This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 5, March 6-12, 2005
'U.S.
Troops Out, Now!' – Southern Tagalog Groups A
Mangyan couple opposing militarization was brutally murdered in their home last
February 28, a week after the Balikatan war exercises began in the Southern
Tagalog (ST) region. Is there a connection between the two? Progressive groups
say, yes. BY
DENNIS ESPADA Guevarra also warned the
Arroyo government and the U.S. soldiers “that any form of armed invasion within
the territories of the revolutionary movement in Rizal will earn retaliation
from the NPA...to defend the territory and the integrity of the people's
revolutionary government." Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Bulatlat
CALAMBA CITY – Progressive groups in the Southern Tagalog (ST) region have been
protesting the entry of U.S. troops since February 21, the day the Balikatan
(Shoulder-to-Shoulder) military exercises began.
They formed a multi-sectoral alliance called SAKAY - Samahan ng Kanayunan ng
Timog Katagalugan Laban sa Gyerang Agresyon ng Estados Unidos (Rural Association
of Southern Tagalog Against United States' War of Aggression). The alliance is
named after Macario Sakay, a Tagalog revolutionary leader who fought U.S.
occupation from 1902 to 1906.
Preparing for battle
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-ST (Bayan-ST or New Patriotic Alliance in ST)
believes that the Balikatan military exercises are “highly insidious.”
"The U.S. is (using) global terror (as an excuse) to legitimize its
military-corporate agenda in the Asia-Pacific region where 35 percent of its
investments are located," Bayan-ST secretary general Arman Albarillo said. "It
even plays upon issues of disaster
relief, infrastructure development and counter-narcotics to prop its image of
benevolence on the people, similar to what it is devising now in the North
Quezon-Laguna territory to conceal its real intentions."
Albarillo said that since February 15, military trucks carrying more than 700
heavily-armed U.S. soldiers accompanied by troops of the Philippine Army have
been sighted in the towns of Real, General Nakar and Infanta in Quezon, as well
as in Laguna's upland areas and portions of Rizal.
In Laguna, U.S. soldiers are reportedly staying in hotels in this city and
Pagsanjan town. A military camp was also built within the vicinity of a
state-owned high school campus in Cavinti town where teenage students are being
taught how to use real guns.
"We explained to (Laguna) Gov. Teresita Lazaro about the implications (of the
Balikatan) on human rights and national sovereignty but she said she can't do
anything because it was a directive of Malacañang," Albarillo said.
Arguments
BAYAN-ST raised the following arguments for their vehement opposition to the
ongoing Balikatan exercises:
First, the Philippine constitution clearly prohibits the intrusions of foreign
troops, unless sanctioned by a treaty signed by both countries. On the contrary,
the Arroyo administration still insists on the legality of the Balikatan
exercises, claiming that it is still within the bounds of the 1951 Mutual
Defense Treaty (MDT), Military Assistance Agreement, Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)
and the United Nations Resolution 1368.
Second, both the Arroyo administration and its U.S. counterpart did not disclose
any terms of reference (TOR). The latter defines the scope and limitations of
any war games and should be publicly known just like the Balikatan 02-1 held in
Sulu.
Third, the MDT is but a remnant of the U.S. Cold War, used to justify the
presence of U.S. troops in other countries against the so-called threats of
“communism.” It states that the Philippines is obliged to help the United
States, in case there will be any attack on U.S. interest in the Pacific.
Fourth, the VFA is not a treaty but a mere executive agreement since it was not
ratified by the U.S. Senate. Furthermore, and also according to the promoters
themselves, the 1999 VFA was designed only for temporary training exercises
lasting from four days up to four weeks.
And lastly, the Balikatan military exercises will only result in increased human
rights violations. Even before the arrival of U.S. troops here in Southern
Tagalog, human rights violations have been rampant. Warrantless arrests, forced
evacuation, torture and harassment of civilians are carried out by troops of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) as
part of their “legitimate operations” against rebels.
On the night of February 28, a Mangyan couple was brutally murdered in Barangay
Ligang San Luiz, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. Romeo and Linda Pinar were found
dead and burned in their house. Witnesses said Linda was decapitated while her
husband's arm was amputated. Both were members of the Samahang Pang-tribo
Mangyan sa Mindoro (SPMM, or Association of Mangyan Tribe in Mindoro), a
progressive organization of Mangyans (an indigenous peoples group in the
Philippines) opposing militarization.
Prior to the incident, an armed encounter occurred between the New People’s Army
(NPA) and the 16th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in the
same area. Army troopers retaliated by bombing the area, which resulted in
massive dislocation of around 300 families and residents.
Retaliation from NPA?
As early as 1993, the U.S. government had brokered with then President Fidel
Ramos for access arrangements in the aftermath of the people's rejection of U.S.
military bases.
But it took a couple of years more to ensure the passing of the VFA and the
Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) to consummate the legal framework for
increased U.S. military presence.
And now this statement from Armando Guevarra, spokesperson of the New People’s
Army’s Narciso Antazo Aramil Command based in Rizal: "Balikatan's purpose is to
conduct surveillance and at the maximum, to wage war against anti-imperialist
groups both armed and unarmed."