Manila trip in doubt

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 10

Manila trip in doubt

NZPA-Reuter Washington

A question mark hangs over President Ronald Reagan’s proposed visit to the Philippines in the wake of violent anti-Government and anti-American demonstrations in Manila. A White House official said that the situation in the Philippines could make it “very difficult” for the visit to proceed. The official also said that Mr Reagan’s wife, Nancy, was “very concerned” about the dangers to Mr Reagan in the light of the assassination last month of the Opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, at Manila airport minutes after returning from three years of selfimposed exile in the United States. The White House official said that the stop in the Philippines was still part of Mr Reagan’s itinerary for his Asian tour in November, but that it was his own opinion that the violence in Manila was making the trip less likely.

In Manila, a political opposition group said that Mr Reagan would face antiAmerican demonstrations if the tour went ahead.

However, opposition leaders have denied all responsibility for the violence, which they blame on the authorities.

“If Mr Reagan comes we will prepare a proper welcome for him,” former Senator Jose Diokno told a news conference.

He said that protests would be staged, but declined to give details. Mr Diokno is chief planner of the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All movement, the organisers of the anti-Gov-ernment rallies that were the biggest since martial law was imposed in 1972. Demonstrations marking the eleventh anniversary of the imposition of martial law and the assassination of Benigno Aquino a month ago ended in clashes in which the police said at least 10 people died and scores were injured.