[asia-apec 989] BAYAN on US bombing of Iraq

BAYAN bayan at iname.com
Sat Jan 2 13:14:24 JST 1999


Lightning rally in front of US Embassy
condemns US bombing of Iraq


BAYAN (New Patriotic Alliance) staged a "lightning rally" on December 21,
1998 in front of the U.S. Embassy condemning U.S.' unilateral decision to
attack Iraq. It warned that the successful completion of Operation Desert
Fox sets a dangerous precedent in the conduct of world affairs.

"We are here to show that U.S. acts of aggression in Iraq and in other
sovereign states is never tolerated," said Teodoro Casiño, Bayan Deputy
Secretary General. "To remain silent now is to allow the US to repeat such
acts in the future," he added. 

Bayan assailed the Estrada administration for practically supporting the
bombings. "The government is backing a terrorist superpower," he said. 

"The fact that the U.S. was able to successfully launch an attack, ignoring
protests from other members of the U.N.  Security Council and without solid
backing from the international community is a serious cause for alarm,"
said Casiño.

The group said the reasons cited by the U.S. in bombing Iraq are merely
exaggerated claims. "Iraq no longer poses a grave threat to the world and
even its neighbors. The Unscom have reported that since 1991, almost 90% of
the remaining Iraqi missile capacity and designated war material have been
destroyed. Further, seven years of economic sanctions have already taken
its toll on the economy. To picture Iraq as an imminent threat to the world
is simply not credible," said Casiño.

"It appears that the real reason for the attack is to to assert US global
hegemony amidst the global crisis and at a time when it is rocked by
domestic problems," he added. 
-----------------------------------

December 21, 1998

Ambassador Thomas Hubbard
US Embassy
Roxas Blvd., Manila, Philippines

Dear Ambassador Hubbard:

We in BAYAN would like to express our outrage at your government's latest
act of aggression against Iraq. We join the worldwide condemnation of your
undeclared and preemptive military strike against this sovereign state and
people. 

In a display of arrogance of power, your President did not even bother to
secure the "fig leaf" blessing of the UN Security Council that would
justify such a dastardly attack. 

After weeks of inspection through publication of the most sophisticated
surveillance and detection technology, UN special commission chief Richard
Butler had failed to produce evidence of the presence of weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq. In frustration, he had to justify UNSCOM's decision to
leave Iraq by accusing Baghdad of "failing to live up to agreements to
cooperate with UN arms inspectors." This vague accusation was immediately
seized by your government to justify its unilateral act of aggression
against Iraq. 

As Iraqi civilian casualties continue to mount, the Clinton and Blair
governments face even greater condemnation and the stigma of committing
crimes against humanity through blatant acts of state-initiated violence.

The arrogance of power of US imperialism has inflicted continuing violence
and caused excessive suffering to the peoples of many countries for so
long. The Washington politico-military mafia should realize that while it
can intimidate governments of client states, it will never be able to
suppress the arduous struggles the masses against the imperious and
self-righteous impositions of the self-styled gendarme of the "new world
order."

There will be a high price to pay for this naked aggression against the
long-suffering people of Iraq.

Danilo Vizmanos
BAYAN National Council Member



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