Civilians hurt on both 'sides'
Civilians hurt on both 'sides'
Posted 00:44am (Mla time) Feb 16, 2005
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A15 of the February 16, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
QUITE a common reaction to what newspapers quite luridly described as the "Valentine's Day Massacre" was: "How could those bombers have targeted innocent civilians?" Others condemned what appeared like deliberate planning and timing to hurt or kill as many people as possible, with the blasts set to go off at the height of commuting hours and with many more people than usual staying out on the streets to celebrate the Day of Hearts.
This perception was only bolstered by the statement of the group claiming responsibility for the bombings that the mayhem and bloodshed was its "Valentine's gift to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."
We didn't have to look far for the culprit. Too many Filipinos, it seemed, were only too willing to go along with the police and military theory that the bombings in the cities of Makati, General Santos and Davao were the handiwork of "Muslim terrorists" perpetrated as revenge against the government and Christians in general for the ongoing military action in Sulu. The blame-laying fit right in with the built-in hostility to Muslims or Moros that lies just below the surface of our supposedly Christian society.
The mother of one of the Marines killed in recent clashes in the South expressed this sentiment quite bluntly when, asked what she wanted to happen to her son's "killers," she replied tearfully: "My heart is overflowing with hatred for them. I want them crushed!"
Of course, it's quite possible, and indeed probable, that the bombings were planned by terrorists fueled by an emergent Islamist movement with Jemaah Islamiyah at its lead. Then again, given that all we have to go on is theory, some whole other groups may be behind it. Some even suggest that the "Valentine's massacre" may be but part of a script we are all familiar with, a prelude to martial law.
* * *
WHAT strikes me as funny, or ironic, in this situation, though is how we Christians can be so quick to decry the targeting of "innocent civilians" by terrorists (when they are terrorists precisely because they target civilians), but are quite reluctant to condemn the involvement of civilians in the current military operations in Sulu and in Maguindanao before this.
The same TV newscasts that blared the "breaking news" stories of the bombings carried news reports on the plight of the civilians who were forced to flee their homes in the embattled villages of Sulu. Most of the evacuees shown in the footage were women and children. Reporters highlighted the hunger and illness stalking the refugees, what with supplies taking a much longer time to reach the evacuation centers because they had to be transported by boat, with the highways closed due to the fighting.
Even worse than the forced dislocation of civilians are reports that military commanders in the region deliberately target civilian communities, in the belief that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front {MNLF) renegade troops are using their neighbors and families as convenient camouflage.
A friend says he wasn't surprised at all by the retaliatory bombings, if that was what they were. "If I were an MNLF sympathizer, I would also be targeting civilians since that is what our military is doing to them," he said.
* * *
ANYWAY, there may still be time to break the cycle of retaliation and even escalation in this latest round of conflict. At the very least, our government forces, if they wish to claim the moral high ground, should abandon the policy of targeting civilian populations as soon as possible.
Following that, serious thought should be given to calling a ceasefire on both sides, if only to spare us from any more deaths and destruction.
Last Feb. 9, "concerned citizens" from Sulu and Maguindanao, taking part in a conference on "The Global Campaign against Terror and its Implications on the Peace Process," issued an "urgent appeal" to both the government forces and the MNLF for a ceasefire.
"For several days now, areas of the Sulu province have once again been subjected to massive military operations as government soldiers continued to clash with Misuari supporters," the statement noted. "Initial reports from the field indicate losses on both sides with the number of casualties expected to rise further.
"We strongly condemn this violence and appeal to both sides for an immediate ceasefire.
"Amid conflicting claims by both the military and the MNLF, we also urge the local government and the political leaders in the province to launch an investigation into this issue.
"Lastly, we call for greater vigilance on the part of civil society. Often, in conflict, it is the community that bears the heaviest burden and we urge civil society to be vigilant and champion the community's interests."
* * *
AMINA Rasul of the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the Muslim Women Peace Advocates, called on Sulu Governor Loong and Jolo Mayor Tan to conduct an investigation on the causes of the outbreak of the fighting, adding that "local government officials in Sulu should help resolve the crisis through constructive dialogue."
Rasul said an investigation is in order to dispel speculations as to what really caused the fighting. The woman peace advocate said that the first thing that both sides, the military and the MNLF, should do is to put down their arms and allow local Muslim leaders in Sulu and Mindanao to help patch up their differences. "Both sides must always remember that it is the people of Sulu who are most affected by this conflict. As efforts are being made in the area of peace and development in Mindanao, it is unfortunate that this fighting should occur at this time," she said.
Today, thanks to the bombings, the bloodshed, fear and insecurity have gone beyond Sulu's borders. What was once a conflict confined to Sulu is now a national problem.
