SHANGHAI — Governments must not use the war on terrorism as a pretext to trample religious or minority rights, U.S. President George W. Bush warned yesterday at a gathering of 20 international leaders.
Bush called the Sept. 11 suicide hijackings in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania "a crime against humanity .. condemned by humanity."
But he drew a clear distinction between terrorists such as the Al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden — which he said was seeking to "shatter confidence in the world economic system" — and the threat posed by legitimate political dissenters. He cautioned against exaggerating such threats.
"People of every religious or ethnic group have a right to participate in their nation's political life," Bush told 500 business leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.
"No government should use our war against terrorism as an excuse to persecute minorities within their borders. Ethnic minorities must know that their rights will be safeguarded, that their churches, temples and mosques belong to them.
"We must respect legitimate political aspirations and at the same time oppose all who spread terror in the name of politics or religion."
Though Bush did not single out any country, it is a sensitive issue for several leaders here, including Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who has been criticized for stifling freedoms in Tibet, the rights of adherents of Falun Dafa, and who Friday claimed to have a "domestic terrorism" problem with the Muslim Uygur community in western China.
`Ethnic minorities must know that their rights will be safeguarded, that their
churches, temples and mosques belong to them.'
- U.S. President George W. Bush
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also classified fighters in the republic of Chechnya as terrorists.
Bush has nonetheless won strong statements of support for his war on terrorism from Putin, and from China's president.
Jiang said China stands with the U.S. in its fight, while reminding the U.S. missile strikes must aim at defined targets and avoid civilians.
Bush thanked people around the world for their support, noting World Trade Center victims hailed from 80 nations "We won't forget the American Stars and Stripes flying in solidarity from every fire truck in Montreal, Canada," he said.
Terrorism dominated most private discussions prior to yesterday's official forum opening. APEC leaders will issue their first-ever political statement today.
While it is expected to condemn terrorism as an attack on international peace and security, it will be far from a strong endorsement of the U.S.-led campaign and will not, for example, voice outright support for military action, nor will it specifically back U.S. claims that Taliban-supported bin Laden is responsible.
Still, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said last night "the coalition is very strong. Everybody is committed."
The question of "soft" support did not appear to dominate discussions with Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who told Chrétien most Indonesian Muslims are behind the coalition's efforts. A meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was cancelled because of scheduling problems.