Ninotchka Rosca on Global War on Terror, Subic Rape Case, Political Killings

Award-winning Filipino writer Ninotchka Rosca, who is based in the United States, talks on pressing national and global concerns. She was in the Philippines from May 27 to June 10.

BY ZOFIA LEAL

Bulatlat

Ninotchka Rosca was born and raised in the Philippines. She was a recipient of the 1993 American Book Award for Excellence in Literature for her novel Twice Blessed. She is also the international spokesperson of the Purple Rose Campaign and the founding chair of GABRIELA Network U.S.A. During the Marcos regime, she left the Philippines to live in the United States after being threatened with a second arrest. She said that at that time, she thought she would never live beyond 30.

In an interview with Bulatlat, Rosca speaks about the global war on terror and other pressing issues.

The global war on terror has been going on for years though it went by different names. What do you think is the difference between those launched before and the global war on terror now?

We must never look at the global war on terror as a separate phenomenon. This is part of imperialism and imperialist aggression. Imperialism has always been aggressive since way back but there were factors that sort of mitigated its aggressiveness, like the presence of the Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China, and the struggles for national liberation, and even the working class movement. These forces slowly disappeared, then mythically, the U.S. government, which is supposedly of, for and by the people, made a façade that there is still democracy.  However, under the neo-conservative plan, corporations or the corporate world began to capture the government. Since there was no counter-force, the use of state power by corporations was blatant. This global war on terror is part of the adversity of imperialism in our world today. Take for example the war on Iraq.  It is really for the control of resources of Iraq and to enable the multinational corporations to loot the U.S. public treasury.   

Do you think that after the U.S.’ war on Iraq, there is a possibility that the Philippines will be next?   

Not after. But at the same time, it is a hidden war. I think the most overt sign is the entry of multinational corporations in the Philippines. Number one is in Malampaya gas reserves, where there seems to be a feast of vultures. Watching from a distance, we were aghast that the Philippine government did nothing to stop it. Texaco increased its holdings by 30 percent when its reserve of natural gas grew (and) 4.5 percent was also sold to a Korean multi-national for $300 million cash.  The Korean multinational corporation expects to make a net profit of $800 million every year until the year 2022 of the 4.5 percent that we sold for $300 million. Malampaya was transformed by Halliburton. They created a resort, a rest and recreation area for the executives of Malampaya at Bataan wherein prostitution is rampant. They even found oil underneath the gas deposits so the government agreed to an oil exploration. However, the Philippine government will shoulder the oil exploration but the oil will be given to Shell or Texaco. These corporations are even being protected by the Philippine government. There are also other factors like the possibility of transfer of the bases at Okinawa to Mindanao. The Philippine-U.S. military security pact already started the discussions about the establishment of the bases.

What do you think is the connection between the global war on terror and the political killings now happening in the Philippines?

The global war on terror is already an ongoing war, for instance the policy of the war of attrition of the Philippine military to silence the legal activists. Only last Thursday, another one was killed in Kalinga, the previous day, two from Samar. There is really no end to this. At the same time, the legal opposition is being paralyzed by having one case after the other filed against them. There are cases in Manila, Davao, Cebu and in Baguio. They legally paralyze the structure and then continue with the killings. These acts cannot be conceived by the Philippine military alone, the only thing they want is money, so therefore there are other people that designed these. 

In the U.S, what does the government do to militants or even immigrants in line with the global war on terror?

It is a consistent erosion of civil liberties, and the most blatant example of that is the Patriot Act. Any contact with a known terrorist, even if it is against that person, is considered illegal. The problem is that this listing was also made by the government. There was no due process on how you can be on that list or how you can be removed from it. Even the lawyers of these so-called terrorists have cases filed against them. Immigrants are also part of the home security aspect. Its most damaging aspect is if one houses a person without proper documents, the adopter would also be liable for a criminal case. What if a priest helps an undocumented person, then even that priest will be considered a criminal.        

What is the implication of these policies on writers or media workers?

There is this fear that they will hound you as a media person. About two years ago, a group of reporters made a position against the war. Immediately they were taken off the field.   

As a writer, how do you cope with these circumstances?

For me, let us see how much traffic the road can bend. It will be difficult for me to live my life by their will. I do not want to, especially now that I am already old. No way, I’d rather die.

Have you encountered any personal attacks?

So far, there has not been any. However, I received news that in the area where I live now there is a “hot babe.” You know, “mainit” (Filipino slang to describe a person being monitored by the authorities).  I just said thank you, you called me a hot babe.

In the women sector, what do you think are the implications of the global war on terror?

The impact is great for the women sector. You can see the public space for women is decreasing. They are the ones being sacrificed, which is ironic because this war on terror is supposed to be expanding because it is to bring democracy to the world. Then there (are values brought about by) imperialist aggression. For example, in Iraq, the word “translator” is already being equated to prostitute. Women who enter war zones wear badges with the translator in it. They are forced into prostitution because they have no money or food. Their men who are supposed to be breadwinners are either dead, in prison or at war. The women are left to care for the next generation. It is the women who stay at home, therefore when the bombings start, they are the ones being killed.

Here in the Philippines, we sell women.  Last year, 700,000 were exported. We do not know where those women are now. If someone also tries to organize women, he or she will be killed. The principal author of the anti-trafficking law, Rep. Liza Maza, has a rebellion case filed against her. The whole country survives from trafficking, they only call it something else, but it is basically trafficking of women. Out of the 700,000, 30 percent went to the sex trade, only by another category: professional and technical services. This global war on terror – for instance, in Afghanistan – we do not know exactly, but there is high rate of suicide for women. There is also a decreasing rate of pregnancy for women, the body itself refuses. It is really not a very nice world for women.               

Do you think that there is a possibility that the case of “Nicole” (the woman who accused US soldiers of raping her) be won?  What do you think will its impact be if won?

The case will be difficult to win. First, the Philippine government is siding with the U.S. soldiers. Even Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez wants to exonerate them. They are also basically laying the foundations for consensual sex.

When we heard about the case of Nicole, we were preparing for a conference which will be attended by 600 participants. Immediately when he learned of the news, we rallied in front of the consulate in Los Angeles at 9:00 in the morning. Although our coordinators were kept from entering, three were able to pass the guard and meet with one consulate.

I really do not know if this could be won, but if you contrast this with Japan wherein a woman was raped and robbed by a marine, the U.S. immediately gave the marine. The U.S. let the Japanese government process the marine without intervention and was later convicted. The military even apologized. If we will compare the agreement between the United States and Germany, the United States and Korea, the United States and Japan, the United States and the Philippines, Germany has a 138- page agreement.  Korea, I think has 35 pages while the Philippines only has nine pages, depending on whether it is single or double-spaced. Germany also has a lot of protection clause for communities, etc. The Philippine agreement is full of protection of the U.S troops and giving them as much freedom. So I think that there are very slim chances to win the case.

But if the case is won, then bravo, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.  However, it will be good because there will be a precedent. That will serve as an example that Filipino women will not be treated badly anymore.

What do you think should the Filipino people do to fight the global war on terror?

We have to pressure our government to (stop) the export of labor. For instance, in the selection process for domestic workers of Canada, they want the best. About 70 percent of the domestic workers of Canada are Filipino women. It is the Canadians who get skilled, medical labor for a minimum wage.

We have to assert our right to our own way of life that will not let foreign powers dictate us. We have to assert our right to our own resources, create a policy that is not based on the so-called democratic processes of the U.S.

Also, we have to assert that this is our country, as simple as that. This is our country, no one should tell us how we should be and how we should relate to the rest of the world.  It’s a simple thing but very difficult to do. Bulatlat

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