P.M. chilly about Marcos

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 24

P.M. chilly about Marcos

Wellington reporter President Marcos of the Philippines will receive nu congratulatory telegram from the New Zealand Government, as a mark of disapproval of irregularities in his election. Announcing that he would not send a telegram, the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, saidthat there had to be serious doubts about the credibility of the election when it was marred by reports of widespread malpractices. Mr Lange pointed to the report of an international observer group in the Phillippines for the election, and to a statement by the Philippines’ Catholic bishops questioning the morality of any Government elected by fraud. The observer group ex-

pressed grave concern about widespread serious electoral malpractices but stopped short of saying whether the malpractices had been on sufficient scale to have thwarted the will of the Philippines people. “There is riot much more than I can add to those observations," Mr Lange said. He said he was moved by the courage of the bishops in making their allegations. The Philippines’ progress towards economic recovery would not be helped by the “sad chapter of events that has accompanied these elections,” Mr Lange said. The future of the Philippines, which had a key role in Asia and the Pacific, was of considerable interest to New Ze? land. Mr Lange said he

had recently asked if there were any military associations between New Zealand and the Philippines and found there were none at present He said he would not attend coming talks in

Manila among A.S.E.A.N. “ countries, j although “ Foreign officials * might do. Anyway, the “ political climate was un- . likely to be favourable for ’ Manila to remain the E venue, and the talks might " “ be moved. *