Envoy rebuts New York Times editorial on ‘dark days’ for RP democracy

The Philippines’ permanent ambassador to the United Nations yesterday took exception to a New York Times editorial that said President Arroyo’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies have endangered democracy in the country.

The April 5 editorial, "Dark Days for Philippine Democracy," said Filipinos thought they had put an end to electoral chicanery and governmental intimidation when they overthrew the Marcos dictatorship two decades ago, but that Mrs. Arroyo had "completely lost touch" with the ideals that inspired the EDSA 1986 people power revolt.

The editorial "must have been written through a glass darkly," Ambassador Lauro Baja countered in a statement released by his office. "The President’s swift and decisive action saved democracy in the Philippines."

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

The newspaper said that US President George W. Bush — who has repeatedly hailed Mrs. Arroyo as an important ally against international terrorism — now needs to warn her that "by undermining a hard-won democracy, she is making her country far more vulnerable to terrorist pressures."

The newspaper also noted that Mrs. Arroyo has been putting the heat on political critics and the press with government officials warning news outlets that they will be held to restrictive — yet vague — new guidelines, the justice secretary ominously mentioning a journalistic "watchlist," and staff members of a well-known center for investigative journalism threatened with sedition charges.

"No Philippine government has made such efforts to muzzle the press since the Marcos era," the US newspaper added.

The statement said Baja wrote to the New York Times, urging it to look dispassionately at Mrs. Arroyo’s economic, social and political programs. He added that Mrs. Arroyo continues to be a "professional economist" and an "earnest reformer."

He pointed to the rising strength of the peso, the country’s economic growth, the good performance of Philippine stocks and the country’s improved credit ratings, among other positive indicators.

"Credit rating agencies have improved their assessment of the Philippine economic outlook and conditions for rapid economic expansion and the momentum for growth at hand as a result of the President’s economic and social programs," Baja said.

He added that the Philippines, together with India, is leading in software design development, business process outsourcing and call centers.

"In no way has (Mrs.) Arroyo ‘completely lost touch’ with the ideals that inspired the 1986 ‘people power’ revolt," Baja countered.

He pointed out that Filipinos, contrary to reports, "continued 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."

Baja said the President’s declaration of a state of emergency averted a possible violent overthrow of the government by an "unholy alliance" of communists and military rebels, which would have thrown the country into chaos and civil war.

He invited individuals to come to the Philippines to see that democracy is thriving there.

Baja expressed readiness to answer any questions surrounding the government’s calibrated response policy and defend its implementation in dealing with anti-government rallies, should the issue be raised before a UN agency.

Last October, former Vice President and foreign affairs secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. threatened to elevate the issue to the UN Commission on Human Rights after police fired water cannons on him and other opposition rallyists who attempted to march on Malacañang.

Meanwhile, senators said yesterday the editorial reflects the present political situation in the country, particularly moves to curtail freedom of speech and attempts to muzzle the media. — With Lito Katigbak (STAR Washington bureau), Christina Mendez, AP