PEOPLE POWER

Philippines People Power Movement (1986)

The People Power Revolution had happened in Philippines in 1986, topple totalitarian rule and restore democracy. There was a series of nonviolent and prayerful mass street demonstrations involved Filipino civilians as well as several political and military figures took place due to the culmination of a long resistance by the people against the 20-year running authoritarian regime of then current president Ferdinand Marcos. The protests, fueled by a resistance and opposition of years of corrupt governance by Marcos, occurred from February 22 to 25 in 1986, when Marcos fled and conceded to Corazon Aquino as President of the Philippines.

Throughout his presidency, Ferdinand Marcos had set up a regime in the Philippines that would give him ultimate power over the military, the national treasury. As a result, the Philippine economy began to tumble greatly. Due to international pressure, the elections were held on February 7, 1986. The opposition leader Corazon Aquino run for the presidency and Marcos ran for re-election. The electoral exercise was marred by widespread reports of violence and tampering of election results. The official election canvasser, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), declared Marcos the winner. On the other hand, the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), an accredited poll watcher, had Aquino winning over Marcos.

Because of reports of alleged fraud, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a statement condemning the elections. The Filipino people refused to accept the results, however, asserting that Aquino was the real victor. The events of the revolution started when two key leaders of the military, Enrile and Ramos withdrew their support for Marcos on February 22, 1986, and that Aquino was the rightful president. Supported by only a few hundred fellow soldiers, Enrile and Ramos prepared for the inevitable attack by Marcos-loyal troops. Radio Veritas—a Roman Catholic Church radio station which helped amplifying the voice of the Filipinos during the mass revolution and the only non-government-controlled radio station—replayed the press conference of the Ramos nationwide.

In addition, the highly influential Catholic Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin exhorted Filipinos to come to the aid of the rebel leaders and giving emotional support, food and other supplies and many people, especially priests and nuns, did come out to show their support for rebel leaders.

Radio Veritas played a critical role during the mass uprising because it had proven to be a valuable communications tool for the people supporting the rebels, keeping them informed of government troop movements and relaying requests for food, medicine, and supplies. Still, people came out until it swelled to hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians. Many bringing whole families, nuns and priests led prayer vigils, people set up barricades and makeshift sandbags, trees, and vehicles in several places and intersecting streets. In the mid-afternoon, Radio Veritas relayed reports of Marines massing near the camps in the east and tanks approaching from the north and south. A government loyal troops of Marines with tanks and armored vans were stopped by tens of thousands of people. Nuns holding rosaries knelt in front of the tanks and men and women linked arms together to block the troops. In the end, the troops were forced to retreat with no shots fired. Finally, Marcous fled the country with his family.

People Power Revolution provided the restoration of democratic institutions after thirteen years of authoritarian rule in Philipine. People, religious leaders, military leaders and media worked together.

South Africa Non-Apartheid Movement (1948-1994)

In South Africa, under apartheid, blacks were stripped of their citizenship, education, medical care, and other public services with inferior standards for blacks. Laws were passed not only to restrict the movement of blacks, but also to prohibit their movement. Natives were discriminated against in almost every facet of life. Blacks had no say in the construction of a South African republic. Legislation stated where and how they could live, travel, work, be educated, get married and mingle sparked internal resistance. The government responded to a series of popular uprisings and protests with police brutality, detentions without trial, torture, censorship, and the banning of political opposition from organisations.

The African National Congress then chose to add armaments to the struggle and performed acts of sabotage on tactical state structures. In 1949 ANC started advocating for a radical black nationalist programme. The new young leaders proposed that white authority could only be overthrown through mass campaigns. In 1950 that philosophy saw the launch of the Programme of Action, a series of strikes, boycotts and civil disobedience actions.

Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) organised a demonstration against pass books on 21 March 1960. In the 1970s the Black Consciousness Movement was created and endorsed black pride and African customs to alter the feelings of inadequacy instilled among black people by the apartheid system. In 1976 secondary students protested against forced tuition in Afrikaans, in the following years several student organisations were formed with the goal of protesting against apartheid, and these organisations were central to urban school boycotts in 1980 and 1983 as well as rural boycotts in 1985 and 1986.

In parallel to student protests, labour unions started protest action in 1973 and 1974. After 1976 unions and workers played an important role in the struggle against apartheid, filling the gap left by the banning of political parties. At the same time churches and church groups also emerged as pivotal points of resistance. Among the white population, some 20 percent of which did not support apartheid. South Africa became increasingly isolated internationally, with tough economic sanctions, broke fiscal and trading links, pressuring investors to refuse to invest in South African companies or companies that did business with South Africa and the arms embargo on 4 November 1977. Ordinary people in foreign countries raised funds for the ANC and PAC.

Increasing civil unrest and township violence led to the government declaring a State of Emergency on 20 July 1985. It was illegal to advise anyone to stay away from work or oppose the government, to disclose the name of anyone arrested or possess documents that the government perceived to be threatening. People could face up to ten years' imprisonment for these offences. Many of those detained by the government were interrogated and tortured; while anti-government activists used the "necklace method" (burning people alive) to kill black people suspected of supporting apartheid. The government banned television cameras from filming "unrest zones". The ANC and the PAC exploded bombs in restaurants, shopping centres and in front of government buildings such as magistrates courts, killing and maiming civilians and government officials in the process.

By 1985, it had become the ANC's aim to make black townships "ungovernable" (a term later replaced by "people's power") by forcing residents to stop paying for services. The official governments of numerous townships were either overthrown or collapsed, to be replaced by unofficial organisations, led by the youth People's courts were set up, and township residents accused of supporting the government were "put on trial" and dealt punishments. Widespread protests were taking place, the ANC launched a series of violent attacks on the government. International pressure also increased as economic sanctions began to impact on the value of the rand, which all but collapsed. On 11 February 1990, after 27 years Nelson Mandela was released, immediately calling for an even more determined effort against apartheid -- affirming his commitment to a peaceful and disciplined process.

There were fears that the change of power in South Africa would be violent. To avoid this, it was essential that a peaceful resolution between all parties be reached. In December 1991, the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) began negotiations on the formation of a multiracial transitional government and a new constitution extending political rights to all groups. CODESA adopted a Declaration of Intent and committed itself to an "undivided South Africa". Although the talks broke down several times, they were eventually successful in getting the ANC and NP to reach an agreement.

In 1993, the Negotiating Council reached an agreement on the election date, choosing 27 April 1994. In 1993, the Interim Constitution was published and accepted, guaranteeing freedom of speech and religion, access to adequate housing and numerous other rights, as well as explicitly prohibiting discrimination on almost any ground. The election went off peacefully and international observers were agreed that the elections were free and fair. The ANC won 62.7% of the vote, less than the 66.7% that would have allowed it to rewrite the constitution. Thabo Mbeki and FW De Klerk were made deputy presidents, and Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first democratically-elected president.

By analysing what had happened in history, people can change the ruling junta by their commitment for democracy, the bravery of the two military leaders involvement, the guidance of the religious leader and the coordinate action with the media, toppled the totalitarian rule and restore the democracy in Philippines. The launch of the Programme of Action, a series of strikes, boycotts and civil disobedience actions and mass campaigns can overthrown the white authority in South Africa. This highlighted that in Burma as well, if the students, monks and soldiers are united, the democracy can be seen definitely.

As there is a saying, “Unity is strength”, our Burmese people could change the ruling Junta in solidarity by taking actions against the brutal Military Regime.