As Balikatan resumes
Bayan Challenges Candidates to Junk VFA
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or
New Patriotic Alliance) hit the resumption of Balikatan exercises in
Mindanao and called on senatorial and congressional candidates to take a
stand against the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
BY EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat
|
This woman was hit by
M203
shrapnel during U.S.-Philippine
military exercises in Tagbak,
Indanan, Sulu on Sept. 4, 2006
PHOTO COURTESY OF
IMAGINATION
FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY |
The Bagong
Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) hit the resumption
of Balikatan exercises in Mindanao and called on senatorial and
congressional candidates to take a stand against the Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA).
The Balikatan
Exercise 2007 formally opened in Sulu, Feb. 14. Joint military exercises
will start next week.
Dr. Carol Araullo,
Bayan chairperson, challenged candidates to join them in demanding the
cancellation of Balikatan exercises and the junking of the VFA. She
said, "The nation is in dire need of patriotic leaders who will defend
the nation's sovereignty and integrity especially at this time when the
leaders of the land commit acts of treason."
"If indeed senators
want to discuss issues in their campaign, then the issues of the VFA,
Subic rape, and Balikatan are pressing and urgent. Are there no senators
or congressmen willing to stand up against foreign interests?" Araullo
said.
Araullo also said
that Mrs .Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita
and Secretaries Raul Gonzalez of Justice and Alberto Romulo of Foreign
Affairs "conspired with the U.S. government in raping the nation's
dignity" when they allowed the return of convicted U.S. Marine Lance
Cpl. Daniel Smith to U.S. custody.
The Supreme Court
recently ordered the government to comment on the petition filed by
Bayan and allied organizations questioning the constitutionality of the
VFA. Ermita and Secretaries Raul Gonzalez and Romulo are given 10 days
to submit their comments.
Araullo said that
the supervening events underscored the correctness of the demand for
VFA's abrogation.
The Bayan leader
also scored so-called humanitarian missions conducted by American
troops. "After the conviction of Smith, the U.S. Embassy embarked on a
campaign to portray their soldiers as heroes. Ironically, such publicity
stunt exemplifies their callousness."
Araullo said the
U.S. military presence endangers the lives of the Filipino people.
Araullo showed a picture of a woman who was hit by M203 shrapnel during
war exercises in Tagbak, Indanan, Sulu on Sept. 4, 2006. Araullo said,
"There may be more similar incidents that have not been documented yet."
Bayan announced
that they will hold a protest rally in front of the U.S. Embassy on
Monday. Bulatlat
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