This is only a hunch, but the foreign blogosphere seems far more interested in Philippine rebels behead 10 soldiers (see grim photos published by the Mindanao Examiner) than Filipino bloggers, particularly when it comes to commentary (simply reprinting entire news stories doesn’t cut it). What’s particularly interesting is this:
The government initially blamed Abu Sayyaf or renegade MILF militants for the kidnapping. However, the Roman Catholic news agency AsiaNews said criminal gangs were probably responsible for the abduction.
“The theory that Abu Sayyaf is behind the abduction of Fr Giancarlo Bossi does not hold water,” the news agency said. “Rather, from what we know, he is being held hostage by a gang of criminals.”
Among non-Filipino bloggers, the mood among the interested is grim unsurprise, as shown by Little Green Footballs. The Perpetual Malcontent, for one, seems exasperated by the AsiaNews story. WuzzaDem.com doesn’t think the American media is going to give the story the attention it deserves. as Minnesota Central puts it, there is a global war going on but media (including Bush-friendly media) doesn’t want to admit it. PrariePundit points out that while perhaps not very well known to Americans, the American-assisted campaign against the Abu Sayyaf represents “one of the most successful counterterrorism/counterinsurgency effort of the post-9/11period,” although the killing of the marines represents “a serious setback.” The blog relies heavily on Peter Brookes’ “The Forgotten Front,” which says,
The good news?
U.S.-Philippine operations have significantly weakened the terrorist group. Philippines forces have killed two senior ASG commanders since last December. One was sold out by an ASG member-turned-informant, motivated by the State Department’s rewards program.
Once 2,000 fighters strong, ASG’s been whittled down to around 200 to 300 today. As a result, its trademark bus and local market bombings have dropped off, as has its once-lucrative kidnapping practice. The threat has clearly receded.
But why has this operation shown success?
Indirect Approach: The United States isn’t doing the fighting. Philippine armed forces are – 15,000 of them, with 300 U.S. troops “advising and assisting.” Our forces are not only teaching counterinsurgency tactics and nighttime operations, they’re instructing the Filipinos to collect, analyze and fuse intelligence – even when it comes from a high-tech U.S. Predator drone.
This puts the local Philippine forces in the lead – and gives them the training and battlefield experience to provide a lasting capability that will endure long after the U.S. troops head home.
Hearts and Minds: A significant effort has been made to win local hearts and minds. U.S. and Philippine civil-affairs, humanitarian aid and exercises are helping separate the ASG from the general population. During regular joint “Balikatan” military exercises, Americans and Filipinos build roads, schools, water plants and piers that allow locals to build a better future for themselves – and instill trust and confidence in Manila.
Defense Reform: In 2002, the Pentagon undertook a bilateral program to help the Philippines identify much-needed defense reforms and boost our ally’s armed forces’ professionalization.
That extends to unsexy but vital areas such as maintenance and logistics. In 2001, Philippine military helicopters were mission-ready just 15 percent of the time. Today, those helos are ready for counterinsurgency 80 percent of the time.
Stick-to-itiveness: Despite up and downs in the bilateral relationship (especially when Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo withdrew forces from Iraq), Washington stuck to eliminating the ASG. Resolve makes a difference.
But the real question, it seems to me, is whether 10 Philippine Marines died at the hands of the Abu Sayyaf, or fell prey to a criminal gang. Philippine Commentary points to TV reporter sees empty houses before all hell breaks loose and gives a rundown of what happened; he’s particularly irked that the MILF issued a statement that the whole thing was in the nature of a command and control snafu, that they bore no responsibility but were quite gleefully willing to pick up weaponry from the battlefield.
if they were slain by the Abu Sayyaf, then did the terrorist group intercept the marines as they actually went after the bandits who have the Italian priest, or are the terrorists in league with the bandits, or trying to grab the bandits’ hostage? Whichever way you look at it, it seems a case of bad leadership on the part of the marines.
Let me say I am not a believer in the “see, people are dead! for their sake, abandon all your misgivings about current policy to fight terrorism!” way of arguing or thinking. I believe that this sort of argumentation strays very close to a terrorist mindset.
The President’s been making fire-breathing statements: 1st targets: Rogue AFP men, Reds, terrorists when it comes to the anti-terror law, which yesterday’s Inquirer editorial said should be reviewed now, rather than later. Study the law before making dire predictions, Palace tells critics of Human Security Act.
