by political and economic crises.
outcome of the elections is unclear. political turmoil since last try the Marcos regime is US administration desperately trying to bolster up the Marcos government and restore some stability to a regime hard hit fort the US actively promoted elections for a National Assembly which took place on 14 May. The As in El Salvador a major target of the exercise is improving the regime's international image parassassination and the blaAquino's funeral September 500,000 joined the country's largest ever it is expected that well over hal: che population will horce!! the elections.
Since lar! August the opposition has become in. Creasing "Old radical in its demands. Major sectors of even the middle class opposition now openly support the underground left's demands no only for the overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship military bases economic domination.
This shift to the left has been fuelled by the consistent backing Marcos given by the Reagan administration. Aquino and others had hoped to per suade the US to transfe allegiance 10 them. But before, and even since the killing the US Government has made it clear tha cos. He is the only person able to hold together the military and so defend US interests.
In a recent speech to a Manila Dusty club American Ambassador Armacost refered to US private investments worth assured his audience and billion have a large stake in the Vol this country'.
The Americans also have major naval airbases and more than 1500 troops stationed there Since the killing the US has also Marcos ever financia! crisis. devaluations in six months dropped the exchange rate nine pesos pesos per SIUS. December the Philippines defaulted for the first time on even the repayments of its $25 billion foreign debt Yet also in December the World Bank released $350 millions emergenc! loans.
Because of the default on payments the IMF due reschedule repayments and impose a stringent package economic measures. This will almost certainly clude further devaluation. However help regime the package will not be announced until after the May elections.
Through its support for elections the US now hopes to rebuild some of its links with the elite op position and wean them their alliance away with the left. This policy has met with some success some associates of Aquino lo add credibility to the election by running against the government call didates blem for the US posed b the rapid expansion of the revolutionarv forces. The len Peoples Army, has strength in the last years and by the end of 1983 had 16,000 full time guerrillas operating in 45 fronts in 56 out of 73 pro. vinces.
clues revolu tionary underground netalso growing rapiary. un te inausind front economic recession is being met by increased workers militancy. In October 1983 union busting activities and attacks on pickets in a British com. pany (Astec Electronics, a subsidiary Midlands based BSR) led general strike of 14,000 workers in the major Free Trade Zone.
Recently the US has given signs that prepared become 'militarily' involved. The 1983 renegotiated US bases agreement provides for Us troops to engage in military operations even outside the perimeter their bases. Also in 1983 the US Philippine Armed Forces engaged in joint military exercises in volving more than 15,000 troops.
The Philippines National Democratic Front that represents the revolu tionary Torces anu olic. opposition groups have appealed for international solidarity action the discredited Marcos regime particularly by ending the military economic aid which it depends Philippines Support Group write to PSG , BM BOx 758, London WCIN 3XX.
Socialist Action 25 May 1984