The pitfalls of amnesty
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Amnesty for rebel soldiers, is clearly a prerogative of a president — as long as Congress concurs in it.
These grants of amnesty, however, may work against the state and the government whenever rebel soldiers, misguided or otherwise, believe that they have the noblest intention in rebelling against the government or staging a mutiny to “save the country” and be one with the people, as their “protectors.”
It has been proved, since 1986, that pardons and amnesties to soldiers do not deter military and even police adventurists from attempting to topple a government, perhaps even with the goal of claiming power for themselves while planning to set up a military government.
Early in the reign of Cory Aquino, in July 1986, there was a comedy of a coup d’etat that occurred in the Manila Hotel, with some politicians and rebel soldiers as participants.
It was evident that the coup — if it were one — would not have succeeded. In any case, when it was all over, all the soldiers were penalized with a number of push-ups..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101014com1.html
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