Date: Thu, 7 Feb 91 00:23:30 CST Subject: fascism on the rise in Philippines To: Multiple recipients of list ACTIV-L ------------------------------------------------------------------ /** reg.philippines: 173.0 **/ ** Topic: PHILIPPINES FACES DEEP CRISIS ** ** Written 10:20 am Feb 7, 1991 by peg:tribune in cdp:reg.philippines ** ------------------------------------------------------------------ Philippines facing its worst economic crisis by Peter Murphy The Aquino government is so buffeted by economic, military and political crisis that profound change must come soon to the Philippines. It is facing its worst economic crisis since World War II. That was the message given by Diego Quejada, international secretary of the Philippines Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), during his recent visit to Australia for the Australian Teachers Union annual conference. "There is corruption so blatant that even we Filipinos are shocked," Quehada said. "There is rising fascist-style control in the cities and the countryside with checkpoints and arrest without warrant coming back for the first time since Marcos. Hoarding by profiteering wholesalers is rampant. Prices rise daily, not monthly." President Corazon Aquino has three basic options, Quehada argued: to work with Defence Secretary Fidel Ramos to keep the coup-prone army under control while using patronage to build her governing coalition and maintain its war against the legal and illegal Left movement; to open a serious dialogue with the illegal National Democratic Front, an option which has been tentaively explored; or to opt for outright fascist rule by Ramos and a civilian/military junta. Recent repression against the main trade union centre, KMU, and the ACT, as well as a wave of murders in the countryside, strongly indicates that the third option is being developed. The KMU, within the framework of a new broad grouping called People's Caucus, launched general strikes in October and November 1990 to protest against two oil price hikes. At the November 16 rallies for a 25 peso/day wage increase, 1000 workers were arrested in Manila and another 1,000 in Southern Tagalog. Even Cardinal Sin, a staunch Aquino supporter, came out in support of the 25 peso demand. The retiring Army Chief of Staff, General De Villa, called for the banning of KMU<. The government had carried out the September 25 IMF memorandum which said that $550 million in earthquake relief and $715 million in IMF, World Bank and Japan Export-Import Bank loans would be withheld until the government devalued the peso, increased electricity and oil prices, tightened the money supply, increased taxes, cut government spending and liberalised imports and foreign investment. One US dollar now buys 28 pesos. Filipino teachers are poorly paid, taking home P3,100 (A$155) per month when the poverty line for a household of six is P6,000 (A$300). The government had already refused to pay them minimum wage increases won in 1989 so the 17,000 Manila teachers went on strike in September. The demands were for backpay owed, an increase to P5,000 (A$250) per month and for less government payments for the US$30 billion overseas debt. The new hardline approach was felt by the teachers for the first time. They were forced to call off the strike after three months without making gains. Instead 884 of their most active members were sacked and a further 2,000 were suspended. The ACT has unsuccessfully taken action against this discipline through the courts and is now going to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The KMU has also appealed to the ILO over the threat of banning and the murder of union activists. ** End of text from cdp:reg.philippines **