The Election in the Philippines
Norman Kempster’s report (Times, Feb. 11) that the Reagan “Administration is known to hope that Marcos will extend an olive branch to his opponent to appease world public opinion and U.S. concern, to head off threatened violent demonstrations and to avoid a cutback in U.S. aid. Similarly, the Administration hopes that Aquino will agree to work for reforms within the government.” Come on. Such a stand, if true, seems scripted out of Marcos’ palace.
Could the Reagan clique supporting Marcos be that naive? How is it possible to “work for reforms” with Marcos? Even Reagan is having a terribly difficult time with him, with all the clout the U.S. government has.
The Reagan “conservative ideologues” are shortsighted, to say the least. Praise is coming out of the media for the Filipino people’s devotion to the right to vote. This is in the tradition of American democracy. If we were to reverse things around, and the American people had their election stolen from under them, would an appeal not to demonstrate and to work with those who stole the election be a reasonable plea?
Despite unlimited exposure in the media of the Marcos governing style, Americans have not yet grasped just how repressive a ruler Marcos is.
MANUEL M. ROXAS
Hollywood
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