Seems there are some problems in the PI. According to the latest news, it's a "rebellion", but it sounds more like some pissed-off military guys who want to be heard. President Arroyo, has called them "terrorists" which assures that some alarm bell will go off somewhere in the 1600 Crew headquarters.
Rebellious soldiers stormed a major commercial center in Manila early Sunday, hours after the Philippine government ordered the arrest of officers believed to be plotting a coup. The president warned the mutineers to surrender or face military action.
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The military responded by sending marines to positions nearby. Television footage later showed them shaking hands with some of the rogue officers, raising questions about what government forces would do if ordered to mount an assault.
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"There is absolutely no justification for the actions you have taken," Arroyo said. "You have already stained the uniform. Do not drench it with dishonor. Your actions are already hovering at the fringes of outright terrorism."
The rebel soldiers pledged to remain. In an earlier statement, they demanded the government resign and said they were prepared to die to force change.
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Interior Secretary Jose Lina ordered the arrest of Sen. Gregorio Honasan, citing an intelligence report reportedly linking the former army colonel to the mutiny. Honasan denied he had any "influence or control" over the mall takeover.
Military Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya said 10 of the wanted officers were from the army and navy — including several captains, the highest rank, mostly from the special operations command.
Eight served in the fight against Muslim separatists in the country's troubled south, and most had been decorated for gallantry under fire.
Arroyo, a 56-year-old economist, has enjoyed generally solid public support and is one of the staunchest U.S. allies in Asia. The United States has been working closely with the 120,000-strong Philippine military, which has been battling Muslim separatists and communist rebels for the last three decades.
Have to keep an eye on this one. The Philippine military has always been pretty conservative, but not suicidal. When Marcos got booted back in the 80's there were a lot of ex-military types who took their loot and split to live quietly as expats. I wonder if they are starting to get homesick.
posted by Jo Fish on 07.26.03 at 11:12 PM
Comments:
Don't the Phillipines still harbor an Al-Qaeda branch?
This is only a glimpse at a much larger problem. The Philippine military is so corrupt it makes the old LAPD look like a bunch of boy scouts. As for an Al Qaeda branch..that's a little murky..but there are roughly three muslim terrorist organizations down there sitting pretty thanks to corrupt military commanders, politicians, and police chiefs. Pretty nasty busines. It's a shame you don't hear about it in the news. We've got US troops down there that no one cares about.
posted by: Don on 07.27.03 at 08:35 PM [permalink]
I think what they have done is only one way of showing their grievances to the government.Dont you know that the income of a hairdressers are much bigger than the soldiers?The govt. cant give the benefits they deserve and some doesnt even have their own house and their officials dont have an ear for them so they get the attention of the president.Lets admit the fact that corruption happens in military officials.
