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Cry (out) rage

By ABIGAIL T. BENGWAYAN, GUEST COLUMNIST

Just as soon as I finished an article on the mounting death toll among political activists and journalists in the country, the morning paper tells me two more Bayan Muna members have been shot in Borongan, Samar. I think, revise. But the point is, the numbers don’t stop growing.

Earlier, I asked two colleagues if political killings and extrajudicial killings can be used interchangeably. They both say, “No!” I take note of the legal definitions they provide me. But the three of us agree that the essence, the crux of the matter therein, is one and the same. The point is political views have become a reason good enough to kill persons. And kill them like dogs.

Press freedom just might become a historical notion this time in history, fought for by journalists in these trying times. In time, when the media death toll in the country declines and stays at that, it would make sense to write a book about it. Point is, more than the period of Martial Law, more journalists have been slain under this administration.

Karapatan has reported 679 political killings under the Arroyo administration and 42 journalists killed since 2001. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) reports that from 2001 to present, 136 extrajudicial killings took place in the Southern Tagalog region; 71 in the Bicol region from Jan 2001 to December 2005, and 67 from 2002 to 2006 in South Mindanao.

The Cordillera region has not a figure close to those to report, but three political activists, all in 2005, have already been killed in cold blood. The surveillance and harassment among mass leaders have intensified. Point is, we should not wait for such to happen.

While colleagues and families of those slain launch one mass action after the other, I am mostly pierced by the seeming absence or lack of public outrage. I ask it’s apathy. Could be. Prejudice. Possibly. Class interest. Definitely. Because it just might be that many still view the series of killings as isolated events. But what an indifferent phenomenon indeed it is when the death toll just keeps growing, and the public verdict (that the government is behind these) hangs in midair like unrehearsed lines. As for political killings, take fact: this administration has been both blunt and vulgar (bargas, concretely) about its counter-insurgency campaign and its goal to effect from the land these alleged communist fronts. After Knowing the Enemy came Trinity of War. I can only wonder in mockery if thereby hangs an intention of a trilogy.

The public could be stifled, people mumble to themselves the disgust and disdain for the killings. But the self-proclaimed, current occupant of Malacañang won’t hear that. Voices need to be out together. People curse under their breath for the injustice, but will and action far outweigh that. Because what journalists and activists do — constructive representation of basic freedoms — is what every Filipino ought to do. For such is the very essence of human rights and civil liberties. And these liberties compel our protection lest we have succumbed to inaction for our own security. It is by far a greater shame to choose the latter.

The call of the times demands an outrage against the killings. Outrage for the inutility, and outrage for the injustice. Under this trying situation, there is no other recourse but to stand for justice. There’s a pretty darn good reason for Dylan Thomas’ Do Not Go Gentle into the Good Night, and the band that baptized itself Rage against the Machine.

Rage we shall. Rage we should. #

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