US think-tank says Arroyo silencing critics like a dictator
04/19/2006 | 10:59 PM
Two weeks after a highly critical editorial by the New York Times, an influential Washington-based think-tank hit President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for supposedly silencing criticism by resorting to methods used by dictators.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy organization often consulted by the Bush administration, believes that Mrs. Arroyo’s popularity is on the decline, particularly after declaring a state of national emergency to quell an alleged military rebellion.
“Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in trouble. The political situation in her island nation is in crisis. Her popularity ratings have dropped into the low teens," Dana Dillon, Heritage Foundation senior policy analyst, said in his April 17 report.
“Arroyo appears to have given up on convincing her constituents of her competence. Instead, she has resorted to the methods many dictators use to silence criticism," Dillon said.
The report said there is a growing awareness in the US Congress about the deterioration of the rule of law in the Philippines.
That awareness, it added, extends to the White House, where debate continues over whether President Bush should meet with Mrs. Arroyo.
Dillon urged President Bush not to grant a meeting with Mrs. Arroyo until she stops intimidating the media and gets serious about journalist killings in the Philippines, another issue that needs urgent attention by the Chief Executive.
During the weeklong declaration, the Philippine National Police raided and took over the operations of The Daily Tribune, a small newspaper critical of the Arroyo administration, while her political opponents were apprehended. Philippines troops, on the other hand, surrounded a TV station to punish negative reporting.
MOST MURDEROUS COUNTRY
Citing the Reporters Without Borders Web site, Dillon said that 52 reporters who covered the Philippines have been murdered since 1986, and 42 of the cases remain unsolved. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists says that 22 have been murdered since 2000, making the Philippines the most murderous country in the world for journalists over that period.
Although no one claims that Mrs. Arroyo ordered or knew of any of the killings of reporters, Dillon said government foot-dragging when it comes to apprehending the killers is unacceptable for a country that receives such large amounts of American aid.
“In a stunning display of Orwellian “doublethink," Arroyo wants to convince policymakers that her illegal and unconstitutional suppression of journalists actually serves to preserve the constitution and rule of law," he added.
Dillon said the US Congress and President Bush must show Arroyo “that this logic doesn’t fly here, and that this goes for all allies in the global war on terror."
He lamented that the United States continues to prop up the Arroyo government by bestowing more aid on the Philippines in 2006 than the year before.
Instead, Congress and President Bush should review the security assistance provided to the Philippines and ensure that accountability procedures are followed and American-provided equipment and aid is used properly, Dillon stressed.
A CARROT TO OFFER
“We have a carrot to offer. Arroyo desperately wants a visit with President Bush to shore up her shaky political situation at home. We should tell her to get serious about apprehending those who kill journalists and about preventing intimidation of the press. If she does, we can discuss a presidential visit. But not before," Dillon said.
In its April 5 editorial, the New York Times criticized the policies of President Arroyo that supposedly undermine democracy in the Philippines, particularly her declaration of a state of emergency last February 24 to allegedly foil a coup plot against her government.
While the NYT pointed out that Mrs. Arroyo is “not a Ferdinand Marcos—at least not yet," it noted that the Chief Executive “is reviving bad memories of crony corruption, presidential vote-rigging and intimidation of critical journalists."
It also noted that “unless the Philippine Congress and courts find ways to rein in her increasingly authoritarian tendencies, democracy itself may be in danger."
The editorial also said that by Mrs. Arroyo’s maladministration, she invites terrorism to her country and advised President Bush to rethink relationship with the country.-GMANews.TV
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy organization often consulted by the Bush administration, believes that Mrs. Arroyo’s popularity is on the decline, particularly after declaring a state of national emergency to quell an alleged military rebellion.
“Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in trouble. The political situation in her island nation is in crisis. Her popularity ratings have dropped into the low teens," Dana Dillon, Heritage Foundation senior policy analyst, said in his April 17 report.
“Arroyo appears to have given up on convincing her constituents of her competence. Instead, she has resorted to the methods many dictators use to silence criticism," Dillon said.
The report said there is a growing awareness in the US Congress about the deterioration of the rule of law in the Philippines.
That awareness, it added, extends to the White House, where debate continues over whether President Bush should meet with Mrs. Arroyo.
Dillon urged President Bush not to grant a meeting with Mrs. Arroyo until she stops intimidating the media and gets serious about journalist killings in the Philippines, another issue that needs urgent attention by the Chief Executive.
During the weeklong declaration, the Philippine National Police raided and took over the operations of The Daily Tribune, a small newspaper critical of the Arroyo administration, while her political opponents were apprehended. Philippines troops, on the other hand, surrounded a TV station to punish negative reporting.
MOST MURDEROUS COUNTRY
Citing the Reporters Without Borders Web site, Dillon said that 52 reporters who covered the Philippines have been murdered since 1986, and 42 of the cases remain unsolved. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists says that 22 have been murdered since 2000, making the Philippines the most murderous country in the world for journalists over that period.
Although no one claims that Mrs. Arroyo ordered or knew of any of the killings of reporters, Dillon said government foot-dragging when it comes to apprehending the killers is unacceptable for a country that receives such large amounts of American aid.
“In a stunning display of Orwellian “doublethink," Arroyo wants to convince policymakers that her illegal and unconstitutional suppression of journalists actually serves to preserve the constitution and rule of law," he added.
Dillon said the US Congress and President Bush must show Arroyo “that this logic doesn’t fly here, and that this goes for all allies in the global war on terror."
He lamented that the United States continues to prop up the Arroyo government by bestowing more aid on the Philippines in 2006 than the year before.
Instead, Congress and President Bush should review the security assistance provided to the Philippines and ensure that accountability procedures are followed and American-provided equipment and aid is used properly, Dillon stressed.
A CARROT TO OFFER
“We have a carrot to offer. Arroyo desperately wants a visit with President Bush to shore up her shaky political situation at home. We should tell her to get serious about apprehending those who kill journalists and about preventing intimidation of the press. If she does, we can discuss a presidential visit. But not before," Dillon said.
In its April 5 editorial, the New York Times criticized the policies of President Arroyo that supposedly undermine democracy in the Philippines, particularly her declaration of a state of emergency last February 24 to allegedly foil a coup plot against her government.
While the NYT pointed out that Mrs. Arroyo is “not a Ferdinand Marcos—at least not yet," it noted that the Chief Executive “is reviving bad memories of crony corruption, presidential vote-rigging and intimidation of critical journalists."
It also noted that “unless the Philippine Congress and courts find ways to rein in her increasingly authoritarian tendencies, democracy itself may be in danger."
The editorial also said that by Mrs. Arroyo’s maladministration, she invites terrorism to her country and advised President Bush to rethink relationship with the country.-GMANews.TV
