MANILA, Philippines - Victims of the terror attacks in Paris were remembered in a commemoration ceremony organized by the French embassy in Manila on Monday.
French Ambassador Thierry Mathou said the deadly attacks in France were committed by terrorists who attacked the office of French magazine Charlie Hebdo in January, which was an attack against a symbol of freedom of expression.
“Unlike what happened in January, when terrorists attacked a symbol of freedom of expression, today it is our right to life, our very right to exist peacefully, that was targeted,” Mathou said during the vigil at the Alliance Francaise de Manille in Makati City.
“As you are well aware of, those heinous crimes have sadly claimed many lives and injured even more innocent people,” he added.
Mathou stressed that to be able to co-exist is the very basis of humanity as opposed to barbarity, and that “France will always fight against extremism and defend the values of democracy and human rights.”
“These terrorist acts are not only attacks against France, but against civilization itself. The values of civilization are enshrined in France’s national motto ‘Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.’ But they are also universal values. It is our common responsibility to defend them,” he said.