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Thursday, October 20, 2005
Editorials: Time to give up on CPR
After weeks of implementing the "no permit, no rally policy," a.k.a. the calibrated preemptive response (CPR), the Arroyo administration should have realized by now that the country is in no better shape than when the maximum tolerance policy was in place.
Some would even contend that street protests were already moving towards irrelevance before some administration wise guys hatched the CPR.
Indeed, attempts by the political opposition and its militant allies to launch People Power-type rallies so failed miserably they reluctantly entered the administration's trap, which was the impeachment proceedings against President Arroyo in Congress.
They tried to mount bigger protest actions again after the House of Representatives junked the impeachment complaints but not many people responded.
But with the CPR, things are again looking good for the anti-Arroyo groups.
Where before small rallies left undisturbed by authorities merited scant attention, police civil disturbance units clashing with the protesters, no matter how small their number, are attracting public interest.
Where before street protests have turned repetitive and monotonous, these have now become a venue for participants to test their resolve in advancing their cause, with every clash with the police hardening their determination.
And instead of stopping the street protests, the CPR galvanized into action even those who, while they do not like the political opposition and the militants, are willing to defend the democratic space they battled to widen during the martial law years.
One proof of the effect of the CPR is that even opposition politicians are saying they now are willing to lead rallies and be dispersed---meaning, they also want to be caught on camera while being hosed with water.
Even for that alone, the Arroyo administration should swallow its pride and revert back to the maximum tolerance policy in dealing with street protests.
Now that E-VAT’s on
The Arroyo administration letting go of CPR becomes even more compelling now that the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Expanded Value-Added Tax (E-VAT).
The implementation of the E-VAT would mean additional burden for the people and therefore widespread uneasiness and discontent.
And when even their right to protest the putting of the additional burden is curtailed, expect their fury to explode.
(October 20, 2005 issue)
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