1 50 1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fenkell Family collection Text A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. View/Download File(s) Link to download files <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MY_SP8gHJOElcG13AzExPmna4KzUf64I?usp=sharing">JPG Images</a> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eVNcA9ljM50H302belg98M5H1a_5FX4g/view?usp=sharing">PDF</a> Document Text Document text TALIBA (News Flash/ Commentary ) A Publication of the COALITION AGAINST THE MARCOS DICTATORSHIP (formerly the Anti-Martial Law Coalition-Philippines, AMLC) Volume VI, Number 1 January, 1982 FREE US-RP Extradition Treaty CIVIL LIBERTIES OF U.S. FILIPINOS IN DANGER LET'S EXTRADITE THOSE MS. - BASED REBELS AND LET THEM VOICE THEIR COMPLAINTS IN MY FACE . Filipinos in the United States are faced with an imme- the power to determine whether an act is political or diate danger. The Marcos government and the Reagan not. As everyone knows, Marcos can have a heyday with this administration are preparing the ground for an extradition provision alone! process which will enable the dictatorship to retaliate Even if ratified, the treaty can not be immediately against its critics here. Extradition is a process by which a implemented because some of its provisions contradict the person in another country is arrested and sent to the present U.S. Extradition law. However, Marcos' friends are requesting country to face trial. Once in operation, this coming to the rescue. The State Department is working with extradition process could inhibit the free expression of Congress conservatives such as Sen. Strom Thurmond to political beliefs in the Filipino community here. It could change this law so that it can accomodate the US-RP mean the legalized extension of martial rule to the communi- treaty and others like it. There are now bills (HR 5227; SB ty in the U.S. 1639) prepared by the State Department and its allies pending in Congress which if passed will transfer the power REPRESSION BY EXTRADITION to determine whether a crime is political or not, from the The US-RP Extradition Treaty now awaiting ratification in courts to the Secretary of State. In addition, if the bills the Senate will make it possible for Marcos to ask for the become law. a person accused of an extraditable crime can extradition of Filipino and U.S. citizens deemed to have be immediately jailed for up to 60 days-at the mere committed acts that are considered crimes by both the request of a foreign government! Philippines and the U.S. These include crimes which are not listed in the treaty and which the two governments may even FM ITCHING FOR EXTRADITION have different names for. Also. a person who may not even Yet Marcos has not even waited for the treaty to be have set foot in the Philippines could be extradited if ratified to begin extradition proceedings against U.S. based charged with conspiracy, for example. In extradition procee- opponents. On Jan. 5, Marcos issued arrest warrants for 40 dings, hearsay is accepted evidence. The US-RP treaty persons many of whom are living in the U.S. (Bulletin supposedly excludes political crimes from extradition. Today, 1/6/82). The list includes Benigno Aquino, MFP's But it allows the Executive Branches of both countries Raul Manglapus. Steve Psinakis and CAMD's Rene Cruz. The wanted persons are accused of terrorist bombings FILIPINO COMMUNITY MUST RESIST and/or being members of "subversive groups". Manila The impact of the extradition treaty on the Filipino announced that the extradition of the U.S. residents will community is clear. It is not enough that the Consulates are begin as soon as the treaty is ratified, and of course, as soon already functioning as spy networks in the community-the as the U.S. extradition law is changed. Clearly, with the treaty calls on U.S. state agencies to descend on politically treaty Marcos is not so much interested in going after active Filipinos at the request of the Marcos regime. Just the businessman who are running away from debts, but after his thought of being investigated by the FBI for possible political opponents. extradition is already traumatic for most people. The treaty How did Marcos determine who should be extradited? will strengthen Marcos' capacity to intimidate the commu- With the direct assistance of Sec. Haig who helped arrange nity into silence. Already politically timid, the community the current Grand Jury and FBI investigations of the will be further discouraged from exercising their democratic Psinakises in connection with the Manila bombings. He had rights here. The negative effect of this will be felt not only in other equally appaling assistance as well. To prove that Phil.