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The brat prima donna, the Good Guy and the Resilience of the Filipino People Part II

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The Resilience of the Filipino People

I overwhelmingly concur with the report of Luigene Yanoria of the Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom, November 15th, “International media laud Filipino reliance amid ‘worst disaster’ Yolanda”:

“When the world looks at the Philippines, they won’t remember the worst typhoon to hit the earth—they will recall how strong Filipinos are, too.

“Seven days on, the world’s eye remains on the Yolanda-battered nation as international media like CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, NBC, ABC, and CBS—dispatch their topnotch journalists to deliver updates on the record-breaking typhoon.

“Leading the pack of foreign journalists on the ground is CNN’s Anderson Cooper who’s been ironically making headlines of himself due to a report where he mentioned the lack of national government support in the badly-hit Tacloban City.

“But for the veteran journalist who has so far covered the world’s biggest disasters, Filipinos show incredible strength even when aid seems bleak.”

As Anderson Cooper said in the November 15 broadcast of AC360:

“The Filipino people--the people of Tacloban, and Samar and Cebu and all these places where so many have died—they're strong not just to survive the storm; but they are strong to have survived the aftermath of the storm…

“They have survived for a week now often with very little food, with very little water, with very little medical attention…”

Response to President Benigno Aquino III’s comment

The President appealed to the (practically the international) media for them "to use your role to uplift the spirits of the Filipino people — to find stories of resilience, hope and faith, and show the world just how strong the Filipino people are” and to observe accuracy in reporting. Mr. Cooper underscored that that is also what they strive for as well.

As he stated categorically: “Accuracy is what we care most about here at CNN.”

The Question of Accuracy, Credibility and the Truth

Mr. Cooper said in narrating the horrendous aftermath and also highlighting the resilience of the Filipinos:

“They have survived for a week now, often with very little food, with very little water, with very little medical attention.

“Can you imagine the strength it takes to be living in shock, to be living, sleeping on the streets next to the body of your dead children? Can you imagine that strength? I can't. And I've seen that strength day in and day out here in the Philippines. And we honor them with every broadcast that we do…”

The brat prima donna meanwhile has yet to even set foot on Tacloban and smell the stench of death on the air.

Question:

Again, to reiterate the point: who do you believe between these two individuals?

Mr. Cooper is a foreigner, but after what he did, doing a fine job and that is reporting the truth, no matter how painful it is, no matter how inconvenient and uncomfortable it is to the powers that be, I, on behalf of the Filipino people is hereby adopting him, now as a part and as a member of the Filipino people!

Mr. Cooper, maraming-maraming salamat po! Mabuhay po kayo!!!

Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

The Indian Diplomat’s Arrest: A Barbaric and Despicable Act I

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I refer to the report of Namrata Brar for NDTV, “Indian diplomat arrested in US for alleged visa fraud, handcuffed in public”, December 13.

The report is about a high-ranking Indian diplomat by the name of Devyani Khobragade who was arrested arbitrarily and handcuffed in an utterly humiliating manner in full view of the public in New York “for allegedly lying on the visa application for an Indian national who worked for her for less than four dollars an hour”.

It was reported that Ms Khobragade, the Deputy Consul General at the Indian Consulate in New York, was arrested on the street while she was dropping her daughter to school.

She was released later when she posted a $250,000 bail for her temporary liberty.

The most despicable aspect of this case is the grim fact that besides all of those inhumane acts that she suffered, she was also subjected to a strip-searched.

The question here is: what does her “tits” got to do to the purported crime that she allegedly committed?

If I may remind those bastard freaks who maltreated and humiliated the woman diplomat, here’s the venerable words of wisdom of the late President Nelson Mandela:

“For every woman and girl violently attacked, we reduce our humanity.”

I wholly concur with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he precisely described Ms Khobragade's treatment as "deplorable" and to Foreign Minister Salman Khursheed when he said that it was his duty to restore the dignity of the diplomat.

As Mr. Khursheed told parliament:

"I think the most important, immediate concern is to ensure that no further indignity is inflicted upon the young officer. And we are taking steps to ensure legally whatever is possible that we implement that immediately…

"In terms of giving a strong, unambiguous, direct message to the United States of America: whatever I believe we were supposed to do, we did immediately…”

I am completely with the Indians in their rant and disgust with regard to this case. This case, in my view is a clear case of discrimination and undeniably an over-kill.

Indeed, no one can blame India, if they viewed the said horrible event as a national outrage.

The worst part of this incident or accident or issue or event is the irrefutable fact that this violation and humiliation was committed by the US to one of its loyal allies on the world stage.

What a shame!

As the woman diplomat herself stated from a letter she wrote to her foreign service colleagues:

"Although I must admit that I broke down many times as the indignities of repeated handcuffing, stripping and cavity searches, swabbing, in a holdup with common criminals and drug addicts were all being imposed upon me despite my incessant assertions of immunity, I got the strength to regain composure and remain dignified thinking that I must represent all of my colleagues and my country with confidence and pride…”

The case of the woman diplomat stems from an allegation that she had presented false documents for her house help.

The order of her arrest was directed by the Indian-born Preet Bharara who is the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan.

As already noted, the diplomat was arrested on the basis of the charge that she “had presented false documents for the woman who worked as a babysitter and housekeeper at her home in New York from November to June this year.”

Commentaries:

I condemn to the highest possible degree the undeniably barbaric act and indescribably despicable means used by the authorities in arresting the woman diplomat.

I am not against her arrest, that is if she indeed committed a grave offense or violated the law; but what I am firmly against is the unjust manner and the horrible means used by the arresting officer in effecting her arrest.

Undeniably, this is a vulgar display of unreasonable power and an utterly despicable exercise of unjust discretion!

Point two:

Do I have to remind those stupid officers that, even if the woman diplomat has a complaint against her, she is entitled to her constitutional rights to be arrested peacefully, honorably, professionally and with courtesy by virtue of her status!

Said woman is entitled to know the nature and the cause of the accusation against her.

She is entitled that her rights must be said to her in a peaceful conduct.

These are all basic principles under American jurisdiction and sanctioned by universal convention.

Point two:

Are those idiotic arresting officers aware that the woman subject of the arrest is a diplomat?

Do they know that in cases like this there is an international law that governs?

Did they put into consideration that provision of the Vienna Convention?

Article 41 of the said international law expressly provides that:

Personal inviolability of consular officers

1. Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by the competent judicial authority.

2. Except in the case specified in paragraph 1 of this article, consular officers shall not be committed to prison or be liable to any other form of restriction on their personal freedom save in execution of a judicial decision of final effect.

Article 42 further states that the head of the consular unit or the sending State must be informed in advance of any arrest of an accredited diplomat.

It is sad to say and utterly horrible to state that the United States of America did not follow the protocol and the stipulations lay down by the said law.

By virtue of the fact of the status of Ms. Khobragade, is it beyond dispute that she is covered by diplomatic immunity as mandated by international law.

The Indian Diplomat’s Arrest: A Barbaric and Despicable Act II

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What is Diplomatic Immunity?

Diplomatic Immunity is “a form of legal immunity that ensures diplomats are exempt from prosecution under the host country's laws.”

It was agreed “as international law in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).”

Further, “under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963) a consul is afforded a variation of diplomatic immunity called consular immunity.”

It also guarantees “immunity from the host country's laws only with respect to acts related to consular duties.”

It was alleged by the prosecutor that the woman, by the name of Sangeeta Richard, had been exploited and made to work for "less than fair" wages.

According further to the prosecutor:

"This type of fraud on the United States and exploitation of an individual will not be tolerated…”

The NDTV further narrated that:

“Ms Khobragade, 39, who has two young daughters, is in charge of Political, Economic, Commercial and Women's Affairs at the consulate. The charges against her carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.”

While the BBC, Devyani Khobragade: Indian MPs demand action against US, December 18, reported that:

“The US Marshals Service Office of Public Affairs confirmed on Tuesday that she had been strip-searched.

“Ms Khobragade, 39, was arrested last Thursday in New York and later freed on a $250,000 (£153,000) bond after pleading not guilty to the charges.

“Law enforcement authorities in New York say Ms Khobragade "allegedly caused a materially false and fraudulent document to be presented, and materially false and fraudulent statements to be made, to the US Department of State in support of a visa application for an Indian national employed as a babysitter and housekeeper at her home in New York".

“If found guilty, she faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for visa fraud and five years for making false statements.”

I find the request of India to the US to handle this case and settle this matter with “sensivity” by virtue of the fact of Ms. Khobragade’s diplomatic status.

I am also in agreement to Ms Khobragade's lawyers that her arrest on the street, without being given a chance to explain, was "shocking and unprecedented.”

I subscribed to the anger of the people of India in denouncing and condemning this utterly deplorable and unimaginably barbaric and despicable act of the US.

I am also in concurrence with the retaliation and reprisal committed or done so far by India, such as the removal of the barricades outside the US embassy and their direct act of snubbing a visitation from a US delegation.

The US must know that they do not owned the world and that if they can act like bastards; then India and other aggrieved nations can also act equally like them!

The US must apologize for their madness and barbarity before this incident assumes a more frightful forms!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Sciences
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

China’s Hypocrisy, Shamelessness and Paranoia

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I refer to the report of AFP, “China slams Japan defence spending plan”, December 22.

According to the said article:

“China has denounced Japan's plans to boost military purchases, accusing it of playing up regional tensions as an "excuse" to ramp up defence spending.

“The cabinet of hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Tuesday to spend 24.7 trillion yen ($240 billion) between 2014 and 2019 -- a five percent boost to the military budget over five years.

“Japan plans to purchase stealth fighters, drones and submarines as part of its efforts to boost military hardware that will beef up defence of far-flung islands amid a simmering territorial row with China.”

Geng Yansheng, the Chinese military spokesman said in a statement that they are “firmly opposed” to their neighbor’s spending plans.

Not content in showing the displeasure of his empire, said military spokesman even accused “Tokyo of playing up the perceived military threat from China” and further used it as an "excuse" to expand its military.

Commentaries

First point:

Japan is an independent country and a bona fide member of the international community! What the hell is the business or the right of China to tell Japan how would the latter will spend its money?

What is the right of these Chinese brigands and pirates to impose their will to a sovereign and independent nation on how the hell the said country would conduct its political life?

What China is doing is a clear intrusion and an unmistakable encroachment to the internal body politics of Japan! They have no right whatsoever to interfere in whatever way in any country’s domestic political determination!

Who the hell are they to command another country? When in fact and in truth, as it was categorically reported by the Sweden-based think-tank SIPRI, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) that “China has been boosting its defence budget for decades, and last year was the world's second biggest military spender with an outlay of $166 billion.”

That is the height of China’s hypocrisy and shamelessness!

They can spend big on their military, but the others cannot! Wow, such a bloody bunch of arrogant freaks!

Do they own the world? I do not think so!

If they have the right to tell another country on how that nation should conduct its affairs, does it also means that Japan too, can tell them to get out of the Senkaku Islands?

Can Japan too, tell China to stop the implementation of the so-called One-Child Policy and the utterly stupid One-dog policy?

I cannot understand and I will never ever understand the mentality of these Chinese military war-freaks!

They are the ultimate masters of Double Speak and Double Talk.

One moment, they will speak and talk like they are doves, yet their action is undeniably that of a hawk, worst that of selfish wolves!

Where can you find a country who; has a territorial dispute with almost the rest of the countries in Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and even India?

That’s the imperialist and bullish China for you!

Consider another perfect example of China’s Double Speak:

According, again to their military spokesman, Geng, he viewed Japan's actions "must cause great concern to neighbouring countries in Asia and the international community".

Comment:

Now, besides being the ultimate master of Double Speak, Bullyism and Hypocrisy, I never realized that China also is great in Paranoia.

They are concern with Japan’s military build-up and to appear as if they are concern with global interest (which is not true) they also anchored their unfounded fear and baseless apprehension by correlating their concern with the interest of the region and the world!

Wow!

When the Philippines was struck by a super Typhoon last month, Japan was one of the first nations to arrive on the scene of the devastation to help the Filipinos, in whatever capacity they can.

China? Well, it took them nearly two weeks before they decided to help and that is after the international community hammered them repeatedly and criticized them harshly!

As pointedly and sharply observed by Victor Robert Lee, “Manila-Beijing-Washington: What the typhoon revealed”, The Diplomat, December 7:

“In the immediate aftermath of the typhoon, whose devastation became more apparent by the hour, the U.S. mobilized an entire aircraft carrier strike force of more than 5,000 sailors along with five KC-130 aircraft to provide relief supplies and transport injured victims. Other nations, including Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and Singapore soon followed suit. (Eleven days after the typhoon, following sharp international and domestic criticism, China offered to send a hospital ship and medical personnel.)”

That is how “concerned” China is for the Asia-Pacific Region and for the international community!

Geng is concern and fearful that Japan’s military build-up will cause apprehensions and fear among Japan’s neighbor and the region is a product of his wild imagination.

No one is afraid, then the question naturally will lead us to ask: why the hell China is concern and afraid? Why they are afraid? What is the root source of their concern, fear and apprehension?

No one among Japan’s neighbor is complaining about Tokyo’s action, except who? Yes, China!

Why? It is because they do not want a military competitor. That is the truth! I wonder if China does have the guts to say it frankly and directly without using some ambiguous and cryptic words!

China wants itself to be the only country that is militarily superior, but that cannot be!

The ultimate truth of this whole matter is the irrefutable fact that China is afraid of Japan. They perfectly knew right from the start that Japan is building up and upgrading its military to be use and utilize solely by the latter as a defense and deterrence against China’s bullyism, expansionism, imperialism and aggression on the region.

For indeed, “tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have flared over the last year as the two have engaged in a bitter war of words over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

“China has sent ships and aircraft into the area on scores of occasions, prompting counter deployments by Japan.”

Said tensions between the two countries were further “ratcheted up last month when China abruptly declared a new Air Defence Identification Zone over the East China Sea, including over disputed Tokyo-controlled islands called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.”

So far, the US, Japan and their allies had repeatedly “violated” China’s so-called ADIZ.

Recently, the US and China nearly collided at the South China sea which prompted the Defense Sectary of America to tagged China as “irresponsible”.

Warning to China

You do not own the world! Do not act as if you can bully all of us! Beware of committing an act that may lead not only to a regional conflict but a world war!

We have nothing to lose, unlike you, you will lose your empire, your bullyism, your aggression, your double speak and all your paranoia.

You have been warned!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Moral Honesty is the key for a Historical Closure

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I refer to the AFP news report, “Germany urges Japan to deal 'honestly' with WWII past”, December 31.

To quote from the said article:

“Germany said Monday it tried to deal "honestly" with its World War II past and urged Japan to do the same after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a controversial war shrine.”

I commend the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert when he told categorically to the reporters that:

"I do not wish to comment on questions related to Japanese domestic politics…

“But in general all nations must honestly live up to their role in the horrible events of the 20th century. Only on the basis of this honest accounting is it possible to build a future with former foes. This is a conviction Germany takes to heart and which in my opinion applies to all states."

These are exactly the words stated by Seibert when he was asked “about the surprise Yasukuni shrine visit which enraged China and South Korea.”

I commend the German government and its people for their honesty of acknowledging their historical crimes against humanity and their courage to admit before the world their grave and deadly atrocities committed against the people of the international community.

They did not only apologize for what they did, but they also paid some compensation to the victims, that is besides erecting some monuments and also by yearly remembering the countless dead and victims.

That shows the distinctive character of the German people.

I applaud them for their sincere and earnest efforts to atone for their crimes.

I cannot say the same with regard to the Japanese government and so as its people.

Up to today, they have yet to admit their crimes and it seems that they will never apologize for their wartime barbarism. This is a shame and undeniably a curse to all of them!

Just recently, prior to the Japanese Prime Minister’s surprise visit to the said infamous Shrine, the Tokyo governor has again shocked the people of Southeast Asia on his pronouncement about the Comfort Women.

That bastard freak, instead of being sorry has rather defended the rapes, barbarism, mayhem and mass murder done by the Japanese Imperial Army.

What a shame!

Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s visit has “sparked anger in China and South Korea last week by visiting the Tokyo shrine, which honours Japan's war dead, including several high-level officials executed for war crimes after World War II, and serves as a reminder of Japan's wartime aggression.”

Though, I am on the side of Japan with regard to China’s bullyism, aggression and imperialism on the question of their territorial dispute with reach other, nonetheless, on this specific, crucial and undeniably important historical issue, I joined South Korea, China and all the people who were offended by this utterly and unmistakable act of Japan, specifically its Prime Minister.

The world opinion is already with Japan with regard to their dispute with China. In fact, I also believe base on the temperament of the ASEAN that they are also siding with Tokyo, but all of these was destroyed by that idiotic and immoral visit of Abe to that bullshit Shrine of Shame, Crime and Mass Murder.

Hence I cannot understand the mind-set of Abe in doing what he has done?

Why the hell is he honoring those murderers, rapists and barbaric thugs?

For indeed, the said “visit came at a time when Japan's ties with China have turned particularly sour over a territorial dispute regarding islands in the East China Sea.”

Suggestion to Japan, to Prime Minister Abe and the Japanese people

In my view, the only way wherein the people of Southeast Asia can truly forgive you and your people is by admitting before the whole world your World War II barbarism, mass murder, rapes and inhumanity.

Confess your crimes, follow the act of Germany, apologize and pay compensation to the surviving victims.

Close that Shrine and instead erect a monument highlighting your remorse and guilt with regard to your historical crimes.

I believe that these acts are the only key in order for your government and people to end the curse, for they are precisely the necessary keys for our collective closure.
Yes, our collective closure, because despite the fact that you helped us during the super typhoon; still I cannot forget what you did to my people and the people of Southeast Asia during World War II.

Apologize and we will forgive and then, only then, that we can truly and fully forgive!

What is the purpose or the point of an official apology?

It is my firm view and so hold that the ultimate purpose of an official apology is to admit one’s crimes, to bear responsibility to the said wrong act, to atone for the sins and transgressions of our predecessors, to remember the dead, to honor their memory, celebrate their legacy, to vow that this gruesome event will never again recur and to forge a sense of closure, both personal and historical; both to the perpetrators and so as to the victims.

Am I responsible to the crimes and sins of my forefathers?

I heard the question. I beg the indulgence of the reader if I will ask the great Professor Alasdair MacIntyre to offers a powerful answer to that question:

“I inherit from the past of my family, my city, my tribe, my nation, a variety of debts, inheritances, rightful expectations and obligations. These constitute the given of my life, my moral starting-point. This is in part what gives my own life its moral particularity.”

Hence, we may not be legally and personally liable for the crimes and transgressions committed by our forefathers to others; yet we cannot escape the historical liability; we are morally responsible not only to the past, but also to the present.

Our duty is to acknowledge the mistakes and the wrong that has been done and vow that the same would never ever happen again.

In a sense, our ethico-moral duties and historical obligations is to correct the mistakes of the past and remedy the historical errors and blunders.

If we will evade and deny this task, then, history will continue to haunt us; because the vengeance of history is a hundred times more terrible!

To quote the prophetic words of Bobby Sands: “Our vengeance will be the laughter of our children”.


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Malaysia: On the Question of Moderation

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I refer to the report of Yiswaree Palansamy’s “Bracing for protests over Allah, Christians meet Muslims bearing flowers”, The Malaysian Insider, January 5.

To quote from the article:

“Nearly 1,000 Catholics turned up for Sunday mass at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang, Selangor, this morning expecting an angry mob of Muslims protesting the possible use of the word Allah in prayers but instead, met a group bearing flowers.

“Among the few Muslims who turned up was social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, who brought a bouquet of flowers, and was part of a group expressing solidarity with the Christians.”

I commend Marina for her bold and noble act. There is no shadow of doubt that what she did is a clear case of unity in diversity, a struggle for solidarity for the minority Malaysian Christians and a vehement defense of the country’s principle of Moderation --- which is under attack these past few days.

