AT THIS of the year, the academic community is usually fully absorbed
in the preparations for final exams, papers and reports, theses, and
graduations.
But last March 21—the second day of the United States’
war on Iraq—students, teachers, school heads, and personnel
from three educational institutions in the Diliman-Loyola Heights
area in Quezon City took time off from personal academic obligations,
and through a hastily organized peace rally, condemned the move made
by the world’s superpower despite what they view as a global
antiwar stance.
That it was raining that noon when the activity was held did not
bother some 200 rallyists who, save for a number with umbrellas in
tow, were drenched as they expressed their sentiments against the
war being waged by US President George W. Bush, and their own government’s
support for it.
"Atenista, anti-giyera (Ateneans, antiwar)," came the
chant of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdeMU) students. The Ateneo
provided the area and a makeshift stage for the peace rally.
"Sigaw ng taga-Miriam, itigil ang digmaan (The cry of those
from Miriam: stop the war)," was the cheer of the delegation
from Miriam College.
"Scholar ng bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban (National scholars are
now in the struggle)," came the popular activist cry from the
state-run University of the Philippines in Diliman.
Asked why he attended the rally instead of preparing for his final
exams, Jethro Tenorio, third-year Ateneo student whose t-shirt was
drenched, simply replied, "Mas mahalaga ito e (This is far more
important)."
Peace Ribbons
The rain did not dampen the spirits of the rallyists, some of whom
pinned white and blue "peace" ribbons on their shirts and
carried paper fans with the message "War solves nothing."
There were the more creative ones who fashioned a new logo based on
the familiar "Star Wars" title. The new logo read, "Stop
Wars."
They chanted and cheered the antiwar speeches delivered, including
those by the presidents of the three schools: UP’s Francisco
Nemenzo, Ateneo’s Fr. Bienvenido Nebres SJ, and Miriam College’s
Patricia Licuanan.
An ensemble from the UP College of Music rendered a version of Louie
Armstrong’s "What A Wonderful World," with the crowd
singing along with the familiar lyrics.
The idea to conduct a peace rally was reached during a joint press
conference organized the previous day, March 20, at UP where the three
school heads issued statements opposing the war. The last time the
three schools joined on an issue was during the campaign to oust then-President
Joseph Estrada.
The Duty of the Academe
At the press conference, Miriam’s Dr. Licuanan said that it
was the duty of the academe to "critically expose what does not
seem right."
The three school heads were one in saying that the US-led war on
Iraq would yield short and long term costs not only to human lives
and property but to the principles of dialogue and democratic procedures
as well as the future of international relations.
The integrity of the United Nations has also been threatened. In
leading the attack in Iraq, "the President of the United States
has shown utter disregard for democratic procedures", said UP
president Francisco Nemenzo.
Almost "as great" as the physical damage and destruction
of lives brought about by the actual war are the damage it has caused
to the legitimacy of the UN, the principle of multilateralism, and
the search for international peace and cooperation, said Licuanan.
Laden With Human Costs
While something must be done about weapons of mass destruction, terrorism
and oppressive regimes, the use of military force is "much too
laden with human costs, political risks and moral contradictions".
Therefore, it should only be used as a last resort, Ateneo’s
Fr. Nebres said in a statement.
The solution to such problems must always be within the framework
of the UN, said Rene San Andres, associate dean for student affairs
of the AdeMU, who represented Fr. Nebres at the press conference.
San Andres read the statement signed by 300 faculty members and personnel
from the Ateneo.
The US’ unilateral "preemptive war" only deepens
"the very wounds of injustice, anger and hopelessness that breed
and sustain terrorists and dictators," said the Ateneo statement.
Disappointed in GMA
At both the press conference and the rally, the students and faculty
members did not hide their disappointment over President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo’s stand on the war in Iraq.
On March 20, a few hours after the US started raining bombs on Baghdad,
the President declared that the Philippines was "part of a willing
coalition giving political and moral support to actions to rid Iraq
of weapons of mass destruction".
The country is "part of a long-standing security alliance"
and "part of coalition against terrorism," Arroyo said in
defending her position.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell had said that the US is supported
by a "coalition of the willing" that includes some 40 nations
who approve of its military action in Iraq.
