/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ November 19, 2001, PBS.org, President Gloria Arroyo discusses her country's battle with domestic and foreign terrorism,
November 19, 2001, PBS.org, President Gloria Arroyo discusses her country's battle with domestic and foreign terrorism,
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November 19, 2001, PBS.org, President Gloria Arroyo discusses her country's battle with domestic and foreign terrorism,
JIM LEHRER: I talked with President Arroyo this afternoon at the Blair House in Washington. Madam President, welcome.
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO: Thank you.
JIM LEHRER: What's the latest on the fighting on the island of Jolo?
JIM LEHRER: I talked with President Arroyo this afternoon at the Blair House in Washington. Madam President, welcome.
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO: Thank you.
JIM LEHRER: What's the latest on the fighting on the island of Jolo?
PRESIDENT ARROYO: It's all under control. And I have asked my executive secretary to do a preventive suspension on the governor of the autonomous region and to explain in 48 hours what happened.
JIM LEHRER: The wire services are saying 55 people were killed, is that about right?
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Maybe both sides but more the other side.
JIM LEHRER: More the other side.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: I think we had four killed on our side.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Maybe both sides but more the other side.
JIM LEHRER: More the other side.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: I think we had four killed on our side.
JIM LEHRER: The attackers, they attacked these military bases; the attackers were described as being former Muslim extremists or rebels. How would you describe who these people are?
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Well, it depends on what the real facts are, but it is said that they belong to a faction, a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, because in previous months there's been...There has been an upheaval in the Moro National Liberation Front and there was a change of leadership.
Now that we are about to conclude the implementation of the agreement with the MNLF, which was done in 1996, with the elections for the new government of the autonomous region counting on the November 26, I think that is part of the resistance, resistance to that conclusion, it's part of the resistance to the elections being held but it's going to be held anyway.
JIM LEHRER: They claim that the elections are a violation of that 1996 treaty. I mean that's what they've said today.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes. That's what they claim but you see they themselves have already been unseated from the MNLF, and the elections being held on November 26 are the result of a congressional, of a congressional action. So it's not even my decision to postpone it or not. So it's only the supreme court -- in a democracy like the Philippines -- only the supreme court can say whether it's a violation of the law or not.Weeding out terrorists
JIM LEHRER: It was suggested today in these wire stories that these folks did this today because they wanted to try to embarrass you while you were in the United States.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Well, it depends on what the real facts are, but it is said that they belong to a faction, a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, because in previous months there's been...There has been an upheaval in the Moro National Liberation Front and there was a change of leadership.
Now that we are about to conclude the implementation of the agreement with the MNLF, which was done in 1996, with the elections for the new government of the autonomous region counting on the November 26, I think that is part of the resistance, resistance to that conclusion, it's part of the resistance to the elections being held but it's going to be held anyway.
JIM LEHRER: They claim that the elections are a violation of that 1996 treaty. I mean that's what they've said today.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes. That's what they claim but you see they themselves have already been unseated from the MNLF, and the elections being held on November 26 are the result of a congressional, of a congressional action. So it's not even my decision to postpone it or not. So it's only the supreme court -- in a democracy like the Philippines -- only the supreme court can say whether it's a violation of the law or not.Weeding out terrorists
JIM LEHRER: It was suggested today in these wire stories that these folks did this today because they wanted to try to embarrass you while you were in the United States.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Well, I think that if that's their intention, I think they've failed because I think... What I can say is we're having very good reception here. The reception has been very warm. The talks have been very good and substantive. And I think it's a very good opportunity to be here at this time. I was invited by President Bush to come to the United States on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the mutual defense treaty.
This treaty demonstrates the good friendship and strategic alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines. We've been together, we've been allies in... allies in defense and allies in the economy. In defense, we were with... The Philippines was with the U.S. in the Second World War, in the Korean War, in the Vietnam War, and now in the war against terrorism.
On the economy, the U.S. cumulatively is our most important investor, most important trading partner, most important sort of tourists and we have now a tie that will .. a link that will be here for many, many years to come and that is the big Philippine-American community in the United States, three million of them.
JIM LEHRER: Let's talk about the terrorism. You mentioned the war on terrorism. There's a group in your country, Abu-Sayyaf....
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Abu-Sayyaf, yes, yes. They are there in that area.
JIM LEHRER: Same area, right.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: That area, yes. That island and another island, two small islands in the southwestern part of the Philippines, that's their area.
This treaty demonstrates the good friendship and strategic alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines. We've been together, we've been allies in... allies in defense and allies in the economy. In defense, we were with... The Philippines was with the U.S. in the Second World War, in the Korean War, in the Vietnam War, and now in the war against terrorism.
On the economy, the U.S. cumulatively is our most important investor, most important trading partner, most important sort of tourists and we have now a tie that will .. a link that will be here for many, many years to come and that is the big Philippine-American community in the United States, three million of them.
JIM LEHRER: Let's talk about the terrorism. You mentioned the war on terrorism. There's a group in your country, Abu-Sayyaf....
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Abu-Sayyaf, yes, yes. They are there in that area.
JIM LEHRER: Same area, right.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: That area, yes. That island and another island, two small islands in the southwestern part of the Philippines, that's their area.
JIM LEHRER: Now, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said today that the Abu-Sayyaf has connections or has interactions is the word he used with Osama Bin laden and other terrorist groups. Does that jibe with the information you have?
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Well, the information that we have is that at least until 1995 they did, because in 1995, our policemen uncovered evidence about this group that bombed the World Trade Center the first time around, and at that time through al-Qaida had its front organization in the Philippines.
Our policemen went to New York at that time to testify and assisted in the incarceration of the perpetrators of the original bombing. After that... after that the front organizations left the Philippines. I think they found the Philippines not a hospitable place for international terrorists.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes, yes, that's correct.
JIM LEHRER: What is being done to get those people back?
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PRESIDENT ARROYO: Well, the information that we have is that at least until 1995 they did, because in 1995, our policemen uncovered evidence about this group that bombed the World Trade Center the first time around, and at that time through al-Qaida had its front organization in the Philippines.
Our policemen went to New York at that time to testify and assisted in the incarceration of the perpetrators of the original bombing. After that... after that the front organizations left the Philippines. I think they found the Philippines not a hospitable place for international terrorists.
Coalition building
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes, yes, that's correct.
JIM LEHRER: What is being done to get those people back?
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