International Peace Day and Marcos’ martial law

In 1981, the United Nations passed a Resolution making every September 21 the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. The UN assembly thought that it would be appropriate "to devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as of the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways… (The International Day of Peace) should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples."

Its Resolution made it clear that the International Peace Day "will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our Organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the Organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace. May this Peace Day indeed be a day of peace."

Sad to say, International Peace Day is when President Marcos chose to declare martial law. So last Wednesday, International Peace Day was marked by a big demonstration in Makati and it had nothing to do with international peace or martial law. It was a group of demonstrators asking President Macapagal-Arroyo to step down.

Needless to say all the demonstrators accomplished was to snarl up traffic in the main commercial center of Metro Manila. We don’t know why Mayor Binay is allowing demonstrators to show their protest on Makati’s main street. We believe in giving responsible groups the right to protest, but they should be assigned places to protest, meaning where they can voice their protests without disturbing a main traffic artery or inconveniencing the commercial establishments around the area.

They say that many big business establishments are seriously considering moving out of Makati because of heavy taxation. We sincerely hope that Makati continues to retain the major business establishments of Metro Manila. But businessmen know what they are doing. First of all, cities should not encourage demonstrations as they repel foreign investors. It is bad enough that during this time of the year, we have to cope with heavy rains and floods. We don’t believe in banning demonstrators. This is a free country. But it is not unreasonable to ask our activists to do so where they do not disrupt major traffic arteries that most demonstrators do not come from the area where they demonstrate. Demonstrations asking the President to step down should be in Malacañang or where the demonstrators reside. If it is in Makati, it should be a demonstration by Makati residents or persons who hold office in Makati.