To help you figure out whether the opposition is valid or misguided, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Geronimo L. Sy’s efforts to explain the anti-terror law’s provisions.
Meanwhile, AFP troops back in NCR.
In political news, on the evening of my last entry, the Comelec had already made a sudden volte-face: after Comelec flip-flops on Zubiri proclamation, it became COMELEC defers Zubiri proclamation. And just when the public was already set to cheer or jeer (see Winners make losers. Losers make excuses and starfish hands and Tinkie Fantasy for contrasting views) now Comelec in a bind over proclamation (I don’t buy Sarmiento’s logic). Anyway, for now, Koko Pimentel gears up for final stand.
Also,even as JDV: Secret ballot you want, secret ballot you get, there’s a twist: JdV supporters oppose secret vote proposal in choosing speaker while Garcia: JdV lost moral ascendancy for Speakership (on related matters, De Venecia son hit on broadband deal and GMA presses JdV to make Mikey energy committee chairman); in his column, Efren Danao says he think de Venecia still has the edge, but also goes into an educational description of an oft-used political word, “caucus”:
A caucus is held mainly to prevent a bloody or protracted confrontation on the floor. It is not true that only members of the same political party can hold a caucus. Members of different political parties belong to a coalition, whether administration or opposition, can hold a caucus. It can also involve both the majority and the minority, as in an all-Senate caucus which is held quite often.
Any one who says a caucus to settle the speakership issue is redundant because the official balloting will still take place on July 23 ignores the real nature of a caucus. It is a parliamentary tradition that any decision arrived at in a caucus will be binding on every one present. If Pabling wins at the caucus, JdV’s supporters will go for him on July 23. JdV is being true to parliamentary tradition when he said he would personally nominate Pabling on July 23 should Pabling win in the caucus. Those who do not want to be bound by any decision contrary to their own sentiments usually avoid caucuses like a plague.
Here is an addendum to the issue of secret balloting for the speakership as proposed by the Garcia camp. In my column last Monday, Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City said that secret balloting is contrary to House rules that prescribe roll call voting. Rep. Arthur Defensor explained why the rules called for roll call vote. Art, whom I also covered at the regular Batasan, stressed that a roll call vote is needed to determine who should belong to the majority and to the minority. Those who voted for the winner will constitute the majority and those for the loser, the minority. Definitely, the members of the majority and the minority could not be ascertained in a secret balloting.
Overseas: China executes former food safety chief over fake medicines. And Dr. Enzo von Pfeil gets interviewed on whether and how another Asian financial crisis could take place. Elizabeth Wilner suggests that in American politics, there aren’t any second chances anymore.
My column today is You get what you wish for; my Arab News column for this week is Nuclear Option Is Back on the Table in Philippines.
A brilliant passage from Manuel Buencamino’s blow-by-blow account of how the administration targeted Gringo Honasan and then, when Honasan became cooperative, suddenly pulled a rabbit out of its legal hat:
Susmaryosep! If a finding can be pulled out of a hat to let Honasan off the hook, why couldn’t the same be done for Trillanes?
Was it because rather than doing a Gringo, Senator Trillanes swore he would investigate extrajudicial killings, reopen the Garci case and continue to work for Mrs. Arroyo’s impeachment?
No, said government mouthpieces. Under the principle of equality before the law, Senator Trillanes deserved the same treatment as a pedophile who was twice elected to Congress while in detention and who, recently, received a commutation of sentence from a close family friend, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
There’s no need to detail the absurd Trillanes/Jalosjos parallel. Suffice it to say that mounting an 11-year-old girl to satisfy one’s perverted craving is not the same as mounting a mutiny against corrupt military leaders.
There is a difference between patriotism and pedophilia; between a man who stands for his beliefs no matter what and a trapo who stands principles on their head whenever it’s expedient. There is a difference between “de jure” and “de facto” ; between the rule of law and the rule of outlaws. But this regime wants you to believe “there ain’t no difference.”
Time and time again, this regime has used the law to mock the rule of law. And it has never hesitated to substitute a putative sovereign’s will for the sovereign will of the people. But this regime wants you to believe “it ain’t so.”
The same Justice Gonzalez who pulled that rabbit out of his hat, is the very same Gonzalez in this news story: Justice chief relieves Velasco from Burgos case. More in Burgos prosecutor sacked after tagging Isafp agents.
