KOMISAR,
LUCY: Papers, 1982-1987 – REAGAN LIBRARY COLLECTIONS
KOMISAR, LUCY: Papers, 1982-1987
Biographical Note
Lucy Komisar is an investigative journalist and freelance
author. Komisar
was born in New York in April 1942. She graduated fourth in her high school class
in 1959. She went on to major in history
at Queens College, New York. As a college student, Komisar
participated in the 1960s civil rights movement in Mississippi. While in
Mississippi, Komisar served as editor of the Mississippi Free Press.
Returning
to New York, Komisar worked as the associate editor
of The Hatworker.. She then went
on to a series of jobs in speechwriting, television news and commentary and
freelance writing. She worked as a reporter for the Bergen Record and eventually as a commentator on WNET-TV in New
York City. She continues today as a
freelance writer, investigator and theater critic.
During
the 1970s, Komisar continued her fight against
discrimination within the women’s movement and served as vice president for the
National Organization for Women.
Komisar has written about revolutions,
human rights abuse, and gender relations.
Her books include New Feminism,
Down and Out in
the USA, and Corazon Aquino: The
Story of a Revolution. From 1976 to 1996, Komisar
was a board member of PEN, an organization of poets, playwrights, essayists,
editors, and novelists. As a member, Komisar protested the censoring, jailing, and persecution
of fellow writers around the world because of the nature of their work. Since 1997, she has focused on international
finance fraud, terrorism, and money-laundering. Her articles are on her
website, http://thekomisarscoop.com. She resides in New York.
Scope and Content
The
material in this collection consists of the working documents used by Ms. Komisar in her writings on the Philippines, human rights
abuses in the Philippines and eventually her book, Corazon Aquino: The Story of a Revolution. The material, much of it
locally produced in the Philippines, consists of background information of all
types regarding the political, economic, and social situation in the
Philippines in the 1980s. Much of the material documents human rights abuses,
and the civil rights abuses of the 1986 Presidential “snap” election. It also
includes documentation of the general economic malaise of the islands for most
Filipinos suffering under an oligarchic economic and political system
controlled by Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos and top government officials. Many of
these documents pertain to the 1986 election between President Ferdinand Marcos
and challenger Cory Aquino.
Constrained
by a constitutional restriction of two terms, Ferdinand Marcos continued to
rule the Philippines as a dictator after declaring martial law in 1972. Opposition movements strengthened over time
and in 1983, opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. returned from U.S. exile to lead the
fight against Marcos. He was
assassinated at the airport. Both his widow and most Filipinos held Marcos
responsible for the murder.
Opposition
strengthened and continued in the next three years. There was both a communist and a Muslim
insurgency in the Philippines and the nation was suffering from deep economic
problems. In addition, there was widespread opposition to U.S. involvement in
the Philippines, including military bases and support for Marcos.
Pressured
by the current situation, Marcos called for a “snap” presidential election in February
1986. Cory Aquino, Benigno’s widow ran as the opposition
candidate. Observer groups, media and most Filipinos viewed the election as
“rigged” when Marcos was declared the winner.
This
led to a widespread protest in the Philippines known as the “People Power
Revolution.” Shortly after the election, two of Marcos’s firmest allies, Armed
Forces Vice-Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos and Secretary of National Defense
Juan Ponce Enrile resigned and became an additional
rallying point for the revolution.
President
Ronald Reagan supported Marcos and the Marcos regime. Marcos was viewed by the United States as a
bulwark against the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. However, faced with
the massive protests, the defection of his top military leaders, the poor
health of Marcos and advice from foreign policy advisors, the President decided
to end U.S. support for Marcos. Marcos
was informed on February 20, 1986 by Senator Paul Laxalt.
He left office that day and was transported in exile to Hawaii on February 26,
1986. Corazon Aquino was then recognized
as president.
