By REV. LUNA DINGAYAN
www.nordis.net

“If you want to serve this people well, give a favorable answer to their request, and they will always serve you loyally.” — I Kings 12:7

All-Out War Policy

Our government’s all-out war policy against the insurgents is never actually changed since the Marcos Regime despite claims to the contrary. This is shown in the way the military has been handling our country’s insurgency problem which is now considered the longest in this part of the world simply because its roots is never seriously and sufficiently addressed. Both camps talk of peace while preparing for war. The recent death toll of soldiers and civilians alike in various encounters with the insurgents in the South and elsewhere brings to mind the futility of resolving our insurgency problem with the barrel of the gun.

President Noynoy’s declaration of “all-out justice” against the so-called lawless elements or lost command among the insurgents is a good move towards the right direction. Hopefully, P-Noy’s “all-out justice” should not only be meant to seek justice for the fallen soldiers, but should address the various forms of systemic injustice which lie at the very roots of the insurgency problem in our country.

Insurgency continues to thrive in the countryside due to massive poverty and lopsided development. All-out justice should be directed not only to the lawless elements but also to the lawful ones in government which are making poor people’s lives even more miserable with their graft and corruption, and by snuffing the precious lives of people like Fr. Pops who identify themselves with the struggles of the poor and oppressed for better life.

Division of the Kingdom

The recent developments in our country bring to mind the division of the Kingdom of Israel just after the death of King Solomon as recorded in I Kings 12. His son Rehoboam succeeded him to the throne. Under the leadership of Jeroboam, a former officer in charge of the conscripted laborers, the ten tribes in the North who suffered a lot during Solomon’s reign brought their complaints before Rehoboam in Ramah. They had two demands: lower the taxes and put to stop the kingdom’s forced-labor policy.

Instead of responding positively, Rehoboam asked the people to return after three days for he had to consult his advisers. He had two sets of advisers. One set were the old ones who were former advisers of his father Solomon. The other set were his contemporaries whom he appointed to their respective positions. Basing on their experiences, the old advisers said, “If you want to serve this people well, give a favorable answer to their request, and they will always serve you loyally” (I Kings 12:7).

Apparently, Rehoboam already had his own decision; he was simply looking for some people who would agree with him and someone to blame if his decision would fail. Since they wanted to create a good impression before the King, the young advisers said to Rehoboam, “Tell the people, my father placed heavy burdens on you I will make them even heavier. He beat you with whips I’ll flog you with bullwhips!”{I Kings 12:11). That was precisely what Rehoboam did, and the Kingdom was divided. The people from the North withdrew their support to Rehoboam’s reign.

Roots of Insurgency

This has always been the case in the course of history. When people are already suffering and still make them suffer even more, this would become a fertile ground for seeds of insurgency to germinate and grow. Many of our people in the South and elsewhere have suffered so much for too long because of injustice committed not only by lawless elements, but more so by lawful elements in government. This should be addressed seriously before it’s too late.

Certainly, we need all-out justice, but it should be a kind of justice that is all out in punishing the lawless as well as lawful elements in government who are making our people poorer and more miserable by their graft and corruption. Moreover, it should be a kind of justice that would serve the victims of judicial and extra-judicial killings in our country. Otherwise, all this presidential call for all-out justice would simply be an empty rhetoric – a proverbial clanging bell and a tingling cymbal.# nordis.net