Anti-terror campaign assailed

Indian engineer and activist Sandeep Pandey, a recipient of Manila's prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, has assailed the United States for its anti-terror campaign since last year's September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

The United States is the "biggest terrorist government" in the world, said Pandey, 37, the Magsaysay awardee for emerging leadership.

Pandey and the other Magsaysay winners were in Manila to receive their awards yesterday. "I do not like the Taliban government, but I am not in favour of the U.S. unilateral attacks on Afghanistan," said Pandey, adding the U.S. had "no right" to launch attacks against countries suspected of supporting terrorist groups.

"I realise that the money (for this award) comes from the United States. But that should not prevent me from questioning the U.S. government's policies," said Pandey, adding, "The United States is itself responsible for a lot of mess in the world."

The Rockefeller Foundation provides the $50,000 cash prize to each of the awardees.

Pomnyun Snim, a South Korean awardee for peace and international understanding, said the U.S. should give more positive assistance instead of making war. "Instead of bombing the Afghan state, why don't they give humanitarian aid?" asked Snim.

"This (ongoing campaign) is a loss for the U.S. government because the future leadership should be based on morals, not on power," said Snim.

Snim said there is a growing anti-American sentiment in his country because the United States barred North Korea from selling arms to other countries.

Hilario Davide, Chief Justice of Philippines, an awardee for government service, said terrorism "must be condemned whether it is an attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon or in the state of Kashmir."