(We yield this space to the statement of the peace advocacy group Kapayapaan Campaign for a Just and Lasting Peace due to its timeliness. – Ed.)
WE ARE deeply dismayed and greatly alarmed by the series of actions and statements from the government that wantonly negate and squander the gains achieved in the peace process and threaten the escalation of human rights violations and state-sponsored violence including the extension of martial law.
We refer to the setting up of “death squads” that can now target anyone. We are horrified that the President chooses to turn the country into an expanded killing field that will target not only those allegedly into the drug trade but the poor in general, political oppositionists and dissenters, human rights defenders and virtually anyone that the regime may point its finger at.
This is the height of irresponsibility, a descent to hell which the government will be helpless to extricate itself from and which the people by themselves must forcefully undo.
Moreover, Memo Order 32 is a virtual, if not de facto, prelude to the expansion of martial law, admittedly a reiteration and reinforcement of Memo Order 3 under a state of national emergency, but insidiously including as catchall phrases “acts of terror” in addition to the vague “lawless violence.”
Indeed, instead of choosing the path of just peace, the government has chosen to wreak havoc upon the nation. Instead of negotiations to end the armed conflict, it is fanning the flames of impunity and wanton disregard for the rule of law. Instead of a rational approach to dealing with social unrest, it has chosen irrational violence whose consequences, ultimately will be borne by the people, especially the poor, and the unarmed, defenseless, innocent civilians.
We are alarmed that all these are happening amidst legislative proposals being railroaded in Congress that essentially strips the people of their fundamental freedoms and civil liberties. These include proposals to give the state the power to close down social media accounts it deems “inimical” to the nation’s interest, and the Terrorism Prevention Act which in effect discards all universally-accepted standards for human rights and procedures of law.
What are all these ominous signs a portent to? Where is the government leading us, our nation and people, to?
The struggle for just peace becomes all the more urgent amidst all the evils enveloping our land. All peace advocates must join hands in calling for a stop to government irresponsibility, and urge a return to the negotiating table. The peace negotiations must resume. But there must be negotiations based on a mutual commitment to meaningfully solve the problems of hunger and landlessness, uphold human rights and national sovereignty. Even the silencing of guns of both parties to the armed conflict must be part of the negotiation process for a just peace.
Peace advocates likewise call on the people to resist all measures that not only undermine the prospects for the resumption of the peace talks but also add more burden to the people and increase the violent assault on their innocent lives.
