Is This Martial Law?

Is this Martial Law?

Liliosa Hilao was an editor of Hasik, the university paper of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. She attacked Martial Law in her articles, The Vietnamization of the Philippines” and “Democracy is Dead in the Philippines under Martial Law.”. In April 4, 1973, Philippine Constabulary officers beat her up at her house while threatening her family members to prevent them from intervening. She was arrested and brought to Camp Crame where torture and abuse continued. Three days later, she would die. She was the first prisoner to die in detention during Martial Law.

In 1975, Ditto Sarmiento, editor-in-chief of the University of the Philippines Diliman Philippine collegian, was arrested by the military in response to an editorial he wrote in which he criticized the then Marcos issued Martial Law. (In case, you missed it, since he was with the Collegian, he was then a student journalist.) Before being released shortly, he was brought personally to then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile who had to tell him face-to-face how he was displeased with his article. A month after, he wrote another editorial against Marcos’ Bagong Lipunan and encouraged debate about Martial Law. He was subsequently arrested again. He stayed incarcerated for about seven months. Throughout his time in jail and even after his release in August 1976, he refused to recant his statements in his editorials.

In August 1977, Archimedes Trajano, a student at Mapua Institute of Technology, stood at an open forum and asked Imee Marcos who was present at the event, why she was the national chair of the Kabataang Barangay. He was witnessed to have been forcibly dragged by military bodyguards of the then President’s daughter. He was tortured for 12 to 36 hours. He was thrown out of a second floor window. In September 2, 1977, his blood stained lifeless body was found along a street in Manila.

These are only a few that are prominent and are easily accessible in a Google search. There are probably more of these. There are certainly more of these. Do not these spark some gripping, tightening feeling in your chest against this indignation inducing injustice? Where was humanity when these atrocities attacked. Where were their neighbors who could run to pull them out of danger? I understand that fear can reach its fortitude. But would it be okay if something like these would happen again. Not only heaven, but we all should forbid.

Why the paranoia?

Does an article in a college publication threaten the powers in position that much? Does it intimidate a dynasty to cause it to lash out and question its authenticity? Well, it had happened in PLM, in UP Diliman, in Mapua, and definitely in other campuses. Such reactions are precursors to harder harassment, to horrendous human rights violations. Apparently, a modest review of students’ stands on whom they would vote for is enough to challenge some leaders’ insecurities. It should not come as a surprise. Such declarations of defiance similarly angered Stalin, Marshall tito and the senior Marcos.

There is an intense intent to instigate injury. The report was unjustly labeled as fake without reasonable evidence. Unfounded accusation of manipulation by opponents was aimed and shot. A photo was posted, as if calling on supporters to do whatever they can to tear the person with this face down when they see him. This may even call for allies to go look for the person with this face and bring him down. Those are some dangerous moves.

So, they built this campus. (That claim can even be questioned.) Let’s presume that they really did. Does that forfeit all future students’ rights to think for themselves, make decision for themselves, to exercise their rights for themselves? So, that gives students just one path to take and no other options. What would happen to freedom? What would happen to human rights? What happened to the liberty to think for oneself, to grow in reason and develop cognitive analysis, application and evaluation which higher education promotes? What would happen to social awareness, to participation in the development of social functions? Would some politicians rather have young citizens to be loyal subjects that march at their command like members of Hitler Youth?

Has not the leader in question done the same harassment and intimidation before, to local folk, to political opponents, to barangay leaders, to doctors, to farmers and peasants? Then, why do you let him stay in power. Maybe, you don’t. Why do your neighbors let him stay in power? What ever happened to the dignified respect for contrary opinion? What ever happened to respectful restraint? Even the leader who came before conducted himself with honor, with dignity. Signs are showing that if only they could, they would do as had been done to Hilao, Sarmiento and Trajano.

So, are we just going to stand aside and be safe and scared?

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Proverbs 31:8