As Erap trial judges reach consensus, there’s the view of Billy Esposo that the ads, etc. are actually an Estrada supporters’ plot. He says something I believe to be true:
How many out there will be willing to risk life, limb and fortune to fight and die for Joseph “Erap” Estrada? It is one thing to sympathize with Estrada the jailbird or vote for the candidates he endorses. But to suggest that millions, or nay, even just thousands of people are willing to confront the State’s armed and police forces over a guilty verdict for Estrada is stretching the limits of the imagination too far.
Then he goes on to suggest that
Before the ad came out, no one had really challenged the fairness of the Sandiganbayan in handling the Estrada plunder case. Up to that day, the public had generally given the Sandiganbayan the benefit of the doubt that Estrada will get a fair trial and verdict.
But after the ad came out, the Estrada camp went to town to claim that a guilty verdict has been rigged. This tends to erode the public’s trust in the capability of the Sandiganbayan to render an impartial verdict. It leads the public to conclude that the Arroyo regime had already gone out of its way to force the court to render a guilty verdict.
In a way, the brand of justice that Secretary Raul Gonzalez had accustomed us to expect has conditioned the public to become cynical of court verdicts in the Arroyo era. Madame Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had cast the seeds of that kind of justice that Gonzalez sows, so she only deserves to reap that sort of public cynicism.
But think again – did you really believe that the Arroyo regime would be so stupid to place that kind of an ad? Common sense will tell you that ad creates an information environment that bolsters only the kind of thinking that the Estrada camp would want to promote.
A point to consider, though I’ve never been keen on the “they’d never be so dumb to do that!” argument. You really never know. For every act of brilliance, or at least breathtaking boldness, a political player’s capable off, there’s always the chance that a blunder can take place. Tony Abaya thinks the middle class has been permanently antagonized by the Estrada camp (I agree):
Given Erap’s past history of colluding with the comrades – not out of ideological commitment, but out of his personal desire to be freed from detention and cleared of the plunder charge – whatever violence is generated by a guilty verdict will not elicit support from the middle class, which avoided earlier efforts to entice them in 2003, 2005 and 2006, no matter how unpopular President Arroyo has become.
A not guilty verdict would embolden Erap and his entourage to try again, for the fourth time, to topple the Arroyo government, but such an enterprise is not likely to generate sympathy and support from the middle class, especially since the economy is doing fairly well and very few, if any, would want to do anything to muddy the economic waters, at least not for such undeserving persons as Erap and his communist allies.
Today’s Inquirer editorial says the trial’s been political from the start, but that the court’s handled things fairly well; see also the views of Marichu Lambino. Personally, I think people have made up their mind either way, but that one court people will end up respecting will be the Supreme Court -and the Sandiganbayan verdict will most likely be appealed, anyway.
An interesting column by Connie Veneracion on how she teaches.
In the blogosphere, even as columnists like Nestor Mata weigh in (pro Villar) bloggers ponder the Senate merry-go-round: big mango wonders which matters more, romance or practicality.
Placeholder on how giving up anonymity doesn’t necessarily mean one has to give up privacy.
Thanks to J. Dennis Torres and fmontserrat for the endorsements.
Technorati Tags: Blogging, elections, human rights, ideas, media, military, politics, president, Senate, society, war, Washington DC
MBW,
The money has to be spent here to buy bullets and noodles (halal). It can be interdicted and the support system at least degraded. We don’t have the legal means to do that yet, but with HSA we will. These are probably more important than any military moves against the terrorists.
an ounce of Prevention is better than a pound of cure.
I consider that arbet and Manolo may both have a point…
most Filipino bloggers are tech, showbiz, or personal bloggers…
I’ve come to realize this with my Musa Dimasidsing writing project when someone replied to my invitation to express their reaction to the murder of Musa Dimasidsing with a simple, “I am politically apathetic”… “I am a technology blogger”
Pardon my outrage at this apathy
And some just can’t blog about this on the spot, ricky Carandang hasn’t blogged about this (I consider his schedule), but I am not concluding that he is not outraged..
But in general, on a collective note, manuel has a point..
search blogs with judy ann Santos, you’ll get better results..
philippine political bloggers are rare..
