Philippines
Sir, — A recent fact-finding mission headed by a former United States Attorney-General, Ramsey Clark, heard testimony and saw evidence of a rapidly growing Rightist vigilante movement that has kitted, tortured, arrested, threatened and otherwise harassed thousands of Filipino civilians. The victims of vigilante violence are overwhelmingly poor fanners, workers, slum dwellers and otherswho are pushing for significant land reform, wage increases and protection for workers’ rights as well as those who oppose United States military bases and question the economic practices of foreign corporations in the Philippines. Many of these groups serve as adjuncts to the military and therefore cannot pass themselves off as spontaneous uprisings against insurgent abuses. The Marcos regime could not discipline the paramilitary units it spawned in its mindless campaign to suppress dissent and neither can the Aquino Administration control the village toughies and neighbourhood goons who belong to vigilante groups. What is to stop vigilantes from branding all those who do not agree with them as communists who do not deserve a human existence? —Yours, etc., SUE PIERCEY. November 30, 1987.
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Press, 3 December 1987, Page 50
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177Philippines Press, 3 December 1987, Page 50
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