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Political killings

The present political situation is very tense. It needs vigilance from freedom-loving Filipinos to oppose GMA’s policies, including the formalization of martial rule, that curtail our basic and fundamental rights. There is a tendency for her to do that to stay continuously in power. The present political trends will reveal this

The most worrisome now is the undeclared policy by the administration of eliminating its political opponents. I consider it as a present policy of GMA for the following reasons: First, the political killings are not just sporadic. It is in fact national in scope and character. Second, the government made no investigations and condemnation on the killings. Thirdly, the victims’ organizations identified the military to be involved in these gruesome killings. Lastly, the victims are unarmed civilians calling for political change.

The trend clearly shows the elimination of vocal leaders from what GMA’s military leadership tagged as “leftist organizations”. It seems that their message is, “Those are just samples if you don’t keep your silence.” Latest data since 2001 showed that those killed are as follows: more than 50 Bayan Muna; more than 20 Anakpawis; and at least two Gabriela members. Also nearly 10 media practitioners were killed since January this year alone.

The latest victim of these political killings was Ric Ramos of the union CATLU of the Hacienda Luisita. (Please read the details of the killing in related article.) Ramos had been leading the Hacienda Luisita workers in raising their legitimate issues. Never had they been involved in armed means to forward the workers’ issues. Yet, like those Hacienda workers whom the military mercilessly killed during the height of their strike last year, Ramos’ case is among those lined up to be forgotten unsolved. It is already nearly one year, but nobody from those involved in the Hacienda Luisita carnage were punished for their inhuman act. Is that not a policy? Is that not contradicting the government’s primary rule to protect the people?

Is it also coincidental that the areas of jurisdiction under General Jovito Palaparan recorded the most incidents of the killings? Numerous human rights violations were linked to Palparan. Instead of seriously appreciating the cases for investigation for the government to file cases, he was in fact rewarded through his promotion to higher rank. The policy seems to reward those that eliminate leaders of anti-GMA’s groups.

The clear trend is that GMA not only violates the basic freedom, like that of expression, of the press, and of peaceful assembly regardless of their political belief. There is a clear trend of her violations of the right to life through the elimination of those who dissent to her anti-people policies. This must be condemned and opposed. #

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