The Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW), a broad convergence of peace advocates for Mindanao with members from NGOs, academe, religious, human rights groups, peoples organizations and grassroots communities, today stands with the rest of the people who oppose the signing of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 last Friday, July 03.
For MPW, the proposed anti-terror law is not just highly divisive and ill-timed as the country and the whole world continue to confront a public health pandemic. It is also a draconian measure that must be junked without further delay because it brings the whole country and its people back to—if not worse than the dark era of the Marcos dictatorship where civil and political liberties were heavily curtailed.
The signing of the anti-terror bill into law last Friday was reminiscent of the declaration of Martial Law in September of 1972 by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. With the people, especially the marginalized and the poorest of this nation already struggling with the government’s awful response to the Covid-19 pandemic with a total of 44,254 confirmed cases as of yesterday (July 05), we cannot help but question the real purpose and intent of the anti-terror law.
The people are demanding an appropriate government response to the pandemic that includes adequate health subsidy, economic assistance and transparency on how the budget under the ‘Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” was spent. Clearly, there is no public clamor seeking to enact an anti-terror law as a response to the pandemic.
If COVID19 is a threat to public health, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is another virus that threatens the peace, human rights, and the rule of law in the country particularly in Mindanao. With the law’svague and broad definition of terrorism, the expanded surveillance of suspects, and interception and recording of communications, and lengthened period of detention without a judicial warrant of arrest, the legitimate rights to dissent and other fundamental rights and freedoms of the people already enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution may be abused.
Also, MPW believes that the proposed law is a counter-productive measure that may derail or worse, jeopardize the ongoing peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao, which has already gained significant advances and momentum since the establishment of the new Bangsamoro entity. While we support the initial unanimous resolution of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA) requesting the President to veto the now enacted bill, we understand their current position seeking membership in the Anti Terrorism Council (ATC) and a continuing discussion of the ramifications of the law especially for the Bangsamoro people. We believe that the intent of their original position remain the same as they seek other avenues of dialogue and pursue their assertions in different channels.
While we also agree on the framework to prevent violence against civilians and innocent lives from so-called “terrorists”, we also believe that the proposed law should clearly articulate and provide the necessary safeguards compliant with the ‘principles of protection, promotion and fulfillment of human rights’ and other fundamental liberties of the people as these ‘rights and freedoms’ are already guaranteed in the existing international human rights law and standards including the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
We believe that the Anti-Terror law will itself terrorize the people and will not in any way make the country heal as one. As it is, this is a repressive law that will condonea culture of impunity in a country that has already limited and shrinking democratic spaces. And it has left most of us in the civil society and the human rights movement no other recourse but to stand in solidarity against this law that imperils whatever is left of our already waning democracy.
For MPW, any proposed law should start with the state being mindful of protecting the human rights of the people, understanding the underlying roots of terrorism and extremist violence, and promoting democratic and principled political dialogueswhich will bring about the sociopolitical changes so urgently needed in the whole country.
Now, the signing of the Anti-Terror Law should compel extra vigilance on everyone. The challenge is for each of us to speak up against the slightest resurgence of tyrannical rule; to exercise legitimate dissent and resist propaganda that promotes military rule and undemocratic principles as short-cut remedies to all the problems we are facing today; to educate ourselves on the lessons of the people’s collective struggle against injustices and oppression; and to equip ourselves with wisdom and courage to defend our fundamental rights and freedoms.
