Nevertheless, the arrest could be a human rights violation, for in France, no one is arrested for speaking or writing Franglish or "Franglais." But then France, from our point of view, is a permissive country. In spite of the French Academy, many Parisians speak argot with impunity.

However, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales pointed out that Soliman violated three laws, under one of which she could be jailed for 12 years. Dinky is luckier, for the man who carried her cognomen (Rajah Soliman), was killed — after burning Maynilad — while fighting the invading Spaniards.

Marchers and demonstrators should, therefore, heed seriously the justice secretary’s friendly jurisprudence. They should not assemble in groups of more than two if they’re wearing black T-shirts without a permit. Even if they don’t say anything, a thumbsdown sign is inciting to sedition. The basis for this is Roman law, which regarded thumbs down in the Colosseum an order to a victorious gladiator to smite the fallen. (FVR’s thumbs-up is the legal sign.)

But it isn’t that anyone’s human rights are suppressed; they are just covered by law. If anyone wants to assemble, demonstrate, or do anything like walking barefoot in the park, he or she can do so in the "free zone" that is UP Diliman, where a concert for freedom was recently held. It’s in UP after all, that students streak without being arrested by the police. As Secretary Gonzales shrewdly pointed out, this is interdit, probito, and verboten anywhere else. Freedom is not absolute.

The only danger about the UP "free zone" is that its campus might be overpopulated by students from other schools and "seditious" others as the only sanctuary of freedom in our country.