-related political activities but even in the struggle others who may not be linked to the bombings are "subver- against discrimination. sives" nonetheless, Marcos used the testimony of LA The CAMD is not going to stand by and let the Reagan- Consul Armando Fernandez. The consul admitted in a Marcos assault bulldoze the community's democratic rights Manila court that part of his job is to spy on community without a fight. It has launched the National Committee in activities here. The subversive group he says, includes the Opposition to the US-RP Extradition Treaty which KDP, AMLC (now CAMD), and the MFP. He reported that includes many Filipino community leaders as well as well- their "subversive activities" include demonstrations, the respected scholars and personalities such as Richard Falk, distribution of literature critical of the regime, fundraising Professor of International Law at Princeton, Nobel laureate for anti-Marcos groups back home and "festivals called George Wald and actor Edward Asner, president of the Philippine National Day." The grim message then is, even Screen Actors Guild. The Committee is asking everyone to for constitutionally protected activities that Fernandez write letters to the Senate opposing the extradition treaty reported, one can be the target of extradition. and the proposed changes in the extradition law (see addresses below). Even if the treaty pushes through, the IT'S PART OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY CAMD will fight every attempt by Reagan and Marcos to Why is the Reagan administration cooperating in the use it for political ends. importation of martial rule to the U.S. Filipino community? The CAMD is calling on all Filipinos to defend their It fits in very nicely with his own foreign policy. When he democratic rights by exercising them. Consulate spies must declared war on "international terrorism" he did not mean be exposed, isolated and ostracized. All attempts by US war with Marcos, Chile's Pinochet, S. Korea's Chun, Haiti's agencies to harass people for their political beliefs must be Duvalier or El Salvador's Duarte who are all protecting U.S. made public. The extradition treaty must be defeated. The interests in their respective countries. Reagan meant war CAMD has always said that U.S. Filipinos are very much a on their opponents, whose resistance to dictatorial rule is part of the fight for freedom in the homeland. The Marcos- now being painted with the broad brush of "terrorism". Reagan attempt to muzzle the community is driving home Resistance to America's dictator friends, under Reagan's this very point. The Filipino community must show that it foreign policy, is now being called a crime-not a political has no intention of abandoning the people back home. It act. No wonder Sec. of State Alexander Haig supported the must staunchly oppose the US-RP Extradition Treaty and proposed changes in the extradition law by telling Congress Reagan's unjust foreign policy. that these changes are crucial if the U.S. is to be able to honor its "international obligations." Filipinos are not the only victims of this foreign policy. Already, Salvadoran and Haitian refugees are being deported DOWN with the MARCOS DICTATORSHIP: back to certain persecution and even death. The recently STOP U.S. AID! imprisoned U.S.-based anti-Duvalier rebels will be facing STOP REAGAN'S SUPPORT FOR MARCOS! extradition. Meanwhile, the "friendly" anti-Castro terrorists who are openly training in Florida are left untouched. Reagan is also reviewing other extradition treaties "to modernize" them, which means the democratic rights of many more communities are going to be undermined. Oppose House Bill 5227 Oppose the Ratification of the US-RP Extradition Write to: Treaty House Judiciary Committee Write to: Sub-Committee on Crime Senate Foreign Relations Committee c/o Cong. William Hughes c/o Sen. Charles Percy U.S. Congress U.S. Congress Washington.D.C. 20501 Washington. D.C. 20501 IPASA PAGKABASA PASS ON TO A FRIEND COALITION AGAINST THE Contact your Local CAMD: MARCOS DICTATORSHIP (CAMD) (formerly AMLA) COALITION AGAINST THE Geline Avila MARCOS DICTATORSHIP Walden Bello SACRAMENTO CHAPTER National Co-coordinators P. O. Box 173 2108 57 TH AVENUE Oakland, CA 94668 SACRAMENTO, CA 95822 (916) 428- 7856 TALIBA (News Flash/Commentary ) JANUARY 1984 A Publication of the COALITION AGAINST THE MARCOS DICTATORSHIP (formerly the Anti-Martial Law Coalition-Philippines, AMLC) 454-5263 PLEBI - CHEAT PLEBWISIT JANUARY 27 PLEBISCITE: FIRST STEP thereby increasing the number of IN A GRAND U. S. -MARCOS MANEUVER. .. seats available (to entice larger rural participation in the plebis- The Filipino people need another cite ; the exercise is also supposed to increase the size of public plebiscite like a hole in the head, but lands available for "land reform"). for the Reagan administration, the Janu- Clearly the centerpiece of ary27 plebiscite marks the first step in the "normalization plan" is the the U. S. maneuver to maintain its grip on IBP. It is the key mechanism for the Philippines now that the political a smooth and credible succession strength of its faithful ally-Marcos- is from now until 1987. Its Speaker rapidly deteriorating. is to preside over the transition The dictator has not been able to from a discredited U. S. ally to a wash his hands of Aquino's blood. The pop- new set of U.S. allies. The IBP ular clamor for his resignation is piercing must, therefore, be deodorized and his ears. On top of this, the bottom has cleansed of its image as a Marcos fallen out of the economy. Marcos is trap- rubberstamp . ped. His political isolation has become With "clean elections" on May irreversible. 