PRESIDENT FERDINAND Marcos, for 22 years dictator of the Philippines, power at the very moment we go to press. Last week's disastrous election finally convinced a reluctant administration that risks attendant on holding him there outweighed therisks of ousting him. real credit for his fall guerillas, unions movement.
ne decision has nothing to do with a new-found love tor democracy Indeed, the speed at which the anti-Marcos operation has been put together, and the size of the forces raigned him, demonstrates just easy it would be for the US depose dictators throughout the world who cling to it for support and receive its backing in the name of the war against communism. If the United States pulled the plug on South Africa's racist rulers, they would drown within months.
The US administration realised after the election Marcos no longer hold against the guerillas of the New People's the growing mass, militant opposition assembled such organisations as the KMU (the leading PhilipRATES Inland 6 months £8; 12 months £15 12 mombs only) : £17; Air Mail E24 -render institutions)
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is being driven But the lies with the Philippines anti-imperialist pines trade union) and the National Democrane Front (the Communist Party of the Philippine's mass anti-imperialist front).
Washington ha been • pushing Pointtrained General Ramos, the spearhead of the antiMarcos coup, against Marcos' crony General Ver for the last few years. During the election campaign the fractious Philippines middle business classes united around the figurehead of Corazon Aquino.
Breaking Marcos' carries dangers for US Hally imperialism. He has presided over a low-wage economy of mass misery and grinmultinationals.
Now, only mass repression can hold back the growing revoluonary headed by the CPP. The Socialist Action Subs, PO Box 50, i wav. last Reagan was still urging Comoronse between Marcos Aquino while Reagan's nawks. like Jean Kirkpatrick, wanted hold out against dumping Marcos.
The unparalled scenes surrounding his attempts cling power demonstrate the dangers.
Aquino, who comes from one of the wealthiest families in the Philippines, has already given the USA all the guarantees it has been seeking for its continued economic military dominance. The bases will stav The radical rhetoric about redistribution wealth has been carefully tempered with guarantees for foreign investors. Most significant of she has retracted earlier calls for the repeal of the notorious Amendment Six, a Marcos constitutional device which gives ine presiden sweeping powers to make up detain opponents.
thing, however, seems next to certain: Marcos, once the US's most trusted puppet, is finally, after 22 years of misery for the people of the Philippines, getting push.
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