World mourns death of democracy icon

MANILA, Philippines - The world mourned the death of former President Corazon Aquino from colon cancer yesterday.

World leaders and ambassadors have sent their letters of condolences and tributes to the beloved world icon of democracy.

US President Barack Obama on Friday expressed deep sadness at Aquino’s passing, describing her as a historic figure who helped restore democracy in her country.

The White House said that Aquino would be remembered for her “crucial role” in moving the country to democratic rule through her non-violent “people power” movement over 20 years ago.

“Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation. On behalf of the American people, the President extends his deepest condolences to the Aquino family and the nation of the Philippines,” said a statement from White House read by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs late Friday.

In a separate statement, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Aquino was an inspiration and showed “extraordinary courage” following the assassination of her husband Ninoy Aquino in 1983 when he returned to the Philippines to challenge the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Clinton said Aquino’s “quiet strength and her unshakable commitment to justice and freedom” inspired her and former President Bill Clinton.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the Aquino family and all the people of the Philippines on the death of former President Corazon Aquino,” Clinton said.

“Cory Aquino was beloved by her nation and admired by the world for her extraordinary courage after the assassination of her husband, and later, during her service as president.

“She helped bring democracy back to the Philippines after many years of authoritarian rule with a faith in her country and its people that never wavered.”

Clinton, a onetime first lady who narrowly lost a bid last year to become her Democratic Party’s nominee for president, said Aquino’s people power movement led hundreds of thousands to take to the streets in the wake of the disputed presidential election in 1986 in which longtime ruler Marcos claimed victory amid allegations of massive fraud. Marcos eventually accepted an offer of exile in the United States and Aquino became president.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney also expressed her condolences to the Aquino family.

“On behalf of the US embassy, I would like to express our most heartfelt condolences to the Aquino family and to the people of the Philippines on the death of former President Aquino,” Kenney said.

“Her courage in the face of tragedy and the peaceful restoration of democracy made her an icon for freedom-loving people everywhere. President Aquino’s example and memory will inspire generations to come,” she added.

For the past 20 years, Kenney said Aquino worked closely with the US embassy in helping select the annual recipients of the Ninoy Aquino Fellowships given for public service and journalism. 

“We will deeply miss her personal warmth and her tireless zeal on behalf of talented Filipinos emerging as leaders in those fields. Our deepest sympathy, thoughts, and prayers are with the Aquino family and all those who, like us, loved her,” she said.

Tributes from EU, UK, Canada

Ambassador Alistair MacDonald of the delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines led the European Union in expressing grief over the death of Aquino.

“Throughout her presidential term, and notwithstanding a number of severe challenges, she never flinched in her determination to ensure that the Philippines would not veer from its democratic path,” MacDonald said.

Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins said Aquino has been recognized internationally for her contributions to human rights and political freedoms, values that Canada strongly shares with the Philippines, adding that she will be sincerely missed by the international community, and people everywhere, including the 300,000 Canadians of Filipino origin.

“The government and the people of Canada would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Filipino people. President Aquino will be remembered as a leader who ushered in a new era of freedom in the Philippines, and inspired millions around the world. She was an international icon of democracy, a global model of people power, and a passionate advocate of good governance,” Desjardins said.

The United Kingdom Foreign Office Minister of State Ivan Lewis MP also extended the British Government’s condolences to Aquino’s family.

Former Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch Brown, who worked closely with Mrs. Aquino during her election campaign, said: “I received the news of Corazon Aquino’s death with great sadness. As an advisor in her campaign against President Marcos, the privilege of working with Cory and watching her was one of my life’s greatest lessons in courage, leadership, the art of politics and humanity,” Brown said.                                – With AP