BY THE Philippine Political Science Association
Bulatlat.com

We, officers and members of the Philippine Political Science Association, fully condemn the continuing nationwide extra-judicial killings of leaders/activists of legal mass organizations, social development workers, and journalists. We call on the highest authorities of the land to investigate and put an end to these killings that have made a mockery of whatever claims the government has as regards the ascendancy of a constitutional rule of law and due process.

Selective killings can not effectively address political and ideological differences between government and dissenting individuals and legal mass organizations. We must respect laws and legal processes designed to deal with such issues. Even in the arena of armed conflict, the government and armed combatants are now bound to respect international humanitarian laws that aim to humanize such conflict.

If left unchecked at the soonest possible time, these killings can only lead to a more divided society, heightened distrust of public authority, and further erode our already weak institutions. Lest we become victims of this vicious cycle, we call on our highest public officials to show their determination in addressing both the immediate and long-term causes of this national crisis. We also call on the Arroyo administration to reconsider the “all-out war campaign” against insurgent groups that has proven to be ineffectual in previous administrations and in solving similar armed conflicts in other nations. To demonstrate its determination in addressing the problem, the government should make all regional military commanders and provincial police superintendents personally accountable for any political killing in their respective areas.

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