RP solons ask UN to define ‘international terrorism’

The Philippine delegation to the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) sponsored a resolution yesterday condemning all acts of terror while urging the United Nations (UN) to come up with a clear and unequivocal definition of "international terrorism."

Sen. Blas Ople, who heads the delegation to the APPF in Honolulu, Hawaii, said such a definition would guide countries engaged in internal struggles with foreign-funded dissidents and terrorists who resort to senseless violence to advance their cause.

The resolution sponsored by the Philippines enjoined all APPF member-countries to strengthen the human rights institution while actively disseminating information on how terrorism infringes on individual liberties.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said the UN should act resolutely on matters concerning international terrorism given the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the US.

In his remarks, Sen. Panfilo Lacson urged APPF members to give full support to efforts of the international coalition led by the US in identifying and tearing down the al-Qaeda network on Asia and the Pacific.

Sen. Robert Barbers spoke on the need to strengthen regional cooperation against money-laundering activities of international terrorists.

Ople and Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla jointly sponsored a resolution on information technology and education, encouraging APPF governments and parliaments to give full support to promoting technology advancement and IT literacy particularly among less developed countries.

Other members of the Philippine delegation are Reps. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Gabrielle Calizo, Soraya Jaafar, Abraham Mitra and Francisco Perez II.

Mitra presented the Philippine position on global warming, calling for stronger regional cooperation in addressing threatening environmental problems.

Buhain appealed to highly industrialized member-countries to provide technical assistance to developing countries with high vulnerability to natural hazards.

Perez also raised the issue of sustainable environment programs that would help maintain a more balanced ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jaafar and Calizo have been named to the drafting committee in charge of crafting the APPF joint communiqué on terrorism and other major issues.

The APPF is a decade-old organization of top parliamentarians and lawmakers from around the Asia-Pacific region. There are 113 delegates from 26 countries currently in Hawaii to attend the three-day meet.

Founded by former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who continues to play a pivotal role as APPF president, the forum provides the only regularly scheduled opportunity for leading parliamentarians to discuss pressing global and regional concerns. – Aurea Calica