WORLD

By WILLIAM POMEROY

On February 7, the Filipino people will vote in a special election for presi- dent and vice president. They are being told the election is their chance to ren- der a verdict on President Marcos. But many observers believe it is just another way for the U.S. to maintain its dominance over the Philippines.

Marcos and running-mate Arturo To- lentino on the Kilusan Bagong Lipman (New Society Movement) ticket, are opposed by Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated Benigno Aquino, and Salvador Laurel under the banner of the United National Democratic Organ- ization (UNIDO).

Western news services are depicting the election as a contest between a dic- tatorial tyrant — Marcos — and an honest, if politically inexperienced, Mrs. Aquino, who stands for restoring democracy to the Philippines.

The Reagan administration is credit- ed with playing a mediating role to bring te about the elections.

But is this concern for democracy or is his administration acting to stop the slide into political instability and social upheaval that threatens U.S. interests there?

~The U.S: has nothing to lose and much to gain from the election. If Mar- cos wins, the U.S. could go on dealing with him with a new legitimacy and its investments and military bases would be relatively secure.

If the Aquino-Laurel team wins,

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“The electoral battle may lie between Marcos and the opposition candidates, but the political ‘war’ is already decided in favor of U.S. political and economic interests’, says the Communist Party of the Philippines.

U.S. influence was a factor in bring- ing about unity at the last minute in UNIDO, preventing Ms. Aquino and Laurel from running separately.

The other major factor was the in- fluence of the powerful Catholic Church backing Ms. Aquino.

The so-called Communist Party of the Philippines and its New Peoples Army are supporting Ms. Aquino. The CPP-NPA, originally set up in 1968 was

Philippine vote: a political set-up?

Ms. Aquino said she would grant amnesty to the CPP*NPA and even welcome it into her government.

The genuine 55-year-old Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas has been taking quite a different, independent, position on the election. In a statement issued at the time of the Marcos announcement that an election would be held, the PKP said, ‘‘The main issue is not whether Marcos will win or not. The real ques- tions are: Who stands to gain from the snap (quickly called — Ed) election? Who stands to lose? From the stand- point of the national interest, it is U.S. imperialism that will gain heavily.

‘The presidential poll will provide a convenient facade of democratic rule; it

will revive illusions of meaningaa F changes for the better; it willserveasan — exhaust valve for the simmering discon- — tent of the people against the pre-set _ political set-up. The electoral battle — may lie between Marcos and the oppos~ — ition candidates but the political ‘war’ j already decided in favor of U.S. poli- tical and economic interests.” y

The PKP said the election period is — ‘tan opportune time to address the main issues involved in the contradiction be- — tween the Filipino people and U.S. im- — perialism — the issue of national sover eignty and of genuine economic independence.”’ It also urged discus-_ sion on the presence of U.S. military bases.

‘Bulgarian connection’ farce

signs of mental illness, th.

The *‘ Bulgarian connec- tion’ farce at the Rome Trial, based on _ the coached testimony of Mehmet Ali Agca, a de- mented Turkish neo- fascist, recently heard ex- cerpts from an interview with mobster Francesco Pazienza that the whole story had been invented by SISMI, Italy’s military in- telligence:service.

court has refused a q fence request Agca given a__ psychiat examination.

Bulgaria has charged th trial’s real purpose is poison relations betwee states and insists Antong, not only be freed but hy innocence be clearly sp

led out. * ok *

Pazienza followed his interview, conducted by Investigating Magistrate

As the bizarre trial grinds on, Bulgarian citi-

J Add your voice to mounting internation protest against this p

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U.S. interests would be equally secure — perhaps even more so, behind the facade of ‘treform’™’ and ‘democratic change.”

a Maoist clique, has developed as an alliance of Maoist and radical Catholic sectors, with the Catholic influences becoming increasingly dominant.

Creating for today and tomorrow

MOSCOW — Workers and collective farmers all over this country are discussing what the Communist Party economic guidelines will mean for them and their fami- lies. They know if the targets for the next five-year plan are to be achieved, it will be mainly as a result of their labor.

