IN calling for the designation of socalled Freedom Parks in the metropolitan area, Mayor Lito Atienza, Chairman of the Metro Manila Mayors League, draws on his experience as a street parliamentarian of pre-martial law days. He remembers the tragedy of Plaza Miranda, in which the leadership of the Liberal Party was all but decimated. The bloody incident was blamed on President Marcos on one side and on another on Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. (as he was absent from the rally), until the truth was later discovered: That it was the handiwork of a group of communist operators. In Atienza’s view, Freedom Parks would prevent a similar tragedy happening in these critical times.
"So it was bad enough," he said, "that we Liberals were victimized by the bombing. Our tragedy was used for punishing an entire nation. Several Liberals like me felt the sting of martial law. I was jailed twice. Our top party leaders were also jailed, some of them, like Ninoy Aquino, for years. We were all victimized."
Atienza’s anxiety is not just a complete reversal of a street parliamentarian who found himself on the seat of power, for as recent events show, the official line is that communists are infiltrating the rallyists and that even Rep. Satur Ocampo is part of a sinister plan to use the rallies to create havoc.
But by supporting the "no-permit, no-rally" policy of Malacañang and designating places like Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Miranda, or Luneta Park, as "freedom parks," street protests may be secure from the havoc that any side (government or protesters) might want to create. As it is, Atienza already created a "freedom park" patterned after London’s Hyde Park as recommended by Plaridel, the journalists’ organization. However, this is not open to rallies, only to speakers of whatever persuasion.
To those who believe that the restriction on Mendiola (scene also of tragedies that saw the mowed-down farmers), it should be recalled that EDSA was not a favored site for protests before the size of the crowds drove out two presidents.
It’s not places but people that make "revolutions" possible.
