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Thursday, September 29, 2005
Editorials: Conflicting points of view
Who was it that, after having been elected president of his country, announced that he was going to open his country to democracy and anyone who would oppose the idea he would crush or jail?
Such a scenario is similar to a certain degree, although not tacitly, to the circumstance the Philippines is in right now.
There is democracy, admittedly, but the country’s citizenry may not express opinion against President Arroyo.
But then, the current effort of the national government to set up controls over the propensity of the political opposition and presidential detractors to hold rallies and stage demonstrations also falls within the government's democratic right to fulfill its responsibility to the people.
It is obliged to establish peace and order in the country, even if it means forcibly breaking up demonstrations and rallies without permits.
And here emerges the clash of two conflicting points of view over the constitutional right to free assembly and free expression.
It is the government's stand that the continued holding of rallies and demonstrations will not only disturb the peace but also obstruct the normal flow of other people's pursuits of livelihood as well as their need to have a sense of security.
It is thus its obligation to set up guidelines in the exercise of the rights.
But it is the contention too of the opposition that the President is illegitimately occupying the seat at the Palace and should vacate the position.
The objective of the demonstrations is to, sort of, "drive" her out of Malacañang.
On this issue, in a democracy, the stand of the majority should prevail. But how should the majority opinion be determined at this point?
CPR
There is ironic humor in the acronym of the Palace's new policy against the intensified anti-administration moves by activists and cause-oriented groups.
Called "calibrated preemptive response" or CPR, it can be mistaken for another CPR that is important in preserving human life: cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
While the Palace's CPR is politically motivated, undertaken basically in behalf of the political interest of the President and also presumably that of the nation, the other CPR is strictly for the preservation of human life.
It has, happily enough, nothing to do with the rumbles of politics.
But this republic may soon need this particular CPR's application, if the conflict between the two opposing political forces remains unresolved.
(September 29, 2005 issue)
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