'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
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."
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
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