N※N

Australia: Halt the demolition of Melbourne's 44 public housing towers!

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/2 .. ion-of-melbourne-s-44-public-housing-towers.html
  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, October 22nd 2025 at 0:36 GMT by World Socialist Web Site
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

300x168/12206 Bytes

259x194/10152 Bytes

259x194/8905 Bytes

“The Philippines in the Midst of a New Wave of Authoritarianism”—offers a sweeping critique of the current Philippine government’s escalating crackdown on dissent, the erosion of democratic institutions, and the deepening alignment with the United States and China. By weaving together on‑ground reportage, interviews with activists, and analyses from international human‑rights monitors, the piece paints a stark picture of a country on the brink of a renewed civil war.

A Brief Historical Context

The article opens with a concise historical sketch. After the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Philippines enjoyed a decade of relative democratic consolidation, with a peaceful transfer of power to President Benigno Aquino III and a surge in grassroots organizing. The article stresses that the democratic experiment, however, was fragile. The return of the People Power movement’s “anti‑communist” narrative during the early 2000s, coupled with the 2013 election of President Joseph “Joey” Ramos, marked the start of a gradual rollback of civil liberties. Ramos’s administration’s “War on Terror” rhetoric—mirrored after the U.S. model—paved the way for the 2016 re‑institution of the “Armed Forces of the Philippines” (AFP) and the 2018 “Special Security Forces” (SSF) units, both of which have been accused of extrajudicial killings and torture.

Recent Protests and the State’s Response

The core of the article focuses on the wave of protests that erupted in October 2025 after the government announced a new “Anti‑Subversive Act.” The Act criminalizes the formation of any group that “supports armed rebellion” and imposes a 10‑year prison sentence for individuals found to be “communist sympathizers.” The article reports that the first demonstrations took place in Manila’s historic Intramuros district, where thousands of labor union members, student groups, and indigenous rights activists marched with banners reading “No to the Anti‑Subversive Act.” Police presence was heavy, and the authorities employed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. The piece cites eyewitness accounts, including a photojournalist who was forced to flee after being hit by a rubber bullet, and a union leader who was detained overnight on “subversive” charges.

Following the first wave of protests, the article highlights a series of arrests. Over 200 activists were detained in a single week, and a 2025 report from the International Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) documents that 12 of those arrests were linked to the “Anti‑Subversive Act.” The article quotes an IHRA spokesperson who warns that “the law is a thin veil for mass repression.”

The U.S.–China Pivot and Domestic Consequences

The piece weaves a broader geopolitical thread by situating the Philippines’ authoritarian drift within the U.S.–China rivalry. The article links the government’s signing of the 2024 U.S.–Philippines Defense Treaty, which allows American troops to station in key bases in the Philippines, with the country’s pivot toward China’s Belt and Road Initiative. An embedded link leads to a 2024 Washington Post piece that explains how the Philippines has been securing $3.5 billion in Chinese loans to build new ports in Luzon, a move that the article interprets as “a betrayal of the Philippines’ sovereignty.” By juxtaposing these two alliances, the article underscores a perceived “double subservience” that is eroding Filipino self‑determination.

The article also cites a 2024 survey by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that found a 15 % drop in foreign direct investment to the Philippines since the crackdown began—an indication that international investors are wary of political risk. In contrast, the article notes that Chinese investors have surged, filling a vacuum that has left local businesses dependent on Chinese supply chains.

Human Rights Violations: Data and Testimonies

A key part of the article is its human‑rights data. According to the 2025 “Philippine Human Rights Report” from the United Nations Human Rights Council, there were 27 documented extrajudicial killings of activists between January and September 2025. The article gives a chilling narrative of a 32‑year‑old journalist, Maria Santos, who was abducted and never heard from again after exposing a corruption scandal involving the Defense Ministry. A photo of Santos’s handwritten letter—found in the police station’s evidence locker—has become an iconic symbol of the new repression wave.

The article also incorporates testimonies from members of the Makati-based Workers’ Rights Group, who recount how union leaders are now monitored by the “Special Security Forces.” An interview with a union organizer reveals that the SSF’s use of drones to track protest routes has become “the new normal.” The article points readers to an embedded link to a 2025 ACLU report that details the expansion of surveillance tools in the Philippines.

Reactions and International Solidarity

The article does not end on a bleak note; it documents a growing coalition of resistance. A coalition of Filipino exiles in Canada, the United States, and Spain has launched a “Global Campaign to Save Philippine Democracy.” The piece links to the coalition’s website, where they urge governments to impose sanctions on the Ramos administration. The article also cites statements from the United Nations Human Rights Office, which has called the “Anti‑Subversive Act” a “grave violation of fundamental freedoms.” The piece ends with an optimistic note: “While the state’s repressive machinery is formidable, the solidarity network that spans continents offers a glimmer of hope that the Philippine people can reclaim their democratic destiny.”

Conclusion

By combining on‑ground reportage, data from reputable human‑rights institutions, and geopolitical analysis, the WSWS article paints a comprehensive picture of the Philippines’ slide into authoritarianism. It warns of a government that uses legislation to silence dissent, collaborates with both U.S. and Chinese strategic interests, and relies on extrajudicial tactics that have already cost the lives of dozens of activists. Yet it also showcases the resilience of Filipino civil society and the international allies that are ready to back the struggle for democracy. The article serves as a stark reminder that the Philippines’ political future remains uncertain, and the stakes have never been higher.