Egypt 2011 right now is where the Philippines was in 1986.
Marcos took center stage for 18 years. Mubarak held the wheel for 30 years (1981 to 2011). Reagan had Voice of America. Obama had Facebook and Twitter. A top American emissary visits Marcos – same for Mubarak. Marcos heads for a mansion in Hawaii. Mubarak heads for a Red Sea resort. It’s a golden parachute for America’s staunchest allies. The autocrats are gone. But who cares – people are jubilant. People are full of hope. There is dancing in the streets. Fireworks in the sky. The euphoria of being unshackled from an autocrat. And yes – there is reason to be proud -of that moment only. What comes afterwards – is another matter.
Seizing the moment – while no one is looking
The euphoric, proud, jubilant mood reduces the vigilance on what matters – the policy environment which sustained the existence of the autocrat in the first place.
While Aquino states that Egypt’s “people power” transition shows that the aspiration for a more free and fair society is universal. Aspiration does not necessarily translate to execution without the accompanying introspection, exertion and perspiration. Egypt is full of aspirations. And it remains to be seen whether the people of Egypt will follow through. After all, the Filipinos were the darling of the world in 1986 for having ousted Marcos “bloodlessly”. I really wonder if the “bloodless” applied because the revolution didn’t reach the tipping point without the conscious efforts by highly motivated advocates who laid down the groundwork – and paid for it with their lives.
Prior to EDSA, Filipinos were complaining about brownout, high power rates, high water rates, greedy Marcos, kamag-anak inc, konyo cronies, corruption, poverty.
Right after EDSA 1986, Filipinos were complaining about brownout, high power rates, high water rates, incompetent Aquino, kamag-anak inc, konyo cronies, corruption, poverty .
Fast forward to Philippines 2011 it’s still the same syet – brownout, high power rates, high water rates, kamag-anak inc, konyo cronies, corruption, poverty, high SLEX fees, high cost of fuel, lack of jobs, OFWs – and another Aquino, not only incompetent like Cory but an absolute whack job as well.
And yes – still the same protectionist constitution that allows presidents to come and go – but the same business interests to stay. How about one hundred years of brownouts and paying a high fee for electricity that wasn’t even delivered? Top that!!!
People Power is a Double-Edged Sword
People power when used responsibly can propel a nation to greatness. As has been done when the Berlin wall fell and the East Germans were reunited with Deutscheland. Or when South Korea had its saga and eventually moved towards First World status.
South Korea unabashedly declared that it was inspired by the Philippines “people power” movement.
Despite the economic growth and results in diplomacy, the government, having gained power by coup d’etat, was essentially a military regime.[75] Public support and trust was low when the promises for democratic justice never materialized. In the 1985 National Assembly elections, opposition parties together won more votes than the government party, clearly indicating that the public wanted a change.[77] Many started to sympathize with the protesting students. The Gwangju Massacre was never forgotten and in January 1987, when a protesting Seoul National University student died under police interrogation, public fury was immense. In April 1987, President Chun made a declaration in an attempt to overpower the opposition that measures would be taken to protect the current constitution at the end of his term, instead of contemplating constitutional reform that would call for direct election of the president. This announcement consolidated the people, with more than a million students and citizens participating in anti-government protests all over the nation in June 1987 in the June Democracy Movement.[75][78][79]
On June 29, 1987, the government’s presidential nominee Roh Tae-woo succumbed to the demands and announced the Declaration of Political Reforms which called for the holding of direct presidential elections and restoration of civil rights. In October 1987 a revised Constitution was approved by national referendum and direct elections for a new president were carried out in December, bringing the 5th Republic to a close.
The Sixth Republic began in 1987 and remains the current republic of South Korea (2010).[81] It started with the election of Roh Tae-woo as president for the 13th presidential term in the first direct presidential election in 16 years. Although Roh was from a military background and one of the leaders of Chun’s coup d’etat, the inability of the opposition leaders Kim Dae Jung and Kim Young Sam to agree on a unified candidacy led to his being elected.[82][83]
Roh was officially inaugurated in February 1988. The government set out to eliminate past vestiges of authoritarian rule, by revising laws and decrees to fit democratic provisions. Freedom of press was expanded, university autonomy recognised, and restrictions on overseas travels were lifted.[84] However, the growth of the economy had slowed down compared to the 80s, with strong labor unions and higher wages reducing the competitiveness of Korean products on the international market, resulting in stagnant exports, while commodity prices kept on rising.
Roh Moo-hyun was elected to the presidency in December 2002 by direct election. His victory came with much support from the younger generation and civic groups who had hopes of a participatory democracy, and Roh’s administration consequently launched with the motto of “participation government”. Unlike the previous governments, the administration decided to take a long-term view and execute market-based reforms at a gradual pace.[95] This approach did not please the public, however, and by the end of 2003, approval ratings were falling.[96]
Roh’s successor, Lee Myung-bak, was inaugurated in February, 2008. Stating “creative pragmatism” as a guiding principle, Lee’s administration set out to revitalize the flagging economy, re-energize diplomatic ties, stabilize social welfare, and meet the challenges of globalization
The latest news about South Korea shows a country that is attune with the challenges of the global community – and is busy in coming up with solutions and competing in the global market – and winning!
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923209
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said yesterday that regulatory reforms under the Lee Myung-bak administration have led to an improvement in business conditions, including job creation and increased investments.