Posted 00:44am (Mla time) Feb 16, 2005
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A15 of the February 16, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
QUITE a common reaction to what newspapers quite luridly described as the "Valentine's Day Massacre" was: "How could those bombers have targeted innocent civilians?" Others condemned what appeared like deliberate planning and timing to hurt or kill as many people as possible, with the blasts set to go off at the height of commuting hours and with many more people than usual staying out on the streets to celebrate the Day of Hearts.
This perception was only bolstered by the statement of the group claiming responsibility for the bombings that the mayhem and bloodshed was its "Valentine's gift to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."
We didn't have to look far for the culprit. Too many Filipinos, it seemed, were only too willing to go along with the police and military theory that the bombings in the cities of Makati, General Santos and Davao were the handiwork of "Muslim terrorists" perpetrated as revenge against the government and Christians in general for the ongoing military action in Sulu. The blame-laying fit right in with the built-in hostility to Muslims or Moros that lies just below the surface of our supposedly Christian society.
The mother of one of the Marines killed in recent clashes in the South expressed this sentiment quite bluntly when, asked what she wanted to happen to her son's "killers," she replied tearfully: "My heart is overflowing with hatred for them. I want them crushed!"
Of course, it's quite possible, and indeed probable, that the bombings were planned by terrorists fueled by an emergent Islamist movement with Jemaah Islamiyah at its lead. Then again, given that all we have to go on is theory, some whole other groups may be behind it. Some even suggest that the "Valentine's massacre" may be but part of a script we are all familiar with, a prelude to martial law.
* * *
WHAT strikes me as funny, or ironic, in this situation, though is how we Christians can be so quick to decry the targeting of "innocent civilians" by terrorists (when they are terrorists precisely because they target civilians), but are quite reluctant to condemn the involvement of civilians in the current military operations in Sulu and in Maguindanao before this.
The same TV newscasts that blared the "breaking news" stories of the bombings carried news reports on the plight of the civilians who were forced to flee their homes in the embattled villages of Sulu. Most of the evacuees shown in the footage were women and children. Reporters highlighted the hunger and illness stalking the refugees, what with supplies taking a much longer time to reach the evacuation centers because they had to be transported by boat, with the highways closed due to the fighting.
Even worse than the forced dislocation of civilians are reports that military commanders in the region deliberately target civilian communities, in the belief that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front {MNLF) renegade troops are using their neighbors and families as convenient camouflage.
A friend says he wasn't surprised at all by the retaliatory bombings, if that was what they were. "If I were an MNLF sympathizer, I would also be targeting civilians since that is what our military is doing to them," he said.
* * *
ANYWAY, there may still be time to break the cycle of retaliation and even escalation in this latest round of conflict. At the very least, our government forces, if they wish to claim the moral high ground, should abandon the policy of targeting civilian populations as soon as possible.
Following that, serious thought should be given to calling a ceasefire on both sides, if only to spare us from any more deaths and destruction.
Last Feb. 9, "concerned citizens" from Sulu and Maguindanao, taking part in a conference on "The Global Campaign against Terror and its Implications on the Peace Process," issued an "urgent appeal" to both the government forces and the MNLF for a ceasefire.
"For several days now, areas of the Sulu province have once again been subjected to massive military operations as government soldiers continued to clash with Misuari supporters," the statement noted. "Initial reports from the field indicate losses on both sides with the number of casualties expected to rise further.
"We strongly condemn this violence and appeal to both sides for an immediate ceasefire.
"Amid conflicting claims by both the military and the MNLF, we also urge the local government and the political leaders in the province to launch an investigation into this issue.
"Lastly, we call for greater vigilance on the part of civil society. Often, in conflict, it is the community that bears the heaviest burden and we urge civil society to be vigilant and champion the community's interests."
* * *
AMINA Rasul of the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID) and the Muslim Women Peace Advocates, called on Sulu Governor Loong and Jolo Mayor Tan to conduct an investigation on the causes of the outbreak of the fighting, adding that "local government officials in Sulu should help resolve the crisis through constructive dialogue."
Rasul said an investigation is in order to dispel speculations as to what really caused the fighting. The woman peace advocate said that the first thing that both sides, the military and the MNLF, should do is to put down their arms and allow local Muslim leaders in Sulu and Mindanao to help patch up their differences. "Both sides must always remember that it is the people of Sulu who are most affected by this conflict. As efforts are being made in the area of peace and development in Mindanao, it is unfortunate that this fighting should occur at this time," she said.
Today, thanks to the bombings, the bloodshed, fear and insecurity have gone beyond Sulu's borders. What was once a conflict confined to Sulu is now a national problem.
posted by Dante at 12:44 AM
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