Thursday, November 30, 2006 Seares: Protests at Asean By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will allow protests during the Asean summit even without a permit. Mandaue City Mayor Ted Ouano says, "no permit, no rally."
The two mayors' pitch is nowhere near the mischief of DOJ chief Raul Gonzalez who says he'll feed protesters to the sharks. What's government policy on protests? National and local leaders seem not to agree on what to do.
Is it the generosity of Mayor Tomas who says, ignoring the public-purpose rule, he'll even allow protesters to use city properties? Or is it Mayor Ted's caution? Surely, not the seeming severity of Chief Raul?
Malacañang has already said protests will be allowed, as if it had a choice, given the Constitution.
Chief Raul, like the Palace, knows that a democratic system can't officially ban protests. The sound bite about sharks and feeding must have been irresistible though.
Who rules
But guess what. It's not what Mayors Tomas and Ted or Chief Raul say. It's what national security people will say.
Let protesters come near the ceremonial route or a summit venue and watch how the officials' power breaks against might of law enforcers operating in the name of national security.
Out of sight and hearing means the protesters aren't noticed. Maybe that's what the permit is really for: to confine protesters to places where they can't possibly embarrass anyone because they can't be seen or heard anyway.
