WE, the elder generation in the Philippines and abroad, are very much aware of the history of, and politics involved in, the on and off war between Israel and Palestine in particular and the Christian-Jews-Muslim conflict in general.
We, the peace-loving Filipino readers, are grateful for the unbiased rendition of the abovementioned conflict by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in its editorial, “Ghastly Gaza.”
We are however concerned over some of PDI columnists’ incendiary polemics and maledictions like the Mr. Neal H. Cruz’s “Abraham and Moses to Blame for the Conflict in Ghaza” and the oft-quoted “Only a dead Moro is a good Moro” by your other columnist.
Polemicizations and maledictions time and time again are always counterproductive, then (starting with the first major Christian-Muslim conflict in 636 AD, to the First Crusade authorized by Pope Urban, to the Ottoman Turks war with Europe and the Balkans, to the Europe’s Reformation era) especially at this point in our modern times.
Being “historical”- and pointing the atrocities of the protagonist only highlight, reinforce, and exacerbate the vicious cycle of hatred between the Christians, Jews and Muslims.
What we need at this point are propositions for a long term solution - solutions that will stop the hatred between the protagonists, like continuous world humanitarian aid to the poorest Palestinians (not only during war but during peace time) living in slums worst than our own in Metro Manila, continuous scholarship grant for deserving Palestinian students in schools abroad (like what the United States has done with Iranians and Iraqis in the past) to create considerable moderates and enlightened Muslims among the Palestinian ranks, continuous deployment of large UN contingent to preserve peace and help in the reconstruction of the Palestine and creating a working government and security forces, and long term dialogue between Israel and Palestinians to start the tortuous reconciliation process, to name a few.
Lastly, it is suggested that PDI rather highlight the common grounds that we Christians, Muslims, and Jews share like the following: 1. We all pray to one and only God–He is Allah to Muslims; Yaweh to the Jews; 2. The Quran was dictated to Prophet Mohammad by Archangel Gabriel; 3. Jesus Christ is recognized as a Major Prophet by Muslims; 4. We all descended from the same Patriarch–Abraham; and 5. Quran’s teaching are similar in so many ways with the teachings in the Christians’ Bible and Jews’ Torah. Just to name a few. Let us remember that we are all into this together–we have our own version of the above conflict in Mindanao — and this I think is the best way to discuss positively and in a productive way the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Daniel MC Sagire, Dublin, Ireland, via email
January 14th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
1
wonderwoman Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Government as the ACCUSED
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
So many irrational moves by our government; so many blunders that has wasted billions of pesos of “people’s money”; so many inefficiencies and so many corruptions; all this characterize the administration of PGMA..
There is a thin line between being seditious and being forethright. Our psydo leaders should heed and listen to these legitimate grievance because ultimately we the citizen of this country are the ones affected. Moreover, under our democratic government, we, as citizen, has the right, AS GUARANTEED BY THE 1987 CONSTITUTION, to voice our objections against this corrupt government.
Below is some excerpt applicable to what I am driving at;
ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 8. The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors, to form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.
Section 18. (1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.
(2.) The policy of our PNP to unilaterally kill suspected criminal is one serious flaw in the execution of their duties. 98% of encounters result to the death of suspected criminals.
(a.)The right to form Unions or associations ( Political Parties like Bayan Muna, PASANGMASDA, and other Party list group) is protected by our Constitution.
9a.) What happened in the past two years is a glaring example of violation of this provisions. I am not a politician per se, nor a lawyer, I protest to the policy of our government headed by National Security Advicer Norberto Gonzales and Ex General Palparan during those times when activist were targeted by our government, as indicated in the ALSTON report (U.N. representative designated as investigating body on Human Rights in the Philippines), shows how dismally Section 8 on the BILL OF RIGHTS was deliberately violated.
Here is an explicit excerpt of the Alston Repot;
“Alston’s final report on RP extrajudicial killings
This copy was taken from Inquirer.net.
In some areas, the leaders of leftist organizations are systematically hunted down by interrogating and torturing those who may know their whereabouts, and they are often killed following a campaign of individual vilification designed to instil fear into the community. The priorities of the criminal justice system have also been distorted, and it has increasingly focused on prosecuting civil society leaders rather than their killers.
The military is in a state of denial concerning the numerous extrajudicial executions in which its soldiers are implicated. Military officers argue that many or all of the extrajudicial executions have actually been committed by the communist insurgents as part of an internal purge. The NPA does commit extrajudicial executions, sometimes dressing them up as “revolutionary justice”, but the evidence that it is currently engaged in a large-scale purge is strikingly unconvincing. The military’s insistence that the “purge theory” is correct can only be viewed as a cynical attempt to displace responsibility.”
Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.
