CALD Resolution No. 3 S. 2001

A resolution condemning the terrorist attack in the United States; sympathizing with the victims of such barbaric acts; expressing  admiration to the American people for their perseverance in the face of great tragedy; supporting  the US government in its pursuit of combating terrorism;  calling upon the community of nations to put a stop to the growing menace of global terrorism; emphasizing the need for reasonable action, and appropriate and just response; and cautioning against the possible resurgence of racism and religious intolerance

Appalled that four commercial airplanes were hijacked—two of which were rammed through the World Trade Center in New York City while another one was crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, DC and the last crashed into Pennsylvania—in America’s worst terrorist attack;

Convinced that the recent attacks in New York and Washington are direct and unmitigated affronts on freedom, democracy, justice, human rights, religious tolerance and basic human decency;

Saddened that such hideous acts of terror resulted in the death and suffering of innocent civilians, police and fire rescuers and in  casualties “too high for anybody to bear” as New York City Mayor R. Gulliani so aptly put it;  

Worried that this terrorist attack would have a far reaching global impact with dire consequences both economical and political;

Disturbed that a majority of the countries in Asia, which have the United States as a major partner for trade and security, would further be burdened by this global crisis of confidence, which would surely exacerbate the effects of the Asian economic crisis of the late 1990’s;

Citing that Asia itself is not free from terrorist acts, including those committed by the Abu Sayyaf in Southern Philippines—a  merciless terrorist group engaged in murder, kidnapping, extortion and rape and which has direct links with Osama bin Laden and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)  in Sri Lanka;

Aware that the United States Congress gave  President George W. Bush full powers to go after the terrorists and that the US Commander in Chief had stated that “there would be no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them”;

Noting that this Act of War remains without a name and a face as the perpetrators of this dastardly crime remain anonymous, cowardly cloaked in secrecy;

Convinced that the cooperation of the community of nations is needed in order to effectively realize the goals of eradicating terrorism, and, more importantly,  addressing its root causes;

Concerned that the current circumstances might prove conducive to heightened tensions based on ethnicity and religion, and that the conflict may be misconstrued as directed against Islam and the Middle East in general

Fearing that this tragedy would be manipulated in order to fuel prejudice and racism and that the states of war and emergency resulting from this event may be misused in order to curtail freedom in the guise of security;

Be it resolved that the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats condemns the terrorist attack in the United States; sympathizes with the victims of such barbaric acts; expresses  admiration to the American people for their perseverance in the face of great tragedy; supports   the US government in its pursuit of combating terrorism;  calls upon the community of nations to put a stop to the growing menace of global terrorism; emphasizes  the need for reasonable action, and appropriate and just responses; and cautions against the possible resurgence of racism and religious intolerance.

For the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats

H.E. Sam Rainsy, MP

Chairman

September 21, 2001