From: apakabar@IGC.APC.ORG ("Indonesia Publications/Task Force", by way
 of gustilo@pop-server.upenn.edu)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Subject: PH: 'Synapses' Aug 9 News (forwarded from SEASIA-L)
Date: 12 Aug 92 17:56:06 GMT

/* Written  6:36 am  Aug 12, 1992 by fbp in cdp:reg.philippine */
/* ---------- "Synapses: Aug. 9 News" ---------- */
From: Foreign Bases Project <fbp>
Subject: Synapses: Aug. 9 News

>From synapses Wed Aug 12 05:49:17 1992
>From jw-acdi@geo2.geomail.org Sun Aug  9 10:12:52 1992

INFO-Davao: 9 August '92 *** News Items: 60 Lines

1. TOTAL AMNESTY: Newly elected Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Jose de Venecia has said that he and his
151 member "rainbow coalition" in Congress will push for a
"total, unconditional, absolute amnesty" for all rebels.
This is in contrast to Pres. Ramos' offer of amnesty on
condition that Rebels lay down their arms first.

2.  A 2-STEP PLAN: is proposed by De Venecia: 1st) automatic
and immediate amnesty to some 4000  rebels who have already
applied for it and were endorsed by Ramos in his State-of-
the-Nation address to Congress on 27 July; 2nd)  amnesty for
an estimated 26,000 more rebels from the CPP/NPA/NDF, the
RAM (Military rebels) and the MNLF (Muslims).

3. PROBLEM:  One of the problems with both the President's
"conditioned amnesty" and De Venecia's "total amnesty" is
that many Political Detainees are charged with "ordinary
criminal offenses" and "illegal possession of firearms in
furtherance of rebellion" -- all unbailable resulting in
prolonged detention without trial or court orders!!

4.  A LEGALIZED COMMUNIST PARTY:  would not affect those De
tainees charged with "ordinary criminal offenses". There is
still the Marcos Presidential Decree 1866 -- a "catch-all"
law often evoked after "planting" a gun or grenade on an
suspected rebel when arrested.  This must be invalidated.

5. NO OPPOSITION:  Defense Secretary Renato De Villa, a
former General, said "the senior commanders of the Armed
Forces expressed full accord and support" for plans to
legalize the CPP/Communist Party of the Philippines.  "I
think it will be a great help in setting the climate for a
final general amnesty program" said De Villa. The momentum
for peace is picking up!

6. MARIHATAAG STILL SUFFERS:  Last week, in San Agustin
town, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur where the residents have
suffered 3-4 years of successive "all-out-drives-to wipe-out
the enemy", soldiers fired 4 artillery shells into a
suspected "NPA staging area".  The poorly aimed shells
landed on the elementary school of Barangay Pongon, an
evacuation center, killing 3 "%9al" refugees and wound
ing 10 others including an infant and a 10-year old girl.

     One of the dead is 13-year old Sherlita Peligro. She
was among the 18 families who fled to the school when the
Military started a counter-insurgency operation in the area
last 4 July.

      Marihatag Mayor Librado Navarro quoted Major Jose
Balintag, Commander of the Army's 29th IB/Infantry Battalion
as saying: "we are sorry to have no control over the bombs
(shells)". One of the wounded, 39 year old Nene Gato said
Army officials visited the survivors at the hospital and
said" "you can't blame us and we can't blame you. We cannot
control where the bomb would hit..."

Thanks for your interest in all of us here ... Peace // Jack