(1) One year in prison with hard labor.
(2) A three-rank demotion.
(3) Forfeiture of two-thirds' salary.
These were meted out by a military tribunal to the 184 enlisted personnel involved in the Oakwood mutiny in July, 2003. The 184 pleaded guilty to Articles of War 63 (disrespect to the President) and 64 (disrespect to the AFP Chief of Staff and other military officials)-- but not Articles of War 67 (mutiny or sedition)-- as part of their plea bargain.
(Because the 184 had already been detained for over a year, they will no longer need to serve the prison term.)
Despite their owning up to what they did, I really think these guys are getting off lightly for their actions.
There's no doubt that the soldiers involved had legitimate grievances. I also don't question the courage of their convictions. I admire them for having the balls to do something they believed in, even if it was against the law. I may not agree with them, but I respect them.
Still, there are other issues involved here. Should a soldier who has broken his oath to follow his/her Commander-in-Chief (the President) and respect cilivan authority over the military be allowed back into the service? Shouldn't the punishment meted by the military tribunal be such that it will discourage further attempts at military adventurism?
These are the real issues involved here, not the legitimacy of their grievances. They think their pay is inadequate? Heck, all government employees (the honest ones, at least) suffer the same fate. They say they have to go into battle with insufficient gear? Public school teachers have to deal with that sad fact (e.g., the shortage of textbooks) every time they enter a classroom.
In short, all of us have problems with how things are run in this country. But there there are means by which you can get your message across without taking a hotel and its guests hostage, and, in effect, hurting our (already fragile) economy.
I know these men have risked their lives for our country. Which is why I wouldn't want them kicked out of the service for what they did. But, come on. Forfeiture of their salary for three months is not enough payment for their crimes.
(2) A three-rank demotion.
(3) Forfeiture of two-thirds' salary.
These were meted out by a military tribunal to the 184 enlisted personnel involved in the Oakwood mutiny in July, 2003. The 184 pleaded guilty to Articles of War 63 (disrespect to the President) and 64 (disrespect to the AFP Chief of Staff and other military officials)-- but not Articles of War 67 (mutiny or sedition)-- as part of their plea bargain.
(Because the 184 had already been detained for over a year, they will no longer need to serve the prison term.)
Despite their owning up to what they did, I really think these guys are getting off lightly for their actions.
There's no doubt that the soldiers involved had legitimate grievances. I also don't question the courage of their convictions. I admire them for having the balls to do something they believed in, even if it was against the law. I may not agree with them, but I respect them.
Still, there are other issues involved here. Should a soldier who has broken his oath to follow his/her Commander-in-Chief (the President) and respect cilivan authority over the military be allowed back into the service? Shouldn't the punishment meted by the military tribunal be such that it will discourage further attempts at military adventurism?
These are the real issues involved here, not the legitimacy of their grievances. They think their pay is inadequate? Heck, all government employees (the honest ones, at least) suffer the same fate. They say they have to go into battle with insufficient gear? Public school teachers have to deal with that sad fact (e.g., the shortage of textbooks) every time they enter a classroom.
In short, all of us have problems with how things are run in this country. But there there are means by which you can get your message across without taking a hotel and its guests hostage, and, in effect, hurting our (already fragile) economy.
I know these men have risked their lives for our country. Which is why I wouldn't want them kicked out of the service for what they did. But, come on. Forfeiture of their salary for three months is not enough payment for their crimes.
No comments:
Post a Comment