11.28.2009

Indolent passiveness against humanity

THE GRUESOME murder of more than 50 civilians, mostly women, including more than a dozen media personalities in Maguindanao easily draws us to some parallels in two different yet similar situations that dispassionately abounds in our country.
As the whole civilized world was saddened, angered, and has strongly condemned the Maguindanao incident, one cannot easily turn his head away from the realities that happened and is still happening, with more brutality, intensity, and viciousness, in other parts of the country .

While partisan politics may have fueled some to employ brute and overwhelming force against hapless civilians, one cannot deny the succinct tale of tens of thousands of Filipinos whose lives were snapped not only by brute force but by deceit, trumped-up charges, and blatant lies wrought about by a violent and inhuman ideology.
Evident is on the manner and treatment given to these two incidents: one with passivity, while the other with overwhelming open denunciation and grief. Surprising is the way media personalities and organizations manifest reactions to these two different incidents.

The mass purging of the 80’s, within the Maoist terrorist organization, resulting to the deaths of tens of thousands of Maoist CPP-NPA-NDF cadres and political officers never gained attention of media organizations by way of banner stories decrying and condemning the inhuman and brutal slaying of Filipinos by Maoist terrorist henchmen, upon orders of the CPP’s Central Committee leadership, that even our fingers and toes couldn’t bear in numbers.

The Inopacan massacre in Southern Leyte and the Digos massacre in Davao del Sur are far more horrible than the barefaced violence that Maguindanao massacre has shown us.
Why was media silent on the Maoist terrorist mass purging, from the 80’s and is still continuing today, perpetrated blatantly and without mercy; yet the same media are now up in arms with black armed bands and candle lighting ceremonies in open denunciation of the Maguindanao massacre.

What difference in life does the two incidents have, both brazen and despicable affront against humanity, to merit some sort of “double standard” among us?
Do we have to have media personalities as victims of violence and perfidy to cause media organizations to go out of their own shell and self-imposed selective isolation so that they would speak out loud for the protection and preservation of human life; and the inviolable right to life?

Indeed, parallels on incidents could easily be drawn but no one can ever forget that sickening passiveness yet indolent and selective treatment purposely committed by some of us.

11.22.2009

RA 9745 hailed; Maoist’s urged to uphold the rule of law

THE ALLIANCE FOR NATIONALISM AND DEMOCRACY (ANAD) Partylist is in full support of Republic Act 9745, otherwise known as the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Nov. 10. ANAD strongly believes that the enactment of RA 9745 shows government’s commitment towards the protection of the rights of Filipinos, especially against harassments, intimidation, and more importantly her peoples’ right to life and liberty.

“ANAD hopes that the implementation and compliance of the provisions of RA 9745 must not only bear upon government but on all Filipinos, especially the Maoist terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA), whose penchant for violence and disrespect towards the rights of peoples are insurmountable and remarkable, until today,” said Rey Salas, ANAD secretary general and national spokesman.

On the issue of extra-judicial killings in the country, “What is reported and given publicity by Maoist communist lapdogs in media represents only a miniscule part compared to the total transgressions and human rights abuses committed by the Maoist terrorists that never saw the pages of national newspapers’ or the airlanes of radio and television media,” Salas explained.

Salas challenged Karapatan, Task Force Detainees-Philippines, SELDA, and other Maoist terrorist sectoral front and pseudo partylist organizations to be circumspect, honest, sincere, and transparent in the documentation and reporting of alleged human rights violation cases. “Black propaganda is their main weapon while pursuing vilification and hate campaign against government. If they are sincere in upholding and protecting our peoples’ rights, RA 9745 should change their ways. RA 9745 should cause their transformation towards transparency, honesty, and true commitment towards the protection of our peoples’ rights,” Salas said.

While ANAD calls for a full and sincere compliance of the law by government agencies and functionaries, the same is demanded from other sectors of the Filipino community particularly the Maoist terrorists whose more than 40-years of insurgency has caused the enforced disappearances and deaths of tens of thousands of Filipinos.

“No one, even if one is a member of a self-proclaimed revolutionary organization, is exempted or excluded from liability if he violates the law. More so, if one is a terrorist,” Salas said.

“The goals and intentions of the law could not be achieved if stakeholders in the community, not only government, refuse to do their share in upholding the rule of law, especially RA 9745,” Salas stressed.

ABANTE DEMOKRASYA