rasants in the open on by ore and peasants in the throw of the Marcos dictatorship is closing fast. President Corazon Aquino has responded to the failed coup attempt led by Col. Gregorio Honasan not by mobilising workers and peasants but by further moves to placate the military.
by the military high command - Joker Arroyo and Teadoro Locsin Scareer who serve as as justice minine September. Arroyo Her placatory moves have simply served to emforces. rightment the paign the mass People's Coup leader still at transmits press In appeal Manila radio Honasan reiterated for the increasing militarisation dro scuiciary the coalifor PIess AleMany leaders have forced sought by the police.
cond leader to November leader murdered. ( ing associated with attempt.
Massive mobilisations then Aquino to coup pIol. Enrile, now parliamenLolly Aquino, still closely linked with Honasan.
The coup attempts, the manoeuvres of the Aquino their overThe two members of her cabinet most opposed — were sacked last Thursday, 17 replaced government, repressive campaigns both of the official military and of the unofficial armies still held reflect the divisions winers big landowners the country's ruling class over how to deal with the continuing striving for land and labour rights by the country's toilers.
This is also preoccupying the US government. waste cas main firmly the Following governea the defeat of the coup, the White. House announced that the president gratified and relieved that President Aquino resolved the crisis faced by government over the past two days'.
At the same time there Washington is hedging as indications that bets certainly pressurising Aquino take a strong line. There were strong rumours to the effect that Enrile hid in the US embassy at the time of the that Honasan relations with the CIA.
according to the Herald Tribune September, senior White House officials warlicu against Aquino turning with a fractious military' following the LouD alr tempt.
The US wants stability ana Inal means appeasing the military, many of whose centra officers it has trained. US officials say that though just 14 of the Philippine battalions were involved in the coup, y0 per cent of the highly politicissympathy with it.
US bankers meanwhile are increasing pressure for repayment of™ the country's $28.5 billion foreign debt. Such pressure underlay the government's decision to increase oil prices by per cent. The oil price hike would have had devastating impact on living standards as transport COSLA would nave been pushed onto an already poor people.
Four million people followed the general strike call, to protest the rises, initiated by the the largest mobilisation since the overthrow of Marcos and the occasion for the Honasan COul two days later.
The protest became a focus for wide discontent of the popular masses. It was supported by the proTrade Union Coverical of tne Philippines, by student tions, and by the Peasant' popular Oraalisa. Movemen1 of the Philippines (KMP)
The KMP has been growing fast. Failure of the Aquino regime to implement reform have been met by intensited demands from a land hungry peasantry. Those with land are being bled by punitive mortgage payments exorbitant rents, and find themselves scissored between high prices for fertilisers and ir and low prices rigaton, Tor me Droduce.
Popular demands for land, democratic rights and defence of living standards inevitably strike the central role of the US itself. Opposition has grown not only to debt repayments but also to Washington's ance of the _Clark airfield and the Subic Bav naval base used not only for maintaining its domination over the Philippines but over the entir strategic region Pacific.
How to stem the tide of the mass movement is the prime concern of both imperialism ana Ine country's ruling class. Cracks have appeared amongst them - but whether it be oy government action or another coup attempt, deeper repression is on the way.
Socialist Action 25 Sept 1987