Besides showing her concern and solidarity to the minority, she also “lambasted Putrajaya over its inaction and told it to forget about the ambitious Visit Malaysia Year launched with much fanfare last night.”

As she firmly stated before the various press outside the said Church:

"Who wants to visit a Malaysia like this where there is no moderation?

"Hardly an example of moderation, we are now known as a country which grabs Bibles…”

She “arrived at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang, bearing a bouquet of flowers, with members from non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sisters in Islam (SIS), and several others who turned up in a show of solidarity with Christians.” Also included in their group is the “In the Name of Allah”.

They “gathered in front of the church distributing roses to parishioners as a symbol of unity amongst the Abrahamic religion believers.”

To those idiots, bigots and morons who would accuse her and her companion of betraying her/their religion, this is what our brave lady had spoken:

"We are here to show solidarity with the congregation. A lot of us here are Muslims and we believe Islam is a religion of peace.

"It is not something that we only say (in words), but there must also be action…”

True to her words, after the service ended, Marina “passed flowers to parish priest, Reverend Father Michael Chua, with worshippers cheering and applauding the act.”

This reasonable gesture, this very act is so symbolical in my view and undeniably has shown the true picture or the genuine image of Malaysia, the true one!

Marina’s act and so as the other Muslims there who accompany her has remind me the same moving and loving scenario and that is the picture of the Muslims protecting the Christians during a Mass and the Christians protecting the Muslims during their prayers the recent Egyptian revolution.

I joined R. Gomathi’s happiness in seeing the solidarity group at the church today.

I overwhelmingly concur with the said worshiper that:

"For me, it is a wonderful day to see people of all races coming together in the name of solidarity…”

For another devotee, Fiona Biggs, “the solidarity shown by Marina and the other Muslims was heartwarming.”

As she put it clearly:

"Nothing much from the government but the support from common people like Marina and her Muslim friends is nice…”

Last week, the “seizure of some 300 copies of the Bible by the Selangor Religious Affairs Department (Jais) in the Malay and Iban language further strained worsening ties between Muslims and Christians over the usage of the Arabic word Allah which translates as God.” Worst, the said act was done without the knowledge and concurrence of the Selangor State Government.

I agree with the position of some that the act of Jais is unconstitutional and immoral!

I overwhelmingly concur with the De Facto Opposition Leader, Anwar Ibrahim that Putrajaya must answer to this incident and must make it clear to the whole nation its stand with regard to the whole fiasco!

This is a clear case of a vulgar display of supra unreasonable power! When Jais were asked, why it is that they did not even inform beforehand the Selangor State Government, they said that: Opps, we forgot!

What a bloody lousy and super stupid excuse!

Are they implying to the whole of the Malaysian people that every time they will conduct a raid, they always forgot the Constitution, the laws, civility, courtesy, morality and ethics?

HOW ABOUT COMMON SENSE? Are the Jais proving Voltaire correct that: common sense is not so common? Bloody hell!

It clearly reminds me of their illegal and unmistakably unethical raid on a Methodist Church two years ago.
The same raid, so as the seizure of the Bibles were done in bad faith and in a manner that is contrary to law and morality.

Shame!

As reported:

“Although global Islamic scholars have clarified that the term can be used by anyone, state Islamic authorities in Malaysia have reacted negatively to reports of churches using the word Allah in its Malay language sermons.

“The tussle over the word Allah arose in 2008 when the Herald was barred by the Home Ministry from using the Arabic word. The Catholic church had contested this in court and won a High Court decision in 2009 upholding its constitutional right to do so.

“Putrajaya later appealed the decision and successfully overturned the earlier decision when the Court of Appeal ruled last October that "Allah was not integral to the Christian faith".

“Christians make up about 9% of the Malaysian population, or 2.6 million. Almost two-thirds of them are Bumiputera and are largely based in Sabah and Sarawak, where they routinely use Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages in their religious practices, including describing God as Allah in their prayers and holy book.”

Commentary:

No one has the exclusive right to own the word Allah. For in truth and in fact, prior to the advent of Islam, the people of the Middle East have been calling and addressing their God as Allah. Allah as a generic and as a religious word does not belong to a specific group of people or specific race. The word belongs to the whole people of the world!

Anyone who says that Allah is exclusive to Muslims will betray their idiocy, arrogance, ignorance and religious supremacy.

Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians and the Federal Constitution guarantees every citizen their constitutional right to religious worship!

Despite this statutory law, one bunch or a so-called coalition (the question here is: they are a coalition of what? For what?) of religious fanatics has even threatened a local priest.

As reported by Alfian ZM Tahir, “Apologise, or else….”, The Free Malaysia Today, January 5:

“The coalition wants Catholic weekly Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew to apologise for saying that Christians in the state would continue using the term to refer to God.”

Commentary:

This is absolutely absurd and preposterous. Those bigots wanted a priest and a citizen to betray his beliefs and renounce his constitutional rights to believe and practice his own religion?

This is ridiculous to the maximum!

It was also reported that:

“The Muslim coalition said the failure of Father Lawrence to apologise would result in a backlash from Muslims who want to defend purity of Islam.”

Question:

Is this a threat? How come the Federal Government is not suing them for sedition, when in fact and in truth their words are already seditious?

Why the Double Standard? Or, it is because they are friends and colleagues of Ibrahim Ali?

Wow!

Is this their concept of moderation? Whatever the hell happened to the nation’s central principles of unity in diversity?

Malaysia: On the Question of Moderation II

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I am sad by what is happening in our beautiful land, yet I cannot end this humble exposition without saying in a categorical sense that despite my sadness and disappointment, I am also equally happy and hopeful seeing Marina and reasonably, critical and liberal-minded Muslims like them who has the courage to stand up for their fellow Malaysians who belongs to the religious minority.

It is beyond the shadow of doubt that there is hope in our Malaysian society.

Marina and her courageous companions has reassures us once again that Moderation is still alive in our collective community and their great example has emboldened us to further remain vigilant, patient and firm for our continuous quest and struggle for national solidarity, harmony and societal peace!

Bravo, Marina!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

An Afghan Atheist: On the Right to Asylum on Religious Ground I

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I refer to RT Question More, “Afghan atheist granted UK asylum on religious grounds”, January 14.

On behalf of all humanists, agnostics, atheists and freethinkers of the world, I would like to commend the British authorities for granting an Afghan atheist a religious asylum.

It seems to me and there is no doubt whatsoever on my mind that the case of this man is the first ever recorded case of this instance, hence this is not only a historic development but also a case of first impression of truly universal importance.

By virtue of this humanistic and noble action of the English authorities, this case would now be a precedent for future case of similar facts and situation.

To quote the words of Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association and first vice president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union:

“Freedom of belief for humanists, atheists and other non-religious people is as important as freedom of belief for the religious, but it is too often neglected by Western governments. It is great to see Britain showing a lead in defending the human rights of the non-religious in the same way…”

Undeniably, “the UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it.” This case has proven once again that England, despite its bloody and imperialist past is truly the global center of haven for refugees.

To further exemplify my point, it was also the English who provided the Fathers of Communism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels a safe haven.

In fact, Marx was even buried at Highgate Cemetery in London.

To quote from the RT report:

“An Afghan man has apparently become the first atheist to secure religious asylum in the UK. The Home Office let him stay in the country as he could face the death sentence because of his views on religion, report British media.

“The 23-year-old, who preferred to remain unidentified for fear of being hunted by his ethnic community in Britain, was brought up as a Muslim. He initially demanded asylum in 2007 at the age of 16 on the grounds of a conflict involving his family in Afghanistan. Though his claim was rejected by the British Home Office, he was granted a discretionary leave in the UK until 2013 under rules to protect unaccompanied children. During his six-year stay in England, he eventually became an atheist.”

It was also averred that “his fears of being rejected and persecuted became more evident after attending his friend’s wedding in Pakistan” that is “according to evidence presented to the Home Office.”

Our Afghan atheist testified that at the said wedding, people there told him that:

“You cannot sit and eat with people who are not Muslim,” Naturally, he was “shocked” by such an attitude.

He also stated that, “in Afghanistan, people’s reactions towards his religious views could be even worse.”

On this juncture, I would like to thank and greatly commend the Kent Law Clinic of the University of Kent who has taken his case and took up the cudgel of the legal battle for him.

The Law Clinic of the said university is “a partnership between students, solicitors and barristers who provide public service for those who need legal advice and representation but cannot afford to pay for it.”

The lawyers from the said clinic helped the ex-Muslim to present his case before the UK Home Office by invoking the 1951 Refugee Convention which specifically protects people from persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion.

Under Article 1 A (2) of the said international law, a refugee is defined as a person who:

"…owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.”

It is clear from the definition of the law that the said Afghan atheist is a refugee that deserves the protection of his host country (on this case, England). This is squarely in conformity to his lawyers’ contention that “the man could face a death sentence under Sharia law” as he is regarded as an apostate “unless he remained discreet about his atheist beliefs”.

I fully concur with the submission of his counsel, Claire Splawn, a second-year law student from the same university who prepared the case that the man’s “lack of religion causes him to live in fear … of being returned to a country where religion is both prevalent and dominant in society.”

I am also in agreement on her central legal thesis that:

“We argued that an atheist should be entitled to protection from persecution on the grounds of their belief in the same way as a religious person is protected…"

Article 33 (1) of the said law clearly provides that:

“No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.”

Hence, England has the moral and the legal responsibility base on this international convention to extend help and to protect the rights of that Afghan refugee at all cost.

The 1951 Refugee Convention as held by Geoffrey Robertson, “establishes the ‘Good Samaritan’ principle that no state can expel from its territories any persons likely to be murdered or maltreated at their destination for reasons of race or religion or politics. It is supplemented by the Torture Convention, which prohibits deportation to countries where torture probably awaits.”

The right to religion and to one’s faith is a global human right sanctioned by universal convention, yet the same right also includes that: the right to believe includes the right not to believe. The freedom to have a religion includes the freedom not to have one at all!

