Dirty Bird
29th July 2003, 01:56
US CONTINUE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES AS AUSTRALIA DECLARES NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY AND COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES TERRORISTS
Hundreds of US troops are back in the Philippines. Moreover, the re-establishment of US military bases in the country now looms with the recent signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the two countries. The agreement was signed by low-level military officials from both countries as a mere "executive agreement", in blatant contempt of Philippine democratic processes and institutions.
US bases were kicked out of the Philippines in 1991 after massive protests by the Filipino people. The Philippine Constitution of 1987 mandates that any treaty such as the maintenance of foreign military bases must be ratified by the Senate or the Filipino people. The 1987 Constitution likewise bans nuclear weapons and categorically renounces war as an instrument of national policy.
But a nation's quest for democracy and peace obviously stands in the way of the United States' forward military strategy in the Pacific Rim to increase its political and economic dominance in Asia-Pacific. Thus instead of promoting peace, the Philippines now stands to become a launching pad for further US military adventures in the region.
Today more than a thousand elite US forces are currently holding joint military exercises with Philippine military counterparts in the main island of Luzon. From February to July this year, nearly 3,000 US soldiers participated in direct military operations allegedly against a small bandit group in the southern island of Mindanao. To justify participation of US troops, the kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf was trumpeted as a part of the Al Qaeda network, even if facts bear that the Abu Sayyaf was a creation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to help fight the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s. It is clear that the US is merely looking for justification to maintain military presence in the country.
A CIA operative, Michael Maering, was even caught red-handed in May faking terrorist bombings in Mindanao, when a bomb he was building in his hotel room in Davao blew up his legs. Criminal charges were filed against him by the local prosecutor but he was quickly whisked out of the Philippines by US federal agents to a military base in San Diego, California. Filipino prosecutors fumed mad at this barefaced disregard for Philippine laws and processes but were helpless with the complicity itself of the stooge government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
But the United States also wants to involve its troops in operations against leftist guerilla forces in the country. Again, in order to justify this intervention, the US had to include in its list of foreign terrorist organizations the CPP-NPA-NDF which is negotiating a peace settlement with the Philippine government. Now prospects of negotiating a political settlement with the 30-year old insurgency movement has all been doomed, and the country braces for intensified internal strife. Instead of focusing its resources and efforts at strengthening democracy and rebuilding the economy, the Philippine government now gears for a bigger war against its own people, and against its neighbors by way of the US military bases.
The Australian government, for reasons not clear to the Australian people has declared as terrorists, the CPP-NPA including Prof. Jose Maria Sison, the Philippine National Democratic Front's consultant in the peace process. There has been no proof nor is there even a claim by the US and Australia that these groups have any link at all with Islamic militants. The CPP-NPA-NDF has been waging a revolutionary war since the time of Marcos demanding among others land reform and the dismantling of US control of the Philippines. This blatant support to US military initiatives in the region may be taken by the CPP-NPA-NDF as a declaration of war against them by the Australian government.
Furthermore, the listing of Prof. Sison as a terrorist will also endanger many Australians who have legitimate links with him and subject them to ASIO investigation or arrest. Prof. Sison was in Australia in 1987 and spoke in forums hosted by unions, church groups, student associations, community groups and other Australian organizations.
The Filipino people call on the Australian people to ask the Australian government to desist from supporting US military and political intervention in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific. It is not to the interest of Australia to be further dragged into a war with Filipino rebel groups. The listing of Philippine rebel groups as terrorists have derailed the ongoing peace process between them and the Philippine government. We therefore ask the Australian people to also demand from the Australian government the delisting of legitimate Filipino rebel groups from its list of 'foreign terrorist organizations'.
The Filipino people call on the Australian people to persevere in the struggle against the war on 'terror' being launched primarily by the US, Australian and British governments.
Only solidarity in struggle among peace-loving peoples throughout the world can stop this threat to peace and US plans for increased economic and political dominance in a world where it is the only superpower.
