Open Letter to R.I. President Nominee Gary Huang

May 19, 2013

 

RI President Nominee Gary Huang

Rotary International

Evanston, Illinois

 

Dear President Gary,

 

Greetings!

 

This has reference to the speech you delivered during the 2013 World Peace Forum in Hiroshima, Japan on May 17-18, 2013, attended by some 2,700 Rotarians from 52 countries.

 

I would like to believe that you made your speech in the best interest of world peace. However, it is disheartening to note that in your desire to show to the international audience that an immediate resolution of the on-going Taiwan-Philippine territorial dispute would contribute to world peace, you have taken sides in the political dispute and have touched on sensitive political issues involving the relationship between two independent states, which is no longer within the purview of Rotary. I wish to draw attention to the following statements in your speech:

 

 

     a.  "This cold-blood killer is covered by the Philippine Government"

     b.  "We discontinued all the treaties and relationship at the current status

           with the Philippine Government"

     c.  "We are ready for battle"

 

 

 

 

Urging the representatives from 52 countries to pass a resolution encouraging Philippine President Benigno Aquino to "resolve the situation as soon as possible and to control the violence that is happening in their country" is, I believe, using a Rotary forum for political purposes. Asking the 52 delegations to "do something when you return to your country," is encouraging them to become political organizations to take sides in favor of Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

Mr President, you may have overlooked the fact that your actions are no longer in conformity with the provisions of the RI Manual of Procedure on Rotary and Politics (page 24) which states that RI and its member clubs must refrain from issuing political statements, and that Rotarians are prohibited from adopting statements with a view to exerting any corporate pressure on governments and political authorities.

 

 

 

I agree with you that we must all work for peace. I would like to assure you that the Filipinos are peace-loving people and are responsible members of the international community. I am sure that the Philippine Government will resolve this political issue in accordance with accepted diplomatic procedures.

 

 

 

 

 

Yours in Rotary

 

 

 

 

Signed

 

Ismael Z Villareal

Past District Governor

D-3830