2017-06-06 13:31:00

Philippine religious superiors, lawmakers urge repeal of martial law ‎


(Vatican Radio)  The heads of Catholic religious congregations of the Philippines have called for an “end to martial law" in the southern third of the country saying it is "not the proper response to terrorist attacks in just one city on a vast island.”  "The declaration of martial law is an extreme measure, and based on the reports we have received ... is a reaction disproportionate to the situation," read a statement by the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) issued on June 6. 

The influential association voiced its criticism a day after opposition lawmakers petitioned the Supreme Court to review and nullify President Rodrigo Duterte's imposition of martial law in Mindanao, after terrorist gunmen claiming to have links with the so-called Islamic State laid siege to Marawi city on May 23. The petition filed by six House lawmakers led by Rep. Edcel Lagman said there was no revolution or ‎invasion where public safety required the declaration of martial law and suspension of the writ of ‎habeas corpus. It said the proclamation contained ``fatal inaccuracies and falsities.''‎   The petitioners said congressional leaders and the majority of lawmakers allied with Duterte were ‎derelict in their constitutional duty by refusing to convene a joint session of Congress to vote whether ‎to revoke the martial law proclamation. ‎

The poor – victims of collateral damage 

"Such a drastic and sweeping government response to terrorist activity would only enhance the perception of power and social impact that the terrorist groups aims to achieve locally and internationally," read the statement by AMRSP, the joint forum of heads of religious congregations which run most of the country's top universities and institutions..  The religious leaders said they are "gravely concerned" by the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, saying that they "reject the strategy of a war on terrorists in the manner that the [government] has been waging the war on drugs."  "In a war against [Islamic State] terrorists, as in the current war on drugs, it is the poor who are the greatest victims, often dismissed as 'necessary collateral damage,'" read the group's statement.

Human rights groups reported that close to 12,000 suspected drug users and peddlers have been killed in the Philippine government's campaign against illegal drugs.  Armed clashes continue as thousands of government security forces use armored vehicles and aircraft to try to flush out the terrorists from Marawi.  More than 200,000 people have been affected by the conflict in the past two weeks, many of whom have sought shelter outside of the city.

The Catholic bishops in Mindanao had earlier issued a statement supporting martial law but only as a temporary measure.  On the other hand, AMRSP said while they deplore the "violent attacks" of the terrorist group, they also condemn the "equally violent reaction of government troops."  The religious superiors ‎ said the Marawi crisis could be resolved without the president proclaiming martial law over the whole of Mindanao.  "After intensive study and discussion ... we reject the imposition of martial law … as a sweeping solution to the crisis."  "Such an approach only blinds the government to the real socio-economic problems in Mindanao, which even President Duterte acknowledges are among the root causes of the crisis," it added. 

The religious group vowed to extend assistance to civilians caught in the crossfire and focus on what it can do in terms of relief assistance and "in fostering a culture of peace and not hatred."








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