WE DEMAND JUSTICE, NOT GUNS!
Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzales' confirmation that government is considering arming journalists as a solution to the continued murder of our colleagues proves once and for all that the media community and the citizenry in general can no longer trust this administration to fulfill its sworn mandate to protect and defend us.
It was bad enough when this harebrained suggestion was first broached by the Philippine National Police long before the toll of journalists slain during the first half of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's term surpassed both that of the 14-year Marcos dictatorship and the combined record of all three previous presidents.
We rejected it then, we reject it now. Such a suggestion is nothing but an abject admission that government is either unable or unwilling to protect us.
While we will not dispute the right of citizens, including journalists, to legally arm themselves for self defense, we contend that this is not the solution to the continued murders of our colleagues. We would like to point out that a number of our recently slain colleagues had, in fact, armed themselves, albeit in vain.
Gonzales goes so far as to ask media to "tell us what they want from the government" to end the killings. Either he is playing dumb or he is clearly unfit for his job.Nevertheless, we will deign to answer him.
The best and only way to end these killings is for authorities to relentlessly pursue arrest, prosecute and convict the killers and their masterminds. Only the surety that the guilty will be punished will dissuade those with murder in their minds.
The bedrock of democracy, indeed, of civilization itself, has ever been free discourse.Now comes the man singularly mandated with upholding our laws suggesting that the best way to settle differences is not through civilized discourse or even the courts but with the barrel of the gun.
It is particularly galling when Gonzales attempts to justify the killings as the result of "drinking sprees or because of a woman."
We admit that the media, both the institution and individuals, are not perfect. But Mr. Gonzales, we speak here of justice and of the simple fact that there exists absolutely no reason for murder!
No, Mr. Gonzales, sir, we do not need and do not want bodyguards or guns. We do not wish to add to the bloody mayhem that has claimed the lives of so many of our colleagues, of hundreds of activists and dissenters, of countess more ordinary citizens as government vainly seeks an explanation for a breakdown of law and order it has been unable to prevent or, as many are beginning to believe, actually abetted.
Our only demand, Mr. Gonzales, sir, is that you do your job. Or failing that, to spare us your continued presence in a position you have miserably failed to fill.
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