 21, 1983 been assiduously cultivating this group common unity, calls for the dismant­ triggered off capital flight of massive as a replacement for Marcos. Under the ling of the Marcos dictatorship and proportions. In the months following banner of the UNIDO coalition, the U.S. control, and reestablishment of the assassination hard currency fled as elite opposition seeks "national recon­ democratic rights, genuine land re­ the Philippine financial elite apprehen­ ciliation" or powersharing with Mar­ form, and self-determination for na­ sively watched the growing demonstra­ cos in some form. Their economic tional minorities. tions. This near abandonment of Mar­ policies are basically similar to the cur­ Two important members of the NDF cos by Philippine business prompted rent Marcos austerity measures and are the Communist Party of the Philip­ U.S. Ambassador Stephen Bosworth to reflect their powerbase among big pines (CPP), founded in 1968, and its later chide that the staggering Philip­ business. armed wing, the New People's Army pine foreign debt of $25 billion could be The second major grouping is com­ (NPA). The CPP and the NPA, along slashed if Philippine investors recalled prised of traditional politicians with a with the Christians for National the $10 billion they had salted away strong commitment to national. sover­ Liberation and the Kabataang Maka­ overseas. eignty and social reforms. Prominent bayan (Patriotic Youth), founded the For many in the Philippine middle among the liberal democrats are former NDF after all legal opposition was and business classes, the assassination Senator and noted human rights ac­ banned during Martial Law. marked the most significant in a long tivist Jose Diokno and Agapito "Butz" The wide appeal of the NDF and the series of· political killings by the Aquino, younger brother of Benigno NP A are illustrated by two of their military, stripping away whatever Aquino. Drawing their support more well known members. Horatio legitimacy the Marcos regime may have primarily from professional and the ur­ Morales, jailed in 1982 as chairman of had. For the first time, many in the ban middle classes, they refuse power the NDF, was one of the rising stars of middle class took to the streets in pro­ sharing with Marcos and call for the Philippine public administration. On test with some two million people join­ removal of all U.S. military bases. the night of December 26, 1977 the ing Aquino's funeral procession. Since In contrast, the popular opposition is former student leader was to be award­ the Fall protests, a myriad of old and comprised less of political personalities ed the Jaycees outstanding young man new organizations have composed the and more of mass based, issue oriented opposition. Ranging from traditional, organizations. Alexander Padilla, Continued on page Four

#173 Resist Newsletter Page Three Philippines Continued from page Three of the year. But instead he announced and the Aquino assassination inquiry, amnesty for all political prisoners, and that since "All our well-meaning ef­ have taken a back seat. Half a year remove the U.S. military bases. Signifi­ forts were in vain ... I decided to join after the elections, the 59 opposition cantly members of the pro-U .S. opposi­ the NDF. '' Father Conrado Balweg, assemblymen realize that Marcos is tion, Eva Estrada Kalaw and Salvadore the most wanted man in the Northern not about to engage in powersharing Laurel, refused to sign. Even the very island of Luzon, comes from the Ting­ with them. And through a brilliant legal language of the NDF has been incor­ guian tribal minority and is the highest maneuver, Marcos defused the assassi­ porated by no less than Defense known ranking NPA commander. He nation issue, at least for a while. After Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. Speaking joined the NPA when his work to pre­ the majority of the Agrava commission on the military situation, he warned vent the confiscation of ancestral lands implicated Chief of Staff General Fa­ that the NP A could reach military pari­ by a large logging corporation brought bian Ver and 24 officers in the ty in two years, or a "strategic stale­ the military after him. assassination, the case was forwarded mate'' - a term not coined by the Pen­ to a special court for possible prosecu­ tagon. tion. By placing any future prosecution The fundamental basis of the Philip­ Due to Marcos 'decree mak­ in the hands of the Sandiganbayan, a pine opposition is in the countryside ing power over the National low level court used during Martial Law where the vast majority of the people Assembly, the strength of against political opponents, Marcos live and where human rights abuses can delay the proceedings and insure have been the most widespread. By all the opposition lies not with greater protection for his generals. acounts, arrest, torture, and extralegal the elite opposition