16th anniversary of EDSA fails to attract people

Undoubtedly, the 1986 EDSA Revolution was one of our greatest historical events. It has no precedence in the world for it was not only a peaceful revolution that toppled a dictatorship, it was conducted in a fiesta atmosphere. The fiesta is our highest community expression and it was used to topple a totalitarian regime.

Sad to say, however, is the fact that the people have not celebrated this great event. Every year, an anniversary celebration was held right in front of the EDSA monument and only the people in government attend. In short, there are people on the stage, but no crowd. The celebration is actually the opposite of the EDSA Revolution. For the EDSA Revolution was all people wit no stage. There were no speakers and every sector of society was represented.

Attempts were made by three succeeding adminis-trations to have a crowd. But not even the so-called hakot system has worked. Buses ferry students and government employees and workers to the site. But they don’t stay.

Last Monday, the 16th Anniversary of EDSA was declared a holiday. The three presidents since Marcos were present. But, only 100 people came in the morning and several thousands in the afternoon. What was conspicuous were the law-enforcing agents present to insure that the celebrations would be peaceful. Obviously what was feared was that some radical elements would use the occasion, not to celebrate the EDSA Revolution, but to start one of their own. One of the groups that was arbitrarily prevented from joining the celebration was the Akbayan. Why were they not allowed to join the celebration? Did they carry any banners against the present administration? No! All their banners merely proclaimed that 16 years after EDSA, Marcos cronies remain in power. Metro Manila Police Chief, Eduardo Aglipay has admitted that this was a mistake and ensured that it will not happen again.

One reason why the public is so disillusioned with both EDSA I and EDSA II are the issues confronting the nation. What was the main issue being discussed during the EDSA I Anniversary celebration? Erap’s trip abroad to have a knee operation. It was EDSA II that toppled Erap from power. Now, many of our top government officials are more interested in the condition of his knees than on his being brought to justice. Our doctors have already attested that we have many competent local doctors that can perform such an operation. But Erap insists that he has the right to choose his own private doctor. He has been officially charged with plunder and can’t even go out on bail, now he wants "the right to go abroad for an operation." Would such a right be granted if he was just Juan dela Cruz? Clearly we have many people who believe in a double standard of justice. The people who are advocating for Erap’s being allowed to go abroad for an operation belong to two classes. First are the people who want to give him an opportunity to escape. Second, those in power who believe that he will be a lesser threat to their political ambitions if he were in exile as he would have less influence on his followers here. The real problem is to enforce the rule of law. In short, justice.

All these things give the people a reason to mourn and not to celebrate the EDSA anniversaries.