Gov't won't cut ties with Syria

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will not cut political and economic relations with Syria but the government has expressed concern over the 17,000 Filipinos who might be affected by the unrest in that Arab country.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged countries still buying oil and gas from Syria and those sending weapons and giving political and economic support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or who “give him comfort in his brutality” to get on the right side of history.

Clinton made the call to put more pressure on al-Assad’s regime to stop the crackdown on protesters. 

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said Malacañang was calling for a peaceful resolution of the crisis but “we are not (cutting off ties with Syria).”

He also echoed the statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario that the Philippines viewed the situation “with deep concern” and that the government was ready to assist Filipinos in Syria.

Lacierda said there were no plans yet to repatriate Filipinos but if needed, Filipinos would be immediately informed.

Anti-government protests continued across Syria despite the violent government crackdown against protesters.

Human rights activists said at least 16 people were killed on Friday amid a major assault by Syrian security forces on anti-government demonstrators. 

Protesters reportedly came under fire in the central city of Homs, Hama, the capital Damascus, Deir al-Zour in the east and Aleppo and Idlib near Turkey’s border.

European diplomats estimated in a UN Security Council meeting earlier this week that 2,000 people – mostly civilians – had been killed and a further 3,000 had disappeared since an uprising against Assad’s rule began in March.

Thousands have also fled across the border to neighboring Turkey, reports said. 

The Philippines urged Syria to do its best to stop violence and ensure the safety of its people and all foreign nationals in Damascus.

“We view with deep concern the escalating violence in Syria and call on the Syrian government to do its utmost to halt this violence and to ensure the safety and security of its people and all foreign nationals,” Secretary Del Rosario said in a statement.   

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) declared last April 26 a crisis alert level 2 in Syria, where there are around 17,000 Filipinos, in light of the continuing political tension and as a precautionary measure for the Filipino community there. – With Pia Lee-Brago