Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume IV, Number 7 March 14 - 20, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
Commentary Macapagal-Arroyo
Not Off the Hook The
fact that Malacañang has done no serious or sustained investigation of the
Bayan Muna killings shows that either such cases also lead to the president’s
own office or is powerless to rein in her own military – or both. Clearly, the
president has command responsibility over such violations of human rights and
can therefore be held accountable. By
Bobby Tuazon It is tragic enough that Bayan Muna (BM), since taking part in the party-list elections in 2001, has had many of its members summarily executed by government forces. The plot by reactionary elements in government to render BM (or people first) a non-entity in Philippine politics since it gained popularity in the oust-Estrada movement was hatched because of perceptions that its ideology of new politics threatened the power of traditional politicians and the reactionary rule of the U.S. imperialist-inspired elite. To their mind, BM was a threat to “national security.” In the name of national security, 37 BM members have been murdered. But
when government’s national security adviser accuses BM of diverting P60
million of public funds to the New People’s Army (NPA), then the plot thickens
and portends that more is yet to come for the party-list group. The accusation
by Norberto Gonzales, a spent stalwart of the “social democrats” and a
typical opportunist who jumps ship from one rotten regime to another, is not
only baseless and irresponsible – as BM leaders contend – but puts its
thousands of members in greater peril to military and police executioners. Gonzales
issued the accusation following reports that BM – which topped the May 2001
party-list polls – is expected to repeat such feat this year based on a recent
Pulse Asia survey. But he also threw the accusation days after members of the
government panel in the ongoing peace talks with the National Democratic Front
of the Philippines (NDFP) refused to begin “effective measures” to remove
the “terrorist” tag off the CPP-NPA and NDFP chief political consultant Jose
Maria Sison. It
is clear to Bayan Muna that it has been the target of physical harassment and
black propaganda by reactionary elements in government who disdain any group
that espouses people-oriented politics. Since the beginning its party
headquarters, leaders and organizers both in the NCR and in the provinces have
been placed under surveillance and intimidated by military intelligence units.
Many of its members – suspected of being NPA supporters – were placed in the
AFP’s “order of battle.” In 2002, anti-communist vigilante groups were
recruited to malign BM – along with other militant groups – as
“terrorist”; systematic vilification campaigns were even launched to link it
with the Abu Sayyaf bandit group. Some of these groups were reportedly receiving
government funds. “Neutralization” The
campaign against BM was confirmed in an article published last year by the Armed
Forces’ official newsletter Ang Tala, which called for the
“neutralization” of the party-list group in order to prevent it from
registering a voice in Congress, among other objectives. The article surfaced
while Congress, the justice department and the Commission on Human Rights –
acting under public pressure – were investigating reports of killings of BM
organizers and activists many of them committed in the Mindoro provinces. Under
oath, the former commander of the Army brigade in Mindoro several times minced
no words in stating that BM is a “communist front” thus hinting that, as far
as the AFP is concerned, it was a fair game. The
killings and other forms of harassment faced by BM have become more frequent and
brutal since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced her support for U.S.
President George Bush’s “war on terror” in October 2001. She welcomed
Bush’s declaration making the Philippines the war’s “second front” which
also led U.S. to deepen its armed intervention in the Philippines and tighten
its hold on the AFP. Subsequent
meetings and secret agreements forged between the two presidents broadened the
“war on terror’s” targets to include the NPA and MILF and in effect gave
the Philippine military – now enjoying increased U.S. military assistance and
training – a carte blanche to terrorize suspected front organizations of the
CPP. The U.S.-backed counter-insurgency operations in the guise of
“anti-terrorist” missions are jointly-planned through the Pentagon-based
Defense Policy Board (DPB) between the two countries as well as through the
Mutual Defense Board (MDB) of the reactivated Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group
(Jusmag) – which specializes in counter-insurgency campaigns - and special
forces trainings on psy-war tactics, political assassinations and on other
covert operations and dirty tricks. U.S.
special forces Last
year, U.S. special forces were spotted in areas outside locations of supposed
Balikatan war exercises; and such areas were known to be NPA turfs. In May 2002,
the CIA was dragged into mysterious bombings in Mindanao following an explosion
that damaged a Davao hotel. Apparently, the bomb went off and injured its
bearer, Michael Terrence Meiring, an alleged CIA operative using the cover of a
treasure hunter. Meiring was spirited away by U.S. embassy personnel and FBI
agents on board a private jet before he could be interrogated by the local
police. Given
such conditions, one cannot help but point an accusing finger at the U.S.
military itself and its local lackey, the AFP, for the series of killings
involving BM and other new party-list groups and organizations. The fact that Malacañang has done no serious or sustained investigation of the killings shows that either such cases also lead to the president’s own office or is powerless to rein in her own military – or both. Clearly, the president has command responsibility over such violations of human rights and can therefore be held accountable. Based on reports, Bayan Muna has been asked directly by the President to tone down the party-list group’s criticisms of government policies particularly in the light of the election season. In the light of BM’s refusal to kowtow to the president’s wishes, Gonzales’ tirades against the group can also be considered as a political blackmail. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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