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The Sunday Times


SUNDAY


November 21, 2010


Edit orials Understanding Iran


nalists, executives of government news agencies and academics at- tended a convention in the Persian capital, where Cabinet minis- ters and others lamented the unfair news coverage by the Western media, particularly those allegedly controlled by “Zionists.” Beyond the media convention, Iran has invested—probably bil- lions—in broadcast facilities and in subsidies to news agencies to help the country project “the truth.” For instance, the state-run IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) features 110 television and radio channels beamed mostly across Iran and some overseas re- gions by satellite and via the Internet. To be sure, Iran has legitimate gripes. A visit to that country erases so much misconceptions and stereotypes. As far as we can tell, after a 10-day visit to Tehran and the holy city of Qom, Iran is a modern country. Tehran, in particular, is a modern capital with the infrastructure and amenities common to major cities around the world. However, the typical misconception is that Iran is poor and backward. We also found the Persians to be hospitable and friendly. Some are not afraid to walk up to foreigners and offer assistance. They are not the Islamic fundamentalists or belligerent people that TV and newspaper reports about Iran present to audiences not just in the West but also here in the Philippines. For instance, some Filipinos are familiar with laws in some Muslim countries—particularly those in the Middle East—that outlaw the Bible and religious items, like the rosary. Not so in Iran, where we were told the Bible is available at local bookstores. (We, however, did not get a chance to verify this.) As one young woman told The Times, Iranians are good tempered and are not terrorists. Following the news in media outside Iran might lead some to believe that Iran is bent on developing nuclear missiles and other weapons of mass destruction. Some Iranians would also clarify that they do not hate the Ameri- cans or the Jews. But they do have a beef with the government in Washington and a more serious one against the so-called Zionists.


T


Understanding media To be sure Iran also has much to learn about media. It seems


that it has yet to grasp that the role of media in a free society is largely adversarial against government. Plus, we strain to think of a government that has been spared by the media’s criticism and irreverence.


In that gripe the Philippines can probably empathize with Iran.


Many Filipinos believe that this country, too, has been a victim of unfair foreign news reporting that reinforces stereotypes. Like in Iran, the government in Manila complains, but the difference is that Malacañang—or the ordinary Filipino—probably does not believe that the bad press is part of a conspiracy. We believe that Iran has a good story to tell the world. It has


many sides that have escaped public attention. And we hope that Iran does not tire of making its case to the world—for its sake and for the good of the global harmony. As Iran’s minister of culture and Islamic guidance pointed out, President Mahmound Ahmadinejad has engaged the Western press, even appearing recently on Larry King Live on CNN. That was not Mr. King’s first interview with the outspoken Iranian leader, who has been known to complain about being misquoted. Truth be told, we are often disturbed by what President Ahmadinejad has to say, but we hope he continues to talk to the media, rather than be like other reclusive world leaders who cause us more sleepless nights. During the convention in Tehran, the authorities appealed to the delegates, most of whom were from Islamic countries, to unite against an oppressive Western media. To be more effective, we think that Iran should look beyond the Muslim world and rally all peo- ples—regardless of their religion—against campaigns to spread hate and perpetuate ignorance.


Understanding why Iran matters to us


seafarers and workers in oil and gas fields. There are about 4,500 Iranians students in the Philippines—not to mention nearly two dozen Persian restaurants that are popular with Filipinos. Philippine-Iran trade remains modest at only $370 million. The balance favors the Persians, who are looking to sell more goods to Filipinos. Iran, with a population of more than 70 mil- lion, is a market that can offer plenty of opportunities for Phil- ippine companies.


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Iran is also a potentially big tourist market for the Philippines. When travelling to Southeast Asia, however, most Persians prefer going to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand—none of which requires Iranians to secure a tourist visa. In contrast, a diplomat said that it was difficult for Iranians to get a visa to visit the Philippines.


Organization of the Islamic Conference Finally, Iran is an important voice in the Muslim world. The coun-


try can be a key ally of the Philippines, not only because Iran is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) but also because it rejects terrorism as Filipinos understand it. Even more significant is that Iran supports the Philippine gov- ernment effort to be granted “observer status” in the OIC. With 57 member-states the OIC is the wolrd’s second-largest inter-govern- mental organization after the United Nations. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which was a sepa- ratist rebel organization of Muslim Filipinos until it signed a peace agreement in 1996 with the government, holds OIC observer status for the Philippines.


With the help of Iran and other OIC members friendly to the Philippines, the Philippine government should pursue its bid for OIC observer status—even as a joint holder of the observer seat with the MNLF.


