Peace is sweet, but…

IT is wishful for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Malaysia to suggest that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines set aside the Constitution and come up with creative strategies to address the demand of the MILF as a condition precedent for the signing of a peace agreement.

The demand is preposterous and for the Malaysian referee to prod GRP to accede to the MILF position merely shows the true color and agenda of the MILF and the host. Peace is sweet but it should not compromise the sovereignty of the Philippines and the Constitution. Libyan strongman Muamar Khadaffi who once brokered the peace talk between the Moro National Liberation Front and the GRP had always enunciated that peace negotiation must always be within the realm of the Philippine sovereignty. His position is so different from the Malaysian mediators who had threatened to pull out its contingent from the International Monitoring Teams if the Philippines will continue to hedge and refuse to come out with that "creative strategy" to circumvent the constitutional processes.

Malaysia might be thinking that it pulls out from the talks, hostilities will resume. Maybe. But the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants, the political leadership and the stakeholders in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and other areas of conflict are neither supportive of the secessionist agenda nor favor waging an arms struggle.

Indeed arms struggle had resulted only in unquantifiable losses both of life and properties, but the helpless victims of this futile struggle are the young generations whose lives need not be wasted at all. The MILF had overestimated its strength in the past, in one clean sweep during the "all-out-war" waged by the Estrada administration they suffered casualties and all their training camps and territories were ran over by the government forces.

Still the MILF has not given up its secessionist goal. They never considered themselves Filipinos which is ironic given the fact that not a few of their sons and daughters are gainfully employed in the government.

For peace sake, the MILF should not taut the government anew and test the superior strength of armed forces. Sure, they can fight for they are brave warriors but like in the past they will be exhausted and routed. Alliances have changed and the external forces which had supported their arms struggle in the past are no longer there.

In the case of the Malaysians, their recent posturing created misgivings about their motives in brokering the peace talks. The MILF on the other hand invites doubt as to why it is averse to considering alternative peace mediators who have excellent track records in peace negotiations. – MIRIAM DAHUNOG, miriamdahunog70@yahoo.com

Let Taiwan enter WHO

This year, Taiwan will again seek to gain membership in the World Health Organization. At the very least, we ask to be allowed to sit as observer in the World Health Assembly (WHA) to be held this month in Geneva.

We ask the support of the Filipino people and the international community for our campaign, because we are convinced this is a just and reasonable demand founded on the very principle of universality that the United Nations and the World Health Organization both claim to uphold and defend.

Our stand is anchored on strong foundations.

First of all, disease prevention transcends national borders. We have seen how contagious diseases, such as SARS and avian flu, have quickly spread across countries and posed a distinct threat to the lives of people. Taiwan now stands as the only gap in the global public health network because of our exclusion from WHO. Because of this, 23 million Taiwanese are denied the fundamental human right to life and health. We believe there should be no gap at all in the global disease prevention effort. The 23 million people of Taiwan should have the same health protection enjoyed by citizens of other nations.

The WHO Constitution states that: "The objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health." Therefore, health care should be universal, and cover all of humankind. But why is Taiwan excluded from coverage of the fundamental human right to health?

If the WHO cannot allow the entry of Taiwan as a member at this time, we are willing to accept even just observer status in the WHA. This has ample precedent. Recall that East Germany was invited by the Director-General to become a WHA observer in 1972. Since then, six others – Palestine, the Holy See, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, International Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Inter-Parliamentary Union – have obtained the status either at the invitations of the Director-General or by resolutions adopted by the WHA.

Taiwan is among the first countries in Asia with a comprehensive national health insurance system. We have also eradicated such communicable diseases as malaria, smallpox and polio. And we have improved Taiwan’s overall medical capabilities through advanced medical know-how. We ask to be given the chance to effectively interact with international health institutions and be able to fulfill our obligations as a responsible member of the global village. We want to actively work with other international health institutions and become involved in medical cooperation and emergency humanitarian work.

Taiwan also needs to engage in direct access to and communication with the WHO under the International Health Regulation (IHR) framework. In September 2007, China delayed notifying Taiwan of the information released by the WHO concerning contaminated baby corn from Thailand for 10 days. In December that same year, in its IHR Authorized Port List, the WHO erroneously categorized Taiwan’s designated ports under China, with their relevant information also being erroneous. These underscore the urgency of Taiwan’s direct participation in implementing the IHR, which the WHO claims is of "universal application". If the IHR is universally applicable, how come the WHO Secretariat has made no arrangement to include Taiwan?

We are convinced that Taiwan’s admission to the WHO is in the world’s best interests. Our effective participation in the world’s disease prevention network is imperative if the international community’s health interests are to be adequately protected.

We strongly urge the WHO and members of the international community to uphold the principle of "health for all", resist all forms of political interference in health issues, and allow Taiwan to become actively involved in the global public health system. – WELLINGTON WEI, Director, Press Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Makati City