in the Due to Marcos' decree making power executions by the military have been on over the National Assembly, the the rise. And according to Amnesty In­ National Assembly, but strength of the opposition lies not with ternational, the torture of political de­ with the ''Parliament of the elite opposition in the National tainees is considered ''standard operat­ the streets'' led by issue­ Assembly, but with the ''Parliament of ing procedure.'' Certain branches of the streets'' led by issue-oriented the Philippine military are especially oriented organizations. organizations. After years of careful noted for their propensity towards organizing work, the opposition can violence against the Philippine Con­ Move to the left regularly call out 10,000 disciplined stabulary which numbers over 40,000 The collapse of the economic system demonstrators. One example was the and the Integrated Civilian Home constructed during Martial Law is simultaneous December 1 protests at Defense Force, a paramilitary force of polarizing Philippine society and the U.S. Embassy in Manila and Clark 65,000 composed primarily of local pushing the opposition further left. In airfield. Led by KMU and student toughs. the first quarter of 1984, some 950,000 groups, 10,000 protestors at the Em­ workers were laid off due to the debt bassy and 5,000 at the military base crisis. Unemployment has now reached demanded the end of "U.S. interven­ With guerilla fronts in 400/o while inflation has climbed past tion in Philippine affairs" and the over 50 of the Philippines' 650/o. According to the IMF's own cal­ removal of all U.S. military facilities in culations, due to its austerity program the Philippines. 73 provinces, NPA strength and devaluation of the peso, the econ­ has increased so that it now omy will contract by 5-60/o in 1985. Among the traditional opposition, What this means in real terms is that the the parliment of the streets is now controls approximately 20% middle and working classes will be hit recognized as the center of politics. of all villages. again with skyrocketing prices for basic Recently, Cardinal Jaime Sin, head of the Catholic Church and an advocate of commodities while hundreds of thous­ The operations of the Philippine "national reconciliation," urged par­ ands more lose their jobs. military have led to the coining of ishoners to join the street demonstra­ Workers have not taken the IMF's several new terms. "Salvaging" refers tions, a move that was seen as an at­ bitter medicine without protest. Last to the execution and disfigurement of tempt to ''regain the initiative'' from year over 268 strikes were staged pro­ unarmed civilians. In "censusing" the the NDF. Populist assemblyman Ho­ testing fixed wages and rising prices. names of the inhabitants of a house­ mobono Adaza is hopeful that through Despite the ban on strikes in ''vital in­ hold are painted on the home. If on a "the convergence of the parliamentary dustries," Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU­ given day those whose names are listed opposition with the opposition of the May First Movement), a militant trade are not present, they are considered street ... Marcos can be toppled before union of over 350,000 members, pre­ ''subversives.'' Strategic hamletting 1987." dicts more strikes for 1985. Last and free fire zones, designed to deny Moreover, many of the demands in­ month, transport workers, the Nation­ the NPA popular support, have in troduced by the left have also been alist Alliance and student groups led a many cases increased resentment adopted by the elite nationalist opposi­ four day general strike in Davao which against the military. totally paralyzed the Philippines' sec­ tion. In late December leading political Not all experts agree, however, with ond largest city and gave a prelude of personalities signed a "Declaration of this terminology. When questioned in a future actions. Unity" committing a future Presiden­ rare interview on "salvaging" Ver In the political arena, the two main tial candidate to draw up a new con­ responded "What salvaging? I don't news events of 1984, the May elections stitution. legalize the CPP, grant

Page Four Resist Newsletter February 1985 know what it means. In the NISA [Na­ organization providing services in guer­ countryside surrounding Davao is re­ tional Intelligence Security Authority] rilla zones. Many NP A members serve garded as a region of especially strong we use another term - TND - ter­ as health care workers, social workers, NPA support. The city itself is the first mination and disposal.'' agronomists, veterinarians and educat­ area where the NPA has begun urban As Pentagon officials readily con­ ors. In these areas rents from absentee operations. cede, the increase in military atrocities, landlords have been suspended and in Last July the Philippine military combined with economic injustice, has some areas land reform has