The
collection is divided into seven series consisting of SERIES I: Background
Information on the Philippines; SERIES II: General Philippine Economic
Information; SERIES III: General Philippine Political Information; SERIES IV: Philippine
1986 Election; SERIES V: Crisis and Reform Information; SERIES VI: Philippine-United
States Foreign Relations; and SERIES VII: News Clippings.
SERIES I: BACKGROUND
INFORMATION ON THE PHILIPPINES (0.1 l.ft.; Box 1)
This
series consists of material related to general statistics, and general
information about the Philippines. The series includes maps of the Philippines
and the city of Manila; a booklet produced by the Mennonite Central Committee
on the human rights struggle in the Philippines, the February 1986 Maryknoll journal featuring the Philippines; a general
guide to life in the Philippines for new arrivals at U.S. Clark Air Base; and 1985
& 1986 IBON publications on Philippine economics and statistics. The
material is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
SERIES II: GENERAL PHILIPPINE
ECONOMICS INFORMATION (0.2 l.ft.; Box 1)
This
series consists of material related to studies of the 1980s economic situation
and corporations within the Philippines. It includes recommendations and ideas,
mostly socialist, for improvements in the economy. The material was, for the most part, produced
by the Makati Business Club of Manila, various departments of the University of
the Philippines and a group known as Agusdina. It is arranged in no discernable order.
SERIES III: GENERAL PHILIPPINE
POLITICAL INFORMATION (0.1 l.ft; Box 1-2)
This
series consists of material related to political analysis of the situation in
the Philippines prior to the 1986 presidential election. It includes a copy of the Philippine
Constitution; a political platform for the Liberal Party calling for a “mixed”
economy; a manifesto for the “People’s Party” and their hope to create a
democratic socialism for the Philippines; Third World studies by the University
of the Philippines; and two long articles on social democracy in the
Philippines.
SEREIS IV: PHILIPPINE 1986
ELECTION (0.1 l.ft.; Box 2)
This
series consists of material related to the “snap” 1986 presidential election in
the Philippines featuring candidates Corizon Aquino
and President Ferdinand Marcos. It includes speeches by Corazon Aquino , a
biography of Aqunio and a financial disclosure form;
a “Dollars for Philippine Democracy” program in the United States; political
broadsides from other parties, particularly the Bayan
Party calling for a boycott of the elections and protests after the election;
broadsides and newspaper ads from various religious groups calling for a fair
election and asking people to vote; announcement of the election observers and
the final report on the abuses; underground newsletters on the election and a
paper on the possible scenarios for any and all election results. The files are
arranged in approximate chronological order
SERIES V: CRISIS AND REFORM
INFORMATION (0.5 l.ft.; Box 2-3)
This
series consists of material related to problems and reforms needed in the Philippine
education system; relationship to religion; urban problems; poverty &
hunger; land distribution; health industry; fishing industry; sugar workers
& production; plight of the Moro peoples; women textile workers; general
human rights abuses; torture and detention of citizens; and increasing
militarization of Filipino society. All of the material was produced in the
Philippines and although much of it is unattributed some groups responsible for
its publication include the Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and
Democracy, The National Federation of Sugar Workers, The Task Force Detainees
of the Philippines, The National Alliance for Peasants, the Philippine Peasant
Movement, and many church and ecumenical groups. Much of the material includes
references to United States imperialism in the Philippines and the “US-Marcos”
dictatorship.
SERIES VI: PHILIPPINE – UNITED
STATES FOREIGN RELATIONS
(0.1 l.ft.; Box 3-4)
This
series consists of material related to U.S. efforts to determine the true
situation politically and socially within the Philippines after the
assassination of Benigno Aquino. The National
Security Study Directive 4-84 and several staff studies done for the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee were used by U.S. decision makers in Congress, the
State Department and the White House.
These studies helped establish new U.S. policy towards the Philippines.
It also includes speeches by State Department officials and a study of the
needs for maintaining United States military bases within the Philippines. Additional material created both in the
Philippines and in the United States focuses on the relationship from the
Filipino point of view. This material is predominantly focused on efforts to
remove Ferdinand Marcos and calling for the end of continued U.S. imperialism
and U.S. political intervention in the Philippines.
SERIES VII: NEWS CLIPPINGS (0.4
l.ft.;
Box 4-5)
This
series consists of material related to newspaper and journal accounts of the
1986 election and the life of Corazon Aquino. The material was written and
produced in the United State and the Philippines. Also included is a group of
articles and reports about the Armed Forces of the Philippines reform movement.
The news clippings and material on President Aquino’s life are separated from
the news clippings but both groups are arranged in chronological order.
CONTAINER LIST
SERIES
I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PHILIPPINES
Box
1
“IBON Facts & Figures” – Volume 8, 1985 –
Issues 154-177
“IBON
Facts & Figures” – 02/28/1986
[Maps]
“Maryknoll” – February 1986
“Spirit
in Struggle: A Reader and Study Guide of the Philippines”
“Your Guide to Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines”
SERIES
II: GENERAL PHILIPPINE ECONOMICS
Box 1, Continued
“Agusdiwa – Bulletins on Agusan – Surigao”
“Issues
and Prescriptions – 1982” – Philippine Growth and Development
“The
IMF [International Monetary Fund] and how it Affects
the Filipino People” –
September 1983
“The
Second-Third Year in Review” – November 1982-October 1984
“Towards
a Socialist Self-Reliant Economy: An Alternative for Philippine
Economic
Development” – September 1985
“Towards
Recovery and Sustainable Growth” – September 1985 (1)(2)
“MBC
Papers” [Makati Business Club] – October 1985
“MBC
Papers” [Makati Business Club] – November 1985
“Structural
Adjustment: Impact on Employment and Employment Patterns” – November,
1985 (1)-(3)
“Philippines:
Key Economic Indicators” – 11/22/1985
“MBC
Papers” [Makati Business Club] – December 1985
“Regional
Economic Comparisons” – 1985
“The
Makati Business Club 1986 Calendar”
“The
Philippine Economy and Marx’s Humanist Dialectics” – 01/20/1986
SERIES
III: GENERAL PHILIPPINE POLITICS
Box 1, Continued
“The
Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines”
“Developmentalism and the ‘New Society’: The Repressive
Ideology of
Underdevelopment” – August 1983
“The
Liberal Party Vision and Program of Government”
“Political
Change, urban services, and social movements: political participation and
grass-roots
politics in metro Manila”
“Kasarinlan” Volume 1, Number 1, 3rd Quarter,
1985
“Kasarinlan” Volume 1, Number 2, 4th Quarter,
1985
Box
2
“A
Social Democratic Primer: Readings on the theory and practice of social
democracy
in the
Philippines” – 1985 [Chapters 1-2] [1]
“A
Social Democratic Primer: Readings on the theory and practice of social
democracy
in the
Philippines” – 1985 [Chapters 3-6] [2]
“A
Social Democratic Primer: Readings on the theory and practice of social
democracy
in the
Philippines” – 1985 [Chapters 6-A – End] [3]
[Biographies
and Assets of President Corazon C. Aquino]
SERIES
IV: PHILIPPINE 1986 ELECTION
Box 2, Continued
[Documents
– Dollars for Philippine Democracy]
[Aquino/Laurel
Campaign Flyer]
[Speech
– Sigma Delta Phi – Park Sheraton – 10/22/1985]
“To
Lead by example; to inspire” – 12/03/1985
“Dollars
for Philippine Democracy” – 12/21/1985
“Persevere
in Correct Struggles – Boycott the Sham Snap Election!” – January 1986
“Cast
Away Illusions – Boycott the Sham Snap Election!” – January 1986
“Building
from the Ruins” – 01/06/1986
“A
Presidential Snap Election: A Primer” – 01/17/1986
“Broken
Promises in the Land of Promise” – 01/16/1986
“Daily
Commentaries” Number 19 – 01/20/1986
“Tearing
Down the Dictatorship, Rebuilding Democracy” – 01/23/1986
“The
Issues against Mr. Marcos in the Coming Elections” – 01/23/1986
“We
Must Obey God Rather than Men” – 01/25/1986
“Framework
for Discussion of Scenarios Before, During, and After the Snap Presidential
Elections” – 01/27/1986
“National
Council of Churches in the Philippines’ Statement on the February 7 Elections”
– 01/27/1986
“Campaign
Details” – 01/30/1986-02/05/1986 [01/28/1986]
“International
Delegation to Observe Philippine Election Announced” – 01/31/1986
“Rescue
from Disgrace in a Pharaoh’s House” – 02/03/1986
“Tampat Monitor” – 02/05/1986
[Two
Sample Ballots – 02/07/1986]
“Suspected
Ballot Switching in Makati: Namfel People Mauled” –
02/08/1986
“Assert
the People’s Might, Continue the Militant Struggle, Reject the Sham Victory of
the US-Marcos
Dictatorship!”
