Book launching of Democracy at Gunpoint: Election-Related Violence in the Philippines

The Asia Foundation and VERA Files on March 2, 2011 presented their latest work, Democracy at Gunpoint: Election-Related Violence in the Philippines at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

In the 2010 elections, The Asia Foundation partnered with VERA Files in producing a series of journalistic accounts—news, features, in-depth reports on election-related violence in nine provinces that were traditionally considered as election hotspots. VERA Files consolidated the journalistic pieces into a book to provide a comprehensive, in-depth report that examines election-related violence in the Philippines.

The 212-page Democracy at Gunpoint: Election-Related Violence in the Philippines examines why election violence happens in 10 provinces known for being hotspots. While violence was the thread that connected all provinces together, each one had particular characteristics that worsened the problem.

"That violence still happens more than two decades after the ouster of Marcos and the restoration of democracy, and well into 21st century Philippines is cause for consternation and frustration," wrote book editors Yvonne Chua and Luz Rimban in the preface.

They added: "The outbreak of election-related violence reminds us that there are parts of the country that stagnate in long-ago times when warlords and gunmen ruled and decided election contests, when the so-called will of the electorate is determined at gunpoint."

The chapters were written by Carolyn Arguillas (Maguindanao); Artha Kira Paredes (Abra and Masbate); Carlos Marquez (Nueva Ecija); Ven Labro and Reyan Arinto (Eastern Visayas); Ryan Rosauro (Lanao del Sur); Jules Benitez (Sulu and Tawi-Tawi); and Antonio Manaytay (Basilan).

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• philippines
• election-related violence
• the asia foundation
• vera files
• elections