*----------------------------------------------------------* | | | x x x x x x x xx xxx xxx xxx | | xx xx x xx xx xx x x x x x x Issue #22 | | x x x x x x x x xx x x x xx xxx | | x x x x x x x x x x x x 02/14/86 | | x x x x x x x xx x xxx xxx | | | |----------------------------------------------------------| | Newspaper of the Maoist Internationalist Movement | *----------------------------------------------------------* PHILIPPINES FISSURES MARCOS MAY ACCEPT SALVADOR LAUREL AS VICE-PRESIDENT As the two candidates Aquino and Marcos argued as to who won the Philippino election, Reagan continued to say that he would work with Marcos. Also, he noted with satisfaction how the Philippines had adopted American style democracy with a "good" election and a "strong" two-party system. (New York Times, 2/11/86, p. 1) Reagan tried to appear neutral, but Aquino threatened Reagan that he'd better recognize her presidential victory. (AP, 2/12/86) She said that she would not necessarily be able to restrain her disappointed followers who saw violence as the only recourse. Some of her Parliamentary allies even threatened to turn to the semi-Maoist New People's Army if Reagan and Marcos did not give Aquino her due. Aquino says that there will be violence unless Marcos resigns and that there will be local and national strikes about once a week until Marcos resigns. (Detroit Free Press, 2/12/86; AP, 2/13/86) Reagan seemed to suggest that compromise was the best thing and that Aquino should receive some kind of input in the government. Speculation continued to focus on Marcos's acceptance of Salvador Laurel--Aquino's running mate--as his own vice-president, especially given Marcos's picking a rather obscure running mate and Laurel's relative conservatism even compared with Aquino. HAITIAN REVOLT NOT SETTLED YET A celebration of Duvalier's fall took something of a political tone. "Despite our joy, people who remain vigilant see with uneasiness the infiltration in the National Council of Government and in the Ministries, some men of the past-- former ministers who supported the dictatorial Duvalier regime in all its ferocity." ("Manifesto of Committed Gonaives Citizens," New York Times, 2/12/86, p. 4) "These elements do not have any place in the bosom of the new government... The people watch and wait for their liberation to be total and definitive." (Ibid.) "Brother Luciano Pharaon, who had been active organizing anti-Duvalier resistance, said in an interview: 'The majority of people here are very skeptical. They're not enthusiastic. For them this represents Duvalierism without Duvalier.'" (Ibid.) COMPANY ABANDONS "RAPE" PERFUME Citing intense pressure from the public, a New York-based perfume company has decided against the name "Rape" for a new perfume. The NOW New York Media Reform Task Force orchestrated the public pressure after a New York woman attorney alerted NOW to the proposed name. (Soujourner, Jan. 1986) There are many examples of rape or other violence against women being "sold" in the mass media--in the movie "Purple Rain," for instance, rock star Prince was shown beating his devoted girlfriend. The victory against "Rape" perfume is only one battle in a long war against the patriarchy. BHOPAL WOMEN SURVIVORS: BREAKING SILENCE For women who survived the Union Carbide leak of December 1984 in India, the problems of adjustments are just beginning. The prisons have affected them in dangerous ways. Women who protested on May 10 were beaten by police. Significant side effects for women are: painful menstruation, infertility, reduced lactation, pain during intercourse, and continuous exhaustion. The agony of the survivors is still acute; one said "we're on the brink of death still...it is slowly killing us. Isn't it better to die fighting than be killed gradually by this gas?" (Off Our Backs, Jan. 1986) CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT FOR JAILED REVOLUTIONARY JUDY CLARK At Bedford Hills Prison in New York, because the FBI claims it discovered a vague "conspiracy to escape," Weatherwoman and Brinks expropriator Judy Clark has received a sentence far beyond the dictates of even so-called "maximum security." The FBI claims that it found documents in Judy's handwriting outside the prison gates, proving her involvement. Although women caught in the act of escaping have been given one year in solitary, Judy Clark received two years. This means she will be in one cell 23 hours a day, denied all human contact except when she showers, has one hour recreation, or gets visits. Fellow radical Kathy Boudin, who has written to feminist newspapers on Judy's behalf, terms this "an unjust sentence... essentially [given] for written ideas which the FBI says were hers." In the wake of the aborted Brinks robbery of 1981, many of the participants received discriminatory treatments--Sekoe Odinga and Sam Brown tortured in prison, Judy Clark held in total isolation for months, and Kathy Boudin, who eventually pleaded guilty, enduring a media circus before she received a 20 year sentence. To protest Judy's sentence, write to: Superintendent Elaine Lord 247 Harris Road Bedford Hills, NY 10507 (Off Our Backs, Dec., Feb. 1985) WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS BIG MONEY UNDER CONGRESSIONAL ATTACK According to the Wall Street Journal, the Congress is moving towards restricting the role of Political Action Committees (PACs) in making donations to campaigns for federal office. Some congresspeople are even considering public financing for candidates. Well, heck, there's only two parties anyway. Why not get the taxpayers to pay for the election of millionaires? Tsk, tsk, ultraleftists, won't public funding reduce the influence of corporate donors on electoral politics says the "democratic socialists." Funding for Congressional races was under $100 million in 1974 and rose to over $350 million in 1984. Most of the increase came from PACs and large donors. Jesse Helms paid $16 million for his latest Senate term. Even the Wall Street Journal acknowledges that a serious House contest means a half a million dollars--and that's only for a two year term. (Wall Street Journal, 1/20/86, p. 34) The MIM NOTES recommendation on public electoral funding, the end of the domination of millionaires and political air time based on the political work of volunteers: Don't hold your breath. Make revolution. THE PROGRESSIVE GETS DIRT ON SALVADORAN DEATH SQUADS An admitted death squad officer who took part in the assassinations of civilians said that he worked for the CIA. The CIA admitted his being on the payroll, but the death squad officer's commanding CIA liason had no comment on the matter. The Progressive interviewed the death squad officer to prove the U.S. connection and to show the truth about Reagan's claims that the CIA is not connected to death squad activity. (Progressive, March 1986) To the best of MIM NOTES' knowledge, no major press service or newspaper picked up the story.