WORD NERDS: this is NOT your nanay's blog

Right now, there's a movement going on in the Philippines (and even the U.S.) to further investigate the 830+ political killings that may be traced back to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). However, some sources say that the killings lead back to the communist New People's Army.

In an attempt to remain (I hate this word:) objective, I wanted to take a look at the political killings from the Philippine government's perspective. Although the 830+ count began when President Arroyo entered office, the information I look at begins with Malacañang Palace's (the official residence of Philippine President) decision to welcome the United Nations committtee into the Philippines.

The UN sent a 4-man crew to fly to Mindanao to investigate the political killings. This crew was sent to Mindanao (the Southernmost region of the Philippines), a mountainous region known to activists and community organizers as a sanctuary for those who were a part of organizations run underground during times of political upheaval (i.e. The Marcos Dictatorship). The 4-person envoy will investigate the plight of the people trapped between the government and various rebel groups. This paraphrased information is provided by a Filipino American newspaper - the seemingly conservative-liberal spectrum here absolutely misinterprets activist groups to 'rebel groups.' Flying to Mindanao does not uncover the reasons as to why these individuals must hide in the mountains in the first place; Philippine history is repeating itself.

The main man behind the UN investigations, is a V.I.P. named Philip Alston. Aside from serving as a mediator between these activists, the Philippines government, the UN and the rest of the world at large, he is also a Professor of Law and New York University.

President Arroyo has condemned these political killings and is working towards bringing the murderers to justice. In addition, GMA is aware of the lack of evidence, family cooperation of the victims and the involvement of militant groups. By 'militant groups', I assume that this is GMA hinting at the New People's Army as the culprits of the political killings. Strange how this rhetoric is asserted to work both ways. In terms of family cooperation, GMA implies that the families of the victims were in on their deaths or that they became victims because of their own mistakes.

It's definitely important to tkae in the patterns, trends and policies in context of the killings. In an investigation like the 830+ killings. Alston attempted to remain subjective. After 9 days in the Philippines, he found that the military was in "almost total denial" about the wave of political murders in the country. The argument of considering context deflects the amount of people that have been killed, almost making light(er) of the situation. Considering context also attempts to see the killings on a case-by-case basis, rather than as a collective pattern.

The Philippine government is also inviting more foreign groups for assistance. Other governments do not agree with the Philippine government and find it difficult to side with them. The international community's passivity is questionable. What are the repercussions of knowing something and not speaking up or not knowing anything and still stepping away?

The Melo Commission was sanctioned by GMA (as a part of Executive Order 157) to create and give a report on the political killings. Retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo released a report but the results have yet to be revealed to the public. Whatever the 'results' may be, the Philippines government will be acting on the Commission (UN Commission + the Melo Commission)'s recommendations. Also, after reading an article of Malacañang Palace welcoming the UN members, I read another article on the Philippine goverment finding the UN Commission unfair and inaccurate. What's going on here?!

In addition, elections in the Philippines are a major part of current events and I found it interesting that one of GMA's legal counsels was openly supporting General Jovito Palparan as an elective candidate. Gen. Palparan is al,so accused of being responsible for carrying some of the killings. If the latter holds true, this can be interpreted as the government endorsing the extrajudicial killings.

Despite politics, locations, power structures, language, media coverage or what have you, I BELIEVE THAT A LIFE IS A LIFE. No one should ever have the authority to take it away because beliefs clash and pose "threats."

Tell your friends about it. Stop the killings and keep dialogue going. So much for objectivity.

www.stopthekillings.org
www.cell68.com
www.bayanusa.org
...and hella other Pin@y blogs on blogspot.

x_magsalita.

Labels: GMA, Philippines, Stop the Killings campaign