After the much-publicized presence of a U.N. rapporteur here to investigate the spate of killings of journalists, and after the horrific number of those killings itself, unbelievably, here comes another incident.
Last 18 April, Radyo ng Bayan’s Carmelo Palacios was beaten and shot to death at his home in Nueva Ecija. I hate to say it but, after so many unresolved assassinations, people seem to have become apathetic, unaffected. Instead of outrage, around me I hear “Tsk tsk! another one?” And from our government, apart from platitudinous commiseration, …what?
Isn’t it beyond comprehension that not a single suspect is behind bars for any of the dozens and dozens of murdered journalists? This group in Japan, Human Rights Now, as well as others in Europe, do in fact react in disbelief. So much so that HRN has raised the issue with their own government, demanding that Tokyo cut us off from ODA. Isn’t this embarrassing?
On the one hand, I can understand HRN’s clamor, the objective of which is to sanction the Philippine government, because they believe that Malacañang and/or the military are involved. But, cutting off much-needed financial aid will deal a fatal blow to vital countryside development projects. In effect, ultimately, it will be the grassroots communities that will bear the brunt — thereby triggering an avalanche of social problems.
This Japanese group’s reaction and subsequent demand may seem rather excessive. However, this only goes to show how grave the issue (assaults on members of the free press) is in HRN’s collective mind.
If only our own government were as passionate: as enthusiastic in safeguarding one of the bulwarks of a democratic state.