“A
Call to Build Together” – 02/22/1986
“A
Pastoral Letter” – 02/26/1986
Proposed
Theme/Calls NAJFD - Campaign Work – 03/04/1986
“Statement
by Co-Leaders International Observer Delegation”
“Philippine
Presidential Election: A Harvest of Uncertainties”
[National
Citizens Movement for Free Elections Report]
“The
NAMFREL [National Citizens Movement for Free Elections] Report on the
02/07/1986 Philippine Presidential
Elections”
SERIES
V: CRISIS AND REFORM
Box 2, Continued
“The
Philippine Educational System: Trends and Status”
“Church
Sector Situationer”
“Davao
City, Urban Poor Situationer”
“Fisherman
Sector Situationer”
“Health
Sector Situationer”
“Moro
People Sitauationer”
“The
Mindanao Situation”
“Land
Grabbing: An Assault on the Countryside”
“Negros
and it Sugar Barons”
“Filipino
Women’s Struggle”
“Modified
Free Enterprise System: Philippine Development Alternative”
“Education
is the Only Answer”
“Regional
Situationer and Demands”
“Philippine
Action Concerning Torture”
“Free
Jose Maria Sison!”
“National
Labor Coalition for Democracy: Let’s Preserve Our Gains”
Peasant
Movement of the Philippines: “Declaration of Principles”
“Some Notes on the Exposure Program”
“Remembering
Ninoy: The Name, the Legend, the Martyr”
List of Slide Productions
“A
Primer on Land Reform and other Related Programs”
“Sugar:
Honey for a few – blood and sweat for many” – February 1984
Box 3
“Human Rights Situation and
Militarization in the Philippines: Trends and Analysis” –
1984
“Basic
Documents and Resolutions of the First National Assembly” – September 1984
“Conjuangco in Agusan” – September
1984
[1985
Documents pertaining to Bayan Organization]
“Human
Rights Situation in Mindanao” – 1985
“Trends
in Industrial Labor in Northeastern Mindanao” – May 1985
“Mr.
