MEDIATION talks between claimants to the millions of dollars squirreled away in Swiss bank accounts by the former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos enter their second day today amid tight secrecy. Negotiators' ears will still be ringing with the furious accusations of injustice and abuse of process unleashed yesterday by Marcos' widow Imelda. Equally fresh in their minds will be the protests of the representatives of many of the 10,000 victims of torture and human rights abuses initially granted US$1.9 billion (HK$14.7 billion) in damages by a US court in 1994 and now concerned that their compensation is being bartered away in an 'immoral' deal with the Philippines Government and the Marcoses.
But the news blackout imposed by the parties to the negotiation mean that neither the protesting victims nor the wider Filipino public will have any idea of what deals are being cooked up. Let us be clear about what is at stake. Despite claims by Mrs Marcos that the cash was honestly come by and is hers by right, this is money looted from the Filipino people. Just as it is obviously not her money, it also does not belong to the Government, despite official claims that at least 10 times the US$475 million on the table in Hong Kong was plundered from state coffers. Clearly, it belongs to the people.
The Marcos heirs oppose any deals that would give the money away. So, too, do many of Marcos' victims. This makes it easier for the Government to claim that it alone is in a position to distribute the funds to the benefit of the people. But the mediators must act with caution and not accept lightly that the Government will spend the money fairly and wisely, let alone put all of it into 'improving the ability of Filipinos to feed themselves', as national legislation demands.
The identifiable victims of the Marcos era have a strong claim on whatever funds can be flushed out of his secret accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere to meet the 1994 award. Anything above that amount should be put to work for the people of the Philippines through recognised charities rather than the Government alone. The Marcos regime brought poverty and suffering to a once-wealthy country. Giving part of the loot back to his family should not be on the agenda.