Edsa 2 Veterans Express Dismay with Arroyo Gov’t

BY RONALYN OLEA
Bulatlat.com

Anti-United States’ (U.S.) war sentiments, demands for the speedy prosecution of ex-President Joseph Estrada and hopes for just peace marked the anniversary commemoration of the People Power 2 or Edsa 2, the peaceful uprising that led to the ouster of Estrada. Leaders and members of the former Estrada Resign Movement gathered in a forum last Jan. 17 at the Shalom Center in Manila.

Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who keynoted the affair, expressed his strong opposition to U.S. government’s unilateral actions against Iraq and the Arroyo administration’s ready support to the U.S. war.  Guingona urged the people to dedicate one day of prayer for peace.

Guingona said there are about 1.3 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East who will be affected by the impending war. He said it is a moral issue and a question of humanity citing the United Nations’ (UN) estimate of 1.5 million possible casualties.

The vice president also stressed that the country's economy relies heavily on the OFWs’ remittances.

Guingona likewise condemned the hasty approval of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA).  “The MLSA is worse (than having bases). Now, they (the Americans) have one whole nation.”

Meanwhile, former Congressman Wigberto Tañada said the Philippines could be dragged into the U.S. war against Iraq through the MLSA and the Visiting Forces Agreement, both of which he described as anti-Filipino.

Tañada quoted late Senator Claro M. Recto’s speech on the RP-U.S. relations 50 years ago and noted that not much has changed.  “The leaders of our land continue to be too obedient, too submissive and too powerless to reject the impositions of the U.S. government even if these are against our national interests,” Tañada said. 

On Erap’s case

Dr. Carol Araullo, Plunder Watch convenor and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) vice president, said that the Macapagal-Arroyo government’s political will to prosecute and convict Estrada has dissipated. 

Araullo maintained that the issue of corruption was at the fore of the people’s uprising and said the primary beneficiary of People Power 2 seems to have forgiven Estrada for plundering the nation.

Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo on the other hand said that the people’s demand for justice via the swift and fair prosecution of the plunder case against Estrada may be frustrated in the light of the tendency of the Arroyo government to compromise in the name of ‘unity and reconciliation.’

Stalled peace talks

Rey Casambre, executive director of the Philippine Peace Center and convenor of Pilgrims for Peace, criticized the Macapagal-Arroyo administration from veering away from its earlier commitment to reverse Estrada’s all-out war policy and to pursue peace negotiations with the rebels.

Since June 2001, the government has suspended formal peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Casambre said that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is putting obstacles one after another instead of carrying out confidence-building measures.  He said that the militarists have gained the upper hand in the peace talks with the creation of the Cabinet oversight committee on internal security.

Guingona further said the Macapagal-Arroyo government has to remove the terrorist tag on the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) before it can negotiate peace.  He added that it requires firm political will to have peace with the armed groups. Bulatlat.com

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