If the Philippines was to join an open-ended global War on Terror, a threat of terrorism had to be identified that was more formidable and enduring. Terrorism in the Philippines was an obscure phenomenon previously associated by some to enigmatic groups with links to the dirty tricks department of military intelligence. The cash strapped and unpopular government of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo clearly saw opportunity in the renewed alliance with the United States. Bush declared a global War on Terror in 2001, the Philippines was among the first to join the “Coalition of the Willing”. Philippines: the War on Terror as a war on dissent How has the War on Terror contributed to this scenario? Can respect for human rights be preserved by taming counterterrorism and can law reform be used to extricate the country from this malady? I argue that the War on Terror considerably contributed to a turn towards authoritarianism in the Philippines, and that law reform offers a very limited kind of remedy. Government-abetted abhorrence towards drug addicts spill over to violent treatment of quarantine rules violators (called pasaway) as well as to attacks on journalists reporting on disfavoured issues and events. The Philippines, an illustration of post-truth politics that has engulfed the world, is wracked by tensions between families and neighbors on account of support or resistance to an aggressive campaign against illegal drugs. Twenty years after 9/11, the definitive problems of democracy globally relate to disinformation and illiberal intolerance. – Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel peace prize laureate. Without any of these, democracy as we know it is dead.” “ Without facts, you can’t have the truth without the truth, you can’t have trust.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |