8/8/2019 Kartilya Spcial Issue on Maguindanao Massacre

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Government's tolerance of private armies undermines the

very foundations of democracyNovember 26|2009

There is no denying that the November 23 carnage in Maguindanao province is the latestproduct of the culture of impunity that has pervaded under the leadership of Gloria Macapagal-

Aroyo. Not only does it confirm the Philippines' status as the most dangerous place forjournalists outside of Iraq, but more so, it reflects a weakened state of democracy.

We are enraged not only because more than 50 innocent people were savagely slaughteredand that many of them were women, journalists, and peace advocateswe are outraged of thetolerance that the government has afforded to powerful political clans and warlords!

While the Arroyo administration has always boasted of its iron hand in crushing armeduprisings, legitimate mass demonstrations and protest actions, and insurgencies, never did it lifta finger against the maintenance of private armies and militias by political dynasties. Suchprivate armies have long been in existence and have been associated with numerous crimesand election-related violence, yet none had been disbandedthat is despicable tolerance and a

brazen disregard to the rule of law. Such tolerance has further turned the democracy in thiscountry into vapors. Worse, the government seems to be fierce against petty criminals but frailagainst the godfathers of crimes.

As of this writing, the main suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr., is at the hands of the authorities onboard an Air Force chopper and en route to GenSan airport for turnover to DOJ Sec.Devanadera. This is, indeed, a positive development but we expect more than just a showcaseand stage-act. The people, together with the media, must keep the pressure on the governmentto pursue an impartial and in-depth probe into the incident and bring the perpetrators of thisatrocious crime to justice.

The public, however, must be on the look-out for possible manipulations of these events. The

declaration of a state of emergency in Maguindanao province may well be a spring-board formilitary interventions in the rest of the country. When we say "bring the criminals to justice" wedo not mean to address it with Martial Rule. Private militias must be disarmed and dismantledand never should there be any let-up. Anything less would further embolden those who intend tosuppress the truth and that would mean the failure and even death of democracy in thePhilippines.#

A sister-in-law of one of the members of La Liga Politica was one of the innocent civilians whose lives were savagelytaken by armed militias, Monday, November 23, 2009.