Right moves
Right moves
Updated 01:59am (Mla time) Nov 27, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Publisehd on page A14 of the November 27, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
View full-size editorial cartoon
WHEN armed men seized Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi of Kosovo and Angelito Nayan of the Philippines on a Kabul street last Oct. 28, they were obviously out to get something.
Afghan officials say that the group that seized the three was made up of criminals, though perhaps acting at the behest of a Taliban splinter group called Jaish-al Muslimeen. The officials say they negotiated with the kidnappers. Jaish-al Muslimeen, whose name means Army of Muslims, claimed in turn that Afghan authorities agreed to free 24 jailed comrades in return for the hostages' freedom. However, Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali insisted that no prisoners were released, and no ransom paid, to secure the freedom of the three, who appeared last Wednesday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The former king of Afghanistan decorated the three former hostages, in an act of personal, not official, recognition.
In Las Piñas City, yellow ribbons were tied around trees, and streamers were hung by happy friends and family members. However, from the airport, the first stop of Angelito Nayan was not his home, but Malacañang, where he met President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Bonifacio Hall (formerly the Premier Guest House), and then made a statement in the Palace. Nayan's statement was brief, eloquent and touching, not least because of his earnest reminder to his countrymen that another Filipino remained in the hands of his captors. Robert Tarongoy remains a hostage in Iraq, where he has been held in captivity since Oct. 1.
The ordeal of Nayan brings to the fore so much that is characteristic of the Filipino. First is the talent possessed by so many Filipinos, including Nayan, who did outstandingly well in school, and belongs to a rising new generation of Filipino diplomats. Second is our ability to do well -- and be useful -- in practically every part of the globe. Third is the combination of humor, faith, optimism and resilience that not only allows individuals to overcome any ordeal, but which brings Filipinos of all ages and faiths and backgrounds together.
Nayan's experience was an outstanding example of national solidarity. It brought the government and the people together. Such solidarity is something Filipinos instinctively demonstrate in times of trouble, but which the government doesn't necessarily heed or embrace. Back in the days of the Flor Contemplacion tragedy, the citizenry came together in solidarity while the government feasted in London. When Angelo de la Cruz was taken hostage in Iraq, the government was at first stunned. Then it had to disentangle itself from an unpopular alliance and attempt to heed the public clamor for action to save his life.
Despite snafus such as the government radio station broadcasting 15 minutes of a secret briefing (resulting in the station manager being dismissed by the President), this time around, the government did the right thing right from the start. In naval terms, it "cleared the decks" for action. All the diplomatic and organizational expertise of the administration was mustered to support the United Nations' efforts to secure Nayan's release.
This goes to show that the Philippines does best when it works within the framework and umbrella of international organizations such as the UN. There is safety in numbers, after all. Nayan didn't have to contend with the doubts or skepticism from his countrymen, because he was doing a good job under the authority of the UN, which enjoys public support here. The government, in working with other nations, proved it was a good team player. The President, by mobilizing her officials to do all they could was living up to her oath and the everyday expectations of her countrymen who want presidents to attend personally to Filipinos in trouble abroad.
Nayan's release and homecoming did our country proud. For a change.
Now there is the remaining problem of Tarongoy, who remains a hostage in Iraq. The unraveling of the situation in that country is making even official efforts to help him very much more difficult. Unlike De la Cruz's case, however, the Philippines has fewer dilemmas to resolve as it tries to secure Tarongoy's freedom. Iraqi militants can no longer point to our military presence in their country. There is little we can do to satisfy further demands. We can only hope that reason will prevail and that his captors will prove to be as sensible as the Afghans who took Nayan.
Updated 01:59am (Mla time) Nov 27, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Publisehd on page A14 of the November 27, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
View full-size editorial cartoon
WHEN armed men seized Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland, Shqipe Hebibi of Kosovo and Angelito Nayan of the Philippines on a Kabul street last Oct. 28, they were obviously out to get something.
Afghan officials say that the group that seized the three was made up of criminals, though perhaps acting at the behest of a Taliban splinter group called Jaish-al Muslimeen. The officials say they negotiated with the kidnappers. Jaish-al Muslimeen, whose name means Army of Muslims, claimed in turn that Afghan authorities agreed to free 24 jailed comrades in return for the hostages' freedom. However, Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali insisted that no prisoners were released, and no ransom paid, to secure the freedom of the three, who appeared last Wednesday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The former king of Afghanistan decorated the three former hostages, in an act of personal, not official, recognition.
In Las Piñas City, yellow ribbons were tied around trees, and streamers were hung by happy friends and family members. However, from the airport, the first stop of Angelito Nayan was not his home, but Malacañang, where he met President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Bonifacio Hall (formerly the Premier Guest House), and then made a statement in the Palace. Nayan's statement was brief, eloquent and touching, not least because of his earnest reminder to his countrymen that another Filipino remained in the hands of his captors. Robert Tarongoy remains a hostage in Iraq, where he has been held in captivity since Oct. 1.
The ordeal of Nayan brings to the fore so much that is characteristic of the Filipino. First is the talent possessed by so many Filipinos, including Nayan, who did outstandingly well in school, and belongs to a rising new generation of Filipino diplomats. Second is our ability to do well -- and be useful -- in practically every part of the globe. Third is the combination of humor, faith, optimism and resilience that not only allows individuals to overcome any ordeal, but which brings Filipinos of all ages and faiths and backgrounds together.
Nayan's experience was an outstanding example of national solidarity. It brought the government and the people together. Such solidarity is something Filipinos instinctively demonstrate in times of trouble, but which the government doesn't necessarily heed or embrace. Back in the days of the Flor Contemplacion tragedy, the citizenry came together in solidarity while the government feasted in London. When Angelo de la Cruz was taken hostage in Iraq, the government was at first stunned. Then it had to disentangle itself from an unpopular alliance and attempt to heed the public clamor for action to save his life.
Despite snafus such as the government radio station broadcasting 15 minutes of a secret briefing (resulting in the station manager being dismissed by the President), this time around, the government did the right thing right from the start. In naval terms, it "cleared the decks" for action. All the diplomatic and organizational expertise of the administration was mustered to support the United Nations' efforts to secure Nayan's release.
This goes to show that the Philippines does best when it works within the framework and umbrella of international organizations such as the UN. There is safety in numbers, after all. Nayan didn't have to contend with the doubts or skepticism from his countrymen, because he was doing a good job under the authority of the UN, which enjoys public support here. The government, in working with other nations, proved it was a good team player. The President, by mobilizing her officials to do all they could was living up to her oath and the everyday expectations of her countrymen who want presidents to attend personally to Filipinos in trouble abroad.
Nayan's release and homecoming did our country proud. For a change.
Now there is the remaining problem of Tarongoy, who remains a hostage in Iraq. The unraveling of the situation in that country is making even official efforts to help him very much more difficult. Unlike De la Cruz's case, however, the Philippines has fewer dilemmas to resolve as it tries to secure Tarongoy's freedom. Iraqi militants can no longer point to our military presence in their country. There is little we can do to satisfy further demands. We can only hope that reason will prevail and that his captors will prove to be as sensible as the Afghans who took Nayan.
posted by Dante at 7:21 PM
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