Manila (AsiaNews) - Enthusiasm in Manila for the triumph of Barack Obama in the election, messages of congratulations from President Arroyo, who hopes to meet the U.S. president-elect next week in New York; concern, instead, on the part of Catholic activists and leaders who are concerned about the social policies promoted by Obama, considered pro-abortion and in favor of homosexual marriage.
If on the one hand the Filipino government and people are celebrating the success, described as historic, of the Democratic candidate for president, the Church is reiterating its attention to the values of the family and protection of life. Catholics are demonstrating fear and perplexity because they are afraid of the introduction of policies aimed at birth control, a matter of harsh contention in the Philippines, where a law on reproductive health is under consideration. Promotion of the use of contraceptives, the widespread practice of abortion, and gay marriage are all elements that throw an unfavorable light on the figure of Obama and the policy of the Democrats.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will fly to New York next week to participate in the UN summit on interreligious dialogue. Congratulating Barack Obama on his electoral victory, Arroyo says she hopes to meet the newly elected U.S. head of state in person, and expects strengthened relations between the Philippines and United States under the Obama presidency. The Asian state is also urging approval of the Veterans Equity Bill, which would guarantee more protection and assistance for war veterans of Filipino origin in America.
In Nepal, the "historic" triumph of Obama over John McCain has been welcomed as a cause of celebration, following which hundreds of citizens have poured into the streets chanting slogans in favor of the Democratic senator. There have been many telephone calls to citizens of Nepalese origin living in the United States, for whom there are hopes of a better life thanks to a more liberal and flexible policy toward immigrants. Former Nepalese envoy to the United Nations Jayraj Acharaya affirms that "U.S. policy on Nepal will not change instantly, but Asians and Nepalese are happy as Democrats are liberal toward them." He is echoed by the former Nepalese ambassador to America, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, for whom "Obama's win has given great slap to Bush government as it has done anything in the name of terrorism in Asia, undermining UN mandate."
The first Nepalese president, Rambaran Yadav, and Prime Minister Prachanda have sent a message of congratulations to Obama, in which they express their hope for better relations with the new government, and the recognition of the work of the Nepalese leadership, of Maoist inspiration, which still today is on the blacklist of terrorist groups.
Messages of good wishes are also coming from the president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who says he is pleased with the victory of the Illinois senator, the first president "of color" in Unites States history. "I have been impressed by the freshness and candour that you introduced to the U.S. political landscape and the hope that you generated in the United States, in particular and the wider world, in general." Since Wednesday morning, there has been a crowd of curious onlookers at the Hilton Hotel in Colombo, in which the US Embassy had set up a special observatory to follow the results of the vote in real time. Robert Blake, the United States ambassador in Sri Lanka, commented on the "extraordinary moment" for Americans, for whom "our new president is going to be a real force for change in the U.S." "I am proud," the ambassador continues, "because what we have just seen shows that my country, the United States, is a land of democracy and a land of opportunity."
(Santosh Digal, Melani Manel Pererea, and Kalpit Parajuli contributed to this report)