GROUPS AND personalities that figured prominently in the popular
revolt from January 16 to 20 in 2001 that unseated then-president
Joseph Estrada and installed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in his place
say they still have to see the changes they had hoped for two years
ago.
According to cause-oriented groups and noted nationalists that gathered
at a forum last Friday marking the second anniversary of People Power
2, the administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has pursued polices
that go against the country’s interests and welfare. They are
particularly incensed by the increased involvement of the United States
in the country’s internal affairs.
Not even President Arroyo’s declaration she has foregone running
for reelection in 2004 in order to be free from political baggage
as she pursues "positive actions" in the18 months she has
left in office, could revive the hopes of her former allies that things
will improve under her leadership.
"We haven’t seen any so far. We are waiting," said
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo in his opening statement at the gathering
in the Shalom Center in Malate, Manila that drew participants from
sectoral groups.
Among
the known figures who attended were Vice-President Teofisto Guingona,
former Senator Wigberto Tañada, Pastor ‘Boy’ Saycon
of the Council for Philippine Affairs (Copa), and Bayan Muna Rep.
Crispin Beltran.
The forum participants’ negative appraisal of the Arroyo government
did not come as a surprise since most of the groups that attended
have had serious policy differences with the President.
Broad Alliance
Bayan Muna and its allied organizations under the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (Bayan) were known during the oust-Estrada campaign as the
Erap Resign Movement. Copa, now one of Arroyo’s staunchest critics,
was a former member of the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kompil)
2. They were members of a broad anti-Estrada alliance that included
civil society groups representing the entire political spectrum from
right to moderate to far left.
As a senator in 2000, it was Guingona who delivered the famous "I
accuse" speech on the floor of the Senate where he charged then-president
Estrada with being a gambling lord. That speech was a crucial turning
point in the campaign in Congress and among civil society groups to
oust Estrada, which led to his removal from office on January 20,
2001.
Guingona was appointed by President Arroyo to be her Vice-President
and foreign secretary, but resigned from the foreign affairs post
due to differences with the President on foreign policy, particularly
vis-à-vis the US military involvement in the country.
‘Dismally Short of People’s Expectations’
Satur Ocampo, who led Bayan’s involvement in People
Power 2, said that the Arroyo administration, which is the "prime
beneficiary" of People Power 2, "has dismally fallen short
of the people’s expectations" for its failure to improve
the country’s economic, social and political conditions.
The
President and her former allies in the civil society locked horns
on the issue of US military troops in the country through joint military
exercises, which Arroyo pushed for in spite of allegations by the
latter that such exercises violate the Constitution.
Other thorny issues are the President’s unequivocal support
of the US-initiated global war against terror and the "terrorist"
tag placed by the Philippine and US governments and the European Union
(EU) on the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Arroyo’s relationship with her former allies went from bad
to worse with the signing of the controversial Mutual Logistics and
Support Agreement (MLSA) late last year, which, critics say, give
semi-basing rights to the US military on Philippine soil.
‘Obedient, submissive, subservient’ to the US
At the gathering, former senator Wigberto Tañada
noted that in spite of the abrogation the treaty allowing the US to
keep bases in the country, the government continues to be "too
obedient …submissive…subservient" to the US, and
"powerless in rejecting or turning down impositions on us even
if they are against the nation’s interests."
"It is hard to understand why such mentality still exists in
the minds of the people, especially our leaders in the present administration,"
he said, stressing that while it is natural for the US to protect
its interests, "It is but natural for us to protect our own."
"Have we not learned any lesson at all?" Tañada
asked, pointing out that the US bases were kicked out of the country
in 1991 because they constituted "an affront to national dignity
and a threat to national survival."
Tañada
shared the contents of a letter dated Dec. 23, 2002 from former Senate
President Jovito Salonga asking foreign affairs secretary Blas Ople
to request the US government, through the US ambassador Francis Ricciardone,
to "reduce into writing" the verbal disclaimers by the US
ambassador to the media that the US has no interest in putting up
bases in the country.
Salonga quoted media reports quoting Ricciardone on November 2002
saying, "We don’t want the bases. We don’t need them
and the MLSA has nothing to do with them."
Verbal disclaimers not binding
In the letter, Salonga said that while the disclaimers "are
important to the nation", these verbal disclaimers "are
not binding on the US government, especially and doubly so if they
are merely reported by the media." Ople, however, has not answered
the letter, Tañada said, quoting Salonga.
Salonga expressed concern in light of "mounting criticisms"
of the country’s "dependency and neo-colonialist status",
and of the looming possibility of a US-led, pre-emptive war against
Iraq.
The silence of Ople, observed Tañada, implies how "in
the issue of our relationship with the US, we don’t see political
will to uphold and protect the interests of the nation".
Prayer is the answer
Guingona, who has maintained a position against the MLSA, said he
is opposed to the use of the country in the US war in Iraq through
the MLSA. "I oppose the war against Iraq," Guingona said,
which drew applause, as he noted the danger it poses to the Iraqi
people and the country’s overseas Filipino workers
He observed, however, "But I know that what I say alone will
not change the situation. Neither will international debate alone."
The solution in sight he said is prayer, as he called on both Christians
and Muslims to come together for a day of prayer for peace in the
country, Iraq and the Middle East. "Only God’s intervening
hand can hold back the pitbulls and bullies of war and prevent the
hounds of terrorism from being unleashed."
People’s Platform for Unity and Genuine Change
A six-point unity agenda dubbed "People’s Platform for
Unity and Genuine Change" was pushed by the participants, who
noted that the President’s pronouncement that she is not running
again is "not enough" to end the politicking of politicians
and alleviate the country’s dire state.
The agenda is directed "towards an overhaul of national policies,
social structures and values that have hindered our development for
the past decades." It consists of the following:
First, implement immediate measures for economic relief and consumer
protection through the abolition of the purchase purchased adjustment
(PPA) and "other onerous impositions" on consumers; increase
of wages of rank and file and government employees; and rollback of
prices of basic services and public utilities such as electricity,
oil and petroleum products.
Second, review and reverse globalization policies unfavorable to
national interest, which covers reverse, suspension and review of
1) tariff cut implementation under the Asian Free Trade Alliance 2)
the country’s commitment to the World Trade Organization and
3) privatization, liberalization and deregulation policies.
Third, oppose "all plans to amend the Constitution" through
a constituent assembly which could result in the removal of the charter’s
"remaining nationalist and democratic provisions."
Fourth, pursue all cases of graft and corruption cases in the former
and present administrations with no compromises. On this, Carol Araullo
of Plunder Watch noted that it looks like "there is no more political
will to convict Estrada", as she observed how people in government
"talk over and over about how they can ‘put this matter
of his sins behind us’ and ‘heal our differences’."
Fifth, assert national sovereignty and oppose US involvement in the
country through the MLSA, the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting
Forces Agreement, and the impending war on Iraq.
Sixth, putting an end to terrorist labeling of revolutionary organizations
and revive formal peace talks with the communist rebels and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front.
"It is on these bases that national unity and genuine change
may finally begin to be forged," the agenda said.
Copa’s Boy Saycon took a jab at the President’s "call
for national unity," by pointing to the phalanx of military and
police that have been deployed at the EDSA Shrine. They have put barbed
wire around the area supposedly as a safeguard against pro-Estrada
rallyists.
"It’s been happening for two years now," Saycon said.
"I thought they want to bring people closer to the government
but it seems the walls are even raised higher." (CyberDyaryo)
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