Blog Novel - The Zhongguo Orchestra, Chapter 1, Section 1

Parliament of the Street

There are two methods of fighting: One is by law and the other is by force. The first is of man while the second is of the beast. When the first one is insufficient, One must recourse to the other. -Machiavelli, From the Prince and his Discourses

Rizal Park, Manila

Yankees go home! Yankees go home! No to U.S.-R.P. bases treaty! Down with the U.S. imperialism!

The student leader stood before the throng of demonstrators, his fiery speech fueled the hatred in their hearts. The chanting of anti-American slogans went on for a minute amidst the drumbeats and whistles that reverberated in the air. The demonstrators hoisted up thousands of streamers and red placards, all displaying leftist slogans. The student leader held his left hand up high, and the chanting slowly subsided.

As his right hand held the megaphone closely to his mouth and his left hand up in clenched fist, he continued with his tirade. Don’t let the imperialist Americans shackle our freedom! Let us show this puppet government that the last thing we need is a foreign nation dictating our way of life. Together we must strongly resist the pressure of the imperialists. Together, with one voice, let us tell our leaders to stand on their own feet and defend our priceless independence. Together let us tell the traitors not to sell our nation to the evil Americans! He stopped to catch his breath while the crowd chanted.

Yankees go home, Yankees go home! No to U.S.-R.P. bases treaty! Down with U.S. imperialism!

Sensing that the crowd embraced his provocative leftist statements wrapped in nationalist insinuations, the student leader continued on, For 300 years our nation had suffered under the Spanish swords, fifty years under the claws of American eagles and five years under the Japanese samurais! My compatriots, our suffering will never end unless we put a stop on this! I am telling you all, we are facing the resurrected threat from the claws of the imperialists. I say to all of you one more time, let us unite to stop this intimidation right now! Are you all with me?

Yes! The crowd roared in approval. Yes, we are!

If we need to fight, we will fight with honor, even if this leads us to the hills once again. I say enough is enough to the evil Americans! The student leader made a thumb-down sign. The crowd unleashed a thunderous applause. The drumbeats and whistles have stimulated the agitated crowd. Thousands of red placards and streamers swayed along to the chant of anti-American slogans.

Yankees go home, Yankees go home! No to U.S.-R.P. bases treaty! Down with U.S. imperialism!

About a hundred meters away, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Philippine National Police-Field Force (PNP-FF) keenly observed the demonstrators outside the Mobile Command Center(MCC) with great apprehension. He had a number of reasons to be alarmed. First, the PNP-FF was outnumbered 20 to 1 by the demonstrators; second, his men do not have the equipments necessary to contain such a big crowd. Third, the intelligence report stated the Sparrow Units (SU) would infiltrate the demonstrators; it made the situation volatile and had escalated the threat level.

Earlier in the morning, the CO requested the PNP-HQS to augment his unit when the demonstrators came from various directions and started to converge in Rizal Park. The support arrived two hours late to his dismay. The PNP-HQS pulled-out some troops from the three police districts in Metro Manila, except from Western Police District. The Northern, Eastern and Southern Police Districts provided reinforcement of about 500 personnel. It was not enough, but the CO was thankful anyways.

The CO was hoping the seasoned unit from WPD would show up, bit it did not. The WPD contingent was deployed at the historic Mendiola Bridge – one of the main arteries leading to Malacanan Palace, the seat of the Office of the President of the Philippines. The WPD supported the Philippine Army unit positioned around Malacanan Palace.

The CO told his officers that his paramount concern was the dreaded Sparrow Units – the armed city partisan of the New Peoples Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Information received from the Intelligence Community (INTELCOM) warned the PNP-FF of the Sparrows’ plan to infiltrate the ranks of the demonstrators and instigate confrontation against the police forces. The intelligence report he received had A-2 evaluation – information from an entrenched and reliable asset inside the NPA. Although the report never identified the members of the Sparrows, it was good enough to give the Field Force an early warning.

The PNP-HQS averred that the leaders of the National Democratic Front (NDF) – the political arm of the CCP, were not privy to the plan of the military wing. Such act of compartmentalization puzzled the intelligence analysts of the originating agency. The NPA would put the political groups in a precarious position knowing the NDF was gaining political mileage in their propaganda activities in the past weeks.

The NDF has 12 front groups spearheaded by the militant labor unions, radical student organizations and progressive religious orders. They mobilized their members in the grassroots level to participate in the so-called parliamentary struggles in the streets of Metro Manila. The success of the grassroots’ campaigns became evident when the front groups received downpour of support from the masses on this demonstration. The political objective of the NDF to win the hearts and minds of the people towards their cause has slowly paid great dividends.

Inside the MCP, the CO met his senior staff and assessed the OPSEC for the night. He was concerned of the strength of the demonstrators, which pegged at around 100 thousands at noontime, but diminished slowly as the night unfolds. He turned to his right and demanded for the situational report from his Intelligence Officer.

SITREP, Major?