14th, meaning an increase in the Seeing that their ally has become a number of opposition seats from the liability, Marcos' U.S. sponsors are not measly 12 that exist now, the U.S. wasting any time embarking on a "normal- hopes to rid the IBP from the Marco ization plan" to ease the situation as well regime's pervasive stink. With a as to assure the continuity of their domin- new and "clean" image for the IBP ant influence on Philippine affairs. With Marcos ill and lacking any credibility, the US hopes to keep the restive they must secure a suitable guardian of U. S. Filipino public at bay. It could interests in the country. How can the mass give Marcos a few more years in protests be neutralized? Who will protect power or the opportunity for Marcos the U. S. bases? These are the concerns pre- to gracefully "retire" should the occupying the U. S. White House with regard heated protests persist. to the Philippine situation. MARCOS GRANTS HOLLOW CONCESSIONS - - BEGRUDGINGLY "DEODORIZED" IBP AS A MECHANISM At first, Marcos balked at these FOR TRANSITION "political reforms" suggested by Washington, intent as he was on des- In their view, the scheduled May elec- ignating Imelda as his successor an tions to the Interim National Assembly (IBP) on monopolizing political power at may be the answer. The May election could all costs . But through "silent di- give the appearance of the restoration of plomacy", Washington put on the pres democratic processes and at the same time, sure , even sending Reagan's hatchet put into place a key mechanism for an order men, John Monjo , General Vernon ly succession from Marcos to a new set of Walters, and ominously, former CIA U. S. -backed beaurocrats. Washington hopes coup expert Col. Edward Lansdale that the process would pacify a population to Malacanang. clamoring for an end to Marcos' one man US Ambassador, Michael Arma- rule . cost, has been busy giving warning The January 27th plebiscite is meant signals to Marcos to toe the US to give a "legal blessing" to the ground- line. As well, Armacost has been works necessary for a credible election in busy meeting opposition leaders in May. It is supposed to amend Marcos' con- his Forbes Park backyard, trying stitution abolishing the Executive Commit- convince them to cooperate with tee for succession and re- instituting in- the US normalization scenario. stead, the Vice-Presidency in 1987. Mean- Without too many options left, while, should Marcos die or become incapac- Marcos has decided to go along- itated before 1987, the IBP Speaker is sup- he cannot risk increasing the dis posed to take over, convene a caretaker pleasure of his US godfather d government, and call for elections in 60 these times . Begrudgingly, he days. The plebiscite is also supposed to offerthe above mentioned co. call for representation to the IBP from its sions to the legal oppositi regional character to a provincial one, betraying the hollowness of t. concessions, he quickly announced his intentions to secure sweeping electoral refuse to man the polls or again be victories for his KBL party. He has coerced into becoming the regime's in- even gone so far as to predict that only strumentsfor defrauding the people. 20-30 IBP seats will to to the opposition. MODERATE OPPOSITION VACILLATES AGAIN Despite the strong wave of sentiments FILIPINOS TIRED OF for a boycott, some of the traditional ELECTORAL "PALABAS" opposition are still wafflict have But concession or no concession, ill-concieved hopes for the coming the Filipino people cannot be pursuaded election. that his next visit to the polls will be Salvador Laurel's United Nationalist any different from the last ones. Democratic Organization (UNIDO) is giv- They know they don't need any ing "democracy one last try". As if Pleb-bwisit to amend the 1973 constitu- there is any real democracy in being tion cooked up by Marcos, and that what part of a rubberstamp body . Laurel has they need is to junk that charter alto- warned that a boycott will bring the gether. country "a step closer to violent con- Neither are they fooled with elec- frontation", as if the regime is not tions held under the tight reins of the violent enough and as if another elec- repressive U. S. -Marcos alliance. They . tion will minimize the violence that know that this coming electoral farce has already bloodied the doorstep of is only meant to paint a new layer of the legal opposition. cosmetics on the hated face of the regime. The Nationalista Party, the Liberal As for the IBP, there is the joke Party, and PDP, LABAN have thrown their that it does not say yes to Marcos all hats in the ring, despite the fact that the time; it also says no - when Marcos some of their own prominent peers, like says no. No amount of laundering will Senator Jovito Salonga and former Pres- wash away IBP's rubberstamp image , for ident Diosdado Macapagal, have tagged the very existence of this body depends this election as another attempt to largely on Marcos' own arbitrary powers. legitimize the regime. BOYCOTT SPOILS US-MARCOS MANEUVER OUR ROLE TO EXPOSE MANIPULATION The organized opposition in the The growing boycott movement is a Philippines is quick to show that it can- concrete expression of the Filipino not be fooled by the US-Marcos maneuver. people's rejection of the new US- To Washington's dismay, the movement to Marcos "normalization plan", No amount boycott the plebiscite and the May elec- of sugarcoating will cover up the US' tion is already gaining momentum. real motive. No amount of cosmetics can Demanding no less than dismantling beautify the bloated face of a regime the US-Marcos dictatorship, the National sinking in a terminal crisis. Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democ- We, Filipinos in the US and Canada, racy is exposing the coming elections as must continue to be vigilant to not one more deception aimed at legitimizing fall for the media hype which has al- an illegal government and an illigitimate ready begun to surround the plebiscite constitution. and the IBP election. We must frustrate An official of the Alliance, Father the renewed attempts of the Reagan Joe Dizon states "the people do not administration to convince world opin- need the Batasang, only the regime ion that these electoral exercises needs it." will bring the Filipino peoples' lives The prestigious Catholic Bishops "back to normal" or that they consti- Conference of the Philippines issued tute the first steps toward "demo- a statement approving the peoples' cratization." "moral right" to join the boycott. It is by consistently supporting The National Priests and Religious the real demands of the Filipino Union and the Concerned priests of people that we can contribute our Manila have endorsed the boycott. So share in their struggle for real have Kaakbay, a nationalist grouping democracy. Marcos and his one-man led by Jose Diokno, and the Justice laws must go. Political freedoms for Aquino, Justice for All Movement must be genuinely restored. Polit- (JAJAM) led by Lorenzo Tanada, which ical prisoners must be released. U.S. sprang out of the frenzied events interference in Philippine internal following the Aquino assassination. affairs must end. By a majority vote of 2, 000 dele- The plebiscite is meaningless. gates, the Congreso Ng Mamamayang The May election --a deception. Pilipino (CONPIL) decided to boycott * SUPPORT THE BOYCOTT unless Marcos satisfies five impor- Write your families and friends tant requirements, including the re- back home to support the boycott peal of his power to issue decrees and *DEMAND A STOP US AID and BASE to detain anyone indefinitely without RENTAL PAYMENTS TO THE REGIME trial. Write to your representatives CONPIL's chairman, Agapito Aquino, in the US Congress. brother of the slain senator, boasts of having members "as far right as COALITION AGAINST THE LOCAL CAMD / PSN : Cardinal Sin and as far left as Jose MARCOS DICTATORSHIP/ Maria Sison." PHILIPPINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK Sectoral organizations have joined LIZ FENKELL NATIONAL OFFICE the boycott movement: Progressive PO. BOX 17:3 COORDINATOR Labor Federation, Kilusang Mayo Uno , KMU, OAKLAND , CALIF. 94668 454-5243 GELINE AVILA and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, NATIONAL COORDINATOR info on educationals , video materials , housemeetings who have declared that teachers will TALIBA (News Flash/Commentary ) A Publication of the Anti-Martial Law Coalition (Philippines) VOLUME 3, Number 2 FEBRUARY-MARCH 1979 FREE Carter to Host Philippine Dictator- MARCOS SCHEDULES U.S. VISIT Two recent events leave no doubt as to the character of the Philippine martial law regime on the one hand and the substance of the human rights foreign policy of the Carter Administration on the other. On February 1, Agence France Presse reported that Philippine dictator Marcos is scheduled to visit the U.S. sometime in late February or early March upon the invitation of President Carter. This report was followed by a State Department report dated February 8, admitting that the Marcos regime uses torture, even murder, in dealing with dissidents to its unpopular rule. against the widespread opposition to the martial law government. For his part, the dictator can now breathe easier with this assurance of continued U.S. support for his one-man rule. He has now shamelessly dropped all nationalist posturing laying bare for the whole world to see, his unmistakeable dependence to the U.S. Among his heinous crimes against the Filipino people will now count the selling of Philippine sovereignty in exchange for the dubious privilege of flying a Philippine flag over the bases and having a Filipino commander whose only duty will be to "command" that portion of the bases where there are no military facilities. Hand in hand with these "paper changes," the dictator is now prattling about returning the country back to normalcy. It has for instance dangled the promise of local elections to a population that is understandably cynical about any "democratic processes" under a regime that has continuously attempted to legitimize itself in five referenda and one national election through the twin use of fraud and armed force. The planned visit to the U.S. is no doubt meant to cap Both reports are significant. While the revelation of the this normalization scheme by making the Filipino people regime's human rights record comes as no big surprise to and the American people believe that things are indeed many since the Marcos dictatorship has long been back to normal. denounced by human rights watchdog agencies such as But it will take more than a dinner at the White House Amnesty International, International Commission