Address to the U.N. by Lebanon's President

The following is excerpted from the address to the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, on September 21, 2006, by General Emile Lahoud, President of the Republic of Lebanon.

From July 12 through August 14,my country was subjected to a barbarous aggression and to a rarely seen campaign of savage dismemberment, when hundreds of fighter jets emptied their loads of heavy and banned bombs, targeting mostly civilians, killing and maiming thousands, and destroying all that made Lebanon a viable state. Obviously, this was a premeditated Israeli "sentence" to destroy my country and everything it stood for, having been blessed and termed by His Holiness Pope John Paul 11 as a "unique message to Humanity, " in which people of different sects could coexist and live together peacefully. This aggression became even more cruel, when it won the tacit approbation of certain GREAT POWERS.

Regretfully, the United Nations Security Council looked powerless in its attempts to stop the slaughter of Lebanon's children and protect the peace in Lebanon and the Middle East. It took over a month and numerous calls for an immediate ceasefire, for all those concerned to finally impress a mere "Cessation of Hostilities," that is yet to become a formal and final "ceasefire."

It becomes self-evident for us to question the "credibility of the United Nations," in light of the Secretary-General's acknowledgment that the delays in adopting Security Council Resolution 1701 did indeed harm this credibility. Moreover, we cannot but have serious doubts as to this organization's ability to safeguard world peace, when its resolutions are subjected to the vagaries of a very few world powers.

Today, as I stand before you, I ask:

How many Children was this evil, vengeful machine of destruction supposed to have killed, before the world community decided to respond in defense of a "rightful" cause?

Allow us to ask this question, as we are filled with a deep sense of grief, when scores of our fallen citizens are still beneath the rubble.

Allowing for the indictment of Israel's actions, in sympathy for the thousands of innocent civilians who were killed and maimed by the "smart," cluster and phosphorus bombs, and those laced with depleted uranium.

Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Inspired by the principles and treaties of the United Nations, Lebanon retains the "Right of Action" to prosecute Israel before the competent bodies, most notably this venerable Assembly, or that of the International Tribunal, and to request the appropriate reparations for all the catastrophes Israel has inflicted on Lebanon.

Today, I ask you to stand by my country, as that will be written down as a just and rightful stance. I also call upon you to differentiate between him who defends his country against Israeli aggression and occupation and strives to liberate his countrymen from decades of unlawful imprisonment AND those elements who perpetrate acts of wanton slaughter against their countrymen and others equally. May I remind you that Lebanon's experience with the scourge of terror goes back a long way, and it took a very heavy toll on its armed forces.

Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The most recent aggression on Lebanon has left this small country scarred and terribly afflicted, with thousands of its innocent people either killed or injured. The toll of destruction rum through several thousand housing units, hundreds of bridges, ports, airports, and factories. But my message is the following: "The WILL of ow People to LIVE and MOVE FORWARD has proven to be much stronger than defeat and despair." In record time, the people of Lebanon launched a campaign of reconstruction, made even more successful by instant and comforting gestures of good will from many friends, at home and abroad. It is with such overwhelming support and assistance that Lebanon will beat all odds towards a stellar rebirth, thereby scoring another point in favor of Humanity....

Today, there is incessant talk of a "New Middle East" as a harbinger of better things to come, and this prompts us to ask the following:

"Is what we have witnessed in Lebanon and continue to see in Palestine and Iraq conducive to an environment of Peace and Tranquility?"

"Is this much heralded "New Middle East" only attainable through widespread strife, unimaginable bloodshed, roving sedition, and oppression?"

Our conception, Ladies and Gentlemen, of a "New Middle East" is one that is coherent with the United Nations resolutions, and that is in concurrence with the principles of justice and right as stipulated in these resolutions. Our idea of a New Middle East is one where a comprehensive peace settlement becomes reality and guarantees the rights of all; where Palestinian refugees return home as stipulated in UN Resolution 194, and as such, are NOT resettled in host countries; and where prisoners return to their loved ones.