begun. launched a large series of military contributed to the growing popular ap­ During the initial stages of the NPA's sweeps around Davao, driving hun­ peal of the NPA. From a few numbers growth in the early and mid 1970s, it dreds of families out of their homes to on 1968, the NPA has grown to an esti­ was this extensive program of organiz­ declare large areas "no man's land." mated 10,000 armed guerrillas, another ing training, and service in the rural Recently, a new elite counterinsurgency 10,000 irregulars, with 200,000 active areas which laid the foundation for the battalion, which had been training for supporters. With guerrilla fronts in NPA's present expansion. While the over a year, began operations in the over 50 of the Philippines' 73 pro­ NPA was still vulnerable militarily, the region. The U.S. has stepped up its role vinces, NPA strength has increased so Muslim separatist Moro National Lib­ too; speeding the delivery of some 56 that it now controls approximately eration played a crucial role in pinning VI50 armored vehicles, most of them 200Jo of all villages. Moreover, accord­ down 850Jo of the Philippine military in destined for Mindanao. Yet, so far, the ing to Pentagon officials, the NP A has the southern island of Mindanao. Cur­ increase in material and the new coun­ "no apparent external support" and its rently, the MNLF and the NPA are terinsurgency program do not seem to indigenous nature ''is one of the most believed to cooperate occasionally on a have had much of an effect. troublesome aspects of the tactical level. According to reports in the Philip­ insurgency.'' Presently, Davao city in Mindanao is pine press, the NPA plans to move out The NPA, however, is not only a viewed by the Philippine military and of the present ''strategic defense'' to fighting force. According to news ac­ the NPA as something of a ''test-case'' counts, above all it is also a political for future operations by both sides. The Continued on page Seven

Fifty-foot Ma rcos monument outside of Bagu io City north of Manila.

#173 Resist Newsletter Page Five CIA Cultivates Academia on Philippines

As the Philippine crisis has inten­ In May of that year, Rosenberg par­ selves accountable to it.'' As for some sified, the CIA and other branches of ticipated in a conference at Langley fell ow academicians who refused to the executive have turned to academia which brought together academicians work for the CIA on professional or for advice on the insurgent New Peo­ on the Philippines with high-level of­ moral grounds, Rosenberg claimed, "it ple's Army (NP A). Often under the ficials from the State Department, Na­ only isolates us from whatever respon­ guise of legitimate scholarship, the CIA tional Security Agency, Congressional sible influence we may have ... you can is increasingly taking advantage of the Research Service, Defense Intelligence speak truth to power." independence and credibility of certain Agency, and the CIA. The conference Although Rosenberg may have disa­ Philippine academicians. at CIA headquarters was closed to the greed in private with the powers that be David Rosenberg, Associate Pro­ public and dealt with ''The Rural in the defense and intelligence com­ fessor of Political Science at Mid­ Economy and Insurgencies in the munities, in Congresional testimony dlebury College has rapidly becpme one Philippines.'' last September, he argued that for the such expert. Over the last two years he Aside from Professor Rosenberg, U.S. "intervention is inescapable" and engaged in extensive consulting for the other Philippine specialists attending for the Philippine military ''more civic government and CIA as well as testify­ were Justin Green of Villanova Univer­ actions are necessary." To defeat the ing before Congress on how best to sity and the noted historian David Joel insurgency a package of massive defeat the insurgency. Most recently, Stienberg, Vice President of Brandeis economic aid tied to political and while giving a lecture at Washington's University. As Rosenberg later told one economic reforms was not sufficient, Asia Society, he described the NP A as observer, the CIA had invited him and he argued, a large training program to receiving aid from ''left-wing groups, other academicians since they ''wanted "reprofessionalize" the Philippine socialist groups, radical groups in somebody from the outside ... who has military was also required. Western Europe and the U.S. that do more of an analytical or historical Schirmer expressed the general sense provide publication outlets as well as framework who can try and make sense of betrayal among Philippine activists some material contributions." Only a of all these pieces [of data] they had." that '' A man can make a mistake and few years ago Professor Rosenberg was When Rosenberg subsequently ac­ realizing it is a mistake can therefore be loosely associated with some Philippine knowledged the extent of his consulting accepted. But to go back and repeat the opposition groups in the U.S. work, acquaintances associated with same things shows a certain degree of Over the years, Professor Rosenberg the U .S.