Said provision of the law applies equally to both the theist and the atheist!

Needless to state, I am also overwhelmingly in agreement with the supervisor of this case and a clinic solicitor, Sheona York, when she stated that:

"The decision [to grant asylum] represents an important recognition that a lack of religious belief is in itself a thoughtful and seriously-held philosophical position…"

The lawyers of the Afghan atheist also brought to the attention of the Home Office “the case of Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man who was put on trial and faced death in 2006 for becoming a Christian, was set as an example. Rahman was then released and given asylum in Italy.”

An Afghan Atheist: On the Right to Asylum on Religious Ground II

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Indeed, as argued lucidly by the lawyers, “someone of no religious faith at all could face even greater danger in Afghanistan than a member of a minority religion such as Christianity.”

If the Afghan authorities are prosecuting and persecuting people from the religious minority, what more those individuals who have no religion at all?

It goes without saying that those people, those atheists, are in a far more dangerous situation that those people who has religion, albeit belong to the minority.

Lastly, I am fully concurring with the view of the British Humanist Association when they dubbed and tagged this case of that Afghan atheist as “the first case of asylum granted in UK under Refugee Convention on the basis of atheism.”

The freedom to believe, to act on one’s beliefs and for free thought must be defended at all cost…

In the moving words of Hermann Hesse in his Siddharta:

“It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration and respect.”


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Aitzaz Hasan: A Tribute to a Brave Young Man

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I refer to “Pakistani Teen Sacrificed His Life To Save 2,000 Students From Suicide Bomber”, by R & S in Alternative News, Exposing the Realities, January 14.

To quote from the said article:

“Pakistani teenager immortalized himself as a hero on Monday when he gave his life to tackle a suicide bomber who was running into his school.

“According to the BBC, 15-year-old Aitzaz Hasan was chatting with a few friends outside his school in the Hangu region when he spotted a man wearing a vest laden with explosives.

“His friends begged him to stay put but Hasan confronted and took down the bomber, who responded by detonating the vest.

“Aitzaz’s incomparable sacrifice has caused many to urge the Pakistani military to award him the army’s highest honor.”

I joined the international community and the rest of the global citizens of nations in commending and applauding his courage and hailing him not only as a local hero, but also as a shining example of what the best in humanity can offer in today’s tumultuous and chaotic world!

I am also in complete agreement to journalist Nasim Zehra in his tweet that echoes the sentiments of the people of Pakistan that:

“We the citizens believe that State of Pk must award Nishan-i-Haider to Pk’s brave son Shaheed Aitezaz…”

This young man has shown us once again the truthfulness and veracity of the philosophy of selflessness and the principle of sacrifice.

Hasan’s friends, who were with him that fateful day, narrated to his cousin, Mudassar Hassan Bangish the sequence of events:

“So he told them ‘I’m going to stop him. He is going to school to kill my friends.’ He wanted to capture this suicide bomber. He wanted to stop [him]. Meanwhile the suicide bomber blasted himself which resulted in the death of my cousin…”

It was reported that “there were almost 2,000 students at the school when the bomber appeared.”

I concur with his cousin Bangish’s description of Hassan as a brave and a good student, and I am also in complete agreement to his family’s admonishment and insistence that Pakistan must “focus on the boy’s bravery and pride rather than the sorrow of his death.”

That in my view should be the way to celebrate his life!

Consider the words of his father, Mujahid Ali to Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper:

“My son made his mother cry, but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children.”

His altruistic and selfless act of sacrificing himself for others has lend credence to the time-honored principle that the greatest thing we can do is to give up ourselves to the service and benefit of our friends, in particular and for humanity, in general.

His noble principle of sacrifice had revealed not only his fortitude, but also exemplified his sheer will and indomitable spirit of doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason and cause in the face of harm and danger even to the point of death!

Our hero’s death has proved once again that the power of love and sacrifice is far more superior than, the force of power, hate, terror and barbarism!

His heroism and sacrifice had shamed the bastard Taliban for all eternity!

Our hero perished, yet I believe that he did not die in vain, because he died a glorious death. The heroic death of this young warrior has shown us, in an indubitable sense the meaning of his life and the distinctive animating spirit of his bold and noble character.

Needless to state, I also subscribed to the “residents of Aitzaz’s mostly Shia hometown along with a great deal of the country as a whole are comparing the boy to Malala Yousafzai, the fearless campaigner for female education who was shot in the face by a member of the Taliban.”

There is a great parallelism between the two. Both of them are Pakistani, both are young, both love and respect the value and worth of education, both stood their ground against terrorism and extremism (of the bastard Taliban) and both suffered (though, it is fortunate to state that unlike Hassan, Malala survived) for their principles and beliefs. (See my article on Malala, Humanity welcomes back ‘daughter of the world’, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 16, 2013)

Lastly, these two great souls are undeniably courageous spirits!

But what is courage any way?

Courage in my view, does not mean the absence of fear, rather it is precisely the presence of fear yet the will to go on and proceed regardless of the consequences and irrespective of the outcome. It is on this indisputable sense and incontestable reason that the Greek philosopher Aristotle is correct when he proudly proclaimed that courage is the first among the illustrious list of the virtues.

Undeniably, “courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.”

Hail to Hassan, a true blue hero and a shining example and clear exemplification of what genuine Humanity is all about!

May you live forever, brother!!!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Justice for Erwiana Sulistyaningsih

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I refer to the report of Joanna Chiu, “Indonesian maid at centre of 'torture ordeal' row could sue Hong Kong government”, South China Morning Post, January 20.

Said article concerns an “Indonesian helper who says she was abused for eight months by employer” and that she “considers a case claiming city violated its 'duty of protection'” against her former employer.

On behalf of the global community, I condemn in the name of humanity to the highest possible degree the inhumanity, barbarity and moral depravity of Erwiana’s employers and in a certain extent, also the Hong Kong authorities for being negligent and lax in enforcing their laws to protect migrant workers.

Their inefficiency and being inutile is one of the reasons why some Hong Kong employers are abusive and cruel towards their maids.

This is a shame!

According to the report:

“The Indonesian domestic helper who claims she suffered eight months of torture at the hands of her Hong Kong employer may sue the city's government.

“Lawyers asked about the case of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, 23, who is in hospital back home, claim the city's human rights laws could have been breached.”

The head of the Mission for Migrant Workers, Cynthia Ca Abdon-Tellez, said that:

"We have discussed bringing a case against the government with lawyers. We are now waiting for Erwiana and her family to make a decision."

I certainly believe without the slightest iota of doubt that the said prospective case to be instituted by Erwiana will undeniably prosper both under the local and international law.

In reference to this, she has “appointed a lawyer in Hong Kong, said Eman Villanueva, a spokesman for the Asian Migrants' Coordinating Body.”

As clearly and expressly provided for by Article 3 of the 1997 Bill of Rights Ordinance, the government has a duty to protect people from torture and "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment".

The report also clearly highlighted that “Rights lawyer Robert Tibbo, who advised surveillance whistle-blower Edward Snowden” said that “Erwiana's lawyers could sue the government for failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide state protection to victims of torture or cruel treatment.”

I concur with the said lawyer that “remedies for a violation of those rights can be sought under Section 6 of the Bill of Rights”, though there is no “specific penalty for such a breach is stipulated.”

I share Tibbo’s shocked when he learnt “that airport immigration officers did not inquire about Erwiana's condition when she left Hong Kong.”

It seems to me that those airport immigration officers are either blind or stupid that they failed to notice the horrible physical condition of Erwiana, or it could be a clear case of the fact that they don’t care and they don’t give a damn!

Whatever the hell it is, shame on them!

As Tibbo sharply observed:

"The woman showed clear signs of being tortured and nothing less than that. She was emaciated and had a large number of scars on her face, hands and feet."

The Deputy Director of Hong Kong University law department, Simon Young Ngai-man, lends support to the legal thesis being advance by Tibbo. The Deputy Director stated that: Tibbo’s idea was “definitely worth exploring”.

He further added that:

“[Lawyers] could argue the government had acquiesced to torture against Erwiana when immigration officers didn’t do anything or because the government had not monitored employment agencies well enough…”

This utterly shocking news “came as organisers claimed about 5,000 helpers and supporters marched from police headquarters to the government building in Admiralty yesterday to demand justice for Erwiana.”

I am proud to note that the Indonesians were joined by their friends from the Philippines. This act of solidarity and togetherness is such a joy to see! The Indonesians and the Filipinos, together with other nationalities has proved that in the quest for equality and recognition and the struggle for justice, we have no distinction, because we are all one!

The shocking, horrendous and brutal things that happened to Erwiana is also a direct and clear violation of articles 1, 4 and 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Articles of the said convention expressly provide that:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

“No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.”

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

While Articles 6 and 7 respectively stipulates that:

“Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.”

“All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”

As sequentially narrated by the South China Morning Post:

“Erwiana arrived in Hong Kong to work as a helper on May 27 and went home to Sragen, Central Java, on January 10. She claims her employer in Tseung Kwan O threatened to kill her family if she revealed her ordeal.”

Comment:

Not only does Erwiana’s former employers beaten, tortured and abused her, they even threatened her not to tell the truth.

I cannot find the exact word to define or describe their evil acts, because in my view, the said employer is the precise and exact manifestation and perfect description of evil.

That heartless employer is an animal and worst, an animal of the worst kind! Shame to that evil creature!

I call upon the duly constituted authorities of Hong Kong to comply with its duty under international law and to bring to the bar of justice the heartless and evil perpetrator of violence, abuse and dehumanization committed against Erwiana and her likes!

I am also calling attention of the international humanistic community to score, compel and pressure Hong Kong to do everything within its power to defend and protect the rights and welfare of all its migrant workers, especially those who work as maids!

Slavery has no place in our modern civilization and Hong Kong must prove before the rest of the international community that they are not barbaric, uncivilized and uncouth.

Justice for Erwiana!

Justice to all Migrant Workers!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Burden of Humanity: The Question of the Horrible Plight of the Rohingya I

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I refer to the Guardian report, “UN urges Burma to investigate Rohingya deaths after latest violence”, January 24.

I cannot understand why the world, it seems ironically is lacking in concern and apparently is taking an apathetic stand with regard to the Rohingya people.

The Rohingya people are one of the ethnicities of Burma and according to the United Nations itself, “are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world”.

They are Muslim people who live in the Arakan region. They are aptly dubbed as the Palestine of Asia!

As of 2012, there are 800,000 Rohingya who live in Myanmar, 300, 000 in Bangladesh and 24, 000 in Malaysia.

The 2012 Rakhine State riots, according to Wikipedia:

“are a series of ongoing conflicts between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. The riots came after weeks of sectarian disputes and have been condemned by most people on both sides of the conflict. The immediate cause of the riots is unclear, with many commentators citing the killing of ten Burmese Muslims by ethnic Rakhine after the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman as the main cause. Over three hundred houses and a number of public buildings have been razed. According to Tun Khin, the President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK, as of June 28, 650 Rohingyas have been killed, 1,200 are missing, and more than 80,000 have been displaced. According to the Myanmar authorities, the violence, between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, left 78 people dead, 87 injured, and thousands of homes destroyed. It also displaced more than 52,000 people.

“The government has responded by imposing curfews and by deploying troops in the regions. On June 10, state of emergency was declared in Rakhine, allowing military to participate in administration of the region. The Burmese army and police have been accused of targeting Rohingya Muslims through mass arrests and arbitrary violence. A number of monks' organizations that played vital role in Burma's struggle for democracy have taken measures to block any humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya community.”

According to Amnesty International (The Rohingya Minority: Fundamental Rights Denied [2004]), the Muslim Rohingya people have continued to suffer from human rights violations under the Burmese Buddhist junta since 1978, and many have fled to neighboring Bangladesh as a result:

"The Rohingyas’ freedom of movement is severely restricted and the vast majority of them have effectively been denied Burma citizenship. They are also subjected to various forms of extortion and arbitrary taxation; land confiscation; forced eviction and house destruction; and financial restrictions on marriage. Rohingyas continue to be used as forced labourers on roads and at military camps, although the amount of forced labour in northern Rakhine State has decreased over the last decade."

"In 1978 over 200,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh, following the ‘Nagamin’ (‘Dragon King’) operation of the Myanmar army. Officially this campaign aimed at "scrutinising each individual living in the state, designating citizens and foreigners in accordance with the law and taking actions against foreigners who have filtered into the country illegally." This military campaign directly targeted civilians, and resulted in widespread killings, rape and destruction of mosques and further religious persecution."

"During 1991-92 a new wave of over a quarter of a million Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. They reported widespread forced labour, as well as summary executions, torture, and rape. Rohingyas were forced to work without pay by the Burmese army on infrastructure and economic projects, often under harsh conditions. Many other human rights violations occurred in the context of forced labour of Rohingya civilians by the security forces."

It feels like that the people of the world does not give a damn to their suffering and completely shut their eyes to the unimaginably horrendous and indescribable misery undergoing by this ethnic minority in Burma.

This in my view is the ultimate heights of irony and the undeniably the lowest pits of absurdity. This is a massive shame to all of us, to humanity as a whole.
Yet, having said that, all is not lost, for there is hope!

It is on this great sense that I am applauding the United Nations for standing up and taking the cudgel of the Rohingya people and bringing it on to the attention of a seemingly passive world!

I am specifically commending the commissioner of the UN Human Rights, Madame Navi Pillay for steadfastly and consistently highlighting the sorry and grim plight of this ethnic group.

The “UN human rights agency says it has information of 48 Muslims killed in Rakhine by Buddhist mobs, the deadliest in a year.” This accusation came directly from The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay.

Said commissioner also dared Yangon to tell the truth “by responding to these incidents quickly, the Burmese government has an opportunity to show transparency and accountability.”

According further to the Guardian report:

“At least 48 Muslims were killed when Buddhist mobs attacked a village in an isolated corner of western Burma earlier this month, the United Nations has said, calling on the government to carry out a swift, impartial investigation and to hold those responsible accountable.”

As usual, the Presidential spokesman Ye Htut “has vehemently denied reports of a massacre” and “strongly objected to the UN claims.”

According to him, “the facts and figures” that pertains to this incident were "totally wrong", but “evidence of a massacre has been steadily mounting.”

As already noted, “Burma, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million people, has been grappling with sectarian violence since June 2012.”

Undeniably, “the incident in Du Chee Yar Tan, a village in northern Rakhine state, appears to be the deadliest in a year, and would bring the total number killed nationwide to more than 280, most of them Muslims. Another 250,000 people have fled their homes.”

The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, said that “she had received credible information that eight Rohingya Muslim men were attacked and killed in Du Chee Yar Tan village by local Rakhine on 9 January.”

The commissioner also pointed out that “the UN believes at least 40 Rohingya Muslim men, women and children were killed, bringing the total to at least 48.”

Pillay categorically stated that:

"I deplore the loss of life … and call on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation and ensure that victims and their families receive justice…"

Further, said commissioner also admonished Yangon to answer to this bloody incident:

"By responding to these incidents quickly and decisively, the government has an opportunity to show transparency and accountability, which will strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar."

It was reported that after the aftermath, “the village has been emptied and sealed off since the massacre.”

Burden of Humanity: The Question of the Horrible Plight of the Rohingya II

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I concur with the call to the government of the executive director of the Thailand-based rights group, Fortify Rights, Matthew Smith “to give humanitarian workers, independent observers and journalists, unfettered access to the area. He said hundreds were still in hiding and may need help.”

I am also in agreement with him that the mass arrests must stop.

Smith said that:

"These arbitrary detentions broaden the scope of the human rights violations in the area and should be immediately brought to an end. There needs to be accountability for this wave of horrific violence … but mass arrests of Muslim men and boys are not the way."

Though the Burmese government has repeatedly denied that any violence that took place on the said area on the said date, I am compel to say that I do not believe on their repeated denial. If what they are saying is true, then they should allow the UN workers, independent media and journalists and other pertinent global humanistic organization to go to the said area to see for themselves the true state of affairs.

I call upon the international community and all humanists to join the struggle of the Rohingya people.

Once, the late great President Nelson Mandela said that:

“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Nonetheless, I would like to add to those words of wisdom of that great man:

That our freedom is incomplete without the freedom, not only of the Palestinian people, but also those of the Rohingyas and all people who are victims of violence, marginalization, discrimination, exploitation and dehumanization, etc!

To paraphrase the immortal words of Rosa Luxemburg:

What I want is a universal system that will enable me to love everybody with a clear conscience.

FOR WE ARE ALL ONE!!!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

The Truth must be told: China is the Nazi Germany of the contemporary world order Part I

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I refer to Keith Bradsher of the New York Times, “Philippine Leader Sounds Alarm on China”, February 4 concerning its unabated and continuing aggression on the Asia Pacific region.

To quote from the said article:

“President Benigno S. Aquino III called on Tuesday for nations around the world to do more to support the Philippines in resisting China’s assertive claims to the seas near his country, drawing a comparison to the West’s failure to support Czechoslovakia against Hitler’s demands for Czech land in 1938.

“Like Czechoslovakia, the Philippines faces demands to surrender territory piecemeal to a much stronger foreign power and needs more robust foreign support for the rule of international law if it is to resist, President Aquino said in a 90-minute interview in the wood-paneled music room of the presidential palace.”

I wholly concur with the contention of the Philippine president that:

“If we say yes to something we believe is wrong now, what guarantee is there that the wrong will not be further exacerbated down the line?

“At what point do you say, ‘Enough is enough’? Well, the world has to say it — remember that the Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent World War II.”

Last month, it was the Japanese Prime Minister that caused a stir in Davos, Switzerland when Mr. Abe delivered a strong speech against militarism and aggression in the region, albeit without naming China.

Hence, I joined the call of Japanese Prime Minister Abe and the Philippine President Aquino on their respective call to the international community to join ranks and unite as one to stand up against a bullish and aggressive China.

The world as a whole must show their togetherness and bond to counter China’s imperialist designs and evil expansionist maneuvers at the Asia-Pacific region.

The act of not acting or worst, just allowed this bully and do nothing would undeniably be costly and disastrous for the people of the said region and to humanity in general.

I am one of the few voices from the vast wilderness of humanity that consistently and persistently calling the attention, again and again of the world in repeatedly and patiently warning them of the naked aggression that habitually and feloniously being committed by shameless China and the grave danger posed by this imperialist and arrogant giant.

I am inviting once again the attention of the reader to check on the following articles and commentaries that I have written concerning this pestering regional and raging universal issue:

The dispute over Scarborough Shoal, The Malaysian Insider, April 18, 2012

ASEAN-CHINA RELATIONS: Time to contain hostilities in South China Sea, The New Straits Times, Malaysia, July 19, 2012

Call for the United Nations to tell China that it cannot do as it pleases, The Southeast Asian Times, Australia, July 21, 2012

Cambodia’s subservience to China: a tale of treachery and selfishness, The China Daily Mail, August 6, 2012
Bullyism: the new face of imperialism (China’s invocation of its so-called historical right), The China Daily Mail, August 8, 2012

China’s imperialist designs; showing its ugly head and bloody arms (South China Sea), The China Daily Mail, December 4, 2012

China is the troublemaker in the South China Sea; opinion from the Philippines, The China Daily Mail, December 17, 2012

China: Restaurant bans Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese and dogs: China acting not only as a dirty dog, but as a lousy bully and a racist freak, The China Daily Mail, March 1, 2013

China’s stupid contention on South China Sea: most idiotic territorial claim in human history, China Daily Mail, June 20, 2013

A Counter-reply to Schell’s unsubstantiated comments and my exchanges of barrage with Chankaiyee2 Part I and II, CNN ireport, June 22, 2013

China’s stupid contention: The most idiotic territorial claim in Chinese History, Exposing the Truth, June 27, 2013

Philippines must stand up against China with help of international law and ASEAN, China Daily Mail, August 21, 2013

China’s hypocrisy, shamelessness and paranoia, China Daily Mail, December 25, 2013

It is on this great sense that I welcomed the categorical speech and brave call by the Japanese Prime Minister, in Davos.

As reported by Angus MacKinnon of AFP, “Japan tells world to stand up to China or face consequences”, January 23:

“In a landmark speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued what amounted to an appeal for international support in a potentially explosive dispute with its superpower neighbour over islands in the East China Sea.”

To quote some portions of the said explosive address:

“We must restrain military expansion in Asia ... which otherwise could go unchecked…

"If peace and stability were shaken in Asia, the knock-on effect for the entire world would be enormous…

"The dividend of growth in Asia must not be wasted on military expansion."

On behalf of humanity, I will not mince my words, but the truth must be told, no matter how inconveniently and uncomfortable it is: China without a doubt is not merely acting as the Nazi Germany of the contemporary world order, but they are even worst, than Hitler!

Consider the words of the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei:

“The disputes in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines mainly stem from the Philippines’ illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha islands. The fact is crystal clear. Our two countries also have disputes over the delineation of maritime boundaries. China firmly opposes the Philippines’ occupation of China’s islands and reefs. As an unwavering upholder of international justice, China made huge sacrifice and indelible historical contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. It is inconceivable and unreasonable to place China-Philippines South China Sea disputes in the same category with the WWII history. The Chinese side is shocked at and dissatisfied with the remarks from the Philippine side.”

Comment:

So, those bastards are accusing Manila of illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of their so-called Nansha islands.

The Truth must be told: China is the Nazi Germany of the contemporary world order Part II

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The thing is: the one that they are accusing have resorted its claim before an international court. How come those idiots, who claimed that they are “upholder of international justice” is not recognizing the jurisdiction of the said international court?

They claimed that they are shocked and dissatisfied with the remarks from the side of the “illegal occupants”, yet I am wondering how come they are not shock (does it mean that they are satisfied?) to their action of illegally occupying the Scarborough Shoal which is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Philippines by virtue of the undeniable fact that it is within its exclusive economic zone?

After the Philippine President’s interview to the New York Times, the Chinese, specifically the Xinhua News Agency commentator Ming Jinwei called Aquino “an amateurish politician who was ignorant both of history and reality.”

This so-called commentator even added that: Aquino “has never been a great candidate for a wise statesman in the region.”

Comment:

This is the height of argumentum ad hominem. Those bastards instead of responding reasonably to the issue have resorted to mudslinging and slanderous character assassination.

This is a shame!

How could Aquino be ignorant of history when in fact he knew the Sudetenland incident?

How could Aquino be ignorant when he has critically drawn a historical parallelism with regard to the status of Nazi Germany then to that of the emerging aggressiveness of a bullish China now?

On the question of being a wise statesman

I do not know what the hell is the definition of the Chinese of a wise statesman? Does it make a statesman wise if he or she will not talk back and fight China?

If that is their definition, in my view that is not being wise, but being a slave, a political prostitute and a puppet! That so-called ‘statesman’ is not worthy to be called as such but a dirty dog worthy of nothing!

Shame on that so-called statesman and shame on his or her bastard patron!

Ellen Tordesillas reported that: Aquino Friday responded to the Xin Hua commentator by thanking him in Filipino for “reaffirming the validity of our position.”

Needless to state, I completely concur with Mr. Aquino’s addition that: “There is a saying that if you can’t answer the issue, you resort to name-calling.”

Warning to China

May we remind you too, that we also fought Hitler and so as his counterpart on this part of the world which is no other than the Japanese Imperial Army.

While the Japanese just rolled on your country, we gave them hell here on our land.

Don’t dare us, don’t bully us and don’t even provoke us!
We may be small, but we do have the guts and the balls to stand up and fight a bloody bully like you, that was have shown and exhibited many times.

May I remind you that during World War II, your country was ravaged and raped by Japan, yet my country had never surrendered to those barbaric Japs. We fought those bloody bastards from day one up to the end of the war.

In fact, because of the bravery and heroism of the Filipinos, we in a sense saved Australia and New Zealand from the Japanese advance. That gave MacArthur time to regroup and organize his army.

By your evil acts and greedy deeds, you are acting like the new Nazi Germany and the then militaristic Japan; well, we don’t give a damn about that! We stood up and fought fiercely against the Japanese Imperial Army; if it is necessary, we are prepare to stand up and fight you too --- to the death!

Don’t forget that we are the first country in Asia to overthrow a foreign power and declare a republic!

During World War II, we stood and fought the Japanese Imperial Army from day one up to the end!

We fought a dictator for more than two decades and had two revolutions. In fact, when your people tried to copied our own 1986 revolution in 1988 at Tiannamen Square, your government viciously crackdown on the people and the students who led the same!

Hence, do not take us lightly, in the same vein that we are not taking you for granted, too.

We may be small, yet we are capable of inflicting damage to you too!

You may be the Dark Lord Sauron of this region and you may have a lot of Orcs with you, yet our people have the persistence and patience of Frodo and Sam, the wisdom of Gandalf and the courage of Aragorn.

Do not take us lightly, because you cannot push us around!

As a Filipino writer puts it so succinctly, Jose Ma. Montelibano, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 13, 2012: “China may risk killing some of us but it will find too costly to kill millions of us”.

Lastly, I am not threatening you, but warning you that we have our history of courage and greatness, too.

Hence, I implore China to learn from history: do not ever forget the lessons of the Battle of Thermopylae.

It is always the case that the tiniest of the dust often cause the greatest irritation and discomfort to the biggest bloody eyes! Again, we are also warning you!

Finally, if the international community will not unite and bond together to contain this bastard and aggressive bully, then the whole of the Asia Pacific region will become a Red Sea and from there, those freaks will invade the entire globe!

THE WORLD MUST COME TOGETHER TO FIGHT THIS BLOODY MONSTER!

If not, then Seumas Milne’s grim prophecy may come true. Writing for the Guardian on January 8, 2014, “First world war: an imperial bloodbath that's a warning, not a noble cause”:

“For the rest of us, this year's anniversary should be a reminder that empire in all its forms, militarism and national chauvinism lead to bloodshed and disaster. It also contains a warning about the threat from the rise and fall of great powers. China is no imperial Germany, but the US – allied with Japan – is a declining global power in a region in which it is tightening its military grip. It's not 1914, but the dangers are clear.”

DOWN WITH CHINESE BULLYISM, AGGRESSION AND IMPERIALISM!!!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

No archaic and barbaric law can ever tame the “Tiger of Jelutong”: Karpal Singh and the Sedition Act

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I refer to South China Morning Post, “Malaysian opposition leader Karpal Singh convicted of sedition for ‘insult’”, February 21.

To quote from the said article:

“A Malaysian court found a veteran opposition leader guilty of sedition yesterday in the latest use of a law the government had pledged to abolish in the run-up to elections last year.”

I concur with Karpal, the Democratic Action Party chairman in slamming the Sedition Act as a “relic” of the dead colonial past. Indeed, the “case” against him unfair and utterly unjust.

In his own words: "It's political intimidation…"

According further to the report, “the outspoken, wheelchair-bound parliamentarian was found guilty of insulting one of the country's nine state sultans during a tussle over political control of Perak state in 2009.

“He faces up to three years in prison, with sentencing set for March 7. The conviction, against which Singh plans to appeal, sparked further condemnation of the government's use of the decades-old Sedition Act.”

I join the international community in condemning this indescribably idiotic and undeniably repressive ruling.
Said “judgment” by the court not only compromised the court’s legitimacy but it also reinforce the people’s perception and take that the various institutions of the country are being controlled by the powers that be.

This is a shame!

The “ruling” is not only a gross violation of the freedom of expression, but also a political oppression and gross ignorance of the law.

Only an idiot of the lowest order will fail to see that as such!

As reported by V. Anbalagan for the Malaysian Insider, “International law experts say Karpal’s conviction violates freedom of speech”, February 22:

“The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has joined the Malaysian legal fraternity in disapproving the High Court's decision in convicting lawyer Karpal Singh of sedition, saying the conviction was inconsistent with international law and standards on the free expression of opinion by lawyers.”

I overwhelmingly agree to the contention of Emerlynne Gil, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Legal Advisor on Southeast Asia that Karpal’s “conviction sends out a message that lawyers in Malaysia are not free to express their opinions about legal issues.”

Further "this case is another sign of the lack of respect of the Malaysian government for the principle of free expression…"

This is a shame and ironic by virtue of the fact that Karpal merely “acted in fulfillment of a core function of the legal profession, which is to contribute to the public discourse on matters of law.

“The United Nations basic principles on the role of lawyers specifically provide that lawyers, like ordinary citizens, are entitled to freedom of opinion and expression.”

The ICJ Advisor also added that lawyers have the right "to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights" without fear of suffering professional restrictions or repercussions due to their lawful action.

This is in conformity with the position of the Malaysian Bar Council that Karpal’s conviction for sedition smells of ‘selective prosecution’.

As reported by the Malay Mail in an article that carries the same title, February 21:

“DAP MP Karpal Singh’s conviction today under the “archaic and draconian” Sedition Act 1948 has raised the spectre of selective government prosecution, the Bar Council said today.

“The professional body representing some 13,000 lawyers in Peninsular Malaysia said it was appalled by the court ruling and denounced the government’s continued use of the 66-year-old law which “directly contradicts” the prime minister’s July 2012 promise to repeal it.”

As categorically stated by the vice-president of the Malaysian Bar, Steven Thiru:

“This was a clear admission and recognition by the Government that the Sedition Act is an anachronistic and repressive colonial law.

“Thus, the decision to proceed with the prosecution of YB Karpal Singh under a law that the government has slated for repeal is inexplicable and raises the spectre of selective prosecution…”

Indeed, Karpal, who is a veteran lawyer and inarguably the best that the Malaysian society has ever produced “was only exercising his right to free speech when giving his opinion during the Perak constitutional crisis in 2009.”

For undeniably “the right of a citizen (in this case a senior and experienced lawyer) to voice an opinion on a constitutional law point, that is, whether the decision of a Ruler of a State is justiciable in the courts, is clearly within the scope of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 10 (1)(a) the Constitution…”

The Malaysian 'prime minister' “had pledged to abolish the act in 2012 as part of reform promises made to halt a slide in support for his long-ruling coalition.”

As usual, the problem is, after the election wherein the government lost big, they seem to forget what they had promised to the rakyat!

To the powers that be

If you thought that you can fool the Malaysian public, the answer is a deafening no!

If you thought that you can tame the “Tiger of Jelutong”, the answer is a roaring no!

You may succeed in sending him in jail, but he will continue to roar and fight you back to the death on behalf and for the interest of the greater Malaysian public!

You may imprison the old man, but you can never defeat the warrior in him and you can never imprison his mind!

LONG LIVE THE TIGER! VIVA KARPAL!!!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction: A Travesty of Justice Part I

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I refer to “Judicial process and timing in Anwar’s case implies persecution not prosecution, says Bar Council”, The Malaysian Insider,March 9 concerning the latest conviction of the Malaysian Opposition Leader.

I overwhelmingly concur with the charge of the Malaysian Bar Council that “the charge against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the manner in which his appeal was handled fuels the perception that the opposition leader was persecuted and not prosecuted.”

It is undeniable that because of the grave fear and extreme paranoia of the powers that be to the natural and charismatic power and genuine popularity of Anwar to the Malaysian public, they have used all the resources and arsenal of the government even to the point of compromising and bastardizing the integrity and independence of the courts.

Why? For the simple reason that they do not want Anwar to win in Kajang and subsequently be the Menteri Besar of Selangor.

I am wondering, is it all worth it? Yes, they successfully blocked Anwar from contesting in the coming by election, in fact he is in danger once again of going back to prison, yet, do they know the repercussions and consequences of what they did?

It is my ardent view and so held that even if PKR will put a dog or a roaster or a cat as their candidate for Kajang, that animal will win not only handsomely but with a massive landslide.

The deputy director of Asia division of Human Rights Phil Robertson said that Anwar’s trial “was all about knocking him out of politics and the government was prepared to do whatever it took to make that happen”.

In other words: they are delirious and desperate to stop Anwar at all cost!

The nefarious act of the powers that be, their continuing persecution of Anwar and his family that begun 15 years ago and all the evil methods that they’ve utilized just to silence the Opposition Leader will return like a tsunami and will explode to their very faces --- one fine day!

They will be hurt tremendously by their foolishness! The people are angry and their collective wrath in time will erupt! Watch out!

I am equally in agreement with the contention of the Bar president, Christopher Leong specifically when he said “that in the first place, the archaic provision under the Penal Code which criminalises sodomy and oral sex should never have been brought against Anwar.”

Leong unequivocally asserted that:

"The case has unnecessarily taken up judicial time and public funds, and has muddied the waters of our justice system.

"We also have grave misgivings with respect to the manner and timing in which the appeal was handled, especially over the way in which mitigation and sentencing proceeded…"

On Friday, the Court of Appeals overturned the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s January 9, 2012 decision acquitting Anwar and declared him guilty of sodomy.

The decision of the court in my view is not only a travesty of justice but an extreme mockery of the whole administration of justice. This leads the wife of the Opposition Leader, Kak Wan Azizah to lament that:

“The proceedings had been conducted in the Palace of Justice, but inside there was only injustice.”

Judgment of Acquittal that is reviewable

Another thing that confused me since then, up to now is the stupid and idiotic principle of the Malaysian ‘legal’ concept of reviewing the judgment of acquittal!

In many jurisdictions, once a person is acquitted he or she is immediately discharged and he or she will no longer be prosecuted (again) on the same charge, because it will violate the legal doctrine of Double Jeopardy which is universally sanction and recognize legal principle.

Right or wrong, a judgment of acquittal is unappealable, irreversible and final, but in Malaysia, even if you are already acquitted, a higher court can still reverse the judgment of your acquittal. I believe that this principle or policy or practice is not only unfavorable to the accused but also mocks the very definition of due process.

So, in Malaysia for example, if an individual is acquitted, he or she cannot celebrate his or her vindication, because he or she must wait whether or not the bloody prosecutor (which in truth and in fact must be called as the persecutor) will decide to appeal his or her judgment of acquittal! Bloody hell!

This is preposterously unjust, hilarious to the maximum and stupid to the core, to say the least!
Undeniably, this is the heights of absurdity and grave injustice! Shame!

Consider the following facts as reported by the Malaysian Insider:

The “Court of Appeal registry had informed Anwar's lawyers to reserve April 7 to 10 as the proposed hearing dates, to which the team agreed.

“However, these dates were abandoned and replaced with earlier dates.”

Question:

I am wondering why the hell the court is acting like it is following a script or a schedule! Why the rush and the haste?

Leong further added that:

"If this is true, it raises the question as to why the Court of Appeal brought forward the appeal to be heard when the April dates had been agreed on.

"After all the defendant was facing a possible 20-year jail term and the April dates would have given the legal team more time to prepare…"

The worst part of this fiasco in my view is the fact that the court had only taken approximately 90 minutes to consider before giving a unanimous decision in reversing the acquittal by the High Court and then when Anwar’s lead counsel, Karpal Singh and the defence team sought an adjournment until next week to allow them to prepare for mitigation the court refused it flatly and one justice even ordered Karpal to submit the mitigation in one hour’s time.

Of course, this farce led Anwar to react angrily: he stood up and shouted at the decision; "do it now!"

Indeed, as Leong quipped: "these matters raise many questions, cause much speculation, and lend to the perception that justice may have been hijacked…”

Commentaries:

Imagine the scenario the Opposition Leader’s acquittal two years ago was overturned, while his lead counsel, Karpal was also convicted of sedition a month ago.

Wow! I am wondering what kind of judicial system now is being practice in Malaysia and what kind of administration of justice are they following?

Anwar is convicted, Karpal is convicted; I am inclined to ask? It is Tian Chua’s turn to be convicted? Hullabaloo, it seems to be that the powers that be are convicting all the opposition leaders!

These convictions and outrageous trials clearly shows that the establishment is compose of power-hungry despots and they will not stop from wiping out the true people’s representatives!

Yes, these men are convicted; it is because they are men of conviction and principle.

This is a shame, a farce and grim day for all Malaysians!

Phil Robertson, deputy director, Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said Anwar’s trial “was all about knocking him out of politics and the government was prepared to do whatever it took to make that happen”.

Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction: A Travesty of Justice Part II

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Local and International condemnation of Anwar’s “conviction”

As already noted, the people of Malaysia are angry with the decision which they viewed as a miscarriage of justice.

Besides the Malaysian Bar, Lawyer’s for Liberty, Bersih and other Non-government organizations have also come out to question and criticize the said decision.

The international community’s reaction is more stringent and categorical to the core, to say the least.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned Anwar’s conviction as a mockery of justice and they even directly “casts doubts on the independence and impartiality of the Malaysian judiciary and tarnishes the reputation of the country’s legal system”.

Even the United States voiced its concern through State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki when she stated that:

"The decision to prosecute Mr Anwar, and his trial, have raised a number of concerns regarding the rule of law and the independence of the court…

"In this high-profile case, it is critical for Malaysia to apply the rule of law fairly, transparently and apolitically in order to promote confidence in Malaysia's democracy and judiciary."

Warning to the powers that be and A Call to the People

We all know and so as the whole knows that this is an extreme travesty of justice! If the establishment thought and that bastard colluding stupid 'court' thinks that by jailing the Opposition Leader they will silence him; they are dead wrong! Anwar is used to be in jail!

This latest judicial perversity and political prostitution of the powers that be will only empower further the rakyat not only to resist, but inevitably to revolt!

It is beyond the shadow of doubt that this is exactly the time for them, the people themselves to act and to rise.
They must show in a collective sense that the true power of the government lies on their hands. They must now launch and unleash the Malaysian People Power in its full force!

HIDUP RAKYAT!

REFORMASI 2.0!

ALL POWERS TO THE PEOPLE!!!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

The BIR ad, the PMA and the Duty to Pay Tax

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I refer to Doctors slam BIR ad: We’re not tax cheats by Jocelyn R. Uy and Michelle V. Remo both of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 4.

This concerns the “Bureau of Internal Revenue advertisement that appeared in the Inquirer on Sunday” that is deemed unfair by the Philippine Medical Association. PMA cries foul, but “the BIR counters that doctors should not take the ad personally and just pay taxes honestly.”

To quote from the said report:

“The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) is crying foul over a tax campaign advertisement of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that appeared in a newspaper on Sunday portraying a medical doctor as a tax cheat.”

Its president Dr. Leo Olarte said in a statement that the BIR ad seems:

“[T]o project to the entire nation through the trimedia that medical doctors are tax cheats per se is absolutely unfair…”

Mr. Olarte “was referring to the half-page ad, which was published in the Inquirer, showing a female doctor riding piggyback on a female teacher.”

The ad depicted that:

“The physician, a certain Marjorie Villena, who supposedly earned P1,075,080.52 paid only P7,424 in taxes while the teacher, a certain Carina Santos, whose salary amounted to P852,169.48, paid P221,694.23 in taxes.”

Further, said ad carried the message: “When you don’t pay your taxes, you’re a burden to those who do. Do your share. knowyourtaxes.ph.”

Lastly, “it reminded readers that the deadline for the filing and payment of income tax return was on April 15.”

Comment:

I cannot understand what the hell is the point or the issue of this so-called PMA? Why the hell are they crying foul? Where can you find the offensive remark on the said ad?

In fairness to the BIR, they did not say on the said ad that all doctors are cheaters or tax evaders or liars. In my view, what the ad is attacking are those who are members of the medical profession that are not fulfilling their duties to the government and not paying their correct and correspondingly tax dues.

Hence, if a specific doctor is upright, moral, ethical and a good citizen of this country and follows the law to the letter; would that doctor be offended by this ad?

