ASEAN calls for restraint in Middle East conflict

MANILA, Philippines, March 5 ------ The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for restraint and immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, triggered by US and Israeli military strikes on Iran which retaliated hitting targets across the region.

In a statement, the ASEAN foreign ministers expressed serious concern over the escalation of conflict in the Middle East as coordinated US and Israeli strikes against Iran aimed at regime change continue. Iran’s retaliatory attacks spanned several countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria. “We call on all countries to respect international law, including the Charter of the United Nations,” the ministers said. “This escalation is particularly regrettable as it occurred amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including mediation initiatives led by the Sultanate of Oman aimed at advancing a negotiated solution,” they said.

The ministers called on all parties concerned to “exercise utmost self-restraint, avoid any acts that may further aggravate the situation, and resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the region.” All states, the ministers said, have the obligation to resolve their differences through peaceful means and “to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, in line with international law, including the UN Charter.” “We further reiterate the obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures in armed conflicts consistent with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” they said.

OFW repatriation

With no end in sight to the armed conflict in the region, a total of 1,189 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have requested repatriation assistance from the government, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Patricia Yvonne Canaunan, OWWA administrator, said the requests came from Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lebanon and Qatar. She said of the OFWs seeking repatriation, 278 came from Bahrain, 46 from Israel, 62 from Kuwait, 231 from Dubai, 246 from Abu Dhabi, 173 from Qatar, and five from Lebanon.

The agency has provided temporary accommodation to 297 OFWs and arranged land transportation for 171. Another 134 workers from the Visayas and Mindanao were assisted with domestic flights to their home provinces upon arrival in Manila. In Hong Kong, more than 80 OFWs were stranded at the Hong Kong International Airport due to flight cancellations, according to the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong. The Senate earlier adopted a resolution urging the government to repatriate OFWs in the Middle East.

Worst-case scenario

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government is preparing contingency measures for a worst-case scenario of a full-blown war in the Middle East. Among these is the mass evacuation of over one million OFWs from the region. Remulla said he is awaiting instructions from President Marcos if he would be among the officials to be dispatched to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to oversee the repatriation of OFWs. “I might have to go there and start arranging their repatriation,” he said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

One of the measures is getting the services of Philippine Air Lines and Cebu Pacific in bringing home stranded Filipinos. Remulla admitted the task could be a logistical nightmare as he projected they can only repatriate around 5,000 OFWs a day. “That is 250 days so the logistics is not easy but if it’s necessary, we will do our best.”

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., for his part, announced heightened security around the US embassy and other embassies that “may become flashpoints for demonstrations.” Police prevented protesters along Kalaw Ave. in Manila from proceeding to the US embassy on Tuesday.

The PNP has also beefed up security at the embassies of Iran in Makati and of Israel in Taguig. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) meantime announced the suspension of overseas voter registration in Israel and Iran. The Comelec said yesterday that following Israeli government policies, consular services of foreign posts in Israel, including the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv, are suspended for safety and security reasons until March 7.

Source: philstar.com