To abuse or not

A small part of me wants to admire Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte for speaking his mind without mincing words. Another part asks how there can be any pardon for his insolent, obnoxious and politically incorrect outbursts, which include verbal abuses of a highly inflammatory nature against the US ambassador to Manila and the Catholic church as well as accusing the UN of issuing “shitting” statements about his anti-drugs policies. His latest achievement has been to abuse President Obama on being reminded that the American leader would bring up the subject of the controversial extrajudicial killings in Philippines’ brutal drug war, during their proposed meet at a regional summit in Laos the day before.

The opinion on Duterte is divided. Philippines can perhaps do without its president’s impulsive and intemperate attitude. The same point can be made in a more objective and civilised manner. A president should not come across as an egotist interested in gratifying his need for bombast. I’d be a tad embarrassed if my national leader spoke like that.

Many feel that Duterte’s boastful brand of violent impunity warrants prosecution. Are extrajudicial killings an acceptable approach to governance? How fair is it to kill ordinary citizens merely on grounds of suspicion without giving them a chance to defend themselves? What is there to stop the police from abusing this right to kill without following the due process of law? Is a confrontational approach, including heaping an insult on an ally, a smart thing to do?

While there is no doubt that human rights watchdogs are alarmed with his deadly war against drugs, it is clear that Philippines, which is in the grip of a very serious drug problem, needs iron-fisted handling. Soft-pedalling will not work. Drug lords have become politicians. Prisons have turned into major drug production centres. Duterte’s actions would, therefore, seem somewhat justified in the light of the prevalent situation, which is also why he appears to be popular with the masses at large. At least he has stepped up to battle the drug mafia without fearing for his life. He is doing what needs to be done when people get sick and tired of living in constant fear of the corrupt. There is a lot for Indian and Pakistani leaders to learn from Duterte. 

Tailpieces

1) Indian films, dramas and reality shows, which are hugely consumed in Pakistan and fiercely threaten the country’s home-grown content, will be axed from next month. The move to stop airing any Indian channel in Pakistan has been introduced considering a Pakistani DTH service is set to be launched in the coming months. For the majority that’s gutted with this decision, YouTube will come to the rescue.

2) Looks like Britain’s Labour MP Keith Vaz (with that unbearably forced posh accent) took his responsibilities on the ‘Home Affairs’ Committee quite literally. Notorious for his friendships with slimy billionaires, dodgy solicitors and corrupt cops, he has a new feather in his cap — using East European rent boys for pleasure. It is amazing (or downright foolish) how his unerringly loyal wife, Maria, no stranger to his scandals and preferences, is standing by Mr Vaz yet again.

3) Yes, Syria actually has a tourism ministry and it has recently released a video on the coastal city of Tartus. It captures the city’s expansive Mediterranean coastline, packed beaches and lush green landscapes, making the place look like a mini-paradise that’s not to be missed at any cost. No prizes for guessing what the video does not capture — the brutal five-year civil war that has displaced millions and resulted in the loss of lives of almost half a million.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.

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