Philippine History: Post WWII Reconstruction

Philippines

• The Philippines declared independence on July 4, 1946, and aimed to rebuild its economy and capital, Manila.
• The US provided $620 million in war damage but required the Philippines to approve the Bell Act, which allowed for free trade with the US with increasing tariffs.
• The Philippines approved the Bell Act, allowing the US to establish military and naval bases in the country, which many saw as a sign of American imperialism.
• The US left the Philippines in 1992.
• Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, imposing an authoritarian regime and stealing money from the country.
• Marcos declared martial law from 1972 to 1981, and had his opponent Benigno Aquino assassinated.
• Corazon Aquino, Benigno's widow, challenged Marcos and led to his exile to Hawaii in 1986.
• In 1995, the Philippines recovered from the losses caused by Marcos, and a new constitution was established.
• Fidel Ramos ruled the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, with a limited six-year term, and negotiated with the US to lease military bases.

Philippines - Government vs. Rebels

• The southern part of the Philippines is home to Muslim Moros, who formed the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
• In 1996, the MNLF agreed to a cease-fire with the government, but Abu Sayyaf, a division of MNLF, continued to fight.
• The government launched a military response to Abu Sayyaf, with support from the US.

Burma (Myanmar)

• Burma gained independence in 1948, and was renamed Myanmar in 1989.
• Ne Win established a military government in 1962, which continues to rule the country to this day.
• Aung San Suu Kyi became active in the National League for Democracy (NLD) in 1988, and won 80% of the seats in multiparty elections in 1990.
• However, the military government refused to recognize the result, and Suu Kyi was arrested and released several times.
• In 2010, Burma passed laws banning people who married a foreigner from holding political office, including Suu Kyi.
• In 2011, Thein Sein became president and made reforms, relaxing restrictions on Suu Kyi.
• In 2012, Suu Kyi ran for office, and the NLD won 43 seats out of 45, leading to the US lifting restrictions on Myanmar.

Malaysia and Singapore

• The Federation of Malaya was formed in 1957, uniting several lands and peoples.
• Singapore broke away from Malaysia in 1965 to become an independent city-state.
• Lee Kuan Yew ruled Singapore from 1959 to 1990, turning it into an important banking and trade center.
• Malaysia and Singapore built thriving economies.

Indonesia

• Sukarno led Indonesia's independence movement and tried to guide the nation towards democracy.
• Indonesia gained independence in 1949, and is home to many ethnic groups and a large Muslim population.
• Sukarno was unable to manage the economy, leading to inflation, and unable to unify the people.
• Suharto took over as president in 1967 and ruled until 1998, annexing East Timor in 1976.
• Suharto's rule was marked by little religious freedom, and he stepped down in 1998 after a financial crisis.

East Timor

• Indonesia ruled East Timor with violence since the 1970s.
• In 1999, the citizens of East Timor voted for independence in a UN-sponsored referendum.
• Pro-Indonesian forces used violence to try to stop the independence movement, but UN forces eventually brought peace.
• East Timor gained independence in 2002.