“During the first half of the president’s term, some 160 regulatory reforms have been made” and “in general, administrative processes have become more simplified,” the ministry said.
“The reforms have brought economic benefits in many different areas, including reducing regulatory burdens on companies, increasing private investment and cutting budget costs and expenses,” the ministry added.
The ministry said these improvements were reflected in the latest annual “Doing Business” report by the World Bank, which surveys business conditions in a number of countries.
Last year, Korea ranked 19th, up from 23rd in 2008, the first year of the Lee administration, and 27th in 2005. The World Bank noted that Korea had made the most progress last year when it came to starting a business, in which the country rose from 133rd place to 53rd.
Among the policies that have led to improvements in business conditions, the ministry cited expanding the supply of rental homes for foreigners within the free economic zones and support for new growth engine industries.
In addition, foreign components manufacturers are given a 50 percent cut in rental fees within the FEZ for investments under $5 million, and 75 percent above that amount.
The government has targeted components as a growth industry. The ministry said the cut in rental payment was the most competitive incentive for foreign components companies.
Regulations governing the export and import of crude oil have also been eased. In 2006, 15 oil trading companies were registered in 2006, while the number increased to 19 last year.
However, the World Bank’s “Doing Business” report said that Korea’s global ranking in a number of areas had slipped last year, including employing workers (150th), registering property (71st), getting credit (15th), protecting investors (73rd) and paying taxes (49th).
It noted improvements, besides starting a business, in the areas of trading across borders (8th) and enforcing contracts (5th), with no change in dealing with construction permits (23rd) and closing a business (12th).
The ministry said it expected more progress on the reform agenda in the second half of the Lee administration.
By Lee Eun-joo [angie@joongang.co.kr]
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In contrast where is the Philippines today? The country who supposedly had a franchise on people power showed that people power by itself is not enough to create meaningful change. Such change has to be accompanied by well-informed policies, efficient processes, transparent institutions and the will to abide by the rule of law.
Corruption? Well, EDSA democratized corruption. It used to be that there was only one huge buwaya by the name of Marcos. After EDSA, the buwayas have multiplied – pakapalan na. From Janitor to Driver to Auditor to Regional Director, to Secretary all the way to the top – and bottom. It used to be that the only person you had to watch for was Marcos. Today, you have to watch everybody! If it ain’t the BIR tax collector, it’s the cops, or the permits bureau, the fire department inspection, the building inspection – there’s always something.
Without the accompanying changes in economic policy – the demand for jobs, the diaspora, and the widening gap between the 90 million Filipinos and the 40 wealthiest Filipinos will go south.
Without a Freedom of Information Act, we are left with no recourse but to watch the Senate moro moro. Rep. Eduardo Gullas urges NFA to publish complete details of every rice import permit issued to private traders. I say – PASS THE FOIA!!! We citizens shouldn’t just settle for Senate probes – we owe it to ourselves have the FOIA passed – probe the Senate, Congress, and President’s Pork barrel as well. So many people making a fuss about Angelo Reyes PhP 50 million pabaon – but no one’s making a fuss about the collusion in bidding out the Pork Barrel – which makes the PhP 50 million pabaon look like loose change. What happened to the PhP 56B pesos Road Users Tax? In case you all didn’t notice – pinaghatian na – that’s why the Party-Listers like Satur Ocampo have been silent – nabibili rin pala ng pera.
After the Euphoria Comes the Hangover
When the dust has settled. The Egyptians still have to rebuild. It’s just kinda weird that people are talking about democratisation when the reins of power were just handed to a military junta. Doesn’t that seem sound like jumping from the frying pan to the fire. Egypt was run by a military council in the 1950s. My wiki cheat sheet on modern Egypt’s history stated that
The History of modern Egypt conventionally begins from when Egypt became part of the British sphere of influence in the region, a situation that conflicted with Egypt’s position as part of the Ottoman Empire. The country became a British protectorate in 1914 and achieved independence in 1922. British troops remained in the country until 1956 after the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, and the declaration of a republic in 1952. Gamal Abdel Nasser’s resultant one party state has seen many changes but has remained in place, first under Anwar Sadat and then until very recently under Hosni Mubarak. President Hosni Mubarak resigned in Egypt on Friday, 11 February 2011. At present, Egypt is being ruled by the Egyptian Military.
Egypt is free from Mubarak.. and back to a junta? Good luck with that. Parang Pinas – free from Marcos, and back to the oligarchs – nothing new.. same family names.. same syet. Where’s the Philippines 25 years after EDSA 1986? NOWHERE!
Since EDSA 1986 the Philippines has come a long way to becoming a nation of japayukis, punaspwets, and atsays headed by a pig headed spoiled brat bachelor. I don’t wish Egypt the misfortune of having the results of Philippine style “people power” – the Egyptians owe it to themselves not to emulate the Filipinos.
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Hayden, Hayden, Hayden, naman, naman. Oligarch wiped out the brown-skin-punk’d-nose Filipinos. Because Filipinos adore the tisoys and tisays and the white-skinned oligarchy! The Filipinos are treating them like Gods. Filipinos believe white-is-right, speakengese goot englsichtzes is high IQ. So when the tisoy oligarchy says kneel before them, So does Filipinos. That is why Filipinos go abroad to have their lives run by whites .
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