Tags: Balikatan Exercises

This year’s RP-U.S. Balikatan military “exercises” in Sulu, Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and North Cotabato start just shortly after two sexual assaults by U.S. troops in Okinawa, Japan – in which one of the victims was a Filipina. They also come less than three years after a Filipina was raped by U.S.…

An increase in U.S. military assistance results in a corresponding increase in the number of human rights violations. During the Marcos dictatorship, the unprecedented amount of military assistance given to the government went to the persecution of people and mounting human rights violations. This is what is happening also under Arroyo. BY DR. RAINER WERNING…

No matter how successful the government may be in conjuring a picture of improved peace and order conditions in Mindanao, the truth is bound to emerge sooner or later, as in the latest Basilan incident. BY CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO Streetwise/Business World Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 27, August 12-18, 2007 No matter how successful the…