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Friday, September 22, 2006
In RP, Thai coup recalls Marcos era
MANILA – The Philippines saw a timely reminder yesterday in Thailand’s military coup of the rule here of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, 34 years to the day after he declared martial law.
While the coup in Bangkok dominated the front pages of morning newspapers, many also carried pictures of Marcos who, on September 21, 1972, placed the Philippines under martial law.
“For Filipinos, the saying that comes to mind is, ‘There but for the Grace of God, go we’,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer said in its editorial on the events in Thailand.
Leftwing activists held scattered protests for the anniversary of martial law and compared Marcos to incumbent President Arroyo.
Uncertain
Amando Doronila, a political analyst, said that 34 years on, “Filipinos are uncertain over the survival of their democratic system in the short term.”
“The anniversary today inspires little cause for celebration in the light of developments over the past 20 years indicating that Philippine democracy has been on the decline since its restoration in the 1986 People Power Revolution” that toppled him, he wrote in the Daily Inquirer.
Ferdinand Llanes, chairman of the history department of the University of the Philippines, said there was a “generational” factor in how Filipinos saw martial rule.
More than half the current population of 85 million were not yet born when Marcos, coming to the end of his second term, blamed a communist threat to padlock Congress, abolish the constitution and throw thousands of dissidents, opposition politicians and journalists into military prisons.
While younger segments of the Filipino middle classes and intelligentsia voiced “mixed feelings” about the military’s role in politics, an increasing number were becoming more “open” to the idea of intervention, he added.
Martial law was officially lifted in 1981, but Marcos continued to rule by decree with the agreement of a timid legislature and judiciary until he was sent packing into US exile and Corazon Aquino was installed in his place. He died in exile in 1989.
Gloria Arroyo’s presidency has been called into question a number of times by opposition groups who claim she stole the 2004 election.
Her family has been accused of large-scale corruption and her husband has issued more than 40 libel writs against his critics, many of them journalists, in what many see as an attempt to muzzle press freedom.
Arroyo has faced down two coup attempts, the latest in February this year, and survived two impeachment attempts.
“Let’s face it, many Filipinos do not like Arroyo,” Llanes said. “They have tried everything to force her out, but they failed.”
Loyal armed forces
He said the hope of some was that somebody from the armed forces would be able to present a “popular government model in the mode of Hugo Chavez” of Venezuela as an alternative to Arroyo.
But her executive secretary, Eduardo Ermita, has been quick to dismiss any similarities between the situation in Thailand and the Philippines.
“We have political stability and the armed services continue to be loyal to the Constitution,” he said Wednesday.
Philippine armed forces chief of staff, general Hermogenes Esperon, agreed. “The chain of command is intact and we don't see any similar event happening here.” (AFP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 22, 2006 issue)
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