PHILIPPINE CAUCUS FOR PEACE
PO Box 71
Laverton 3028
Email: [email protected]
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(Edited by Dirty Bird at 1:59 am on July 29, 2003)
Hundreds of US troops are back in the Philippines. Moreover, the re-establishment of US military bases in the country now looms with the recent signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) between the two countries. The agreement was signed by low-level military officials from both countries as a mere "executive agreement", in blatant contempt of Philippine democratic processes and institutions.
US bases were kicked out of the Philippines in 1991 after massive protests by the Filipino people. The Philippine Constitution of 1987 mandates that any treaty such as the maintenance of foreign military bases must be ratified by the Senate or the Filipino people. The 1987 Constitution likewise bans nuclear weapons and categorically renounces war as an instrument of national policy.
But a nation's quest for democracy and peace obviously stands in the way of the United States' forward military strategy in the Pacific Rim to increase its political and economic dominance in Asia-Pacific. Thus instead of promoting peace, the Philippines now stands to become a launching pad for further US military adventures in the region.
Today more than a thousand elite US forces are currently holding joint military exercises with Philippine military counterparts in the main island of Luzon. From February to July this year, nearly 3,000 US soldiers participated in direct military operations allegedly against a small bandit group in the southern island of Mindanao. To justify participation of US troops, the kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf was trumpeted as a part of the Al Qaeda network, even if facts bear that the Abu Sayyaf was a creation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to help fight the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s. It is clear that the US is merely looking for justification to maintain military presence in the country.
A CIA operative, Michael Maering, was even caught red-handed in May faking terrorist bombings in Mindanao, when a bomb he was building in his hotel room in Davao blew up his legs. Criminal charges were filed against him by the local prosecutor but he was quickly whisked out of the Philippines by US federal agents to a military base in San Diego, California. Filipino prosecutors fumed mad at this barefaced disregard for Philippine laws and processes but were helpless with the complicity itself of the stooge government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
But the United States also wants to involve its troops in operations against leftist guerilla forces in the country. Again, in order to justify this intervention, the US had to include in its list of foreign terrorist organizations the CPP-NPA-NDF which is negotiating a peace settlement with the Philippine government. Now prospects of negotiating a political settlement with the 30-year old insurgency movement has all been doomed, and the country braces for intensified internal strife. Instead of focusing its resources and efforts at strengthening democracy and rebuilding the economy, the Philippine government now gears for a bigger war against its own people, and against its neighbors by way of the US military bases.
The Australian government, for reasons not clear to the Australian people has declared as terrorists, the CPP-NPA including Prof. Jose Maria Sison, the Philippine National Democratic Front's consultant in the peace process. There has been no proof nor is there even a claim by the US and Australia that these groups have any link at all with Islamic militants. The CPP-NPA-NDF has been waging a revolutionary war since the time of Marcos demanding among others land reform and the dismantling of US control of the Philippines. This blatant support to US military initiatives in the region may be taken by the CPP-NPA-NDF as a declaration of war against them by the Australian government.
Furthermore, the listing of Prof. Sison as a terrorist will also endanger many Australians who have legitimate links with him and subject them to ASIO investigation or arrest. Prof. Sison was in Australia in 1987 and spoke in forums hosted by unions, church groups, student associations, community groups and other Australian organizations.
The Filipino people call on the Australian people to ask the Australian government to desist from supporting US military and political intervention in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific. It is not to the interest of Australia to be further dragged into a war with Filipino rebel groups. The listing of Philippine rebel groups as terrorists have derailed the ongoing peace process between them and the Philippine government. We therefore ask the Australian people to also demand from the Australian government the delisting of legitimate Filipino rebel groups from its list of 'foreign terrorist organizations'.
The Filipino people call on the Australian people to persevere in the struggle against the war on 'terror' being launched primarily by the US, Australian and British governments.
Only solidarity in struggle among peace-loving peoples throughout the world can stop this threat to peace and US plans for increased economic and political dominance in a world where it is the only superpower.
PHILIPPINE CAUCUS FOR PEACE
PO Box 71
Laverton 3028
Email: [email protected]
back to main to top
about us | jobs | help | feedback| add url | terms of service | feedback | contact us
© 2000 Filipino.com.au Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. Site Engineering: TDAsia.com
(Edited by Dirty Bird at 1:59 am on July 29, 2003)