This is the ONLY way to attain a stable Middle East, and all else will plunge our region into further upheaval and bloodshed.

[Blogger's Note: This is something to reflect and to be aware of, right from the "horse's mouth." We are part of this history and we hope and fight that it will never happen again.]

WHERE WE STAND

Joint Statement of the Justice and Peace Commissions of the Redemptorists,Religious of the Good Shepherd, Benedictine Sisters, Augustinian Sisters,Order of Carmelites, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Order of Friar Minors,Order of St. Camillus and Missionary Sisters of Mary.

“…Look and see our suffering, we have become orphans and fatherless, our mothers are widows…those who pursue us are at our heels.(Lamentations 5)

“You who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground…You trample on the poor and force him to give your grains...you oppress the righteous…and deprive the poor of justice. Seek good and not evil…that you may live.”(Amos 5)

Thirty four years after Martial Law was formally declared (September 1972)and twenty years after People Power ousted the Marcos dictatorship (February 1986), we face today the horrors of a new dictatorship. We are painfully aware that as of September 18, 2006, there are 752 victims of extra-judicial killings and 185 victims of enforced disappearances under Mrs Gloria Macapagal Arroyo since she assumed office in 2001 (data from the human rights group Karapatan). At the same time, numerous cases of unjustified arrests, grave threats and intimidation, violent dispersal and systematic curtailment of civil liberties have been committed by police and military
forces who now practically bring back the dark days of Marcos’ Martial Law.

Indeed, as majority of Filipinos suffer extreme poverty, joblessness and other long-standing socio-economic injustices, the current wave of brutal human rights violations and political repression aggravate our people’s sufferings. At the national and international levels, we cried out for immediate end to the killings, abduction and other attacks against poor peasants, indigenous peoples, workers, political activists, human rights workers, peace advocates, church people, journalists, children and other innocent civilians.

With our collective memory of struggle against Marcos’ authoritarian rule,we cannot allow these extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances,torture, illegal arrests and other human rights violations to continue. Let there be justice and indemnification for the victims of Marcos’ Martial Law. Let there be justice and indemnification as well for the victims of undeclared, yet equally brutal Martial Law of the current Arroyo administration.

We deplore the implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya, the government’s counter-insurgency program that purportedly aim to crush the ‘enemies of the state,’ that has in fact, ruthlessly assaulted the lives and liberties of hundreds of civilians. Aware of our prophetic call to denounce oppressive structures and to opt for justice for those made poor and marginalized, we, church people, take our stand as David’s posture against Goliath:

WE PERSIST IN OUR CALL TO HOLD THE ARROYO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MASSIVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, ELECTORAL FRAUD, CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC OPPRESSION.

WE DEMAND THE REMOVAL FROM OFFICE AND IMMEDIATE PROSCECUTION OF ALL MILITARYOFFICERS AND ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPLAN BANTAY LAYA.

WE CONDEMN THE INCURSION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES INTERNAL AFFAIRS SPECIFICALLY FOR DIRECTING THE GOVERNMENT’S ALL-OUT WAR AND THE COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPLAN BANTAY LAYA THAT HAS VICTIMIZED HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS.

WE CALL ON ALL TO WORK FOR JUSTICE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PREACHING AND LIVING OUT THE GOOD NEWS.

JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS, ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES AND ALL FORMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!

Modern prophets speak before the Camillians

During the 6-day permanent formation program of the Camillian missionaries, three personages came to address and redress each one with the interesting mission menu of the time, i.e., “change and walk with the people.” The three speakers affirmed strongly that indeed the present Church’s mission encountered a lot of difficulties and failures due to the fast and ever-changing realities of this world. These changes called forth an overhaul of strategies and revitalization of missions and missionaries. From what and whose perspective are we doing our mission? This is a vital question that the missionaries have to address immediately. Failure to do so will amount to a gross injustice against the People of God who are the “raison daitre” of mission. It is in this context that the three speakers challenged and provoked the Camillians.