of to disguise the fascist character of the Marcos regime. No Jurists, what is more revealing is the fact that its sordid talk of normalization can hide the fact that under this record has in no way discouraged that purported human bankrupt dictatorship, close to one million Filipinos have rights advocate, the Carter Administration, from extend- been turned into refugees by its brutal military campaigns ing an invitation to the Philippine dictator. and no less inhuman economic policies that place foreign The State Department while neither confirming nor investment over the needs of the Filipino people. Being denying the report can only lamely say that the visit is not hosted by Jimmy Carter will not add any shine to its an official state visit, but a "private" one. Nonetheless, tarnished image as a gross violator of human rights, a they did admit that a reception is being planned for the regime that solves the problem of political prisoners by dictator by the White House. the simple expedient of not taking any political prisoners This stance of officially keeping at arm's length the - alive. brutal dictatorship while objectively supporting it, is The Filipino people and all progressive people of this typical of the Carter Administration's hypocritical foreign country must give this dictator the reception he deserves. policy. While making loud pronouncements about human We must teach this dictator that wherever he goes, he has rights as the cornerstone of its foreign policy, in the same to account for his crimes against the Filipino people. breath it concludes an agreement with the repressive Likewise, we must teach Jimmy Carter that his pious dictator which in essence extends its lifeline for the next preachings about human rights has long been exposed as five years. In the beginning of this year, President Carter all hot air and no muscle. We must expose the dictator and President Marcos announced an executive agreement Marcos and Jimmy Carter as the biggest "human rights regarding the U.S. bases in the Philippines which masqueraders" of our time. _ provides for over $1 billion compensation to the Marcos DOWN WITH THE U.S. - MARCOS DICTATORSHIP ! ! ! regime. This financial commitment (which cleverly took STOP U.S. AID TO THE MARCOS REGIME! ! ! the form of an executive agreement thus skirting any discussion of this controversial issue in the U.S. Congress ANTI-MARTIAL LAW ALLIANCE (AMLA) where it was expected to meet staunch opposition) is thinly disguised U.S. aid to the isolated regime whose Sacramento AMLA Center existence would otherwise be in jeopardy. The new 2108 - 57th Avenue agreement is also ominous because it increases the Sacramento, CA 95822 likelihood of direct U.S. military intervention in the Philippine internal affairs by providing legal justification (916) 428-7856 or (916) 966-5698 for U.S. participation in counterinsurgency operations TALIBA (News Flash/Commentary ) A Publication of the Anti-Martial Law Coalition (Philippines) VOL. 3, NO. 3 APRIL 1979 FREE AMLC Pressure Succeeds- Marcos Cancels U.S. Visit in Fear of Protests President Marcos' planned state visit coincided with the recently concluded U.S.-R.P. Military Bases Agreement signed in January, 1979. Under the guise of "bases rental" for such facilities as Subic Naval Base (right), Marcos received a 150% increase ($500 million for the (picture credit; Harvard Magazine) next five years) in U.S. aid, plus $1 billion in economic aid. Aerial view of Subic Naval Base in Olongapo, Zambales Province, Philippines. Recent issues of rabid pro-Marcos newspapers Aside from the horse's mouth, so to speak, the such as Filipino Reporter and the Bataan News other reliable sources of AMLC include: (based in Stockton, Calif.) have accused the Agence France Presse in its Jan. Ist news release anti-martial law movement, the Anti-Martial Law reported that Marcos was coming in early March. Coalition in particular, of spreading "rumors" and Last Feb. 22, a member of the Congress engaging in idle speculation with regards to the Education Project (CEP, an organization based in Marcos state visit to Washington, D.C., originally Washington, D.C.), called an aide of Hal Brooke projected to be in March. A look at the facts, (Undersecretary of State) whose response was however, will show that this is not the case. In fact 'maybe, but not official." it is the Marcos-controlled media itself which was On March 1, CEP also called Rep. Lester Wolf's the first to trumpet Marcos' upcoming visit by aide who confirmed that Marcos was coming floating trial balloons. Teodora Valencia, well- mid-March to late March to "appeal to the known for his his "close ties" with the Philippine business community." (By this, we assume for dictator (like mouthing the dictator's line on all further penetration of U.S. investment in the issues without fail) raised in a February issue of Philippines.) the Filipino Reporter that, "It's about time Marcos Several calls were also placed to the State comes to the U.S." Another publication, the Department by congresspeople nationwide, upon ASIAWEEK, also well-known for having close ties the prodding of anti-martial law alliances who sent to Malacanang, in its Feb. 23, 1979 issue wrote : delegates to their representatives and senators. "When would