I don’t get it, “We don’t have the legal means to do that yet, but with HSA we will.”
To do what? Stop the MILF spending the money they may receive that’s expedited in bauls by sea freight? And how do you propose to do that? Catch the MILF fighters in the act of spending the money by brandishing your HSA?
You will have a better crack by sending home those Malaysian advisers first.
MB,
My poetry may be sappy,
but my conscience is happy.
for even allah works in mysterious ways,
and not even your dour countenance darkens the days.
And where do you reckon they buy the bullets (the jalal noodles they can buy from their Chinese friend – singular – there)?
djb, the same kind of criminal elements that play dodge ’em with our navy, and outruns our navy with their boats smuggling drugs, etc. the same criminal elements that engage in piracy not out of any ideological motivation, but for the sheer… piracy of it.
we’re approaching the problem from different angles, i guess. i agree fully 100% that if a law can be passed improving intelligence gathering, that law ought to be passed. but you see, you have a law not concerned only with intelligence gathering, but with apprehension and sentencing, which seeks to create a new type of punishable crime… that’s where it gets tricky.
arbet:ad hominems abound in manuelbuencamino’s posts. maybe your just not as fast at criticizing someone you agree with. in the meantime, if not the HSA, what would be the best response to the beheadings?
I agree with Nick’s observation. It’s just that I am allergic to things unfair. Peace.
Send home the MILF’s Malaysian advisers first.
Then round up their Indonesian friends.
Give up Bossi for good so you can pummel the MILF with no back thought!
djb, incidentally, if an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (i agree) and better intelligence and interdicting funds can go a long way in preventing terrorism (i also agree, but isn’t this what the anti money-laundering law was supposed to help prevent), then why is ermita wrong when he points to the need to be cautious and look after the peace process. i actually think the peace process is one area where the government is actually moving forward and where talks have been productive. could it not be, that a faction of the milf wants to blow the peace process up, and is thus eager to take credit for beheading the marines? so you would give in to this hard-line group, on the argument that the only good muslim is a dead muslim?
Rom, it depends on what you mean by best response?
MLQ3,
I don’t believe that the peace process is going somewhere.
Rom, I respect all kinds of opinions, even ad hominems. If you notice, I rarely comment in here. I don’t posts comments in Uniffors (I hate registrations), where MB blogs.
Here is the comment you are alluding to: And to call people names is not only patently unfair, but also a sign of desperation.
I am not pertaining to anyone in particular; I am pertaining to every one who resorts to ad hominem.
Nice try, Rom. Better luck next time. That is, I get to post comments here. As I have said, I comment here very rarely.
arbet, the level-headed nick points out where we can meet half way 🙂
manila bay watch: hmm… why not? i’d be interested why you think not…
In the case of the ongoing ‘war’ near the land of below the wind, I don’t see the MILF as Muslims – I see them as a brutal, hard core force from which all these gangsters emanate – it’s a “parallel” army that ought to be destroyed.
And to answer your question, Rom: end the peace talks, take these bandits to task, get their financiers. This has been done before, but was overtaken by Edsa 2.
Sir Manolo, I respect you, you know that. We agree to disagree. =P
DJB,
Surrounded by decapitated heads as props
if that don’t work he’ll juggle them for you until one drops,
he knows it’s low but that don’t matter
it’s the anti terror law that’s all he’s after,
Mlq3,
You can’t have a peace process when you allow a foreign government with vast interests, political and material, in that particular area to control the negotiations IN YOUR TERRITORY (The Philippines) and when you allow the same “peace advisers” to conduct and control the logistical inputs on which you base the terms of negotiations.
Mlq3,
The Malaysians will surely “kill” me for this but I dare say, they will let this peace nego go on forever and ever because they haven’t finished the building of their Sabah submarine base (in Lomok) yet.
Anyway, not to worry – I have no doubt, HSA or no HSA, the Marines, the Scout Rangers and every element of this poorly-led AFP will go on a murderous rampage to avenge the deaths of their comrades.
This is when you all ought to be wary because even the kids in the neighbourhood run the risk of being slaughtered when military operation avenger happens…
arbet: oops. my bad. when you wrote: “And I am not talking about you labeling people as liberal. If you cannot spot ad hominem errors, then it is no longer my problem.” you didn’t mean to criticize ad hominems.gotcha. oh, and we take these bandits to task? they must be trembling in their little booties by now. nice try, too arbet. but no cigar.
cvj:you guys are the ones with the deep thoughts about the HSA, so i suppose you can tell me what your idea of a best response is. what parameters are there? what outcomes will satisfy you?