Fr. Gianni Colzani and Bro. Kipoyi Pombo, theologians and resident professors of Propaganda Fedei, Urbaniana University asserted that there is no unique model or strategy for pastoral missionary activity. However, there is only one and the most essential element in all forms of mission, i.e., the proclamation of the love of Christ to everybody. In this sense, the Gospel has been demonopolized. This fact, the universal character of the good news, somehow complicates the matter. Nevertheless, the documents of the Church on missions served as the finest guidelines for missionaries. For instance, Bro Kipoyi attested that some missions in Africa were a failure because it filled to integrate the life, culture and environment of the people with the gospel. The so-called “inculturation” has been long discovered but it finds it difficult to incarnate into reality. What seemed to be the problem, then, is the failure to see with an open heart and mind and to listen with the people of whom missionaries are sent for. Prior to the arrival of missionaries, these people have lived already with their own life-system, culture, values and sets of beliefs.

What added more complications to the mission are the on-going world crises (economically, politically, socially and religiously)? Fr. Albanese, a Comboniani, founder of MISNA (Missionary News Agency in Africa) and CNN correspondent for Africa, has attested this. He said that the big problem faced by missionaries particularly in the Third World, is the truth behind the news and communications of events that are happening. Who holds the truth? This is a big bluff nowadays when media is being used solely to protect and enrich the interest of the few who are in power rather than promoting for the interest of the common goods and destiny. Communication then must be a means and an arm of the people of God to fight against injustices and come up with the truth. In the field of health and all other fields, there are so many injustices. Who would denounce it? This is a task that missionaries must be united to become the true voice of the suffering people of God.

Missionari Camilliani in cammino …

The General Secretariat for Missions organized a 6-day international convention of Camillian missionaries at Villa Primavera, Roma from September 18-23. The convention was participated by the 28 missionaries coming from North, Latin and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe , Asia and the nuns of the Congregazione delle Ancelle dell’ Incarnazione (founded by Fr. Fiocchi of the Roman Province). This encounter has left a historic imprint in the hearts of the missionaries as being the first permanent formation program ever organized for missionaries. It aimed to enrich the participants with the theology and spirituality of mission, the inevitable change of paradigm for pastoral missionary method and how to address the new challenges affronting them. Thus, it hopes to bring them light and to recharge with vitality, enthusiasm and determinism to bring the good news of liberation to the “poorsick.”
Three speakers were invited on the said occasion with the following topics: Fr. Gianni Colzani – Theology and Spirituality of Mission, Bro. Kipoyi Pombo – Inculturation and the Challenge of the African traditional religion and lastly, Fr. Giulio Albanese – Missionary Communication and Information and the Geopolitical Situation of the South and the challenge of Globalization. Fr. Locci, MI was invited also to brief us about the Order’s “Salute e Svillupe,” a non-government organization (NGO) which could help facilitate the missionaries for fund resourcing. The six days were filled with discussions and provocations, sharing of insights and experiences and moments of reflection and evaluation.
As the sessions came to its adjournment, everybody expressed their joys and satisfaction and with newl convictions to revitalize and refound their missions with determination to address the new threats in the healthcare world. Some recommendations were noted also like, the continuation of the permanent or on-going formation, sending future and current missionaries for courses in missiology (modular) and the establishment of a missionary network communication system.

KADILAK ????

I titled this blogger as KADILAK. It sounds like the name of an old luxury car "cadillac." The term is a reduction from the word "Kadilakad" , a colloqial term from the south of the Philippines which means "on foot." It is composed of "lakad" which means to walk and "kadi" which means come. As we keep on walking or moving and as we look back to our footsteps we realized that something is missing or added in the course of our life. Thus, this blog is meant to share the significant events in life and happenings in the society and the whole world. And it invites readers to blog their comments, reactions or their own stories and perceptions.