Marcos go? A presidential aide told The State Department at various times confirmed ASIA WEEK's Antonio Lopez that his boss "has a. the visit ("It's a private visit.") and, not standing invitation from Carter . . . Official unexpectedly tried to remain vague about the sources intimated that the date would be either in whole affair. spring or summer, "that is, sometime between As the above information shows, contrary to March and August. Insiders, however, are betting what the pro-Marcos papers want us to believe, on next month. . these are hard facts not based on "rumors" nor Continued TALIBA (News Flash/Commentary ) A Publication of the Anti-Martial Law Coalition (Philippines) VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1 JANUARY 1979 FREE FILIPINO PEOPLE DEMAND: "U.S. BASES OUT OF R.P." PAWALAN BIS US-RF MILITARY BAS EEMENT The Filipino people have repeatedly demanded the removal of U.S. bases from Philippine soil. On New Year's Day, 1979, President Jimmy Carter fully exposed the hypocrisy of his well-publicized concern for human rights along with his pretense of mild disapproval for the regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos of the Philippines. On that day, Carter and Marcos announced the conclusion of several years negotiations over U.S. bases in the Philippines. Proudly they revealed that the governments of the two countries had arrived at an "Executive Agreement" concerning the bases. Key points of this agreement involve the payment of $500 million in "compensation" to the Marcos government over the next five years and certain superficial changes billed as increased Philippine control over the bases. The agreement reveals the undeniable collusion $475 million is pure military aid to the Marcos regime. between Carter and Marcos - two cronies who, for over For the next three years, the agreement mandates a full a year, have performed a sometimes convincing act of $125 million per year as "compensation" in addition to mutual dislike. the $37 million which is part of the regular U.S. military Deception runs through every aspect of the new assistance to the Philippines. This will bring U.S. "Excecutive Agreement." Major changes have been military assistance to the repressive Marcos regime up to made in the 1947 Bases Treaty. Chief among these is the $162 million, over four times the current figure. payment of rent - which has been innocently labeled But why have the negotiators been forced to adopt 'compensation" - to the Marcos government. Yet in such patently undemocratic and deceptive tactics to spite of what is actually a treaty renegotiation, the Carter achieve their goals and to tack on to their agreement a Administration has carefully labeled the outcome not a series of measures which are supposedly designed to new "treaty," but an "Executive Agreement." insure a measure of Philippine control over the bases? This seemingly trifling difference is tremendously The answer lies in the unpopularity of the Marcos important. A new treaty must be approved by the U.S. dictatorship both in the Philippines and the United Senate and be opened for discussion by the American States. The repressive character of this faithful U.S. ally people. An Executive Agreement is exactly what it has made it both thoroughly hated at home and says - an agreement between two heads of state. In one extremely controversial in the United States. A new careful choice of terms, the Carter-Marcos team has treaty with the Philippine dictator would have stirred up managed to avoid public discussion on a highly a debate which might have proven uncomfortable for controversial issue - whether the bases should remain in both heads of state. the Philippines at all, bypass the role of Congress in The new "Agreement" claims that, through a series approving major foreign policy decisions, and narrow the of cosmetic moves, Philippine control over the issue to a simple matter of Congressional approval over a bases has been increased. Filipino base commanders budget appropriation. Brilliant! are to be installed and each base will fly the Even the terms of the "Agreement" itself are Philippine flag. The land area of the base is to be deceptive. The $500 million figure has been reported as somewhat reduced. Perimeter security has been turned combined economic and military aid. In fact, only $25 over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines with some million is to be used for economic aid. The remaining provisions for joint control in certain areas. Yet the Taliba, January 1979 Page 2 'Agreement" contains not a word concerning Philippine This damage is felt not only in broad social terms but jurisdiction over American servicemen who commit in specific military situations as well. The bases have crimes against Filipinos. There is no guarantee been used repeatedly for intervention in Philippine whatsoever that American soldiers who in the future affairs. Prior to the declaration of martial law, mistake Filipinos for "wild boars" and kill them will not Congressional testimony reveals they were used against be abruptly transferred out of the country as in years the Huks and, more recently, they have been used past. This is Philippine control? against the New People's Army. Immediately after the Why has this