Impeachable Offense
But President Arroyo’s support for the war in Iraq, according
to Marvic Leonen, UP general counsel, might be an impeachable offense.He
said the Constitution is explicit that the Philippines "renounces
war as an instrument of national policy."
He added that the unilateral action taken by the US and its allies
Britain and Spain has questionable legality, particularly on what
specific international law backs it, especially highlighted by the
absence of a United Nations approval.
"I don’t find the legal basis," Leonen said.
"If the president of the Republic of the Philippines supports
the president of the United States and his cohorts, then are we not
in serious breach of our Constitution? Would this not cost her impeachment?"
he asked.
The Philippine government should consider the "sensitiveness
and historical grievances" of cultural communities, particularly
the Muslims in the country, the Ateneo statement said. It pointed
out that government could not ignore such concerns in its pronouncements
and decisions.
No Moral Authority
But the fundamental issue is not the legality of the war, Nemenzo
noted. The issue, he said, is whether the US has the right to decide
who should rule Iraq, or whether it has the "moral authority"
to apply force to change a regime in another sovereign state such
as Iraq.
"I have no sympathy for Saddam Hussein. I know he is a corrupt
and cruel dictator. But it is not for us, or for George W. Bush, to
decide who should rule Iraq. That is the prerogative of the Iraqi
people alone," the UP president said.
Nemenzo pointed out that Bush should set an example if the US "wants
to free the world" of weapons of mass destruction. The US, he
said, maintains the "biggest stockpiles of chemical, biological
and nuclear weapons."
The US should also disarm Israel, its foremost ally in the Middle
East, which has admitted to possessing such weapons, he added.
Plain Hypocrisy
Nemenzo said, "America’s commitment to democracy is plain
hypocrisy. America has supported tyrants for as long as they serve
its purpose."
"If the peoples of the world applaud him as our government does,
Bush will be encouraged to attack the other countries where US power
is challenged.North Korea, Iran and Cuba may be next in line,"
Nemenzo warned.
Nemenzo said that war would not solve the problem of terrorism but
would only provoke more terrorist acts all over the world. It would
also worsen the animosities between the Christians and the Muslim
population.
"It makes sense to build, destroy and re-cast the way we dialogue,
where we dialogue, what we dialogue on, and whom we dialogue with.
It makes no sense at all—and in fact it is unjust—to destroy
a country and nation," said Licuanan.
She said she is concerned about how the war in the Middle East would
contribute to the worsening culture of violence.
Bello Reports on Iraq Mission
At the rally, UP professor Walden Bello, fresh from a brief visit
to Iraq, shared a glimpse into young Iraqi university students’
take on the US war. He had arrived that previous night from an Asian
Peace Mission in Baghdad where he visited hospitals and schools, among
others.
"As I look at you, we are reminded of students from Baghdad
University that we met a few days ago. They were laughing in the corridors.
Men were making passes at women," Bello recalled, adding that
the general mood was lighthearted.
"They were taking up in English ‘Romeo and Juliet,’"
he continued. "We asked them what do they think of George Bush.
One said that George Bush is like Tybalt—clumsy and ill- intentioned."
In the Shakespearean story, Tybalt’s behavior sparked the conflict
resulting in the tragic ending.
"Then we asked another student about George Bush’s intention
of liberating them. They all broke into laughter. One of them said,
‘We have been invaded for thousands of years and every time
one new army comes into our land, they always say they come here to
liberate us. This is merely the label of invaders that want to take
over our land.’"
"We are very worried that many of these students will die,"
Bello said, saying Baghdad was not prepared for war except for "a
few sandbags here and there." The Iraqi government, he pointed
out, has been severely affected by the decade-long embargo imposed
on it by the United Nations after the Iraq-Kuwait war.
"Baghdad is a city awaiting a terrible fate and bombardment…and
likely to yield many casualties to death," he said. "I think
that we should all pray for our fellow students in Baghdad University
and for the people of Iraq."
Resignation or surrender is not what is topmost in the Iraqi people’s
minds, Bello observed, "When we asked the students and other
people that we met, how they felt deep inside, they said, ‘Well,
if war comes we are prepared to fight and to die.’"
When the US-led troops roll into Baghdad, they are going to "face
the citizenry [including] 7.5 million militia who will fight block
by block in Baghdad." The war in Iraq, Bello concluded, will
be "a war where the people of Iraq will give their all because
they love their country."
---------------