Looking at the larger perspective, the period from 1986 to the year 2000, they realize that what is proposed is a truly gigantic undertaking. Its success could bring them close to the threshold of communism, the most advanced stage of socialism, in which each will receive according to need and contribute according to ability.

As to the Five Year Plan, its main goal is to ensure the further satisfaction of the people’s material and cultural needs. It is envisaged that the supply of foodstuffs and other consumer goods will increase, and that the quality will be improved. The network of modern shopping facilities (including self-service establishments and what we call neighborhood convenience stores) will be greatly expanded, along with facilities for shopping at the work places. All this, it is frankly stated, should drastically reduce the time spent shopping for necessities.

While monthly earnings for workers and office employees are to go up by 13 to 15 per cent, those for collective farmers are to rise by 18 to 20 per cent, thus furthering the process of bringing the countryside up to the level of the cities. Workers and office employees employed on second and third shifts are to receive higher premiums.

Measures already under way for raising salaries of teachers and other education employees will be com- pleted. Workers at scientific research establishments and design and technological organizations will be better paid. The public education system is to be improved in order to provide a higher quality of instruction and better training of specialists in every field. The level of the ideological and political, labor, moral and aesthetic edu-

8 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 5, 1986 ©

Martella in the mobster’s New York jail cell, with a letter to French lawyer Christian Roulette in which he repeated his story.

zen Sergei Antonov’s fate rests entirely on the “‘cre- dibility’’ of Agca, a wit- ness whose rantings have embarrassed the prosecu- tion. But, despite obvious

vocative travesty of just CY Send a letter or wire ¢q: Premier Bettino Cray) Prime Minister of Italy’ Palazzo Chigi, Piazzo C onna 370, Rome, Italy.

- improved.

From Moscow Jack Phillips

cation of the rising generation and their preparation for socially useful work will be raised.

There will be increased help to families with children and there will be an improvement in the working condi- tions and amenities in the everyday life of working wo- men. Work collectives will be provided with more favor- able opportunities to satisfy the housing needs of their members. Young families will be given broader privileges to join housebuilding co-operatives and to build individual homes. There will be a marked improvement in available opportunities for leisure and free time activities.

Within the next few years, the problem of providing accommodation for all children at pre-school establish- ments will be solved. The network of extended day schools (where children of working parents are accom- modated after the instruction period) will be extended.

The pension system will be improved. Minimum old age pensions for workers and collective farmers will rise. Social services and amenities for pensioners, including war veterans and labor veterans, will be expanded. Ser- vices offered by trade, public catering, public health establishments and community service organizations to single old and disabled citizens in their pomes will be

In the public health system, there will be more em, phasis on disease prevention and the quality of medicg service. More hospital beds will be provided and th gradual introduction of annual checkups for everyo will begin.

The network of district cultural establishments an, houses of culture (comunity centers), particularly in ney urban, residential areas and in the countryside, will b enlarged. The artistic level of motion pictures, pla concert programs and art exhibitions, already very hig is to be enhanced. Greater efforts will be made to dra) young people into amateur art and cultural activitie

The implementation of the guidelines in their final amended form after the party congress will be accom plished by the people themselves. No secret is made ¢ the fact that such a grand program can be achieved on by the combined efforts of the working people, manage ment, the government at different levels and the pop organizations of the people. They must manage economy with great skill and with a thrifty approac available human and material resources and the high possible utilization of modern science and technol

The human factor is highlighted as the key to unlock) ing the door to the intensification and acceleration ¢ production, the material basis for social i improvemen all down.the line.

The guidelines submitted for universal discussion co I tain this formulation: ‘‘What should be done in the fir place is to activate fully the principal, essential inexhaustible reserve which consists in the human fe tor, in ensuring good organization, discipline order.’ From what I have seen here, the Soviet peop are prepared to accept that challenge, because thi know that what they create, what they build, will mei al better life for themselves and their families.