Reference to InterAksyon news report:
How sad and painful it is that many have to die first from the ranks of the police and the state for us to realise the importance and universality of "human rights"....
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| Source: InterAksyon.com |
But how about in countless instances in history when those who legitimately disobey and resist the state apparatus cry "human rights" against state's coercive powers, institutions, and practices???
May this crisis of morality that we are facing now usher in some deep reflection and serious action for the betterment of our nation-building process. To check on our morals. To elect the best leaders. To choose the side of peace, democracy, and social justice.
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Catching up with news and analyses in the last few days regarding the aftermath of the SAF-MILF clash, my studies in geopolitics and security issues lead me to an analysis that the foremost victor in this tragedy is/are the US security establishment — particularly, its military-industrial complex, its intelligence institutions, its army of security think-tanks, its long-running propaganda against war on terror, its sickening discursive strategy to demonize Islam and the Muslims, its well-known propaganda to manufacture Muslim monsters, and its horde of media 'presstitutes'.
And the victims in this game and propaganda? All of us! We, the Filipino people, including the dead in the clashes and their loved ones, the peace process, as well as PNoy's government and its police and military personnel.
Who profits from all these anti-terrorism operations, warmongering, and wars itself? Not even the mortals police and military!
Who's succeeding and celebrating in making 'terrorism' the dominant discourse, from the Senate hearings to netizen sentiments, to undermine the legitimate struggle of the peoples of Muslim Mindanao for the right to self-determination? Isn't it that the post-9/11 logic to label a group 'terrorists' meant that it is OK to kill them?!?!
The enormous loss of lives from the SAF and the endangering of the GPH-MILF peace process may be the 'unintended consequences' of US intelligence operations. But it is still very clear to me who benefits and profits much from both the 'intended' and 'unintended' consequences of this well-planned operation.
PNoy's decision has dragged us into this US 'war on terror', which is already losing credibility across the globe but, sadly, still very much alive in the Philippines from government actions to social media comments. PNoy's adamant and consistent pro-US stance — be it in the global war on terror or Asia Pacific affairs — has taken a toll on his administration's dream legacy for peace (in Mindanao) as well as for economic development (by losing the trade and investment opportunities brought about by the ascendancy of China).
I feel very much for my sincere professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and the likes of Secretary Ging Deles and their dedicated staff for the realisation of peace. But we cannot attain peace in Muslim Mindanao if we have a President and his select few clique of decision-makers who side through and through with the US establishment, which profits from war and the anti-Muslim propaganda that they propagate.
We need to be bold to tell the US establishment to give us our needed policy space and to respect our sovereignty. A key step towards this is to elect a President and leaders who are smart enough to believe in the cultural capacity and creativity of Filipinos to attain peace, democracy, and development.
We need to be bold to tell the US establishment to give us our needed policy space and to respect our sovereignty. A key step towards this is to elect a President and leaders who are smart enough to believe in the cultural capacity and creativity of Filipinos to attain peace, democracy, and development.
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