-based Philippine opposition insincerity.'' developed close ties with some mem­ were widely surprised. But according to In last month's lecture at the Asia bers of the U .S.-based opposition to the longstanding Friends of the Filipino Society, which was meant to ''bridge Marcos government as well as Ameri­ People member, Boone Schirmer, in the gap between theory and practice,'' cans critical of that government. The the Spring of 1984 Rosenberg later Rosenberg spelled out more of his editor of Marcos and Martial Law, "repented that he had done wrong" to "agenda" for the Philippines. Regard­ Rosenberg was seen by many as a liber­ consult for the CIA. Rosenberg ex­ ing human rights abuses and the mili­ al critic who on occasion sponsored plained that he wanted to see how the tary's role in the assassination of Sena­ talks by Filipino oppositionists. He CIA worked from the inside. Among tor Aquino, Rosenberg called for a often received information and litera­ Filipino and American circles, this speedy trial, not so much for justice per ture from Philippine opposition groups avowed recognition of the morally se, but because it "is a very essential that, while not sensitive, was provided dubious character of working for the part of any counterinsurgency program in good faith. CIA was generally accepted as the last to remove some of the most important In 1983, however, while on sab­ word. problems with the government which batical at Johns Hopkins School for But later, Rosenberg would state that seem to exacerbate radical reactions." Advanced International Studies, Ros­ "under certain circumstances" he In addition, he recommended ''more enberg began consulting for various would consult for the CIA again. He and more training, especially via !MET governmental agencies on the Philip­ maintained that ''it is important to [training in the U.S.], which historical­ pine insurgency. Among them were: the separate intelligence activities from ly has proved to be a very effective pro­ World Bank; the State Department; the covert operations, some people don't gram." CIA; and International Government think it is possible, it may only be a Rosenberg's allegations at the lecture Business Counselors Inc., a private risk hope. And if that is the case we need to about "left-wing groups" providing analysis firm with strong CIA connec­ make sure we, the academic profession, material aid to the NPS also had troub­ tions through its senior partner William have as wide open a debate as possible ling implications. If Congress passes Colby. The main focus of this consult­ as to what is going on in the Philip­ Reagan's proposed legislation on ter­ ing was on the effect of economic aus­ pines, not only to serve the interests of rorism, some Philippine opposition terity programs on rural instability. U.S. foreign policy but to hold our- groups in the U.S. might be classified as

Page Six Resist Newsletter February 1985 ''terrorist. , , political spoils. Meanwhile, morale is responsibility over the military unit To many academicians and activists, low among junior officers and colonels most notorious for human rights however, more important than the ac­ relegated to outlying posts where they abuses. tions of one individual were the broad see their careers languishing. The main The next two years will be crucial as questions raised by the issue of scholars split in the military is between Marcos' the strength of the Philippine opposi­ working for the CIA, whether openly former bodyguard Gen. Ver and Lt. tion movement grows and the U.S. or not. Steve Shalom, a political science Gen. Fidel Ramos who replaced Ramos escalates it military commitments to professor who initiated a letter among as acting chief of staff and is seen as Marcos. For the vast majority of Philippine academicians pledging not more of a ''professional.,, In late Filipinos, their opposition movement to consult for the CIA said, "it made November the rift was dramatized holds greater promise after 13 years of me realize that people now feel they can when Ver supporters, in a show of mus­ dictatorship. Yet unless anti-interven­ go back to the world of the 1950s when cle against their acting superior Ramos, tionist, human rights and disarmament one could mention it with pride." mobilized tanks and troops in Manila groups organize around the Philip­ Many believe that this trend of the CIA spawning coup rumors. pines, the following conversation will offering inducements to academia will become all the more common. increase commensurate with U.S. in­ One assistant secretary A few months ago, a Filipino human tervention in the Philippines. rights activist confronted a powerful -Erik Guyvt of defense warned that