(b.) The No Permit No Rally violates Section 4 of the Bill of Rights under our Constitution. The mere fact that people are restrained in their rights to voice their grievances under threat and branded as as Communist, terrorist, revisionist, leftist, and other name constitue violation to the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The restrictions of rallyist and would be rallyist to joint demonstrations particularly those coming from provinces who where prevented by Military/ police blockage is considered a government violation.
Section 16. All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative
Section 19. (1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted. Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it. Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua.
(2) The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.
(a.)Let us discuss Section 19, paragraph 1. BILLS OF RIGHTS specifically, the first two wordings; EXCESSIVE FINES.
This provisions encompass a wide scope, but let us limit it to FINES, per se.
Our government is guilty on this particular provision when it implement a policy of charging its citizen with EXCESSIVE FINES.
There are innumerable EXCESSIVE FINES our government violated. Below are but few examples:
(a.) Traffic Violations: The excessive fines impose by LTO such as 50% on late registrations which amounts to not less than 3,000 pesos and others up to 25,000 pesos (depending on the model), also, minor traffic offenses goes up to 1,500 pesos.
(b.) Real Estate Tax: I have ones, failed to pay my tax for 3 years due to monetary constrain, and my Realty Tax amounted only to 10,000 pesos, but my penalty was as high as 20,000 pesos! If that is not excessive, what do you call it? Is it not CONFISCATORY by nature?
(c.) Terminal fees on all types of transportation is unrealistically high commensurate to the service they render.
(d.) Not to be out-done, our Courts, with the enactment by the Supreme Court has gone into a money making enterprises. It now charge a filing fee almost 25% of the monetary value related to the civil aspect of the case. And there is now excessive charges to all types of motions where in there was none before.
These abuses by our government is just but a few.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(1.) Section (6) of the BILLS OF RIGHTS speaks of speedy trials. Our Judiciary has dismally failed to implement Section (6). As proof, there are thousands and thousands of prisoners rotting in our jail for so long, almost loosing hope, particularly for those who committed petty crimes. Our government never initiate to correct this flaw. Budget constrain and lack of Judges as an excuse is not acceptable.
(2.) Our government has also violated Section 19 paragraph two for failing to provide adequate penal facilities. The stink, the putrid smell, the squalor, the poor ventilations, the over crowded cells which also results to rapid spread of communicable diseases, are typical cruel condition in our Philippine prisons which subjects our prisoners to sub-human conditions. More so that, the daily food allowance per prisoner is dismally small, even less than a price of a softdrink.
Section 22. No ex post facto law (applying to events that have already occurred as well as to subsequent event) or bill of attainder (Confiscation of rights or property) shall be enacted.
(1.) The MMDA is the gross violator of this law more than any other government agency. This law means that no government agency has the right to confiscate any private property for whatever reason.
(2) Bayani Fernando (Head of MMDA) ABSOLUTELY HAS NO RIGHT TO DISTROY, SCUTTLE, and OR CONFISCATE ANY VENDORS COMMODITY irregardless whether they violated any City Ordinance, much more to hurt vends whose only crime is to earn a living. Instead of maximum tolerance and symphaty, MMDA personel highhandly treats vendors like hardcore criminals and without notice demolish their shanties and wares with impunity. Worst, those who resist confiscations of their wares or demolitions of their shanties are subjected to excessive force resulting to serious physical injury, or short of losing their lives.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
These are just but a few to the numerous violations and weaknesses committed by PGMA ADMINISTRATION.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:21 am
No, Mr DOM..the best and most economical way for the country to do is SEND ALL POLITICIANS to Gaza. This way we get rid of corruption and economic liabilities, and at the same time make use of these useless and lawless idiots in our society. They can either be used as human shields or suicide bombers, nevertheless, our votes have been put to good use.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Yonkers, New York
10 January 2009
In her column today, “Rotten to the Core,” Solita Collas-Monsod asks, “How widespread is corruption?”
The answer should be that it has long been systemic throughout the body politic, not much unlike an aggressive and malignant cancer that has metastasized.
The three major branches of government, the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial are cesspools of corruption.
The private sector not only is not invulnerable to corruption; it is itself wallowing with the public sector in a common cesspool of corruption.
The general consensus seems to be that there is nothing anyone or any entity can do at this juncture to minimize corruption to more acceptable levels, let alone eradicate it completely.
Sad to say the country is “rotten to the core.” And that explans why it has earned the unenviable distinction of being “the most corrupt country in the world.”
Mariano Patalinjug
MarPatalinjug@aol.com
January 11th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Both Muslims and Christians claim that the holy land is theirs. That’s the root of the conflict. If a christian, a jew and a muslim live in the same town in a foreign country like France, Do you think they would fight? I would think they will live in harmony.
January 10th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Good solution, lets send all our local protesters to the war in Gaza.