MBW:no shit?! they’re building a submarine base there? seriously. i didn’t know malaysia had that kind of hardware.
mlq3:saw your post.figgered it was you when i saw the word “muscling” 🙂
rom, yes i do have my ideas but i was also hoping you would share your thoughts as well.
Rom and Arbet,
I admit I use ad hominem attacks and very often these days. But look at it this way, and I make no reference to anyone in this blog in particular.
I agree one should argue over ideas, opinions etc without getting personal but when, as the saying goes, you begin to suspect that its “the devil quoting scripture” arguing with you, do you call him on it or do you pretend you are still engaged in intelligent debate?
I think there’s a certain point where you just say fuck you asshole. I guess that’s what Arbet calls desperation. But really, how can you, for example, not call names a guy like Abalos who blames the moral degeneracy of voters for last May’s election? Are you going to get into an argument about moral degeneracy, the character of Filipinos, the electoral system etc. with a guy like that or are you just going to invite to Shang Palace and pour hot soup on his fucking head?
I’m sorry if I offend you with my ad hominem attacks. But as the saying goes, “the devil made me do it.”
cvj:ah. but that’s the rub. the purpose of the question was to elicit original thoughts, not reactions to other people’s opinions.
manuelbuencamino:no sweat. i like ad hominem. its one of those things that people pretend to dislike because some logic 101 teacher called it a fucking fallacy, but actually use all the time. kinda like the spice girls. no one evar admits to having their CDs … 🙂
Forgotten front? I guess you’re wrong about your hunch…
blogsearchengine listed the following blogs:
(1)
Mindanao Rebels: What kind of people are they?
… beheaded 10 marines. Why behead them? Why kidnapped a priest? Is it an order from their religion? What kind of God would order… for the Marines, and Brigadier General Ramiro Alivio, chief of 1st Marine Brigade, said 10 of the 14 who had been reported missing were …
(Jul 11, 2007 09:03) – Pinoy x-sa KSA
(2)
SELF DEFENSE = BEHEADING
… their positions.†Yet after the smoke cleared, 14 Marines were killed, 10 of them who were reportedly missing were found beheaded. The MILF said… of sighting of Fr. Bossi proved to be false. The MILF said they acted in self defense but they cannot explain why the bodies of 10 Marines were …
(Jul 11, 2007 09:38) – THE PATSADA KARAJAW NATION
(3)
14 marines killed in battle with MILF
… spokesman for the Marines, and Brigadier General Ramiro Alivio, chief of 1st Marine Brigade, said 10 of the 14 who had been reported… there be such force leveled against the military? COTABATO CITY– Fourteen Marines searching for a kidnapped Italian priest had been …
(Jul 11, 2007 13:13) – Tingogdotcom
To me an armed army of men and women, rebels or not, but with whom the Philippine government officially negotiates, either for “peace” or for other reasons, i.e., for an independent homeland, their own territory, who are in fact prepared to take on the official army of the nation is a parallel army, virtually at par with the official Philippine Army. No other way to put it really. Or in a country that seeks stability, law and order and peace, one cannot have other armies operating in parallel to that nation’s official army.
The existence in the country of parallel armies that are almost as powerful in terms of firepower, ‘military’ dogma and reach as the nation’s official army undermines not only the effectiveness of that nation’s official army but also makes it difficult for the official army to professionalize its ranks.
Rom, i thought the purpose was to exchange ideas (never mind if it’s original or not). Anyway, the best response to me is one that will take into account the interests of the following:
1. Residents of Basilan who are not armed combatants, but may potentially be affected by the fighting.
2. The residents of the rest of Mindanao.
3. The widows and immediate family of the slain soldiers.
4. The soldiers who are doing the fighting.
5. Fr. Bossi
6. Ordinary citizens who oppose the government, but are not armed combatants.
7. Young Filipinos who may get conscripted if the civil war gets out of hand.
8. Filipinos who fund the military via direct and indirect taxes.
9. Filipinos who are affected by the opportunity costs of the war.
I hope i did not miss anyone.
cvj,
you forgot djb. surely we can find a place for him in your list.
cvj,
frankly, i don’t believe the fighting will ever stop – the players are deeply imbroigled in political and materiel (not only material) shenanigans with their foreign supporters, backers, initiators, etc.
