The Peace Day in the lens of the Filipino people

September 21 is International Day of Peace. This is a commemorative date designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1981 to signify their commitment to “strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”

Incidentally, September 21 for the Filipino people means something entirely different. This day in 1972 was the day when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law in the Philippines; a day of un-peace.

For two decades, the Marcos regime plundered PhP 500 billion from government funds while violently silencing their critics. Millions of Filipinos suffered under fascist rule that legitimized human rights violations. Thousands of activists were killed, tortured, and imprisoned. It was also during this period that neoliberal policies were implemented. When the Marcoses were ousted in 1986,  they left the Philippine economy with a national debt of USD 26 billion—loans that the Filipino people are still paying to this day.  In time, the Marcos family was able to restore themselves into power through extensive and sustained misinformation campaigns. In fact, the son of the former dictator is now the incumbent Philippine president with his own controversies and scandals involving historical revisionism ang continuing neoliberal policies that compromise the country’s sovereignty.

A little short of a month later after Marcos, Sr. declared martial law in the Philippines, Park Chung Hee of the Republic of Korea followed suit.  A common story can be told of both regimes.  Then in 1979, a coup led by Chun Doo-Hwan after the assassination of Park Chung-hee, “continued the tradition of fascist US-backed military dictatorships in South Korea”, reminiscent of United States-backed Suharto’s coup against Sukarno in Indonesia.

Militarism continues to rise in Asia. Burma has been under a military junta since 2021. The military dictatorship further institutionalized longstanding state-sponsored HRVs and military abuses against civilians and ethnic groups. Indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombings in rural and indigenous communities in Myanmar have heightened to quell liberation movements, inevitably displacing, injuring, and killing thousands of civilians.

Meanwhile, in India, the Modi administration launched the anti-insurgency campaign Operation Kagaar. Hundreds of rural communities were displaced and dozens of Adivasis killed due to relentless bombings and drone attacks. It is believed that this counter–insurgency program aims to pave its way to more plunderous activities such as mining, massive loggings, and building dams.

What is apparent underlying militarism in Asia is the economic expansionism and control of local power holders and ultimately, imperialist powers such as the US. They peddle the concepts of peace and security to justify increasing military presence. That is why during this international peace day, we must question the brand of “peace” touted by the power-that-be.

Peace should be seen through the lens of the people. It entails the assertion of their right to participate and contribute to the socio-economic, political, and cultural development without coercion and dictates from hegemons and imperialists and their transnational corporations appendages.  It necessitates development that veers away from the current neoliberal framework; one that is beneficial to the marginalized sectors of society and not just the ruling few; a development where resources are equitably managed without imperialist interference.

Attaining peace means empowering people to fight for their rights, define their own development, and chart their own course. Ultimately, peace  and the realization of a just and humane society could only be truly achieved by addressing the exploitative structural problems.