Bush asked to warn Arroyo against undermining democracy

[explorer]

Bush asked to warn Arroyo against undermining democracy

First posted 11:40am (Mla time) April 06, 2006
By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net

(UPDATE) US President George W. Bush should warn Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that, "by undermining a hard-won democracy, she is making her country far more vulnerable to terrorist pressures," the New York Times said in its April 5 editorial entitled "Dark Days for Philippine Democracy."

Incidentally, the editorial came out on the 59th birthday of Arroyo, a known ally of Bush in the fight against terrorism.

It said that while Arroyo was not a dictator, “at least not yet,” she had revived “bad memories of crony corruption, presidential vote-rigging, and intimidation of critical journalists.”

Noting her recent declaration of a state of emergency in the country, the commentary also warned that without Congress or the courts reigning in “her increasingly authoritarian tendencies, democracy itself may be in danger.”

Reacting to the editorial, Ambassador Lauro Baja, Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, wrote a letter to the editor and defended the President.

In excerpts of his letter made available to media, Baja said the declaration of a state of emergency was made pursuant to the Philippine Constitution and was the “swift and decisive action [that] saved democracy in the Philippines.”

Baja stressed that the declaration averted a possible violent overthrow of the government by an unholy alliance of leftists and radical elements of the military, which would have thrown the country into chaos and civil war.

“Nevertheless, the Filipinos continue to enjoy basic human rights and freedoms during the one-week period of emergency, as they do now…The press and civil society continue to be one of the most free and vibrant sectors of our society,” he said.

Baja said the editorial, “must have been written through a glass darkly… In no way has President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ‘completely lost touch’ with the ideals that inspired the 1986 People Power movement.”

He also called on the paper “to look dispassionately” at the economic, social, and political programs that Arroyo had been pursuing for the people, saying she continues to be a “professional economist” and an “earnest reformer.”

Baja listed positive indicators as a result of her reforms: a stronger Philippine currency, a rising growth rate, and the “best” performance of Philippine stocks in the region.

Together with India, the Philippines is leading in software design development, business process outsourcing, and call centers, Baja said.

“Credit rating agencies have improved their assessment of the Philippine economic outlook and conditions for rapid economic expansion and the momentum for growth are at hand as a result of the President's economic and social programs,” the ambassador said.

Baja invited the New York Times to visit the Philippines “and breathe the air of freedom in a democracy that is thriving in our fertile grounds, our blue skies, and our shining seas. The forecast is far more sunny days ahead.”

Editorial
Dark Days for Philippine Democracy

Published: April 5, 2006

Filipinos thought they had put an end to electoral chicanery and governmental intimidation when they overthrew the Marcos dictatorship two decades ago. Unfortunately, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has completely lost touch with the ideals that inspired that 1986 "people power" movement.

Mrs. Arroyo is no Ferdinand Marcos, at least not yet. But this onetime reformer is reviving bad memories of crony corruption, presidential vote-rigging and intimidation of critical journalists. Unless the Philippine Congress and courts find ways to rein in her increasingly authoritarian tendencies, democracy itself may be in danger.

This was not the outcome people expected five years ago when Mrs. Arroyo, then the vice president, was swept into power on a wave of popular discontent with her discredited predecessor, Joseph Estrada. In those days, Mrs. Arroyo, a professional economist, was seen as an earnest reformer. She won further credit by pledging not to run for a new six-year term in 2004.

But then she changed her mind, and her style of government as well. Her narrow re-election victory became tainted after a tape revealed her discussing her vote totals with an election commissioner while ballots were still being counted. She survived an impeachment attempt over that incident. But she was forced to send her husband into exile over charges that he took bribes from gambling syndicates.

Earlier this year she briefly declared a state of emergency in response to allegations of a coup threat that others disputed. Since then she has been intensifying pressure on a wide range of political critics and especially on the press. Government officials have warned news outlets that they will be held to restrictive new guidelines, the justice secretary talks darkly about a journalistic watch list, and the staff members of a well-known center for investigative journalism have been threatened with sedition charges. No Philippine government has made such efforts to muzzle the press since the Marcos era.

President Bush has repeatedly hailed Mrs. Arroyo as an important ally against international terrorism. He now needs to warn her that by undermining a hard-won democracy, she is making her country far more vulnerable to terrorist pressures.

[nugundam93]

bah.

[oldblue]

dami talaga apektado pag shift to parliament pinag-uusapan

[chua_riwap]

Wala yan kay GMA......

[baiskee]

hahaha natatawa ako... deny pa rin ang mga alipores.

[mazdamazda]

looks like some people are afraid of change.

[Isuzoom]

Bush Sheeet!!!!

[stinkaboy]

He is underfire nga ngayon eh about leaking infos to the media.

[empy]

:lurk: