http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAN176771.htm

Philippine army prepares to try soldiers for murder

MANILA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Philippine military is preparing to try at least 13 soldiers for their alleged role in the murder of left-wing activists, the first cases to be brought before new tribunals set up to hear human rights complaints.

The military chief said on Friday the soldiers were undergoing pre-trial investigation for four cases of murder, including that of a female radio talk show host on the southern island of Mindanao, since 2005.

"We want to be thorough about it," General Hermogenes Esperon told reporters, adding it would take some time before the cases would go to trial.

"While we want to be quick on this, due diligence and the rules of the procedures must be observed. We don't want to pin down anybody based only on suspicions."

Human rights groups say more than 800 people have been killed since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power in 2001 through an army backed-popular uprising.

A U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings in February said the military was responsible for many of the deaths and nearly 200 disappearances of left-wing activists, farmers, unionists and community organisers.

The military and the government have repeatedly denied that troops were executing left-wing activists under orders and have said the murders were likely due to an internal purge within the communist movement.

The state censor has banned a series of short documentaries on the extrajudicial killings and unforced disappearances.

"Scenes in these films are presented unfairly, one-sided and undermine the faith and confidence of the government and duly constituted authorities," Maria Consoliza Laguardia, the chief censor, wrote in a letter to film makers this week.

While I welcome the fact that individual soldiers are being investigated for possible prosecution for their roles in extrajudicial killings or forced disappearances, I am alarmed by the censorship of expressive thought.

The rule in ratings and classification is that only the physical material of the expressive work may be reviewed, content is generally off limits. For Laguardia to act as the morality guardian insults the intellect of the general public. Are we not capable of deciding for ourselves if a film is slanted in one direction or another? Are we to be treated like children who are incapable of discernment?

Sison should be alarmed with the 'quagmire of spiritual hopelessness' he is in and ashamed of his wicked, totalitarianist ways of championing a repressive communist system devoid of rule of law. We always have them.

WE ARE A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS AND NOT OF MEN, JOMA SISON!!