Date: Fri, 19 Sep 97 13:19:42 CDT
From: Arm The Spirit <ats@locust.etext.org>
Subject: Philippines: Generalissimo Ramos Setting The Stage For Martial Rule

Generalissimo Ramos Is Setting The Stage For Martial Rule

Joint Press Statement, 15 September 1997

We, the following people's organizations, vehemently denounce AFP [army] chief Gen. Arnulfo Acedera for his repeated malicious statements attributing the recent bombings and the plot to bomb the September 21 rally to militant leftist groups.

General Acedera is in the same mold of the notorious Gen. Fabian Ver, who was the hatchetman of Marcos in carrying out direct attacks, psy-war, coercion, and even murder against the broad opposition front and the masses of the people.

In raising the communist bogey, General Acedera seeks to hide the culpability of the Ramos militarist clique in masterminding the orchestrated terrorist attacks which are meant to frighten and cow the people into submitting to the wishes of Generalissimo Fidel Ramos to entrench himself in power.

With his ludicrous statements, General Acedera only exposes the bankruptcy and naked self-interest of the entire Ramos-led military cabal who have wormed their way into the most strategic posts in the civilian government. Their accusations further highlight the folly - and tragedy - of putting a fascist general into the highest office of the land.

The staged terrorist attacks can only be the handiwork of the Ramos regime. No less than a powerful Metro Manila official has told Bayan leaders that behind these bombings and bomb threats is Malacaang's own dirty tricks department.

Ramos' record in the declaration of martial law speaks for itself. As then PC chief and member of the exclusive "Rolex 12" whom Marcos conferred with before issuing Proclamation 1081, he knew about the orchestrated series of bombings as well as the self-staged ambush of former defense secretary Juan Ponce Enrile which Marcos attributed to the NPA and utilized to justify the imposition of martial law.

No amount of the crudest Red scare tactics can obscure the fact that the present terrorist plots are but signs of desperation of Ramos and his militarist clique, who have become increasingly isolated as their schemes to perpetuate themselves in power are foiled and rejected by the people at every turn.

On September 21, we will join the people in a peaceful and militant rally expressing our firm opposition to Charter change and the perpetuation of Ramos and his ruling faction. Any violence will come from the direction of this militarist cabal which right now is setting the stage for the revival of full-blown authoritarian rule. We must not let our guard down even as we all brace for another new wave of repression.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)
KARAPATAN
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)
League of Filipino Students (LFS)
GABRIELA
Health Action for Democracy (HEAD)
. . .and other organizations


B A Y A N
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or New Patriotic Alliance
Room 213, FMSG Building,1823 E. Rodriguez Avenue corner
New York Street, Cubao,
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel/Fax: (63-2) 721-10-21 local 252/229
Email: <bayan@mnl.sequel.net>>Br> Bayan webpage URL: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/4677/index.html

(From: ndf@xs4all.nl)


Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist information collective based in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide variety of material, including political prisoners, national liberation struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, the fight against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our writings, research, and translation materials on our listserv called ATS-L. For more information, contact:

E-mail: ats@etext.org
WWW: http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats