Commentary

Scathing remarks against Filipino troops’ pullout in Iraq  
Howard, Downer Only Speak for Themselves

Before he criticizes the pullout of Filipino troops in Iraq, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer should take note of the anti-war protests in his country. As an activist observes, “It’s easiest to organize [in Australia] when it’s an anti-war protest.” 

By Alexander Martin Remollino
Bulatlat 

Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer earned the ire of the Philippines because of their scathing remarks on the recent pullout of Filipino troops in Iraq. 

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo deployed a 51-person military contingent last year in support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The Philippine government committed to maintain the contingent there until August.

However, Iraqi resistance fighters captured Filipino truck driver Angelo dela Cruz last July 8. Demanding the pullout of Filipino troops from Iraq, they threatened to behead him if the Philippine government refuses to do so.  

This was not the first time that the demand for a pullout of Filipino troops from Iraq was made. Anti-war groups in the Philippines had opposed the move to send soldiers to Iraq even before their actual deployment. They stressed that Filipino troops have no business being there and supporting what they called an “unjust war.” 

Upon learning of dela Cruz’s predicament, Philippine cause-oriented organizations staged daily rallies and nightly prayer vigils against U.S. wars of aggression, even braving police brutality to drive home the message.  

Feeling the pressure 

Arroyo felt the weight of public pressure. After all, the captivity of dela Cruz happened a few days after she took her oath as President, having won in an election that was marred by fraud and violence. 

Initially, the Arroyo administration stressed that it was committed to maintaining its troops in Iraq until August 20. Aware later that the Iraqis meant what they said, it then announced a pullout of the troops by July 20. A few days later, dela Cruz was released and given a hero’s welcome upon arriving in the Philippines. 

The decision to pull out Filipino troops ahead of time drew sharp criticisms from American and Australian government officials. Australia’s Howard and Downer were more scathing, claiming that the Philippines had acted out of “weakness” (Howard) and “like a marshmallow” (Downer). They both accused the Philippine government of giving in to terrorist demands. 

Anti-war protests in Australia 

I was in Australia from July 15 to 20 as a participant in a conference of alternative media practitioners. Other journalists from Indonesia and the Oceania region also attended.  

Being the only delegate from the Philippines, all participants were very concerned about the situation of dela Cruz. They constantly asked me for updates and they felt very relieved when they heard the news that Arroyo would pull out the Filipino troops in Iraq. At that time, they all hoped she would really do what she announced. 

I remember these as I analyze the statements of Howard and Downer. For one, they gave the impression that their views are shared by majority of Filipinos and Australians. 

According to Howard, anti-war protests are not supported by most Filipinos. “It’s a big country,” he was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying. “I don’t for a moment believe that is representative of the opinion of the majority of Filipinos, but people have done that kind of thing before.” 

It would do well for Howard to note that anti-war protests in his own country have invariably overfilled its streets. Anti-war protests that big have been erupting in Australia where city streets are at least one and a half times the size of Philippine streets. One delegate to the conference, who is also active in Australia’s anti-war movement, even noted: “It has turned out that it’s easiest to organize here when it’s an anti-war protest.” 

So Howard may rant all he can about Philippine anti-war protesters not representing the majority of Filipinos, but in doing so he is only calling attention to the vast anti-war movement in his own country.  

As Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Rep. Crispin Beltran, who closely follows international developments and is also the chair of the International League of People’s Struggle, has noted: “They burn effigies of Howard in Australia, and Downer is not exactly a well-loved public official, either. Their names will go down in Australian history etched in shame and infamy for their support to the U.S. war crimes against the people of Iraq.” Bulatlat

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