Solving insurgency alongside addressing military abuse
There are three kinds of insurgency or insurgents in the world: the ideologue, the brainwashed and the mere oppressed. Communism is not an ideology and movement as it used to be, three or four or five decades ago. Governments and millions of people around the globe have awakened to become aware not only of communism’s failure to effect good and meaningful changes in society, but of the vile and destructive doctrine it espouses to achieve its goals.
In the case of the Philippines, the communist insurgency that the current administration is fighting at this juncture, as the military touts and I believe, is but a dwindled, small, weakened/powerless expedition of rebellious dissidents. What the military, perhaps, doesn’t realize is that this insurgency is likely and largely composed of members who are mere oppressed and those that have the idealism to fight for their cause.
Therefore:
Why “fight” communist insurgency as though the country is still in the era of the 70s, 80s or 90s? NPAs are still NPAs, but they are no longer as they were during the time of Marcos or Cory. The same is true with MNLF/MILF or the Moro secessionist groups. Times and situations have changed. Thousands upon thousands of rebel returnees have surrendered and joined the government.
Why exaggerate the problem and do rabidly in manner and mentality to solve the malaise? I just can’t figure out the tune being played, unless they have something up their sleeves, motivation or “incentives” that probably only a few of them know.
Why employ scare tactic when it is no democratic, acceptable and effective way to persuade people and manage government, and create/alter history?
Why red-tag as communists or terrorists just about everyone who stands for what is right and just? For what sane purpose do we have the recently passed Anti-terror Law? Is it not another obvious, ignominious act by the Senate and Congress that is beyond comprehension except, of course, there is something more and clandestine behind it? Don’t we instead need to have an “anti-madness” law to curb folly and farce among our political leaders?
Why threaten the sweet and pretty Catriona Gray and Liza Soberano simply because they voiced out their sentiments on certain issues and/or are supportive of the cause of the marginalized sector where they belong? Isn’t the braveness and fortitude of these two truly beautiful souls worth emulating by their fellow celebrities?
And why ask the Commission on Human Rights to condemn the already condemned by the people? The commission exists as a watchdog to stop and prevent abuses to humans by humans who are in positions of power.
To solve the problem of insurgency, the president needs just a listening ear (away from “whispers”), in a dialogue with different insurgent groups to come up with a real and lasting panacea. Nevermind Nur Misuari and Jose Maria Sison who have long been “away” and “detached” from their compatriots to be considered material in addressing the problem.
Oh, I wish to see proof in my own country that would belie what American professor/writer Isaac Asimov said, “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” The Duterte administration still has time to prove its mettle, and the chance for the Chief Executive to redeem himself from grave mistakes. – Reni Valenzuela, [email protected]
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