if congressional aide with local press ac­ the present trends continue counts about uniformed U.S. military Philippines advisors participating in a large ''the balance ofpower could counterinsurgency campaign in his pro­ Continued from page Five favor the insurgents within vince. Instead of denying it, the aid the ''strategic stalemate,,, or rough the next several years. '' justified the presence of "observers" military parity by 1987. The strategic claiming "There's too much at stake stalemate will be marked by NP A oper­ The U.S. seeks to "professionalize" for us to not have a man in the field." ations in large-sized units and the estab­ the Philippine military through increas­ lishment of several guerrilla bases - ed training programs and joint maneu­ Erik Guyot is the Co-Director of the areas off limits to the Philippine vers. Speaking before Congress for a Congressional Liaison Unit of the military. Current NP A operations have doubling in present U.S. training pro­ Philippine Support Committee. For included company-sized units of up to grams Paul Wolfowitz, Assistant more information please write to: 200 men and over 10 guerilla based Secretary of State for East Asian Af­ Philippine Support Committee, 1346 areas have reportedly been established. fairs, summed up U.S. goals: "In this Connecticut Ave. NW, Room 533, U.S. officials are unusually frank in period of change and upheaval in the Washington, De 20036. expressing their concern that the NPA's Philippines, it is more important than •one of the best works on militarization prediction may come true. One assis­ ever that we strengthen the existing and Martial Law is "Militarization: tant secretary of defense warned that if close personal ties with its younger Philippines" by P.N. Abina/es, Na­ the present trends continue "the bal­ military leaders." tionalist Resource Center, 1982, ance of power could favor the in­ Yet the Pentagon must proceed care­ Manila. surgents within the next several years." fully in strengthening these ties without 2Development Debacle: The World Faced with that prospect, the U.S. is exacerbating existing tensions within Bank in the Philippines, Bello, Kinley, looking for ways to insure the survival the military. As one Assistant Secretary Elinson, Institute for Food and Devel­ of the Marcos regime. of Defense candidly stated ''we have opment Policy, 1982, provides one of relayed our concerns to the responsible the most complete case studies of the The U.S. Moves officers ... I talked to some of them but workinf! of the World Bank. The uncomfortable dilemma that I do not want to identify them.,, U.S. policy makers now find them­ In the Pentagon's plans to profes­ selves in is mainly of their own making. sionalize the military, a key actor will The Resist Pledge System For years the U.S. consistently support­ certainly be the West Point trained The most important source of Resist's ed Marcos since he was sole guarantor Ramos. With Ramos in place as -chief income is monthly pledges. Pledges of the U.S. bases and U.S. policy was of staff, Pentagon officials can argue help us plan ahead by guaranteeing us predicated on maintenance of those that the Philippine military is being a minimum monthly income. In turn, bases. Now, however, with Marcos reformed: Ver, the corrupt general pledges receive a monthly reminder let­ perceived as a liability, certain quarters associated with Marcos and implicated ter (in addition to the newsletter) which would prefer to dispose of the liability. in the assassination, was removed and a contains news of recent grants and Yet, due to his control over the professional has been installed. While other Resist activities. So take the military, Marcos has made himself in­ Ramos, a veteran of Vietnam and plunge and become a Resist pledge! dispensible as the linchpin which holds Korea, may have a better image, many Yes, I would like to pledge S the Philippine military together. observers point out that Ramos is a monthly to the work of Resist. The Philippine military is plagued strong loyalist to his second cousin - with poor morale and intense fac­ Marcos - and played a key role in in­ Name ______tionalism. In Manila, so-called stituting Martial Law. Moreover, as Address ______"overstaying generals" long past commander of the Philippine Con­ retirement age, often maneuver for stabulary, Ramos has line command City ___State __Zip ____

#173 Resist Newsletter Page Seven :•.•'.•:•: :· ):j \)}/\i· .)(:

. ....;: .. ::.::.: •• ••.• :·.•.-.::.:: "'..::.-:·... :.:.· .:.:, ..: ,·.. ·,· .··.··..··•·. ::::;::.;::: : .. .. ;;:::::::::

