The Hunger for Justice
Published in The Universe
(July 12, 2002)
The Italian Missionary to the Philippines
Father Favai was murdered and his head crushed and brains eaten by militias
protecting logging interests in Mindanao several years ago. Today the
political masterminds behind this brutal murder and many others have never
been brought to justice. There are many politicians and warlords so powerful
they are beyond the reach of the Philippine justice system. Today priests,
nuns and lay church workers are harassed and threatened because of their
work seeking social justice. These are the unsung heroes of the church
sacrificing themselves through lives of poverty and solidarity with the
downtrodden. There are many horrendous crimes against humanity that are
never brought to justice. The establishment of the International Criminal
Court last July 1st is a beacon of hope for those who hunger and thirst for
justice.
In the last few years, the on-again off-again between the Muslim separatists
and the Philippine has been the cause of many atrocities, violations of
human rights and war crimes. The causalities of war are mostly innocent
civilians; the most vulnerable, women and children are living fragile lives
at the best of time by eking out a living in dire poverty. Because of
military action, the poor quickly go hungry and quickly succumb to diseases.
Only relief workers and church people do anything to save them.
Such was Father Rufus Halley, a Columban missionary and my classmate. He was
brutally shot dead last August 28th by a killer squad. No one really knows
who was behind it. He was a friend of the poor and the Muslim refugees that
fled military attacks in his parish that killed many civilians and destroyed
Muslim villages. These are war crimes that have never been investigated or
punished. The military tried to stop his protests and his work, but he
refused to quit. He took a stand with the victims. ”Come what may’ he said.
Sadly, it was a brutal hail of bullets that ended his life for others.
In the cities of Southern Mindanao, there was also a communist based struggle,
which still continues today although much less active. However, in those
days harsh measures were taken to curb rebels. Extra judicial Executions
were common, the Alsa Masa, or people’s warriors, were fanatical groups
created by the Government to kill anyone suspected of opposing their rule.
These groups continue today, no one is ever charged as they operate with
impunity.
Church workers trying to make peace were seen as collaborators with ‘enemy’
and were harassed and threatened and even killed. In the 1980’s, the death
squads were around where I work in Olongapo city and we received several
threats. Religious sisters reported seeing from their convent window a young
boy kneeling in the road during curfew begging for his life but they shot
him.
There were and still are, crimes against humanity committed as death squads
systematically operate in many cities and the killers and their political
masters are untouchable and beyond the law as if they have blanket
immunity.
The establishment of the International Criminal Court last July 1, is the
first major breakthrough in establishing universal Jurisdiction over war
crimes and crimes against humanity. This is the only recourse when
governments fail to bring justice to the victims. This is a powerful
deterrent to crimes of torture and arbitrary killings against the innocent
suspects until now have been beyond the law, untouchable and protected by
private armies. However, they can no longer escape. This has brought hope
for many working against cruel tyrants and warlords.
In a recent shocking turn of events The United Nations and the International
Criminal Court are now under pressure from the United States to grant
blanket immunity from prosecution for their troops who join UN peacekeeping
forces. They threaten to block UN peacekeeping operations unless they get
it. They fear that charges for war crimes could be brought against US
troops. The recent bombing of civilians by 171 and US troops in Afghanistan
where 47 were killed wounded is one scenario they fear. The United States
being the most powerful in the world sees itself as above and beyond
international law. (To be continued)