and Mrs.” –
“Unang Tinuig Nga Assembliya”
– 05/18/1984-05/21/1984
“Asiaweek” – 05/31/1985
[Letter
– 06/06/1985]
“Sugar
Worker Beheaded” – 06/18/1985
“Negros
in Turmoil” – July 1985
“Food
Blockade in Misanis Oriental” – 07/07/1985
“Poem
from Negros” – 07/29/1985
“Katarungan” – August 1985
“Rice, Not Mere Application
Forms!” –
08/01/1985
“Escalante
Massacre Create Reign of Terror in Negros” – 09/21/1985
“Food
and Freedom: The Cry of Negros!” – 09/24/1985
National
Federation of Sugar Workers Statement on the Escalante Massacre – 09/28/1985
“Philippine
Poverty Report” – October 1985
“Escalante: Fear and Silent Rage” – 10/01/1985
Halad Kay Maria Documents –
10/25/1985
“Of
All Philippine Sectors, Peasants have been the Most Consistently Valiant” –
10/25/1985
“Satam” Volume 1, Number 2 – October/December 1985
NCCP
[National Council of Churches] Newsletter – November 1985
[Two Mindanao Interfaith People’s Conference
Flyers – 11/04/1985-11/08/1985]
[Letter
to Reverend Fathers – 11/14/1985]
“UPDATE”
Volume 1, Number 3, 11/15/1985-12/14/1985
Moro
Kurier – November/December, 1985
“Support
the Struggle of the Peoples of Navotas: Dismantle the
US-backed Marcos
Dictatorship” – December 1985
“PAG
ASA Newsletter” – December, 1985
“Salvaging
Democracy: Human Rights in the Philippines” –December 1985
“Had. Guinsang-an Workers Go on Strike” – 12/06/1985
“National
Federation of Sugar Workers to Host International Seminar” – 12/11/1985
“Touching
Ground, Taking Root” – 12/11/1985
“To
Our Friends and Benefactors” – 12/12/1985
Chronology
of Events January 1985 – January 1986
“Elections,
Poverty, and Insurgency” – 01/22/1986
“Bagong Alyansang Makabayan” – 02/09/1986
“Human Rights & Militarization in Negros”
– 1988
SERIES
VI: THE PHLIPINNES AND FOREGIN RELATIONS
Box 3, Continued
“US
Policy Towards the Philippines” – 03/12/1985
“The Current State of US – Philippine
Relations” – 03/27/1984
[Analysis
of Philippine Politics] May 1984-July 1984
“The
Situation in the Philippines” – 1984
“Document
from the Conference for International Solidarity with the Philippine
Struggle” 09/07/1985-09/21/1985
“A
Nation in crisis, A People Undaunted: The Philippine National Situation and US
Intervention” – 09/17/1985
“Coalition
Close-Up” – Fall 1985
“Procurement
of Supplies and Services by the US Facilities at Subic and Clark” – 1985
“Update”
Volume 1, Number 2 – 10/15/1985-11/14/1985
“The
Philippines: A Situation Report” – 10/21/1985
Box
4
“Insurgency
and Counterinsurgency in the Philippines” – 11/20/1985
“Network”
Volume 13, Number 6, November 1985 – December 1985
“Philippine
Report” – Volume 2, Number 11-12 – November 1985-December 1985
“Asian
Rights Advocate” Volume 9, Number 12 – December 1985
“Report
to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, on the
Presidential
Election Process in the Philippines” –
12/18/1985 [Report and Additional
Documents] (1)(2)
“tingog Kabatan-Onan”
Volume 3, Number 4, December 1985
“Philippine
Report” Volume 3, Number 1, January 1986
[Documents
pertaining to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing] – 01/24/1986
“International
Working Area Procedures” – 02/07/1986
SERIES
VII: NEWS CLIPPINGS
Box
4, Continued
Philippine
Clips [Undated]
Philippine
Clips [August, 1985]
Philippine
Clips [September, 1985]
Philippine
Clips [December 1985]
Philippine
Clips [January 1986]
Philippine
Clips [February 1986]
Philippine
Clips [March 1986] (1)-(4)
Philippine
Clips [April 1986]
Philippine
Clips [October, 1986]
Philippine
Clips [January-March 1987]
[AFP
(Armed Forces of the Philippines) Reform Movement – Articles and Reports]
(1)(2)
Defense & Disarmament News,
October 1985-November
1985]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [Undated]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [Pre-1980]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [1982-1985]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [January 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [February 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [March 1986]
Box
5
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [April 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [May 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [June 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [July 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [“Hope in Sin” – August 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [September 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [October 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [November 1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [12/01/1986-12/18/1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [12/18/1986-12/31/1986]
[News
Transcripts/Interviews] [1987]
[Unrelated
News Clippings]
[Comment
from Ms. Komisar on Collection Description]