PHL boycott of Nobel Peace Prize pleases China

The Philippine government's decision to boycott Friday’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony has pleased the Chinese government. Chinese ambassador to Manila Liu Jianchao said, "I appreciate the understanding shown by the Philippine government on the Chinese people and the Chinese government (in boycotting the Nobel peace prize award)." The prize’s intended recipient this year, Liu Xiaobao, is an imprisoned Chinese dissident. China has been expressing its displeasure over the dissident’s being awarded the coveted Nobel prize and being feted by other countries as a symbol of opposition inside China. Nonetheless, foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo said the gesture to boycott the Nobel award rites should not be assumed as "taking sides with China" even as Western nations call for the lifting of the more than 11-year jail term imposed on the Chinese dissident, who cannot attend the rites in Oslo. "Our foreign policy has always been consistent, we're friends to all and enemies to no one," said Romulo in an ambush interview at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) late Thursday. Romulo also said the Philippines remains "clear and consistent on its fight for human rights" as shown by its successful campaign in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, another Nobel peace laureate and a widely-acclaimed symbol of democratic opposition in Myanmar. Romulo said country representatives invited to the prestigious Nobel Peace Award were from Asean countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. It is only the Philippines which is joining China and the rest of 18 countries to boycott the Nobel peace award. Prior commitments, peace vows Commission on Human Rights chair Etta Rosales has called on the Philippine government to reconsider its boycott-Nobel decision. Romulo, however, maintained, "I respect her [Rosales] views. But the decision of the government should not be given political color." DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya, meanwhile, said Philippine ambassador to Norway Elizabeth Buensuceso will not be attending the ceremony in Oslo because she has already committed to a prior consular mission to attend to the needs of the Filipino community in neighboring Denmark. "We remain to be a staunch advocate of human rights in Asean and the United Nations as well as other international fora," said Malaya in a separate interview. "There are many ways of showing commitment at this principle (of supporting the Nobel Peace Prize), which is traditionally non-controversial and optional," he added.—MRT/JV, GMANews.TV