The ‘terrorists’ in Iraq : Support for the illegal war-not pull-out-exposes us to ‘terrorism’ 

By Herbert Docena 

In this Issue: 

Ten more members of the Philippine Humanitarian Contingent in Iraq are expected to arrive today. According to news reports from Baghdad, the remaining 32 other members will be flying back to the country shortly, thus signaling the full withdrawal of Philippine troops from Iraq. The entire country now awaits with bated-breath the homecoming of Angelo dela Cruz, the truck driver and father of 8, whose captivity moved the nation and reinvigorated the debate o­n the war and the occupation of Iraq.  

Meditations of a Single Day

By Renato Redentor Constantino 

In this Issue: 

Constantino shares an eventful day in Hong Kong with hope-filled anectodes about overcoming adversaries no matter how powerful they are. The reported mobilization in Hong Kong with numbers reaching close to half a million protestors is impressive. Red’s narrative is an important insight into the prevailing political climate in Hong Kong seven years after the historic handover to China. Trade campaigners around the globe are looking at Hong Kong-- the site of the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization in 2005-- as the next major convergence point of anti-WTO, anti-globalization protests. It would be useful to pause and reflect o­n the sort of issues that are closest to the hearts and minds of HK residents today and how to link their concerns to issues of trade and globalization, if we are hoping for a repeat of the "mammoth demonstration o­n July 1" with its characteristic mix of discipline and determination next year. 

Red Constantino writes a regular column for the paper TODAY and its o­nline partner, abs-cbnnews.com where this piece originally appeared (Op-Ed, TODAY/abs-cbnnews.com. July 12, 2004 

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=Opinion&OID=54976

War Now, Pay Later 

In choosing the wrong side yet again, President Arroyo may also be jeopardizing the country¹s future relations with an independent Iraq. Much more than Angelo dela Cruz¹s life is at stake. 

By Herbert Docena* 

IN A DILAPIDATED HOSPITAL IN BAGHDAD just before the war last year, I met a nurse who suddenly started crying uncontrollably when she learned I¹m a Filipino. She suddenly remembered her colleague ­ o­ne of the thousands of Filipino nurses who were hired by the Iraqi government in droves in the 70s. 

They had become very close and somehow, the torrent of memories with her old Pinoy friend became too much too bear and the tears just started flowing. 

I went back to Iraq for the third time last March and the reaction ­ when I told another Iraqi that I was Filipino ­ was markedly different: After asking whether the Philippines is part of the Coalition of the Willing, he threatened to kidnap me. 

By Iraq Solidarity Campaign

In this issue:

The hostage-taking of Angelo dela Cruz, an overseas Filipino worker in Iraq last Thursday (July 8, 2004), has put the national spotlight o­n the war in Iraq and the fate of the 4,000 filipinos working there. Unless the Philippine government withdraws the 51-strong Philippine contingent in Iraq, dela Cruz will be executed. Unmoved by the incident and despite growing public opinion favoring withdrawal of the troops in order to save Angelo del Cruz, the Philippine government has maintained its stand against the pull-out of the troops with the no justification other than saying "we will not give in to the demands of the terrorists". Amidst repeated calls from government for the public to "just pray for Angelo" and a news blackout, various groups have gone to the streets, holding vigils and mass actions to demand the immediate withdrawal of Philippine troops in Iraq. In this issue, we feature the statement issued by Iraq Solidarity Campaign and a press release featuring international solidarity messages for Angelo.