Philippines
The Philippines is a constitutional republic ruled by President Fidel
Ramos, who was elected in 1992. Under the 1987 constitution, legislative
authority is invested in a bicameral congress consisting of a 250-member
elected house of representatives and a 24-member senate. The government
consists of a coalition of Lakas ng Edsa (People's Struggle), led by Ramos,
and the National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD). The Laban ng Demokratikong
Pilipono (LDP) withdrew from the senate and coalition in January 1996.
In September 1996, the violent anti- government insurgencies that had continued
in the southern islands throughout 1995 ended with a peace agreement. The
agreement, between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF), the largest of the anti-government insurgent groups, ends over twenty
years of violence. It was however condemned by the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayef militant Islamic group (both splinter groups
of the MNLF), both of which continued and co-ordinated their terror campaigns
(see PARTIES, ORGANIZATIONS, MOVEMENTS). The MILF had 10,000 fighters and
was engaged in heavy fighting with the Philippines army towards the end
of 1996.
In November 1996, the Philippines played host to the annual Asia-Pacific
Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit meeting. Economic indicators continued
to show good growth for the Philippines, which at 7 per cent made it among
the fastest growing Asian economies, and the currency maintained the same
level against the US dollar as the previous year. Inflation, however, continued
to be above 5 per cent.
Antisemitism in the Philippines has been largely restricted to media
reporting or incidents in Islamist circles. There have been occasional expressions
of antisemitism either at the official or grassroots level, based on ignorance
of Judaism.
In 1994 controversy was sparked by the decision not to screen Steven Spielberg's
film Schindler's List because of objections to the alleged pornographic
nature of certain scenes. When President Ramos intervened to insist that
the film be shown, antisemitic remarks were reportedly made by the former
chief censor.
The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country (83 per cent). Muslims
represent the largest minority group, comprising approx-imately 5 per cent
of the population. Concentrated mostly in the southern islands, Muslims
have been alienated from the Christian population and claim under-representation
in political and economic life. This is a contributing factor in the formation
of insurgent groups.
The Philippines is a major transit point for refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia
and other mainland Asian countries. As a result of develop-ing tension,
the government advocates and practises resettlement of refugees in third
coun-tries or repatriation to their country of origin.
Abu Sayef receives substantial support from Iran and Hizbullah. Filipino authorities also suspect the Abu Sayef group has links with the Harakat al-Islamiya (Islamic Movement), which was founded in and is supported by Libya. The leader of Abu Sayef, Aburajak Akubakar Janjalani, was trained in Libya.
An editorial that likened Jews to Nazis was published on 29 September
in the Today newspaper, which is edited by Jomar Kho Inidanan. Entitled
"Gas the Palestinians", the editorial attacked the international
media for not equating the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with
high-ranking Nazis such as Reinhard Heydrich or Adolf Hitler. The editorial
also contained references to "Netanyahu, a Jew" with his hand
in a "stiff Hitlerian salute", "Israeli storm-troopers"
and "pure-blooded Jews".
Another article, which was printed on 10 October in the same publication,
portrayed a distorted caricature of Netanyahu seated at a desk wearing a
Nazi-style armband with a Star of David instead of a swastika, and clenching
a missile between his teeth.
The Philippines is mostly tolerant of minorities, and most government
and religious leaders are openly opposed to antisemitism. The continued
publication of antisemitic and anti-Zionist references in the print media,
however, is cause for concern.
Islamist elements have become increasingly vocal in recent years and may
become a significant antisemitic source in the future, especially considering
Libyan and Iranian influences among the militant groups.
© JPR 1997