I.P.O. Information Service
I.P.O. President visits the Philippines for consultations
and lectures on international terrorism
Manila / Vienna, 14 March 2002/P/RE/17523c-is
The President of the International Progress Organization, Professor Hans Koechler, yesterday returned from a consultation and lecture visit to the Philippines related to questions of terrorism, counter-terrorism and the rule of law. The programme of lectures was initiated and coordinated by the Chairman-President of the Foundation for Social Justice, Dr. Fatemah Remedios C. Balbin, Senior Commissioner at the National Amnesty Commission of the Philippines.
At the invitation of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Prof. Koechler delivered the Fourteenth Centenary Lecture on “The United Nations, the International Rule of Law and Terrorism.” The lecture was co-sponsored by the Philippine Judicial Academy, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Council, the National Defense College of the Philippines, and the Foundation for Social Justice. The solemn event held at the Supreme Court Session Hall was attended by an audience of several hundred people. The Session Hall was filled to capacity. Among the participants were the Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, led by Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. The Vice-President of the Republic of the Philippines, Foreign Minister Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr. sent a special message to the meeting. Greetings were presented by, among others, the Director-General of the National Security Council, by the President of the National Defense College of the Philippines, Commodore Carlos L. Agustin, AFP, and by the Chairman-President of the Foundation for Social Justice, Dr. Fatemah Remedios C. Balbin. Professor Koechler’s lecture was followed by an Open Forum. The Closing Remarks were made by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In connection with the event, Chief Justice Davide gave a luncheon in honour of the President of the I.P.O. The proceedings of the centenary lecture will be published by the Philippine Judicial Academy. The I.P.O. will make Prof. Koechler’s lecture available after the publication in the Philippines.
At the invitation of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process, Professor Koechler delivered a special lecture to inaugurate the Continuing Education for Peace Program on “The Peace Process Agenda in the Philippines.” The meeting was attended by senior staff of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP). In connection with the meeting, the President of the I.P.O. held consultations with the Under Secretary at the Ministry of National Defense of the Philippines, Major General Antonio C. Santos Jr., AFP.
At the invitation of the National Police Commission of the Philippines (NAPOLCOM), Prof. Koechler delivered a special lecture on “International Terrorism: Causes and Remedies” at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police. The meeting was attended by Generals and senior officers of the Philippine Police and chaired by General Rogelio A. Pureza, Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer of the National Police Commission.
A special Lecture Forum was held at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines under the chairmanship of Dr. Armando Malay Jr., Dean of the Asian Center. The theme of Prof. Koechler’s keynote speech was “After September 11, 2001: Clash of Civilizations or Dialogue?”
The conclusions and recommendations contained in Prof. Koechler’s analyses will be made available to the decision-makers in the Philippines and are meant to support the ongoing peace process and negotiations on the basis of inter-religious dialogue and national reconciliation.
END/Terrorism and the rule of law – I.P.O. visit to the Philippines/14-03-2002/P/RE/17523c-is
