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Some People Need Killing": Patricia Evangelista on Duterte's Drug War
Patricia Evangelista's "Some People Need Killing" details the Philippine drug war under Rodrigo Duterte, revealing the human cost and the government's propaganda that enabled it, now translated into German.
- How did Duterte's administration utilize language and propaganda to facilitate the drug war killings, and what was the impact of this strategy?
- The Duterte administration employed euphemisms like "encounter" (for police killings) and "salvage" (for extrajudicial executions) to normalize and sanitize the violence. They dehumanized drug users and dealers as "zombies" and "monsters," making their deaths less tragic and justifying extrajudicial killings in the eyes of many Filipinos. This propaganda successfully created an atmosphere of impunity and widespread acceptance of the violence.
- What is the central argument of Patricia Evangelista's book, "Some People Need Killing," regarding the Philippines' "drug war" under Rodrigo Duterte?
- Evangelista's book reveals how Duterte's administration used propaganda and euphemisms to justify mass killings under the guise of a drug war. Official figures report around 6200 deaths, while human rights groups estimate up to 30,000, encompassing extrajudicial killings and vigilante violence. The book argues that the drug war wasn't about addressing a drug problem, but rather about consolidating power through eliminating political opponents.
- What are the long-term implications of Duterte's drug war and its impact on Philippine society, and how does Evangelista's book contribute to understanding these issues?
- The drug war has left deep scars on Philippine society, fostering a culture of impunity and violence. The lack of accountability for the killings and the continuing influence of the Duterte family threaten a recurrence of such abuses. Evangelista's book serves as a crucial historical record, exposing the mechanisms of state-sponsored violence and urging a reckoning with the past to prevent future atrocities. The book also highlights the psychological impact on those who participated in the killings and the importance of addressing the human cost.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced view of the drug war in the Philippines, including perspectives from victims, perpetrators, and the government. While it highlights the atrocities committed, it also acknowledges the existence of a drug problem and Duterte's popularity. The framing allows the reader to form their own conclusions, although the inclusion of the book title and author's personal experiences might subtly influence the reader towards a critical view of Duterte's actions.
Language Bias
The language used is mostly neutral, but some words carry strong connotations. For example, describing Duterte's actions as "massacre" or using the term "autocrat" to describe him immediately frames him negatively. While these terms accurately describe the situation, using more neutral terms like "large-scale killings" or "authoritarian leader" might allow for a more balanced presentation of the events. The repeated use of the word "killing" throughout also emphasizes the violence.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the victims and the perpetrators of the drug war, but it could benefit from including additional perspectives, such as those of law enforcement officials involved in the legitimate fight against drugs or economists who could discuss the drug war's economic effects. The article's omission of Duterte's supporters' perspectives could lead to an incomplete understanding of the situation. Given the article's length, this omission is possibly due to practical constraints.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article details the human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration's "war on drugs" in the Philippines. This directly relates to SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, specifically target 16.1 which aims to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates. The widespread killings, lack of accountability, and manipulation of language to legitimize violence clearly hinder progress towards this target. The article highlights the lasting impact of these actions, including the continued influence of the Duterte family and the societal acceptance of violence.