Statement on the 11 September US Bombings

by the Philippine Host Committee, Bayanihan International Solidarity Conference
1 October 2001


We, as representatives from all organization-members of the Philippine Host Committee, would like to join the American people and the rest of the humanity in grieving for the victims of September 11 terrorist bombings in New York and Washington. As individuals, as well as coalition of numerous organizations, we express the deep sympathy of our 300 representatives from the Philippines, from Europe, from North America and from Australia to the various nations affected by this tragedy. No one can remain indifferent to the pain and suffering of thousands of families who a loved one was killed or hurt in the airplane crashes or the collapse of the buildings. Since all of us have been getting involved in solidarity work and peace advocacy for so long, we firmly condemn brazen terrorist acts as a way of promoting political ideology or religious belief.

However, at the same time, we, as citizens of the world, demand that the President of the United States, George W. Bush, the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, and the President of the European Union, Romano Prodi should identify wise, just and effective solutions to the problems that have spawned terrorism in all forms instead of reacting emotionally. We warn also the US and their allies, especially the Philippines, not to make Islam as a scapegoat. We are concerned by the resolution passed by the Congress of the United States to support any military action the US President Bush deems appropriate. Bush's statements such as:"We will not discriminate between the terrorists and those who harbor them" and, "Either you are with us or against us" are irresponsible and unbecoming of a world leader. US strike that would irrationally target Afghan population as a whole might trigger a spiral of violence against innocent civilians and a major worldwide conflict.

In the aftermath of the attacks, many countries have pledged military assistance to the USA. The Philippines was particularly quick to back the US call for a full-scale war against terrorism. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared and reaffirmed many times her "full and unqualified support" to the anti-terrorism coalition. So far, US military planes have already been allowed to land, fuel and transit within the Filipino airspace. We fear such strong commitment might lead to the expansion of the current defense policy to the possible reactivation of the previous US bases located in the Philippines. Such Malacanang's option should be submitted by the Congress and discussed with the Philippine civil society.

Nevertheless, impunity must not prevail. We urge international forces to bring all those responsible for this terrorist act to justice in respect to the international Human Rights and humanitarian conventions. Furthermore, we remind that even prime suspects remain presumed innocent as long as no evidence of being guilty has been produced. We strongly voice out that civilian groups must not be targeted, their safety must be guaranteed, as they must not bear any responsibility for the criminal actions of individual fellows.

We call on citizens and civil societies worldwide to unite their effort to stop the war. Everyone knows that inequity and misery all over the world is the ground where violence can flourish. Armed action is not the best way of responding to September 11 terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Once again, we reiterate that all those who truly care about the well being of humanity should prioritize peace as alternative to all-out war. In the light of the Conference's Declaration, we oppose "globalization" imposed by governments in advanced capitalist countries for example through military blackmail and economic hegemony. We believe in the "globalization" of peoples' struggles across the South-South, North-North, North-South divide through continuing solidarity work to eradicate violence threats on the world population.

The Philippine Host Committee, which hosted the Bayanihan International Solidarity Conference 2001 held last 24 – 26 August 2001 in Quezon City, Philippines, is an international solidarity network composed of: Akbayan! (Citizens Action Party), Al Fatihah Foundation, ASIA ACTS, Balay Inc., Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD), Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP), Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino (KAKAMMPI), KANLUNGAN Center Foundation, Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD), Labor Rights and Democracy (LARIDE), Medical Action Group (MAG), Mennonites Central Committee (MCC), Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Services (PARRDS), Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Peoples' Global Exchange (PGX), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Philippine International Forum (PIF), Philippine Jubilee 2000, SARILAYA, Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines (TWSC) and Volens - Itinerans.