Monday, November 03, 2008 Editorial: Time for accountability
JUST last Saturday, November 1, 2008, the Amnesty International released its newest publication entitled "Zimbabwe: A time for accountability."
The publication tackles human rights violations in Zimbabwe and how a power sharing agreement reached by Zimbabwe's main political parties in September 2008 created an opportunity for authorities to discuss "the long-standing legacy of impunity for human rights violations and build a culture of accountability."
Reading through the 39-page publication downloadable from the website of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' ReliefWeb.int, what Amnesty International described as "legacy of impunity for human rights violations" brought familiar images, except that the perpetrators and the victims were not of dark skin tones like those in the publication photos.
Rather, the mental images summoned by the rabid human rights violations in Zimbabwe were faces of Filipinos. While it was Zimbabwe that was thoroughly discussed and the government of Zimbabwe being put to task for all these human rights violations, the discussion paper appeared to be describing the Philippines.
"Impunity is the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice," the report said, as images of the mourning kin of Filipino desaparecidos flit in, like that of Dr. Editha Burgos, the missing journalist and farmers' rights advocate Jonas Burgos's mother.
"Impunity arises from a failure by states to meet their obligations to investigate violations; to ensure that those suspected of criminal responsibility are prosecuted, tried, and duly punished; to provide victims with effective remedies and to ensure that they receive reparation for the injuries suffered; to ensure the right to know the truth about violations; and to take other necessary steps to prevent their recurrence," the report further said, as we report that yet another man killed "vigilante-style," no witnesses, no suspects, no justice, no effort.
Indeed, the situation in Zimbabwe may be more brutal, but the only saving grace we have may be that we are a predominantly God-fearing nation and that we have a higher respect for women. Beyond that, nothing else.
The report further stated: "There can be no durable resolution of the Zimbabwe crisis without deliberate government measures to break the culture of impunity. The failure to ensure justice and redress prolongs and intensifies the pain felt by the victims and their families. It also effectively gives a green light to the perpetrators to continue. The government has an obligation under international human rights law to ensure the right of victims of human rights violations to an effective remedy."
And we add, just change the country name Zimbabwe to Philippines. The message remains the same.