This government, including the men who are under executive orders, the military, the bit players in Mindanao (Christian and Muslim warlords alike), has no backbone nor the desire or lack the intellect perhaps, to solve the problem by providing the necessary political and economic solution to the Mindanao problem but it’s the only government we’ve got and whether or not, some of us here support or don’t support their blasted HSA in their perception that HSA could dismantle the MILF and other parallel armies existing in the archipelago, the likes of you, me, djb, nick, count for very little in the scheme of things or in the order of battle in Mindanao.
MBW, just thinking aloud, what if there was a Draft? One of my officemates here in Singapore asked me why we don’t have mandatory National Service (NS)in the Philippines. I told him it won’t be supported by the public since there is an actual insurgency (CPP/NPA and Muslim insurgency) taking place. He told me that if there were enough bodies, via the draft, then maybe the war would end quicker. I don’t agree with him but i find it hard to dispute his logic.
who says these marines were abducted?
they were sacrificed by their commander in chief for a greater purpose. and that purpose is to justify the HSA, and its full use, with all the horrors it contains.
Yes. I accuse the govt of staging everything so that they’ll have a reason to unleash the HSA in a very unholy way.
sorry, i dnt have any proof.
mine is just a silly accusation.
okay, go on with your niceties and theories.
It is said that Filipinos were paraded at a World Exposition as still living in trees and hunting heads.
The news of these beheadings in the first decade of the 21st century (17 already in 2007) marks us as belonging to perhaps 7th century and not having changed much since that exposition. We are like savages and join that subterranean category of bloodthirsty cutthroats. Every time one of our number is encountered in a civilized nation, he or she never know what thoughts may cross people’s heads about us, since we do not know how critically they may apprehend such news as “TEN MARINES BEHEADED IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES”.
I think we need the anti-terror law just to save our reputations!
What other nation in the world has had SEVENTEEN EXTRAJUDICIAL BEHEADINGS in just the last three months??
cvj,
the draft will cost money and to spend the money they don’t have, a provision will have to be inserted in the budget to make the spending of the money legal but know what, your friend has a point: tactically, the draft may very well unite this fragmented nation.
i mean budget proposal to Congress which Congress will have to deliberate on and on (watch out for Cong Danny Suarez!)
the AFP will have to explain where the particular budget item will be spent – long process but the chief executive should find some loophole in the Constitution to declare emergency and get the draft rolling.
“I think we need the anti-terror law just to save our reputations! ”
Heheheheh! Which of “our reputations” do you want to save first?
cvj, just to complete my earlier phrase “but the chief executive should find some loophole in the Constitution to declare emergency and get the draft rolling.” after all, she’s very cleverly done that in the past, not once but twice and evern many times.
btw, has anyone heard from our NSA yet re the beheading and the so-called ongoing peace process with Malaysia-advised MILF?
see? there’s alrdy one asking for it.
and bec what? that people whose jobs always entail laying their life on the line were killed in the line of battle?
how abt the rest of the citizens killed all this time?
yes. their death were even worser than these marines.
know why? they didn’t even have arms in the 1st place to defend themselves. these marines went into the jungle knowing all the dangers and knowing what it entails.
im not belittling their death or spitting on their honor.
im belittling this govt and spitting on its stupidty.
and for others to fall in with theirs…
cry out for the HSA to take effect bec of the marines deaths? tell me DJB, will the HSA prevent the govt from sending our troops in no-mans-lands and war torn areas?
funny, you were only aghast at extrajudicial killings by beheadings…
be more aghast at the number of those gunned down by motorcycle riding assasins.
‘Extrajudicial beheadings’ – nice rhetorical touch DJB.
I didn’t see any concrete suggestion/s in this thread on how to end the Muslim insurgency (or the NPA). Anybody?
Devilsadvc8,
Yep! You’re right. Murder comes in many forms and not only by beheading. The HSA ain’t gonna solve or stop murders but when this government starts using the laws that are already in place and are operational correctly – NO ONE BUT NO ONE SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW kind of, then maybe we will see the beginning of the end to mass murders.
