December 10, 2001, INQ7 / Agence France-Presse, Gov't marks Human Rights Day with vow to crush terrorists,

December 10, 2001, INQ7 / Agence France-Presse, Gov't marks Human Rights Day with vow to crush terrorists,

Posted: 8:18 PM (Manila Time)

THE PHILIPPINES on Monday marked human rights day with a vow from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to crush terrorist groups. 

Losing the war against terrorists could herald the return "to the dark ages when barbarians and wolves were at the gate and human rights were unheard of", Ms Macapagal warned. 

"Our human rights today are secure in a way they can never be in a government run by fanatic extremism, like the government that has just collapsed in Afghanistan," she said in a speech to mark Human Rights Day, referring to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. 

She said democracy would be destroyed if terrorists worldwide are allowed to flourish. 

Terrorism "aims to take away the core of our existence, our right to live with our dignity and liberty. The war against terrorism is a war we must win," she said. 

Ms Macapagal is a staunch supporter of the US-led global war on terrorists and her government has been receiving military aid from Washington to combat the Muslim Abu Sayyaf group in Mindanao, which is currently holding two Americans and a Filipina hostage. 

Both governments have linked the Abu Sayyaf, a small group of self-styled Islamic fighters, to top terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.