SUNDAY November 21, 2010


The Manila Times DANTE F. M. ANG 2ND, Executive Editor


FRED DE LA ROSA, Chairman Editorial Board RENE Q. BAS, Editor in Chief ROMY P. MARIÑAS, News Editor


ARNOLD S. TENORIO, Business Editor CONRAD M. CARIÑO, National Editor


TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor ARIS L. SOLIS, Regions Editor


PERRY GIL MALLARI, Acting Sports Editor BRIAN M. AFUANG, Art Director RENE H. DILAN, Photo Editor


 DANTE F. M. ANG 2ND, President and CEO


Telephone All Departments. 524-5665 to 67 Telefax 528-1729; Subscription: 524-5664 Local 222 URL http://www.manilatimes.net • e-mail newsboy1@manilatimes.net Letters to the editor


THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Dante Ang and Associates Building, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002


VOLUME 112 NUMBER 041


E hope that there will be more dialogue between Iran and the Philippines. They enjoy good diplomatic relations. There are at least 2,000 Filipinos working in Iran, mainly


HAT some might feel frightened when thinking of Iran is cause for some officials in that country to blame biased media. By invitation from the government in Tehran, nearly 200 jour-


Bludgeoning the poor, the promdi, the nation’s wretched I


F you were to craft an EDSA vehicle decongestion policy based on facts and science, the first step is to check the figures on road use. Through this, a rational, well-thought—not stupid or knee-jerk—policy could be decided upon. The statistics on road use are along these rough figures: Eight percent of EDSA users are Metro Manila-franchised buses and 4 percent of users are provincial buses with ter- minals along EDSA. The total is 12 percent.


The 88 percent is made up


of private vehicles, small com- mercial and delivery vehicles and the so-called AUV Ex- press. Trucks and other heavy equipment make up a tiny, wee, bit of these EDSA users and it is safe to say that roughly 80 percent of the EDSA users are cars, SUVs etc. On load factor, cars and


SUVs, which actually jam EDSA have a load factor of 1.3 passengers per trip. In con- trast, the buses, both provin- cial and metro, carry an aver- age of 30 passengers, 50 to 80 during peak hours for the Metro Manila buses. From these figures, what decongestion policy to take is very clear. Limit the private cars which carry 1.3 passen- gers per trip and which con- demns them as inefficient mode of transport. Private cars and SUVs, from these figures, make them the most ineffi- cient users of fuel.


After limiting the use of cars and private vehicles due to sheer inefficiency, the govern-


MARLEN V. RONQUILLO


ment should then encourage car pools. And encourage peo- ple to take the mass transport systems available such as buses and the LRT/MRT. In all developed countries of the world, where there is maturity and sophistication in crafting transport policies, road priority is given to mass transport, meaning buses, the tram, the metro. For longer distances, the buses are complemented by the high-speed trains. Favoring mass transport in- stead of private cars not only makes good economic sense. It is also good social policy. Why bludgeon the urban poor that use the Metro’s buses and the rural poor that board the provincial buses with termi- nals along EDSA? Yet, in an act of rank stupid-


ity, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has been anchoring its EDSA decongestion policy by reducing the number of buses, both provincial and metro buses, that use EDSA. The basis is whimsical, ar- bitrary and anti-poor. And anti-promdi as well. It is not supported by statistics, metrics


and analysis. It is not factual. It is not hard to imagine this scenario: Francis Tolentino, the MMDA chairman, waking one day on the wrong side of bed and saw a Metro bus as the source of his instant afflic- tion. The bus is the devil, he said to himself. Then resolved that, henceforth, he would wage a war on the buses. The number-coding scheme can only be an act of whim on the part of Tolentino. Because it is not based on facts and on science, on metrics and on analysis. Favoring the cars and SUVs over mass transport is elitist policy. Many in the leadership and in the media have been prais- ing Tolentino for this. Talking heads have been euphoric over this development and so are many in the punditry. The fact that buses weave in and out of EDSA recklessly add to the popular support for the number-coding scheme. But it is the lack of empathy toward the poor and those on the fringes of society that breeds this anti-poor slant of policy. This perhaps emboldens


Tolentino But this support from talking heads (from peo- ple who should know better) cannot make the number-cod- ing scheme a rational policy that makes economic and en- vironmental sense. It cannot erase the anti-poor, anti- promdi vehemence of the number-coding scheme. Nowhere in the developed


world can you craft a traffic and road policy by punishing mass transport and favoring


private car users. Everybody will participate in a mass ac- tion to run you out of office. There would be petitions call- ing the policy stupid and the author, the most stupid man in government. In a developed country that uses facts and analysis in crafting its policy, Tolentino would be shamed out of of- fice by pointing out to all the pertinent statistics and data on road use and consump- tion of fossil fuel.


