|
Saturday, May 10, 2003
Santos: Support vs terrorism
By Lino Santos
THE other day, Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza stressed that "civilian support" is the best security measure to prevent terrorism attacks in Zamboanga City and elsewhere in the region.
He made this call after talking to victims of the Sunday rebel attack at Siocon town, Zamboanga del Norte. He also told newsmen that civilians should be pro-active. They should be vigilant and report to authorities immediately if there are suspicious people in their area.
"The greater burden is on the civilians. The police and military can't be physically everywhere but civilians can, therefore they need to cooperate. Let us not be terrorized because if we do, we will never win the war. We must not let evil dictate us on what to do."
These admonitions of Dureza have been repeated numerous times by past officials, well-meaning ones who sincerely believed that words of appeasement can stem the tide of brutality, complete disregard of human lives that are being launched by people with whom he has been talking peace. Dureza is one of government negotiators who talk with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation, shake hands with them and hear their meaningless promises of peace.
The people have been clamoring for an end to these endless peace talks. They know that nothing good can ever come out with these talks.
In fact while there exist a cessation of hostilities agreement with the MILF, the MILF is taking a proactive stance against the government.
The spokesman of the MILF even announced over media that those who were killed in Siocon were nothing but "collateral damage" in their fight against the government.
This assertion of the MILF is proof that it is still engaged in active war against the government.
With this in mind, what is the reason then for the government to continue to pursue peace talks?
During the Estrada regime, the rebels taught that Erap came from the mold of the Ramos regime that wanted talks while the rebels fought. The MILF rebels talked tough because they learned that if they talk big, just like the MNLF, they could get what they want
Thus when the soldiers went strong against them, the rebels backed off and sought for peace.
The proactive stance assumed by military during the Estrada regime revitalized the thinking of the men in uniform.
The soldiers have been used to fighting and then ordered withdrawn to the point that soldiers began to doubt on their ability to conduct campaigns and win. For some stupid reasons, generals of old who succumbed to the cowardice of their Commanders in Chief inculcated in their soldiers the fear of fighting for the republic.
These days we are again falling back to the negative thinking of the military that they must fight to win. The military forget that the military's fighting machine needs only brave and courageous men behind them to eradicate any kind of insurgency that dares rear its head in this republic.
It is ironic that while Indonesia, Malaysia and other Muslim states in the world have adopted the iron hand in dealing with fanatics and fundamentalists of their own creed, the Philippines has taken the opposite stance, - to accommodate and appease the rebels in the land.
And so, who cares about those calls for vigilance and support from civilians? Residents of Vitali learned to late not to trust the military when their SCAA were disarmed.
Dureza speaks about civilian support when other men in his camp are doing their best to alienate the citizens of the land.
Who are the number one supporters of rebels these days?
(May 9, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