charade of Philippine control over the declaration of martial law in 1972, the entire modern bases become necessary? fighter component of the Philippine Air Force - a Because the Filipino people have come increasingly to squadron of F-5's - was based at Clark Air Field at a see the U.S. bases in their homeland as, in the words of time when it was reportedly carrying out bombing the Civil Liberties Union of the Philippines, "an affront missions over Isabela. to Philippine sovereignty." The Filipino people recognize that such intervention is What is the role of the U.S. bases in the Philippines? likely not only to continue, but to increase, as long as the According to the 1947 bases agreement, their purpose bases remain on their soil. The wording of the 1947 is two-fold: to "protect U.S. security interests in Asia" treaty clearly invites the U.S. to slide into internal and to "insure the territorial integrity of the Philip- involvement in the Philippines without the slightest pines. " Numerous spokesmen for the U.S. government, obstacle. Whereas previously U.S. intervention in the even several from the Department of Defense, however, country has been indirect and covert, the new have agreed with Filipino nationalists that external "Agreement" with its cooperative security arrange- aggression is not a threat to the Philippines. The bases ments dramatically increases the possibility of direct and thus remain principally to "protect U.S. security open intervention. The "Agreement" brings one step interests in Asia." closer the possibility of sending U.S. troops to the Filipinos have come increasingly to resent the role of Philippines to intervene in the country's growing these bases as launching pads for U.S. aggression and domestic conflicts. intervention in the internal affairs of other countries. Not only do U.S. bases on Philippine soil invite U.S. Filipinos wish to dissociate themselves altogether from intervention in Philippine affairs, they represent a situations like the Vietnam War when bombing missions serious threat to the "territorial integrity of the against the Vietnamese originated from Clark Air Base. Philippines" which the Treaty claims they are supposed Only a few days ago, on Dec. 29, 1978, the Defense to protect. It has long been known that these bases are Department announced that a naval task force and the major storage sites for nuclear weapons. This makes nuclear-capable carrier Constellation had left Subic them into key strategic targets for any enemy of the Naval Base enroute to the Indian Ocean. Speculation U.S., should the U.S. be drawn into a major armed suggested that its mission was to respond to develop- confrontation. ments in Iran and possibly to aid one of the world's most The Filipino people have no desire to be blown to bits despised dictators whose entire nation has risen up in another man's war. Nor do they wish to have against him. foreigners, armed and strategically located on their own Yet many have argued that the bases are actually soil, intervene in their own affairs and dictate the course beneficial to the Philippines because they provide both of their history. The Filipino people do not need or want employment for a large number of Filipinos and because the economic impetus to turn their people into pimps, base spending pumps dollars into the Philippine prostitutes, dope-peddlers, and black marketeers. They economy. Their removal, supporters of the bases have do not want to see an inch of their territory used to argued, would mean a massive economic dislocation. launch aggressive action against peoples of other The Filipino people have taken a closer look at the countries. The Filipino people want the bases out. The economic impact of the bases on the country and have Anti-Martial Law Coalition full supports their desire and come up with some surprising discoveries. The bases in calls on all Filipino and American people to support their fact employ less than one percent of the Philippine demand to remove all U.S. bases from the Philippines. non-agricultural labor force. Further, while it is true that the base economy has a major impact on the Philippines, Philippine economic and political institutions have absolutely no control over it. The wages spent by thousands of U.S. servicemen in the Philippines have a highly inflationary effect. As one economist put it, they "add to the total demand in the economy without increasing the supply of new goods because the soldier spends his pay on things he has not produced and the munitions worker does not go out and buy a tank." Filipinos have reexamined the character of the so-called "growth industries" spawned by the bases. Where have all those dollars pumped by U.S. servicemen into the Philippine economy gone and what has been the result socially? The principal industry stimulated by the base economy has been prostitution ANTI-MARTIAL LAW COALITION and related entertainment activities. Angeles City, site of Clark Air Base, boasts of over 500 bars and brothels (PHILIPPINES) Olongapo City, site of Subic Naval Base contains at least Rene Cruz, National Coordinator 12,000 prostitutes who form a full 10 percent of the city's P.O. Box 540 population. Woodside, N. Y. 11377 Another major industry spawned by the bases is the (212) 898-1969 procurement and sale of illegal drugs to U.S. servicemen. Since the Philippines does not produce heroin, this has meant developing smuggling rings from LOCAL ALLIANCE: the "Golden Triangle" of Thailand and Burma. Another flourishing base-related industry is the black market in AMLA CENTER PX goods. 