The Nerve Center, 2327 Webster St., achieve them. The constituency of the community organizations and local Berkeley, CA 94705 Center are low-income persons and chapters of national organizations take The Nerve Center, a resource Center families who lack ownership of and/or on the campaigns. Resist's grant went for disarmament organizers and the access to needed resources to control towards the cost of a new com­ general public, focuses on chemical and their own lives and to impact the decis­ puter /word processor which will enable biological warfare. Their work has ions which affect their lives. The special MADRE to reach more people and developed out of a growing awareness foci of the Center are housing, health spend more time out in the field of two facts: first, that chemical and care, and people's rights advocacy. A developing new projects. biological weapons themselves pose a cultural dimension is also fostered direct and increasing threat to the safe­ through art classes, encouragement of Other Recent Grants ty of all people; second, that renewed crafts and celebrative activities. One Blacks Against Nukes, interest in chemical and biological war­ off-shoot of the Center is the Concern­ 3728 N. Hampshire Ave., NW 202, fare may actually make nuclear war ed Citizens of Butchers Hill, Inc., a Washington, DC 20010. more likely. When the group was low-income group of tenants who were Indigenous People's Network, formed in 1982 the Reagan administra­ threatened with displacement from PO Box 384, Rochester, VT 05767. tion was attempting, with its binary their homes in 1977. As a result of the Nuclear XChange,4649 Sunnyside Ave. nerve gas program, to break a long efforts of the Center, they now own Seattle, WA 98103. moratorium on the production of lethal and manage the 10 houses, 31 units in Symphony Tenants Organizing Project, chemical weapons. At the same time, in which they live. Another off-shoot, 58 Burbank St., PO Box 577, the Pentagon, strategists were rewriting Our Neighborhood Effort in Housing, Boston, MA 02123. U.S. military doctrine, evolving new now owns seven houses and consists of Child Care Employee Project, plans which presume the offensive use 30 families. Presently, the Center con­ PO Box 5603, Berkeley, CA 94705. of both chemical and nuclear weapons tinues to work around issues of in any possible future war in Europe. displacement, housing and empower­ ment. Resist's grant went towards the The immediate purpose of the Center is CORRECTION: We neglected to note purchase of a Panasonic video tape to urge the peace and disarmament that the two remarkable photos in the deck that will be used to show locally movement to work actively against last issue of the newsletter are credited produced videos at block meetings in chemical and biological weapons. In to Paul Hutchcroft of the Philippine the neighborhood and will be shared by order to support that aim, they are in­ Support Committee. itiating two projects. One is a special other community groups in the area. nationwide campaign to inform the public about dangers of the binary Madre, 853 Broadway, Rm 905, NY, nerve gas program. The other is publi­ NY 10003 cation of a regular quarterly newsletter Madre is a friendship association be­ covering a much broader range of tween women in the U.S. and women in issues, titled UNMASK. In December Central America and the Caribbean. 1983, they wrote and designed a Madre's purpose is to stop U.S. in­ brochure on the binary program and tervention in Central America and the with assistance from Resist, printed Caribbean by developing an exchange 3,000. Resist's recent grant went between people here and there. It has towards the next issue of UNMASK. established a number of campaigns to that end, and has met with an extraor­ Julie Community Center, 2001 E. dinarily positive response. The pro­ Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21231 grams include one-to-one correspon­ The Julie Community Center is a dence, ''twinning'' of daycare centers, community-based and controlled and major material aid campaigns. The organization in an economically approach provides individuals . and deprived area of Baltimore. Since 1977 organizations with a positive, concrete this area, which is three-fourths of a way to become involved, register con­ mile from Center City Baltimore and its cern and opposition to U.S. interven­ Inner Harbor, has been undergoing tion, and actually participate in an ef­ reinvestment displacement, i.e., the fort which offers real support to those uprooting of low-income residents most affected by the U.S. policies. As from their homes as property values part of its ongoing programmatic rise and professional, middle-income work, MADRE conducts a media cam­ persons are attracted to the neighbor­ paign and has received attention in a hood. The Center's goal is to develop number of major publications as well as strong self-reliant neighborhoods in its on television news and on radio. area by offering the support necessary MADRE has also developed local Back Porch Pilot/cpf for community groups to come togeth­ "Friends of MADRE" groups er to define their needs and to act to throughout the country. In addition,

Page Eight Resist Newsletter February 1985