Aquino gets U.S. air support

Press, 2 December 1989, Page 1

Aquino gets U.S. air support

NZPA-Reuter Washington President Bush has authorised United States military aid to help President Aquino defend her Philippine Government against a coup attempt. A White House statement, quoting a Presidential press secretary, Marlin Fitzwater, said: “This assistance is intended to allow the democratically elected Government of the Philippines to restore order. “The President also is determined to protect the lives of Americans in the Philippines.” Mrs Aquino said United States fighter aircraft were supporting Philippine Armed Forces in their fight against a coup attempt by military rebels. “Even now, U.S. fighters are joining the fight to give air cover to our ground troops. This should complete the annihilation of the air assets of the rebel forces,” she said. Foreign military attaches said several United States F 4 jets flew repeatedly over Manila during the day. Mrs Aquino, fighting off her sixth coup attempt since gaining power in 1986, said her generals were “consolidating their forces preparatory to a major push against the rebels. The temporary air control enjoyed by the rebels will soon be ended.” Rebel planes bombed Mrs Aquino’s Presidential palace yesterday, and helicopter gunships, backed by the World War 11-style T2B aircraft, blasted two-loyalist military camps in the centre .of" the capital. Mrs Aquino said the airstrip at the Sangley Point naval station south of Manila, where the rebel planes were based, had been nearly destroyed. The United States planes are operating from the United States’ Clark Air Base, north of Manila. In their first statement of objectives, the rebels said they would depose the Aquino Government and abolish Congress. “A new Cabinet shall be formed in lieu of the deposed Aquino Administration,” they said. The rebels said they controlled the four main military camps in Manila and that troops in several regions were joining them. The New Zealand Government has joined the United States,

Canada and Australia in support

of Mrs Aquino. “Mrs Aquino was properly elected and she should not be removed from office by armed rebellion,” the Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, said. “The concept of a change of government by a military coup involving the loss of life among innocent civilians, such as has been reported to have occurred with the bombing of the Presidential palace, is repugnant to New Zealanders.” New Zealand would have grave concerns over any government in Manila that came to power in such an “extreme and unacceptable manner.” New Zealand Embassy officials watched aircraft dive-bombing the Presidential palace. “We would say this is more serious than the previous coups,” the Counsellor and Consul-Gen-eral in the New Zealand Embassy, Mr Warren Searell, told “The Press.” “We see this coup as quite different. Instead of being fought out by foot soldiers, the rebels have this time captured the air command and have commandeered aircraft and helicopter gunships.” Mr Searell said the rebels began bombing the Presidential palace, about 6km from the embassy, about 8 a.m. “They were coming in from about 2000 or 3000 ft, and diving. It looked like they were either dropping bombs or firing rockets,” he said. '-“In the distance we could hear -the" explosions.” . Mr Searell'said he had not heard of any of the 200 New Zealanders registered with the embassy being in difficulties. “The telephones are working. The power is on. People here have been able to call back to New Zealand and reassure relatives. “The problems here are very localised — around the military bases and key television stations. “Provided people keep away from those areas they are not in * any particular danger at this stage. They are keeping their heads down to see what eventuates.” Mr Searell said he could hear explosions from the direction of Krame and Aguinaldo military camps. Picture, page 12