Instead of abducting and killing militants and human rights activists, the issue of parallel armies that are hugely armed, capable of bringing down the Philippine Republic or dismantling it should be the first worry of the Philippine Army/AFP and this Gloria Arroyo-led government because militant farmers, human rights activists, outspoken priests and other individuals cannot REALISTICALLY, MATERIALLY bring the Philippine Republic down but its parallel armies definitely can even as we speak, as when they slaughter squads of marines!
Jon,
Then you missed my comments – at least, that of my comment on the destruction of the MILF.
Jon, from the last two threads, the suggestions raised so far are:
1. granting independence to Mindanao.
2. a mandatory draft of young adults into the armed forces.
Someone has also been aggressively hawking the ‘HSA’ (using flag waving, poetry and appeal to amor propio) but i think it’s too much of a hard sell.
cvj,
with due respect, why discriminate against the drafting of not so young adults into the armed forces? i’m pretty certain, djb would feel slighted if he weren’t drafted to fight ’em MILF ‘freedom fighters’.
Here’s something that will get djb off his gong again:
International Committee-DEFEND
12 June 2007
EUROPEAN COURT ANNULS TERRORIST LISTING
OF PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON IN LANDMARK DECISION
In its judgment issued in Luxembourg yesterday, in Case T-47/03 of Jose Maria Sison versus Council of the European Union, the European Court of First Instance (ECFI) in Luxembourg annulled the Council of the European Union (EU) decision blacklisting Prof. Sison as a “terroristâ€Â.
The ECFI ruled that the Council of the EU violated the rights of Prof. Sison to defense, the obligation to state reasons and the right to effective judicial protection. There had never been any competent judicial authority calling him to a criminal investigation or any court hearing regarding any terrorist act.
The ECFI also ordered the Council of the EU to bear the costs of the litigation incurred by Prof. Sison and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) which acted as an intervener in his favor.
The judgment of the ECFI directly covers the Council Decision 2006/379/EC of 29 May 2006 and is applicable to the Council Decision dated 29 June 2007 because this decision has exactly the same infirmities and is also violative of the rights of Prof. Sison.
The ECFI judgment does not give compensation to Prof. Sison for the termination of his social benefits (living allowance, health insurance, old age pension) and for moral and material damages but it paves the way for him to claim these in The Netherlands or in further litigation at the European level.
The judgment was penned by Judge J. Pirrung, President of the Second Chamber of the ECFI. The other members of the panel of judges were N. J. Forwood (Rapporteur) and S. Papasavvas.
International Committee-DEFEND
12 June 2007
EUROPEAN COURT ANNULS TERRORIST LISTING
OF PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON IN LANDMARK DECISION
In its judgment issued in Luxembourg yesterday, in Case T-47/03 of Jose Maria Sison versus Council of the European Union, the European Court of First Instance (ECFI) in Luxembourg annulled the Council of the European Union (EU) decision blacklisting Prof. Sison as a “terroristâ€Â.
The ECFI ruled that the Council of the EU violated the rights of Prof. Sison to defense, the obligation to state reasons and the right to effective judicial protection. There had never been any competent judicial authority calling him to a criminal investigation or any court hearing regarding any terrorist act.
The ECFI also ordered the Council of the EU to bear the costs of the litigation incurred by Prof. Sison and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) which acted as an intervener in his favor.
The judgment of the ECFI directly covers the Council Decision 2006/379/EC of 29 May 2006 and is applicable to the Council Decision dated 29 June 2007 because this decision has exactly the same infirmities and is also violative of the rights of Prof. Sison.
The ECFI judgment does not give compensation to Prof. Sison for the termination of his social benefits (living allowance, health insurance, old age pension) and for moral and material damages but it paves the way for him to claim these in The Netherlands or in further litigation at the European level.
The judgment was penned by Judge J. Pirrung, President of the Second Chamber of the ECFI. The other members of the panel of judges were N. J. Forwood (Rapporteur) and S. Papasavvas.
Prof. Sison was represented by a high-powered international team of human rights lawyers, headed by Jan Fermon (Belgium) and including Hans Schultz (Germany), Antoine Comte (France), Dundar Gurses (The Netherlands), Thomas Olsson (Sweden), Mathieu Beys (Belgium) and Atty. Romeo Capulong (Philippines). The NDFP was represented by its long-time Dutch lawyer Bernard Tomlow.
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