Reason dictates to us and common sense is telling us that the obvious answer is a resounding no! Why? As already stated and answered squarely above: the ad is a shame campaign specifically and directly directed towards those thieves, brigands and heirs of Judas Iscariot!

Therefore, I cannot understand what’s the point of the PMA in making a big fuzz about this issue? What is the precise reason of Mr. Olarte’s overreaction to the BIR ad? Are they guilty of what the ad is trying to communicate to the whole of the Filipino people?

The Filipinos have a colloquial saying:

“Ungot ng ungot, baka naman kaya siya o sila ang umutot?”

A man who is honest and noble has no worries or concern, unlike a cheat and a hack! An honest man is immovable and indomitable, while a cheater and a fraud is hopelessly uncomfortable and utterly afraid!

Mr. Olarte said the PMA would not tolerate tax cheats among its ranks. As he said:

“[W]e will act immediately if these isolated cases can be brought formally to our attention.”

Comment:

Well, that is good to hear that they will not tolerate tax cheats among their ranks and membership, yet nonetheless, it seems to me that the PMA president is engaged in a contradiction.

Where is it? Let me show the reader then! Mr. Olarte said that they will immediately act if “these isolated cases can be brought formally” to their attention.

Question:

If those cases of tax cheats are merely isolated cases on their ranks, then, we return to the question above: what the hell is the basis or the ground of their crying foul? Why the hell they are hurt? Or is it the case that the truth hurts and reality bites really deep?

Let us say that for purposes of an illustration that, 10 % of their (PMA) members are tax cheaters, why the hell the other 90 % who are noble, honest, responsible and upright would be offended by the said ad?

The act of not issuing receipts

I concur with the Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares when she said that “doctors should not get hurt by the newspaper ad hinting rampant tax evasion among their ranks.”

The Commissioner also said that “the print ad was based on numerous complaints received by the BIR from individuals that their doctors were not issuing receipts.”

Further, and here’s the fine point of this whole matter the said “ad was also based on actual data collected by the BIR showing significant discrepancy between taxes paid by doctors and their estimated incomes.”

Sad but true, but that is the common perception of a great number of the people of this land!

The Right Thing to do

I overwhelmingly concur with the BIR Commissioner that:

“Instead of getting hurt, shouldn’t doctors who pay inaccurate taxes feel ashamed?”

Lastly, the PMA should not take the ad personally.

The medical profession is a profession that is impressed by public interest; hence, the members of this profession should not be onion-skin when it comes to criticism by any government agency especially of the people themselves.

Instead of crying like a baby with regard to this ad, the PMA must clean its ranks and improve the public image of the doctors of the country.

As citizens of the nation, it is part of their duty to pay the correct amount of taxes, because as we all knows, taxes are the very lifeblood of the government and it is precisely the very thing that we pay for civilized society.

To quote the immortal words of Justice Isagani Cruz:

“It is said that taxes are what we pay for civilization society. Without taxes, the government would be paralyzed for lack of the motive power to activate and operate it. Hence, despite the natural reluctance to surrender part of one's hard earned income to the taxing authorities, every person who is able to must contribute his share in the running of the government. The government for its part, is expected to respond in the form of tangible and intangible benefits intended to improve the lives of the people and enhance their moral and material values. This symbiotic relationship is the rationale of taxation and should dispel the erroneous notion that it is an arbitrary method of exaction by those in the seat of power.”

To the BIR

As a teacher myself, I would like to thank you for highlighting and affirming the known fact that we are one of the most faithful, truthful and diligent taxpayers of this country and that is despite the horrible fact and horrendous truth that our salaries are very low.

To quote from the statement of the Chairman of the Teacher’s Dignity Coalition, Benjo Basas:

“If the government is convinced that we teachers are heroes, then we deserved tax incentives, at least. We are at the bottom of income scale, along with other employees and workers, yet the government is dependent upon our taxes.

“Once and for all, the system of taxation should be revised to collect more from the rich.”

On this juncture, I am challenging you to extend your Tax Shame Campaign not only to us, to the doctors, to the lawyers and other professions but also attack and expose and shame those bloody bastard big corporations (whether private or public) and big businesses who are not paying their taxes, and worst a great number of them are tax evaders.

Bring them all to the bar of justice!

Let the hammer fall and let it fall heavily!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

China’s criticism on the MH370: unjust, unfair and totally below the belt

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I refer to “MH370: ‘Under siege’ Malaysians hit back at China”, Free Malaysia Today, March 28 with regard to China’s stinging and strident criticism of the Malaysian authorities’ handling of the MH370 incident.

To quote from the said report:

“Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have been on the defensive since the Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines flight went missing on March 8 with 239 people aboard, most of them Chinese citizens.

“In addition to near-daily displays of fury from Chinese relatives, China’s tightly controlled state media have heaped opprobrium on the Malaysian government and airline, while its secretive Communist government has urged more transparency in the investigation.

“A letter from the relatives, blasting Malaysia’s behaviour as “irresponsible” and “inhumane”, demanded China now mount its own investigation. And a US law firm says it is consulting with Chinese families on possible legal action against Malaysia Airlines and aircraft maker Boeing.”

By virtue of the fact that China is Malaysian’s primary trading partner and the world’s second largest economy, Putrajaya “has largely held fire” and conducted itself in a cool manner, but now, “the strain is starting to show”.

I have always been critical of the Malaysian government since day one, but on this specific issue, I am of the view that those bastard Chinese has gone too far and utterly overboard! Their harsh criticisms in my view are already below the belt and completely uncalled for.

Consider the following report of Jaime A. FlorCruz for CNN, “China treads carefully amid the anger and grief of MH370 relatives”, March 27:

“Zhang Ziyi, an actress known for her starring roles in Hollywood hits such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," took to Weibo, China's Twitter-like micro-blogging service, to berate Malaysia. "Malaysian government, you are wrong not to revere life. You are wrong not to respect the universal quest for truth," she wrote.

“Chen Kun, a popular actor who has 72 million Weibo followers, appealed for decisive action. "For the clownish prevarication and lies of the Malaysian government and the MAS (Malaysia Airlines), and your disrespect of our people, please let me, coming from my heart, boycott all Malaysia-related commercial products and tours related. Not just for the brief moment when the missing plane is in the heat of attention, but indefinitely."”

Commentaries:

To Zhang Ziyi, you stated that the Malaysian government is wrong not to revere life.

In fairness to the Malaysian government, I never read or heard that they said that they did not revere life. Hence, I am wondering, what the hell entered your mind (if you have one) that made you say what you said?

What or where is your evidence in charging them of your baseless charge and undeniably unfair accusation?

You are also indicting the Malaysian government for not respecting the universal quest for the truth, my question to you is: why the hell your country is lying blatantly about the so-called 9 Dash Line at the West Philippine Sea?

Why the hell your bastard and greedy country is claiming almost all of the territories (when in truth and in fact, those territories are well within the exclusive economic zone of those nations) of sovereign countries at the South China Sea which is a grave violation of international law?

You talked about the truth, now can you also tell us the truth?

Hence, I say categorically: shame on you, you hypocrite pseudo actress! In fact, I cannot blame some people if they are calling you as a slut, because it seems to me that you are such!

To Chen Kun, you are saying that the Malaysian government does not respect your people. What is your basis or evidence in saying so? When in truth and in fact, it is your government and your people who are lampooning and bastardizing the Malaysian government and its beautiful people.

The Malaysian government is not perfect, but I believe that they did the best that they could to respond to this incident using all their resources and military might.

Not content with your stupid accusation and utterly preposterous claim, you are also calling for the boycott of anything that is Malaysian. That only goes to show your myopic view and idiotic mind.

I am so pleased and very happy that not everybody agrees with your stupidity, discrimination and idiocy.

Again to quote the CNN report:

“One Weibo user retorted: "Malaysia is nice -- I stayed there for a week in 2007 and had pleasant memory of the place. To boycott the airline because of the incident is like stop eating after choking on food. To boycott the whole country because of the unreliability of the Malaysian government is also a personal loss for you. It's not the Chinese government is that reliable."”

If your country is so good, how come it does not use all of its power (instead of bullying those small countries at the South China Sea, Japan, India, etc.) and might in helping Malaysia to locate the said plane?

In fact, it was France, the US and Australia that are vigorously helping the Malaysian authorities in locating the whereabouts of this plane? What the hell is the contribution of your country, except your good for nothing criticism?

Instead of acting like a bully and a crybaby, the right thing to do under the circumstances is to mobilize your forces and use all the resources of your empire to find the said plane.

Your cries and pinpointing will do nothing!

If the Malaysian authorities are not reliable, then what the hell can you say to your country? Both of them it seems are unreliable, then, what the hell is your qualms and complaint?

Shame on you, bloody bastard!

I understand what those grieving families are going through, but it does not mean that because of what they suffered it is a license for them to run down and blast the whole of Malaysia.

They must make a critical and crucial distinction. The Malaysian government and the Malaysian people are not the same. If the Chinese believes that the former is incompetent or not doing its best in discharging their function, then call their attention and criticize them heavily, but in a reasonable and just manner.

Assuming that that is indeed the case, that the Malaysian government is not good enough, the question here is: why the hell the Chinese will involve and drag the whole of the Malaysian people to their anger?

They (China and the families of the missing) failed to understand that no sane person wanted this accident to happen and that this tragedy is a lost to all of us, because we are all human!

It is on this great and direct sense that I would like to say to China: hey, you does not owned all of the grief in the entire world! You lost a number of your loved ones, but remember that Malaysia too and other nations for that matter had lost their families! It is not only you that is grieving, because the truth is: all of us are… Do not monopolize the sadness, because we are also in pain.

Hence, do not act as if you are the sole victim here, because in truth and in fact, we are all victims here but virtue of our collective Humanity!

You want the Malaysians to divulge all the information with regard to this tragedy, well that is good, but you must also divulge all the information with regard to the SARS epidemic, the Tiannamen Square uprising and your imperialism at the West Philippine Sea!

If Malaysia must come out clean, then you too must also do the same!!!!


Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Social Science
Technological University of the Philippines
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