SUPPORT AND INTERFERENCE - WHAT NOW?

EDSA SILVER ANNIVERSARY

On the 25th February 1986, 25 years ago today President Marcos fled the Philippines. Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos was the tenth President of the Philippines from 3oth December 1965 to 25th February 1986.

In 1965 he began by stating:

" The Filipino, it seems, has lost his soul, his dignity, and his courage. We have come upon a phase in our history when ideals are only a veneer f0r greed and power -in public and private affairs- when devotion to duty and dedication to a public trust are to be weighted at all times against private advantages and personal gain, and when loyalties can be traded…Our government in is the iron grip of venality, its treasury is barren, its resources are wasted, its civil service is slothful and indifferent, its armed forces demoralised and its councils sterile. We are in crisis. You know that the government treasury is empty. Only by severe self denial will there be hope for recovery within the next year." He vowed to fulfill the nation's 'mandate for greatness'. "This nation can be great again. This I have said over and over. It is my articles of faith, and Divine Providence has willed that you and I can now translate this faith into deeds"

Some of those words seem to resonate with stuff we hear today.

Marcos, on the other hand descended into that same grip of venality. In this he was supported by various United States administrations.

His corruption got to the point where he felt himself obliged to declare martial law in 1972, which was not lifted until 1981. In 1973 Marcos commented "It is easier perhaps and more comfortable to look back to the solace of a familiar and mediocre past. But the times are too grave and the stakes too high for us to permit the customary concessions to traditional democratic processes."

Elections or a sort were held in 1981 and he was of course re-elected. At his inauguration in June of that year, the then vice-president George H. W. Bush said:

"We love your adherence to democratic principles and to the democratic process, and we will not leave you in isolation"

Things finally began to turn when it became painfully apparent that Marcos had become so enmeshed in his iron grip of venality that by 1984 even Ronald Reagan began to distance himself from his 'close personal friend'. As U.S. support dwindled and the "People Power" movement grew in strength and numbers, Marcos's days in office were numbered. This People Power Revolution, a.k.a. EDSA Revolution or the Philippine Revolution of 1986, was a series of popular nonviolent protests and prayerful mass street demonstrations that occurred in 1986, which marked the restoration of the country's democracy.

The majority of the demonstrations took place at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, hence the acronym EDSA, in Quezon Cioty, Metropolitain Manila and involved over 2,000,000 Filipino civilians as well as several political, military and religious figures. The protests occurred from 22nd February to the 25th February 1986, when Marcos fled the Malaca

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ang Palace to Hawaii.

Does any of this strike a cord? Look around.

The U.S government and the Reagan administration in particular was involved in yet another countries affairs in the 1980's. Nicaragua. Multi-party elections were held on the 25th February 1990, which saw the defeat of the Sandinistas (under Daniel Ortega) by a coalition of anti-Sandinista (supposed from the left and right of the political spectrum) parties led by Violeta Chamorro, the widow of Pedro Joaquin Chamorro.

Violeta Chamorro -first (and so far only) female president elected in the Americas

She was in office for 6 years. Her election was heavily supported by the United States. She was succeeded by another US supported candidate Arnoldo Aleman, who was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 20 years for embezzlement, money laundering and corruption. These charges were brought by Enrique Bolaños who won the 2001 elections. The Sandinistas, longtime foes of the U.S., alleged that their support for Bolaños was lost when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told Bolaños to keep his distance from the FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front).

Legislative and presidential elections took place on 5th November 2006 and Daniel Ortega was returned to the Presidency with 37.99% of the vote. The percentage was enough to win the presidency outright, due to a change in electoral law which lowered the percentage requiring a runoff election from 45% to 35%, with a 5% margin of victory.

So, what price support and interference. In the long run Ortega is back. The electorate has spoken.

There are a number of People Power Revolutions taking place at present. Good luck keeping it together without support and interference from abroad. Mind you 1,000,000 people demonstrating in London did not prevent Tony Blair from acting up in Iraq, but of course he had the support on the United States.