Real Democracy is a Dangerous Thing
(republishing, copying, no restrictions)
By: Father Shay Cullen
Twelve Philippine military and militia men have been implicated in the brutal assassinations of some of the hundreds of social activists and journalists murdered in recent years. Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said three of the suspects have been charged in the courts, five have been dismissed already and four are still under investigation. All are low ranking soldiers trained to just follow orders. Who gave the orders we may never know.
The killers are believed to be either members of the armed forces fired for criminal acts but hired back as an "assets" with immunity from prosecution provided they do the “dirty work”. The killers can kill with impunity according to the investigation by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Melo appointed by the President Macapagal - Arroyo to resolve who is behind the slayings. More recently the EU representative Eneko Landaburu and the UN Human Rights rapportuer Philip Alson were appalled at the scale of the killings and said that the evidence suggests that some of the military are involved.
The official denial and the cover up of atrocities, torture, and war crimes is not confined to the Philippine military alone. The United States military and the British Armed Forces have much to answer for also like most armies and police forces.
The BBC Panorama television programme shown last week exposed the brutal torture and abuse of innocent Iraqi hotel employees by British troops in Basara. One died as a result. The torture and punishment seemed retaliation after a British commander was killed in by a roadside bomb. The British army has the authority to investigate, bring charges and pass judgement on itself and it's men not civilians. In this case despite compelling evidence it only one soldier will be found guilty. The rest have not been convicted .Most were never even investigated.
Here in the Philippines the approaching mid-term elections pose political challenges to the administration of Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo. The progressive party-list politicians associated with the left and advocating land reform, social justice and a host of pro-Filipino legislation is no political threat but a thorn in the side of the administration. Democratic participation by the left has been the hope of peace makers. It is one non-violent way to settle long-standing social injustices and it ought to succeed. Now that the former rebels are participating, and proposing that the government restart peace talks with the communist rebels they are being arrested and assassinated. The Military believe that they are using their congressional funds to aid and comfort the rebels.
Satur Ocampo, one such member of congress was arrested and charged with a crime that he supposedly committed 20 years ago when he just happened to be in prison on other charges of rebellion. Philippine politics is taking on the odour of Zimbabwe, the tactics of Mugabe.
The same day that Satur Ocampo was arrested in Manila a Hong Kong independent anti-corruption survey reported that the Philippines had attained the shameful status as the "most corrupt nation in Asia".
The left - of - center nation-wide Bayan Muna party
list of Ocampo is suffering the most victims in the killing spree that
is eliminating organisers, activists, social justice oriented priests,
pastors, students and community leaders. It's like a communist purge in
reverse. The ruling families that control the congress and the economy
fear no doubt that the Philippines might go the way of several South
American countries with democratically elected left wing governments
that are taking the natural resources from the elite families and the
multinational conglomerates. Things are changing for the better the
United States since the democrats in US Congress and Senate won a
majority. The democratic policy to end the war, and respect human rights
and thus bring back the honour and world respect for America is long
overdue. The US Congressional Committee of South East Asia and the
Pacific held hearings into the assassinations in the Philippines
recently and that can only give hope to those trying to change the
Philippines through real democracy. That's a dangerous thing and it
scares a lot of people