Sir, we estimated the crowd at around 60 thousands. It went down from 80 thousands at around 1830H. My men believe that ten thousands are merely picnickers, the rests are the militant ones . . . hard cores whom we have to monitor closely, the F-2 reported. He looked at his watch and continued, It’s already 1930H . . . and it appears they have no intention of breaking-up.

What’s your take, Colonel? the CO asked his operations officer, whose rank really was a Lieutenant Colonel.

The F-3 spoke and said, The technical team had verified the signal intercepted this afternoon as from the Sparrows. They were mobile and the team failed to triangulate their positions. The DPSG security-liaison said the American RSO is very much concerned about the security on the ground.

The CO responded, The Sparrow Units worry me, too. Had H-Q-S listened to me, they could have dispersed the crowd while they are still on their converging points. H-Q-S have no idea what its like to be out here, the CO said disgustingly.

If they had to disperse the crowd, that burden would rest on CO’s shoulders, and he had to conduct the operations with the primary safety of his men in mind as well as the safety of the dignitaries inside the Manila Hotel. He knew that the political repercussion against the Philippine government would be great should the demonstration ended violently.

Sir, my men can handle this crowd anytime, but with a few street lights around the Park, forcefully dispersing them would be dangerous . . . it may end up in a bloody encounter. It’s difficult to break up the crowd under cover of darkness . . . many will surely get hurt or even die on both sides, the operations officer cautiously explained.

He continued with his concern, These demonstrators are pumped-up and are ready to meet us head on . . . the way I see it. A forced dispersal would surely stir them up more. We can negotiate an organized dispersal with their leaders … of course, with your permission, Sir.

The CO nodded at his F-2 who seemed perturbed of the intelligence reports from the field. I agreed to the proposal … especially with the report of saboteurs infiltrating the ranks of the Kilusang Mayo Uno . . . the Sparrows may have infiltrated the KMU now. I am concerned of the lives at stake here, Sir . . . if the Sparrows provoke our men, we would not be able to control their actions in the firing line. The F-2 waited for a response from his CO, but got nothing.

The F-2 continued, I agree with the Colonel’s proposal, we must initiate dialogue with the organizers . . . although I have reservation that their negotiation team would agree to the proposition.

What about their leaders, are they still in the area? the CO asked.

They already left, Sir . . . they took off about thirty minutes ago. This is a sign for us, Sir, the F-2 answered with concern.

The CO understood what his intelligence officer meant. Whenever the national leaders stayed up to the end of every protest rally, the event always ended peacefully. When they left early, violence always ensued at the end. The CO affirmed what his F-2 had observed.

Right, the party leaders wanted publicity so badly, especially when hundreds of media people are here tonight. Where do these people come from?

I think the rallyists want blood tonight. I have seen the trends in the past days. Surely, this is an opportune time for them to stage their cause, The F-3 said.

The F-2 suggested, Sir, I will instruct my men to double check and locate the negotiation team right now.

Go ahead, Major. I want to talk to the leaders. We do not have the luxury of time. Make sure you coordinate with every 2′s in the area about our dispersal plan. We need every report we can get on the Sparrows. The local INTELCOM monitored every wide scale demonstrations, especially one that involved top American dignitaries.

I will instruct my team, Sir, the F-2 responded approvingly.

The CO turned to his F-3, Colonel, remind your men to exert maximum tolerance as much as possible, but be very vigilant. I want to avert any bloody confrontation tonight should we proceed with force-dispersal. They must defend theirselves only when warranted.

The PNP-FF had enough beatings from the left-leaning local media and progressive politicians who demanded some heads to roll when the previous protest rally was marred by violence.

Will do our best, Sir, the F-3 replied with reservation.

Remember, gentlemen, I have only two months before retirement. I want to make sure that I will get my pension in full. Last thing I want to do is to read Sunday’s classified ads, the CO said firmly, yet laced with humor. The two men in front of him laughed. He sensed the pressure from his senior staff; they had been working in the field since 0800H, and they felt the stress.

All right gentlemen, our hands are full . . . let’s make sure everyone goes home safe tonight. The world is watching. The CO watched the two police officers left in a hurry to brief their respective staff of the instructions for the night.

As part of the Security Plan (SECPLAN), the PNP-FF unit received order to secure the outer layer, while the Diplomatic Protection Security Group (DPSG) of the PNP will handle the secondary ring – the building and the hotel ground. The Presidential Security Group (PSG) and security personnel from the US Department of State (USDOS) were tasked to secure the Manila Hotel ballroom, the primary ring, where the USDOS Secretary John Berzowski was delivering a testimonial speech.

The CO looked at his digital watch, the dial showed 2000H. He glanced at the Manila Hotel, located about 50 meters from the MCC. He wondered what took the American delegation so long to leave the place. His order was to protect the perimeter areas of the hotel against the demonstrators and that was what he intended to accomplish that night, whatever it takes.

Blog Novel - The Zhongguo Orchestra, Chapter 1, Section 1