I ask this question of


Tolentino: Have you no brains man?


I am asking this question on behalf of the voiceless people from the provinces have no voice, have no media presence and cannot articu- late their opposition to this brutal policy. And the voiceless want to


tell Tolentino this. Take a bus from Davao, that will cross seas and take ro-ro trips on the way to Metro Manila. Very near Metro Manila, the bus finds itself number-coded. Tired and weary from the long trip, you will have to spend another day while waiting for the Metro Manila ban to lapse. And with your money running out.


What if the tired and


weary passenger delayed by the number-coding scheme were sick and desperate and hopeless? Imagine your pampered self in those worn, tired shoes, man.


mvrong@yahoo.com Sri Lankan General awarded Gusi Peace Prize in Manila I


N recognition of the epic victory of the Sri Lankan military forces against the feared Tamil Tigers’ terrorist outfit—a bruising conflict that dragged on for almost three decades at enormous social, economic and political cost to this alluring tear-drop shaped island nation—the Philip- pine-based Gusi International Peace Prize has selected a distinguished Sri Lankan Army officer, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, as one of the recipients of the 2010 event which takes place at the Phil- ippine International Conven- tion Centre on November 24. Having seen service in bat-


tle, General Hathurusinghe now commands the military forces in the north in peace, and is playing a key role in over sighting the advent of calm and prosperity in what was the erstwhile heartland of the Tamil Tigers. On hearing news of his nomination for the award General Hathurusinghe told The Manila Times: “Although I am named as the recipient of this prestigious award, I accept it with all humility on behalf of my Commander in Chief, His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, both of whom cre- ated the right framework for the final victory against the most brutal terrorist group in the world which had heaped so much grief and destruction


RANDOM JOTTINGS on our motherland.


“I am also honored to ac- cept the Guci Peace Award on behalf of all the military forces, from the highest to the lowest ranks, who all played their part in bringing peace to Sri Lanka. In particular I want this award to commemorate all the military personnel who bravely laid down their lives for this noble cause”.


As commander of the north- ern forces based in Jaffna, Gen- eral Hathurusinghe—who possesses natural skills in in- teracting with people of every social strata—heads the mili- tary arm of a civilian-military partnership that is propelling this former stronghold of the Tamil Tigers (that saw so much death and devastation during the reign of the terror- ist outfit) successfully onward and upward.


His astute military leader- ship, which has shown sen- sitivity to the needs and practicalities of a post-war Jaffna, is credited with pro- viding the right atmosphere of peace and security for the economic boom that is be- ing experienced in this


dominant northern prov- ince. This in turn is the key to successfully implement- ing —and driving—the gov- ernment’s “Northern Spring” initiative aimed at bringing prosperity to this once bat- tle-ridden region.


General Hathurusinghe’s nomination for the award from the Philippine end was somewhat propitious. In 2009-10 he attended a course that drew ranking military of- ficers from all over the Asian- Pacific region to the Philip- pine National Defense Col- lege, and where he drew the attention of senior military offices in the Philippine mili- tary establishment them- selves embroiled in the seces- sionist conflict in the South- ern Philippines.


The Sri Lankan General took part in many private and official briefings with govern- ment and military officials to share his experiences and knowledge on the long drawn out separatist struggle with the Tamil Tigers. Interestingly, his 30,000


world thesis detailing the manner in which the Sri Lankan security forces tackled the conflict won for General Hathurusinghe the sought-af- ter Gold Medal at the end of the academic course that took place in Camp Aguinaldo. General Hathurusinghe will be supported by a 14- member native dance troupe that will perform at the


PICC ceremony, and also stage two other traditional Sri Lankan dance perform- ances which have been or- ganized by Sri Lankan Ambassador Nawalage Bennet Cooray and the Sri Lankan Embassy.


The dance troupe is spon-


sored by the Northern Provin- cial Council of Sri Lanka un- der the patronage of Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake who will head the Sri Lankan delegation to the Guci Peace Prize cer- emony. It includes four other senior officials of the provin- cial council including the Sec- retary of Cultural Affairs. Chief Minister Dissanayake presides over Sri Lanka’s North Central Province that is home to the famed UNESCO cited “Cultural Triangle” that contains Buddhist monu- ments and relics going back to over 2000 years – and where, shockingly, many internation- ally denounced atrocities were committed by the Tamil Tigers during their reign of terror in order to provoke the majority Buddhist community. The presence at the cer-


emony of Chief Minister Dissanayake and the dance troupe from his region is a neat touch to display that Sri Lanka has turned the corner to a new era of tranquility, and also to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage.


rjottings@yahoo.com


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