Groups hit government reason on summit postponement

The Asia Pacific Research Network said citing "Seniang" as the cause for the postponement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit was just a flimsy excuse that only proved the Philippine government is not prepared to hold the international event due to its volatile political situation in the country.

APRN chairperson and IBON research director Antonio Tujan said the government could not afford further embarrassment before the international community as it is facing widespread opposition to the ASEAN Summit agenda and the constituent assembly.

"The issues of repression and human rights violations have caught the attention of the various government and organizations in many countries, and opposition to the ASEAN Summit and the resurgent protests against the Con-ass could make it worse for the Arroyo government," Tujan said.

With regards to the people's protest against the ASEAN agenda, Tujan said any international gathering should listen to the voices of the people.

He added that the APRN, which has been holding alternative conferences to the ASEAN Summit in Cebu for the past week, believes that civil society groups and people's organizations have registered their opposition to the agreements being negotiated between the US and ASEAN.

"Our intention is not to stop or postpone the ASEAN Summit but to explain that the ASEAN agreements with the US should be stopped. We will continue our opposition to the US agenda in the ASEAN because agreements have already been made and continues to be negotiated," he said.

Tujan said the alternative conferences, which brought together 130 local and foreign participants, were not affected by the postponement of the summit and will push through until December 11.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Mario Aguja said the real reason for the summit's postponement was the brewing "political storm" over the administration's push for Charter change.

"We don't mind the postponement. In fact we appreciate it. We call for no summit at all because of the disastrous effects of the regional integration that [the political leaders of the region] want. We want a permanent postponement of the summit," said Aguja at a press conference held at the Golden Prince Hotel.

"How can one host a summit when the country is politically divided? It is very embarrassing to host the summit when the public is calling Gloria an illegitimate leader," Aguja said.

Emalyn Aliviano of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya said the coming together of several civil society and religious groups against the administration's Charter change efforts "is an embarrassment" to the government. - Fred P. Languido and Jasmin R. Uy