Commentary

Macapagal-Arroyo Not Off the Hook
Killings of BM activists increase under ‘war on terror’

The fact that Malacañang has done no serious or sustained investigation of the Bayan Muna killings shows that either such cases also lead to the president’s own office or is powerless to rein in her own military – or both. Clearly, the president has command responsibility over such violations of human rights and can therefore be held accountable.

By Bobby Tuazon
Bulatlat.com

It is tragic enough that Bayan Muna (BM), since taking part in the party-list elections in 2001, has had many of its members summarily executed by government forces. The plot by reactionary elements in government to render BM (or people first) a non-entity in Philippine politics since it gained popularity in the oust-Estrada movement was hatched because of perceptions that its ideology of new politics threatened the power of traditional politicians and the reactionary rule of the U.S. imperialist-inspired elite. To their mind, BM was a threat to “national security.” In the name of national security, 37 BM members have been murdered.

But when government’s national security adviser accuses BM of diverting P60 million of public funds to the New People’s Army (NPA), then the plot thickens and portends that more is yet to come for the party-list group. The accusation by Norberto Gonzales, a spent stalwart of the “social democrats” and a typical opportunist who jumps ship from one rotten regime to another, is not only baseless and irresponsible – as BM leaders contend – but puts its thousands of members in greater peril to military and police executioners.

Gonzales issued the accusation following reports that BM – which topped the May 2001 party-list polls – is expected to repeat such feat this year based on a recent Pulse Asia survey. But he also threw the accusation days after members of the government panel in the ongoing peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) refused to begin “effective measures” to remove the “terrorist” tag off the CPP-NPA and NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison.

It is clear to Bayan Muna that it has been the target of physical harassment and black propaganda by reactionary elements in government who disdain any group that espouses people-oriented politics. Since the beginning its party headquarters, leaders and organizers both in the NCR and in the provinces have been placed under surveillance and intimidated by military intelligence units. Many of its members – suspected of being NPA supporters – were placed in the AFP’s “order of battle.” In 2002, anti-communist vigilante groups were recruited to malign BM – along with other militant groups – as “terrorist”; systematic vilification campaigns were even launched to link it with the Abu Sayyaf bandit group. Some of these groups were reportedly receiving government funds.

“Neutralization”

The campaign against BM was confirmed in an article published last year by the Armed Forces’ official newsletter Ang Tala, which called for the “neutralization” of the party-list group in order to prevent it from registering a voice in Congress, among other objectives. The article surfaced while Congress, the justice department and the Commission on Human Rights – acting under public pressure – were investigating reports of killings of BM organizers and activists many of them committed in the Mindoro provinces. Under oath, the former commander of the Army brigade in Mindoro several times minced no words in stating that BM is a “communist front” thus hinting that, as far as the AFP is concerned, it was a fair game.

The killings and other forms of harassment faced by BM have become more frequent and brutal since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced her support for U.S. President George Bush’s “war on terror” in October 2001. She welcomed Bush’s declaration making the Philippines the war’s “second front” which also led U.S. to deepen its armed intervention in the Philippines and tighten its hold on the AFP.

Subsequent meetings and secret agreements forged between the two presidents broadened the “war on terror’s” targets to include the NPA and MILF and in effect gave the Philippine military – now enjoying increased U.S. military assistance and training – a carte blanche to terrorize suspected front organizations of the CPP. The U.S.-backed counter-insurgency operations in the guise of “anti-terrorist” missions are jointly-planned through the Pentagon-based Defense Policy Board (DPB) between the two countries as well as through the Mutual Defense Board (MDB) of the reactivated Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group (Jusmag) – which specializes in counter-insurgency campaigns - and special forces trainings on psy-war tactics, political assassinations and on other covert operations and dirty tricks.

U.S. special forces

Last year, U.S. special forces were spotted in areas outside locations of supposed Balikatan war exercises; and such areas were known to be NPA turfs. In May 2002, the CIA was dragged into mysterious bombings in Mindanao following an explosion that damaged a Davao hotel. Apparently, the bomb went off and injured its bearer, Michael Terrence Meiring, an alleged CIA operative using the cover of a treasure hunter. Meiring was spirited away by U.S. embassy personnel and FBI agents on board a private jet before he could be interrogated by the local police.

Given such conditions, one cannot help but point an accusing finger at the U.S. military itself and its local lackey, the AFP, for the series of killings involving BM and other new party-list groups and organizations.

The fact that Malacañang has done no serious or sustained investigation of the killings shows that either such cases also lead to the president’s own office or is powerless to rein in her own military – or both. Clearly, the president has command responsibility over such violations of human rights and can therefore be held accountable. Based on reports, Bayan Muna has been asked directly by the President to tone down the party-list group’s criticisms of government policies particularly in the light of the election season. In the light of BM’s refusal to kowtow to the president’s wishes, Gonzales’ tirades against the group can also be considered as a political blackmail. Bulatlat.com

Back to top

We want to know what you think of this article.