Mrs Aquino’s problems

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 18

Mrs Aquino’s problems

If Mrs Corazon Aquino, in fact, makes progress in talking to the insurgents in the Philippines, she will have made a significant advance in one of the two major problems facing her Government and the Philippines as a whole. Some of the reports coming out of the Philippines suggest that the activities of the New People’s Army, as the insurgents are known, have increased considerably since Mrs Aquino became President. About 1000 people are said to have been killed in clashes since she became President on February 25 this year. In the streets of Manila and elsewhere a number of demonstrations by the supporters of the former President, Ferdinand Marcos, have occurred, but these do not represent a security threat to the Philippines. The insurgents do. The other major problem is that of the economy, particularly the farmers and the labour force. Under the Marcos regime wages were kept low, the status of labouring workers was very low, union leaders who did not co-operate with the Marcos Government were put in jail, and those who were cooperating with the Government and business allowed members of the unions to be exploited. The Philippines is in a freer mood under Mrs Aquino, old restrictions have been lifted, and union unrest is simmering. The Aquino Government faces a dilemma because the country needs foreign investment and needs time to pay its debts. If wages rise too rapidly, foreign investors will not find it attractive to spend their money in the country. Farmers are burdened with huge debts and have had their prices artificially kept up. The Philippines Government is in the position of being able to import rice more cheaply than it can buy it from Filipino farmers. The very low world price of rice makes it unattractive for farmers to sell their rice on the world market, and yet they do not have the facilities to store the rice until the price increases. The Philippines Government is

near enough to being financially bankrupt. Besides the problems of the insurgency and the economy, the Philippines faces some unresolved issues in the armed forces. It was the rebellion of two armed forces office which eventually enabled Mrs Aquino to assume power, and the power of the military has had an all-pervading presence throughout the life of the Aquino Government. The Government caused some resentment in the armed forces when it appointed officers, instead of locally elected officials, to take charge of certain districts. Another unresolved question is the loyalty of the strong supporters of President Marcos. Many people received promotion because of their loyalty to Mr Marcos rather yjsm because of their competence. Various allegations were made against the armed forces over violations of human rights. The military see the Government as being prepared to offer amnesty to communists and do not see why this should happen while investigations are conducted against military people. Some of the members of the armed forces loyal to Mr Marcos have reported back for duty and have been sent to the provinces, where they have not been able to follow the pleasanter life-style they had grown used to in Manila. Some of those within the armed forces have resented the "overstaying generals” — people'who would not retire. A move is afoot to cut the number of generals from 80 to about 50; so that should ease one source of resentment. Mrs Aquino plans to hold an election in November. The last election was won by Ferdinand Marcos fraudulently. While Mrs Aquino cannot be accused of assuming power in a coup, the path to power was not by processes which can properly be described as democratic. She has a great deal of good will within the country and deserves a chance. She still faces a race against time and against restive or hostile groups to put herself into a more secure position by November.