Canada condoles with Philippines over Marawi crisis

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Christina Alexandra Freeland delivers her opening statement at the ministerial meeting with ASEAN members on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.

Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday expressed condolences to the Philippines for the lives lost in the Marawi crisis, which has been ongoing since May.

“I'd like to express my condolences to the people of the Philippines for those killed in Marawi at the hands of Daesh-linked terrorists,” Canada Foreign Minister Christina Alexandra Freeland said in her opening statement at the Canada’s Ministerial Meeting for the Association of the South East Asian Nations.

Daesh is another name for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which is also sometimes called the Islamic State despite condemnation of terrorism by mainstream Muslims. 

“This is a horror that none of us are immune to and we need to stand in solidarity fighting it and you have Canada's deepest deepest condolences,” she added.

In her statement, Freeland also highlighted that aside from institutional relations with ASEAN nations, her country has close human connections with South East Asia and the Philippines, the regional bloc's chairman for 2017.

Canada ready to help

Freeland also expressed Canada’s willingness to help ASEAN countries in resolving their regional security issues and violent extremism. She cited that Canada is a founding member of Global Terrorism Task Force.

“We’re on a strong position to help ASEAN members in our shared fight to prevent terrorism,” Freeland said.

As of August 2, there have been 45 civilians killed, 513 Maute terrorists killed and 116 security personnel killed in the hostilities.

The Marawi crisis started last May 23, when the ISIS-inspired Maute group besieged the city. The whole of Mindanao was placed under martial law subsequently.

Government forces have been steadily retaking villages held by the terrorists.

SOURCE:http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/08/06/1725809/canada-condoles-philippines-over-marawi-crisis