As much as I'd like to write about technology and all, I can't help but write about what I read about on the net, specifically news regarding Martial Law and anything Ampatuan Massacre related. The internet is my only source of news regarding these matters as I have neither radio nor TV and this fact (that I got it through the internet and not through TV or radio) is probably the only aspect of this blog that I can possibly relate to ICT (which is a stretch, really).
I just came across an article which said that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through Chairperson Leila De Lima asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to transfer the hearings for the criminal cases filed against Andal Ampatuan Jr. from Cotabato City to Quezon City, saying the move poses security threats to Metro Manila. I thought that it was great foresight on her part but the problem is, by choosing to have the trial in Mindanao and not in Metro Manila just so the violence does not spill over in the country's political capital and therefore give basis for the Government to declare Martial Law, the CHR only reinforced the notion of an "IMPERIAL MANILA" and through its chairperson, no less. In other words, the CHR was saying, you can go ahead and kill yourselves in Mindanao, as long as we're safe and sound here in Manila. My interpretation of the CHR position is that, the victims and those who suddenly find themselves in the unenviable position of being involved in the trial proceedings (prosecutors, judges, witnesses) must sacrifice (they could get killed) just so that we won't be giving the Government its excuse to declare martial law in Manila.
That there is a danger of a miscarriage of justice because of violence and other hostilities should the trial be held in Mindanao is not something we all just magically imagined. The threat is very real, in fact, there was an article about the Ampatuans may have killed 200 other people and buried them in mass graves even before this last one, a matter which was reported to the CHR in July 2009 but has not, to my knowledge, been brought up before or exposed by it until now. Another article said that the military and police convoy carrying evidence in the Nov. 23 massacre was ambushed by suspected Ampatuan clan supporters Thursday night (Dec.10) as it headed for General Santos City. The Ampatuans have been in power for a long time and have consolidated their power in Maguindanao, and it is no secret that they aren't exactly peace-loving folk, the same goes for their followers.
I also think that the threat of martial law being declared here and Congress merely saying "yes ma'am" to it, is by no means a stretch of the imagination either. The joint session held yesterday was particularly telling, it showed us all we need to know.
What to make of all this, what do we do now? I really don't know. Do we deem the administration of justice subservient to national security now? Is it justice that is administered or justice for "just us?" Will the cities where the CHR asked to have the trial transferred be able to handle it? I don't know. If people are concerned with security issues in Camp Crame itself, the command base of the Philippine National Police (PNP) where the trial is set to be conducted, shouldn't they, with more reason, be concerned with cities such as Davao or GenSan, the cities to which the trial proceedings are sought to be transferred to? Will the change of venue back to Mindanao assure that the violence in connection with the massacre won't erupt in Manila? What if the alleged Ampatuan supporters turn to terrorism and resort to car bombs, suicide bombers, etc? There are so many questions, and to think, I haven't even gotten into the issue of the declaration of Martial Law yet.
On a lighter note, perhaps the trial should be moved to another planet! Mr. Aaron Ho just blogged about space law, and I think it can't come soon enough!
References:
1. Before backhoe, 200 other murders
2. Convoy carrying massacre evidence ambushed
3. Ampatuan case should be heard in Mindanao - CHR
I just came across an article which said that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through Chairperson Leila De Lima asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to transfer the hearings for the criminal cases filed against Andal Ampatuan Jr. from Cotabato City to Quezon City, saying the move poses security threats to Metro Manila. I thought that it was great foresight on her part but the problem is, by choosing to have the trial in Mindanao and not in Metro Manila just so the violence does not spill over in the country's political capital and therefore give basis for the Government to declare Martial Law, the CHR only reinforced the notion of an "IMPERIAL MANILA" and through its chairperson, no less. In other words, the CHR was saying, you can go ahead and kill yourselves in Mindanao, as long as we're safe and sound here in Manila. My interpretation of the CHR position is that, the victims and those who suddenly find themselves in the unenviable position of being involved in the trial proceedings (prosecutors, judges, witnesses) must sacrifice (they could get killed) just so that we won't be giving the Government its excuse to declare martial law in Manila.
That there is a danger of a miscarriage of justice because of violence and other hostilities should the trial be held in Mindanao is not something we all just magically imagined. The threat is very real, in fact, there was an article about the Ampatuans may have killed 200 other people and buried them in mass graves even before this last one, a matter which was reported to the CHR in July 2009 but has not, to my knowledge, been brought up before or exposed by it until now. Another article said that the military and police convoy carrying evidence in the Nov. 23 massacre was ambushed by suspected Ampatuan clan supporters Thursday night (Dec.10) as it headed for General Santos City. The Ampatuans have been in power for a long time and have consolidated their power in Maguindanao, and it is no secret that they aren't exactly peace-loving folk, the same goes for their followers.
I also think that the threat of martial law being declared here and Congress merely saying "yes ma'am" to it, is by no means a stretch of the imagination either. The joint session held yesterday was particularly telling, it showed us all we need to know.
What to make of all this, what do we do now? I really don't know. Do we deem the administration of justice subservient to national security now? Is it justice that is administered or justice for "just us?" Will the cities where the CHR asked to have the trial transferred be able to handle it? I don't know. If people are concerned with security issues in Camp Crame itself, the command base of the Philippine National Police (PNP) where the trial is set to be conducted, shouldn't they, with more reason, be concerned with cities such as Davao or GenSan, the cities to which the trial proceedings are sought to be transferred to? Will the change of venue back to Mindanao assure that the violence in connection with the massacre won't erupt in Manila? What if the alleged Ampatuan supporters turn to terrorism and resort to car bombs, suicide bombers, etc? There are so many questions, and to think, I haven't even gotten into the issue of the declaration of Martial Law yet.
On a lighter note, perhaps the trial should be moved to another planet! Mr. Aaron Ho just blogged about space law, and I think it can't come soon enough!
References:
1. Before backhoe, 200 other murders
2. Convoy carrying massacre evidence ambushed
3. Ampatuan case should be heard in Mindanao - CHR
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