MEDIA STATEMENT
IRAQ SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
15 July 2004
For insisting that gov¹t Ocredibility¹ is more important than a Filipino¹s
life: FVR, Golez, Drilon et al win free one-way tickets to Iraq
The Iraq Solidarity Campaign is paying tribute to various personalities who
insist that the Filipino troops should remain in Iraq by awarding them free
one-way first class tickets to Baghdad.
Today, the ISC hopes to personally award one of the prizes to President
Fidel V. Ramos in his office at the Export and Import Bank along Gil Puyat
Avenue corner Chino Roces Avenue.
Among other winners of the free tickets to Iraq include former National
Security Adviser Roilo Golez, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senator
Manuel Villar, the editorial writer of the Manila Times, and former
Philippine ambassador to Iraq Reynaldo Parungao.
These are just some of the people who have called on the Arroyo
administration not to pull out the Filipino troops in Iraq even if this
will mean certain death for Angelo dela Cruz because doing so would
supposedly tarnish the credibility of the Philippine government.
The Iraqi Solidarity Campaign has decided to raise funds for the tickets in
order to give these Filipinos a chance to prove their concern for the
Philippine government¹s reputation.
³If they really care about the Philippine¹s standing in the world, and if
they believe that the government should not cave in to the captors¹ demands,
then they should go to Iraq, look for the hostage-takers and offer
themselves as replacement for Angelo dela Cruz,² Corazon Fabros of Gathering
for Peace, an ISC member-organization said.
³Once they¹re in Iraq,
they can then plead with the Arroyo government not to
give in to their captors¹ demands not to withdraw the Filipino troops,²
Fabros said. ³We at Iraq Solidarity Campaign simply want to give them the
opportunity to enhance their credibility.²
The ISC¹s messenger will personally hand-carry the confirmed booking
certificate, itinerary, and ticket to the office of the former President.
Well-wishers will also be on hand to wish Ramos a safe and eventful trip.
Once in Iraq, the former President
will have the opportunity to see for
himself the products of his employer, the Carlyle Corporation, in action.
Carlyle is the controversial defense contractor and armaments maker which
has sold some of the war equipment and supplies being used in Iraq. Along
with former President George W. Bush, Ramos served as one of its advisers.
It counts among its former investors the bin Laden family.
The Iraq Solidarity Campaign is offering more free tickets to Iraq to anyone
who can successfully argue that the Philippines will lose its credibility
before the world especially before the United States if it pulls out its
troops from Iraq.
Special prizes will be awarded to those who can
convincingly persuade Filipinos into believing that it is the pulling out of
troops and not the Philippine government¹s support for the US-led
occupation of Iraq that is exposing Filipinos to retaliation.
Included in the prize package is a free complimentary tour of the Abu Ghraib
prison, site of the infamous prison scandal in which US soldiers abused
Iraqi detainees and took pictures for souvenir.
Mr Ramos will likewise be advised to bring home the memories.#
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Iraq Solidarity Campaign Letter to FVR et al
15 July 2003
Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos
Former Adviser
Carlyle Group Asia Advisory Board
Dear Sir:
We are very pleased to inform you that you have just won a free one-way
first class ticket to Baghdad!
You won the award after you publicly called on the Arroyo government not to
withdraw the troops in Iraq even if this could mean death for Angelo dela
Cruz just so that the Philippine government would not lose face in the
world.
The Iraq Solidarity Campaign (ISC) is going to shoulder the cost of your
travel because we are impressed by the logic of your argument. We believe,
however, that you would have far greater credibility when you press your
case if you are in Iraq and we wanted to give you that opportunity.
Please find attached your booking certificate and your itinerary together
with your ticket. Our staff will be in touch with you for more details on
your arrangements. Well-wishers will be outside your office to wish you a
safe and eventful trip today.
While the ISC will shoulder your plane ticket, we believe you have more than
enough pocket money from your stint as adviser to the multi-billion dollar
defense contractor Carlyle Corporation, the products of which you will see
first-hand in Iraq.
Thank you very much and we hope you enjoy your reward.
