By Dave Pugh
From the July 20 issue of the Indypendent:
“Hello, Garci... Will I win by one million votes?” is ringing on cellphones throughout the Philippines. It is alleged to be the taped voice of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo talking with commissioner of elections, Virgilio Garcillano, nicknamed “Garci,” in May 2004 before the election results were announced. Arroyo did, in fact, win by a million votes.
After three weeks of silence on the tape scandal, on June 28 Arroyo admitted that she committed the indiscretion of talking to an election official and called it 'a lapse in judgment.' Dagdag-bawas, a Tagalog expression for 'vote padding and shaving' is virtually a given as the ruling elite pass the presidential baton from one clan to another. Never has a person outside the top one percent been elected to the presidency, nor a person without the blessing of the U.S. government. The U.S. is backing Arroyo emphasizing that the 'rule of law' must be followed, and utterly terrified of another 'People Power' that ousted two U.S.-backed Philippine presidents before.
Amanda Vender added some info on the Ringone Revolution: "In a country with more cellphones than landlines, cellphones are a powerful tool to mobilize the masses. Choose your style: Billy Joel’s “Honesty,” or Lipps Inc 'Funkytown?' Both are cellphone ringtones paired with President Arroyo’s voice: “Hello Garci? So will I still lead by more than one million?
"At a fraction of the cost of a voice message, text messages are used to send political jokes and action alerts. The loose organization of cellphone users, TXTPower, has an urgent action to call the president: 'Calling all patriotic, self-respecting, honest, anti-corruption and progressive Filipinos: Starting today, let's take part in a "Texters Revolt for Justice." Text GMA at any of the following numbers with this sample message: Hello Ma'am, Im vs lying n dishonesty. Pls resign.'"
RINGTONE DOWNLOADS
Original recording of the "Hello Garci" conversations: [listen]
Hello Garci Ringtone: [listen]
Hello Garci, Funkytown Remix: [listen]
Hello Garci, Billy Joel Honesty Remix: [listen]
Hello Garci, Don't Fuck With My Heart Remix: [listen]
Hello Garci, KnottyBwoy Remix: [listen]
And just in: Glorio Arroyo's "I Am Sorry" [listen]
Additional ring tones can be found at TXTpower.org and qc.indymedia.org
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From the National Democratic Front of the Philippines statement on the current crisis: "The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People's Army (NPA) and other revolutionary forces in the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) support and encourage the legal mass movement and the broad united front to resolutely press for the ouster or resignation of GRP President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She is declared by the people as unfit to govern because of loss of trust and credibility due to evidence of massive cheating in the elections, corruption and subservience to the US. Her anti-people and anti-national policies have intensified the intolerable exploitation and oppression of the Filipino people. It is the sovereign right of the Filipino people to oust a corrupt, anti-people and anti-national government." [read]
Is the CPP fighting? It's hard to tell if there's a civil war going on, or just a "low-intensity conflict."
What's the scoop?
Posted by: confused | July 29, 2005 at 12:33 PM