CONFIDENTIAL
060051 MDHIAN 2767
CHIEF
AND THUS BE AVAILABLE HERE FOR LORD GLENARTHUR'S VISIT. THE SIGNS ARE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE AFP WOULD LIKE TO SEE OF STAFF GENERAL RAMOS GO AND THE REBEL COLONEL, HONASAN, GRANTED AN AMNESTY.
4 -
HONASAN REMAINS A POPULAR FIGURE. HE IS PROBABLY BASED NOT FAR TO THE NORTH OF MANILA WITH A HANDFUL OF SUPPORTERS CARRYING SMALL ARMS. GENERAL RAMOS HAS BELATEDLY ISSUED AN ORDER TO ARREST HIM AND 12 OTHER REBEL OFFICERS STILL AT LARGE. BUT THERE ARE NO SIGNS THAT ANYONE IN THE AFP WANTS TO BETRAY OR HUNT DOWN HONASAN. IN AN INTERVIEW TODAY WITH THE PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPER INDEPENDENT, HE REPEATS HIS IMPATIENCE WITH THE TIRESOME ASPECTS OF DEMOCRACY, SUCH AS POLITICKING, DISCUSSION AND SOFTNESS TOWARDS THE LEFT. HE SAYS THE MAY CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS WERE NOT THAT CLEAN OR ORDERLY. HE
ARMED HINTS THAT HE WILL NOT START ANOTHER
CONFRONTATION CANNOT ELABORATE BECAUSE THE PLANS OF 'A MORE IMPORTANT GROUP THAN MINE WOULD BE IMPERILLED.
5.
BUT
A NEW SHOOTING COUP ATTEMPT SEEMS UNLIKELY FOR THE TIME BEING. RAMOS HAS THE AFP ON A FAIRLY REDDISH STATE OF
TO SEE ALERT, AND THE MAJORITY OF FENCE-SITTERS ARE WAITING WHAT PRESIDENT AQUINO WILL DO. AT PRESENT SHE IS SOFT-PEDDLING ON THE COUP LEADERS. ONLY THE 8 AIR FORCE OFFICERS ARRESTED ARE ACTUALLY IN DETENTION, THE 30 FROM THE OTHER SERVICES BEING ON A LOOSE FORM OF PROBATION.
6.
THE COMMUNIST NPA CONTINUE THEIR NEW TACTIC OF ATTACKING SUCH THINGS AS ELECTRIC POWER LINES. THE LEFT WING NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT (NDF) HABE NOT YET GOT FAR WITH THEIR PLANNED RALLIES IN MANILA, ONE OF WHICH WAS BANNED BY THE AFP COMMAND. THE NDF IS HAVING MORE SUCCESS IN PROVOKING STRIKES, PARTICULARLY WITH HIGH-PAYING MULTINATIONALS SUCH AS NESTLE. SOME SUPPORTERS OF MRS AQUINO ARE ALSO TAKING TO THE STREETS. FOR EXAMPLE A ''COALITION FOR PEACE' TO
A DEFEND CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE MILITARY HELD TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION ON 12 SEPTEMBER.
7.
ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S MANY PROBLEMS, MOSLEM SEPARATISM IN MINDANAO SEEMS TO BE ON THE BACK BURNER SINCE THE PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO THE US PELAEZ DEPARTED AND NEGOTIATIONS WERE PUT IN SUSPENSE. THERE IS MUCH HUFFING AND PUFFING FROM MOSLEM LEADERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE LOCATED OVERSEAS, LITTLE EVIDENCE OF ANY WILL TO TAKE ON THE MAJORITY
BUT
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