Vol. III, No. 297 A Publication of the Mindanao News and Information
Cooperative Center  19 March 2005

COMMENTARY:

Defining Justice: Jabidah 1968, Bicutan 2005
By Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman / 18 March 2005

On this day, March 18, in 1968, at least 28 young Muslim men, no more
than 30 years old, were massacred in Corregidor in the infamous
Jabidah Massacre. Some say the victims were executed because they
mutinied against their officers in protest over the delay in payment
of their allowances. But a more popular version of the story is that
these young Moros, hoping to be members of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, found out that their mission was to invade Sabah, where
many of their fellow Muslims, friends and families are living in
peace. They protested and decided to back out of the training. Since
the mission was a top military secret, and to prevent it from being
exposed, their trainers brought them to a tiny airstrip, in groups of
twelve and subsequently gunned them down.

This incident gave birth to various Muslim groups including the Muslim
Independence Movement of Datu Udtog Matalam, the Ansar el Islam of
former Senator Ahmad Domocao Alonto, the Moro National Liberation
Front of Misuari and later, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front of
Hashim Salamat.

Now, 37 years after, 22 Muslims were killed in the Bagong Diwa city
jail when government officials decided to enforce its assault plan,
ending the 27-hour-old negotiations.

As the government, some sectors and individuals rejoice and
congratulate each other for what they claim as a successful end to the
crisis, the chain of injustice, pain, and worst, maybe even hatred and
vengeance is again passed on to another generation of Muslim children.

Yesterday, as the victims were being buried, the young sons of Ahmad
Opao and Muktar Abukhair wept as they looked helplessly while their
fathers' bloodied bodies, the lifeless bodies of their people, were
gradually covered with mud.

At the height of the crisis, many people, including supposedly
unbiased media personalities and public officials openly expressed
their irritation and impatience over the then on-going negotiations.
Bakit pa sila nakikipag negotiate? Dapat sumalakay na sila!

It was easy for them to decide for they do not know whose lives they
were asking to be sacrificed. For them, they were just faceless
criminals. But for those who knew them, for the families and loved
ones of the 400 plus inmates in that building, who can attest to their
innocence, attacking and possibly killing them would be a grave
injustice. An act which would make us no different from those we call
terrorists.

The call to attack was anchored on the government's policy not to
negotiate with terrorists and the great humiliation the country is
facing due to its own incompetence and lapses. Have they become
brutally heartless that human life is now but secondary to the image
of the government?

But have we not humiliated ourselves before the whole world when we
pulled out our troops from Iraq to save the one life of Angelo dela
Cruz? How long have we been negotiating with the undoubtedly
cold-blooded terrorists holding Tarongoy as hostage? We do not
question these moves of the government, in fact we commend them, for
we believe in the sanctity of every human life.

Our question is, can we not bear a lesser degree of humiliation and
afford the same degree of patience for the sake of the hundreds of
lives at stake?

Obviously, the answer is no. And one can not help but think that maybe
because the lives sacrificed are mere Muslim lives who all deserved to
die? For them, they are all the same. We are all the same.

We do not question the fact that those who staged the siege must pay
for the death of the jail guards. But who were these perpetrators? The
government was able to identify only Kosovo, Ka Lando, and a certain
Edsel. Other reports said that Kumander Global and Robot were not part
of the group. But granting, that Global and Robot were indeed
involved, based on their established notorious identities, that would
make a party of five, and they were all killed. They have paid for the
innocent lives they have taken.

But eighteen others were killed, including a 75 year old detainee who
wets his bed, and other suspected Abu Sayyaf members, many of whom
were just indiscriminately picked up by authorities in Basilan, Sulu
and other neighboring provinces. Suspects, who had the right to defend
themselves in a fair trial. Who had the right to voice their own share
of the truth. But along with their dead bodies, the truth is buried.
Who will pay for their death?

Philippine law clearly states that one is deemed innocent unless
proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. But in the Bagong Diwa assault,
clearer is the fact that the Philippine government is the very own
violator of its laws. Clearest is the fact that the Philippine
government is the very perpetrator of injustice.

But still, we are for peace. We believe that this incident will not
justify the killing of innocent civilians, Muslims, Christians, or
whatever faith they may be, for they are unquestionably unIslamic. But
as we call for peace, we also cry for justice, for there can never be
peace where there is no justice.

Unless there is now a new definition of justice? Or is justice now
reserved for just a chosen few?

We appeal to those who think otherwise, to those who still believe in
the true sense of justice, to the universality of justice. In the name
of peace, let us join hands in defending our definition of what is
just. This is not a sole struggle of the Muslims, but a strife of
every human soul, for the injustices committed are not just against
the laws of any faith or nation, but against the very law of humanity.

(Aside from being with the Moro Human Rights Center (MHRC), Sitti
Djalia Turabin-Hataman is Chairperson for Zambasulta of the National
Youth Parliament Alumni Association [NYPAA].)

(c) Copyright 2004 MindaNews