MIM Notes No. 202      January 15, 2000

Remember the Menidola Massacre:  Fight u.s. imperialism in the 
Philippines

January 22 is the twelfth anniversary of the Menidola Massacre, when 
heavily armed Philippine Marines fired at peasants demanding land reform. 
Over 30,000 people, organized by the Peasant Movement of the Philippines 
(KMP), were marching to the presidential palace to demand that then-
President Aquino honor her campaign promises for agrarian reform. Before 
the marchers could reach the Palace, the Marines killed 13 peasants, 
wounded 105 and arrested 15.(1) The massacre exposed Aquino's allegiance 
to the big landlord class and u.$.-backed military, despite her image as 
a "democratic" alternative to the dictator Marcos.

In the united $tates we do not usually hear much about massacres of the 
people in countries that are neo-colonies of the united $tates, like the 
Philippines or East Timor. This is because the corporate controlled media 
does not have an interest in reporting on things that might damage 
business or create negative public opinion for u.$. imperialism. Amerikan 
firms directly control enterprises in the Philippines worth over $1.66 
billion and account for more than half of the foreign capital invested in 
the Philippines. U.$. companies regularly repatriate more than 80% of 
their earnings. In addition, between 1987 and 1990 u.s. aid accounted for 
more than 80% of the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
(AFP).(1) 

The united $tates props up bureaucrat capitalists (a.k.a. corrupt 
politicians) within the Philippines in order to protect its ability to 
exploit Filipinos and promote its military interests in Asia. Local 
puppets then receive a portion of the stolen wealth in return, in the 
form of special contracts for their businesses or plain, old-fashioned 
graft.

With this kind of support and investment, it is no wonder that the united 
$tates does not want people to learn about the Menidola Massacre or the 
popular demonstrations that happen every year in the Philippines to 
commemorate the deaths of the people at the hands of the armed forces.

MIM calls on our supporters and readers to join us in commemorating the 
Menidola Massacre this month. We are focusing our work in the month of 
January on publicizing the fight against u.$. imperialism in the 
Philippines. In several locations, MIM and the Revolutionary Anti-
Imperialist League will be screening the documentary "The Golf War," 
which captures the struggles of legal peasant organizations such as the 
KMP for genuine land reform, as well as the struggles of the underground 
revolutionary movement (see sidebar for some places and times).

Sham land reform

The promises of presidents Aquino, Ramos, and now Estrada to break up 
large landholdings and distribute land to those who till it have gone 
unfulfilled. As of 1996, only 19% of the land targeted for distribution 
had been given out and tenancy remains in at least 35% of all farms in 
the country.(2)

Big landowners can exempt their land from redistribution through all 
sorts of legal loopholes, such as converting farmland to residential or 
industrial land. In 1994, 2,428 big landowners applied for land 
conversion and only 4% of the applications were rejected.(2) Big 
landlords also use congress-approved exemptions to avoid land reform. As 
of September 1995, 56,220 hectares of commercial farms were approved for 
deferment and 27,732 hectares were exempted.(2)

Imperialism also weighs heavily on Filipino farmers. Just like his 
predecessors, President Estrada is pushing to open the Philippines to 
foreign investment. This includes lifting tariffs on imported foodstuffs, 
allowing foreign multinationals to buy large tracts of land, and 
generally promoting production for export rather than for local needs. 
Farms producing for export receive government support while rice 
producing lands are crushed out of business because of competition with 
subsidized First World farmers.

Genuine, revolutionary land reform

Throughout the Philippines peasants are joining militant legal 
organizations like the KMP to fight for land redistribution and other 
reforms, such as rent reduction. At the same time, in large part because 
of the violent repression they face for this non-violent organizing, more 
and more peasants are supporting or joining the armed revolutionary 
movement, led by the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Through painstaking political work among the people, the revolutionary 
movement in the Philippines builds areas of support in the countryside. 
It carries out land reform, builds new, popular organs of political 
power, and gathers forces to defeat the state's military.

The struggle over ownership of the land in the Philippines will not be 
resolved without armed struggle because the u.$.-backed fascist 
dictatorship will not give up the resource rich land without a fight. To 
aid this battle in the united $tates, we must build public opinion in 
support of the revolutionary movement in the Philippines and in 
opposition to u.$. involvement in the Philippines. The people of the 
Philippines have a right to self-determination. 

MIM has many resources to help people host educational events on the 
Philippines. We can provide videos, speakers, posters, and literature 
along with support for organizing rallies and protests. Contact us to 
join the fight against u.s. occupation of the Philippines.

Notes:

1. Today, 22 January 1995.

2. IBON Features, 22 January 1996.