2108 57th Ave. All three of these industries have stimulated a rise in Sacramento, CA 95322 organized crime. They can hardly be labeled beneficial to the Filipino people. In fact, the social damage these 428-7856 Or 966-3593 institutions do is immeasurable. TALIBA (NEWSFLASH/ COMMENTARY) A Publication of the COALITION AGAINST THE MARCOS DICTATORSHIP/ PHILIPPINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK (CAMD/PSN) August 1984. One year after the Aquino assassination NO END TO THE CRISIS OF THE MARCOS DICTATORSHIP The It has been a year since thousands of festive yellow ribbons Collantes leads a group of 30 KBL and independent parliament which were to herald a welcome for the returning opposition leader, tarians in supporting Aquilino Pimentel's resolution demanding Benigno Aquino, Jr., suddenly unfurled into giant banners that the repeal of Amendment No. 6 of the Marcos-engineered screamed outrage over his assassination at the Manila Inter- Constitution. Amendment No. 6 gives Marcos power to make laws national Airport. beyond the reach of the Assembly or the judiciary. Today, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos faces essentially the In an attempt to regain the support of businessmen and members same political crisis that threatens the continuation of his absolute of the traditional opposition, Marcos devised non-partisan calls for rule. The agitation of the Filipino people to oust him and end the them to join him in resolving the political and economic problems dictatorship remains the catalyst that spells his doom. plaguing his regime. But when he reconstituted his cabinet, the same old familiar faces showed up, including that of his wife, The downward spiral of the Philippine economy cannot be Imelda. arrested even as the Reagan administration infuses life-giving aid and promises to release $180 million of the $900 million rental it While the sham election momentarily divided the broad opposition agreed to pay for the maintenance of U.S. military bases at Subic into advocates of participation and those of boycott, the unanimous and Clark. The long-awaited $650 million from the International call for Marcos' ouster echoes both in the Batasan (Assembly), Monetary Fund constitutes but another gasp before a fatal and in the "parliament of the streets." drowning. Marcos fully intends to widen the gap in the opposition by In its desperation to stay in power for as long as it can, the stepping up his strident anti-communist attacks and military Marcos regime has narrowed down its choice to two alternate violence against the militant protest movement. "It is not the options: deception and military reprisal. opposition who is the enemy of the people, but the subversives," he declared. But the Filipino people have not been waylaid in their deter- mined path towards democratization. They have no other option. TERROR IN MANILA On the opening day of the Batasan last July 23, 2,000 riot police BY CROOK OR BY FORCE used truncheons, tear gas and pillbox bombs to scuttle a de- The election of 65 opposition UNIDO candidates in the May 14 monstration of 25,000 people who came to listen to former senator National Assembly election went beyond the 20 to 30 seats Lorenzo Tanada give an address of the "true state of the nation.' Marcos had predicted. Still it gave him reason to crow that democracy has prevailed. In the month preceding, Marcos had ordered a rapid succession of repressive measures to put a lid on the unrest produced by a new Although the rules are heavily stacked against the minority party set of restrictive economic decrees which set prices rocketing and in the Assembly, it has been bolstered by disgruntled members of plunged the peso to P18 to $1. Marcos' Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party. Manuel Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Taliba, Articles, & Drafts (Fenkell Papers, Box 1, Folder 19) Subject The topic of the resource Extradition Marcos, Ferdinand E. (Ferdinand Edralin), 1917-1989 Martial Law -- Philippines Aquino, Benigno S., Jr., 1932-1983 Reagan, Ronald Military bases, American Description An account of the resource Select issues of the Taliba Newsletter, detailing Ferdinand Marcos' canceled trip to the U.S., Military bases in the Philippines, US-Philippine extradition policies, and general policies of the Regan and Carter administrations. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Taliba Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1978-1984 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/page/NKC/1.0/?language=en">NO KNOWN COPYRIGHT</a> – EDUCATIONAL / NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED For other purposes, please contact Bulosan Center archivist Jason Sarmiento at ajsarmiento@ucdavis.edu. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPG, PDF Language A language of the resource English Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context ucdw_wa012_s001_0340-349 ucdw_wa012_s001_f019