Against US Armed Intervention in the Philippines, July 24 to July 31, 2002
Background
United States President George W. Bush has expanded the “war against terrorism” beyond Afghanistan. The US has opened a new war front in the Philippines and has threatened Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and many more. The momentum of the so-called borderless war is being sustained even if its targets has little or no connections with the al-Qaida.
A former US colony, the Philippines has a population of over 75 million, mostly impoverished peasants and workers. Three major islands Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao comprise the Philippine archipelago.Filipino Muslims (Moro) and other national minorities make up about twelve percent of the populace.
Six hundred and sixty US soldiers are now involved in military operations focusing on Mindanao. The official line is that the US forces are there to train Filipino soldiers in counter-terrorism, specifically to crush the Abu Sayyaf, a small bandit group of about 80 men based in the small island of Basilan.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has uncritically embraced and committed all-out support to the US-led “war against terrorism”, including the deployment of US forces into the country.
The six-month joint US-RP training exercises dubbed Balikatan 02-1 (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) is supposed to end by July 31, 2002. But this early, top US and Philippine officials are setting the stage for the indefinite stay of more US troops and the expansion of US armed involvement beyond Basilan and its original target, the Abu Sayyaf.
Philippine Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes is on record as saying that the next target of US-RP operations is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as well as the New People´s Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Both Philippine and US governments have tagged NPA and MILF “terrorists.”
Some 2,700 US troops are arriving in April in Central Luzon purportedly for another set of joint military exercises. But unlike in Mindanao there is no armed Moro or Muslim group based in Luzon. There is, however, a resurgent revolutionary movement, which has mass bases in Luzon and in almost all major provinces. The CPP/NPA/NDF is waging war against US imperialism and the local ruling elite.
Opposition to the renewed presence of US forces in the Philippines is growing. In 1991, the US military bases were booted out from the country as a result of massive people´s protests. Critics point out that the Balikatan war games are not mere military exercises but a prelude to prolonged if not permanent US armed intervention in the country´s internal affairs. They are undeniably an affront to Philippine national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the people´s right to self-determination.
Anxiety is high over potential “collateral damage” to civilian communities and the environment, violations of human rights, abuse of women and children and various adverse socio-economic effects. Even the fate of the peace negotiations with the CPP/NPA/NDF and the MILF now hangs in the balance. Moreover, the Philippines might become the staging ground for US aggression against other countries.
It is in this context that concerned organizations in the Philippines are inviting individuals and representatives of organizations in different countries to take part in an
International Solidarity Mission
Against US armed intervention in the Philippines
July 24 to July 31, 2002
Objectives
The International Solidarity Mission or ISM aims to
…· Investigate and expose the real nature, aims and extent of US armed involvement in the Philippines and the responsibility of the Macapagal-Arroyo government.
…· Start assessing the socio-economic, political and cultural impact of US armed intervention in the Philippines.
…· Move peace loving peoples the world over to stop military intervention and aggression and promote international solidarity and cooperation for justice, peace and progress.
Special Areas of Concern
The ISM will look into the following special areas of concern:
1.Respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to self-determination of the Filipino and Moro peoples.
2.Observance of international humanitarian law and protection of human rights.
3.Social cost of US military presence especially on women, children and national minorities as well as the environment and economy.
4.Impact on the peace negotiations with various armed movements: the CPP/NPA/NDF, MILF and MNLF.
Highlights of Activities
July 24Arrival, reception, registration and briefing of delegates in Manila
July 25Opening press conference; travel to Basilan and to Central Luzon July 26-28 Fact-finding mission
Drafting of team reports and consolidation of reports
July 29Presentation of report to the public through a press conference
July 30-31People´s Caravan in Mindanao
ISM Organizers
The main hosts and organizers of the mission are: Bayan Muna, Bayan, Karapatan, Moro-Christian People´s Alliance and OUT NOW!
Bayan Muna (People First) is a progressive political party representing the marginalized and oppressed sectors of Philippine society. With 1.7 million votes, it topped the party-list elections in 2001 and currently has three representatives in the Philippine Congress.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) or Bayan is a multi-sectoral, multi-issue alliance of national people´s organizations, including the largest alliances of trade unions, peasants associations, youth, women and indigenous peoples´ organizations.
Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples´ Rights) is a national alliance of organizations and personages advocating the promotion and protection of human rights, especially civil and political rights.
Moro-Christian People´s Alliance (MCPA) is an interfaith solidarity of groups and individuals promoting understanding and a just resolution of the underlying causes of the centuries-old armed conflict in Mindanao.
Providing vital support for the mission are the following organizations (initial list):
Gabriela (a national alliance of women´s organizations)
PIF (Philippine International Forum)
PCPR (Promotion for Church People´s Response)
KMU or Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Labor Movement)
KMP or Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines)
Migrante International (an international organization of migrant Filipinos)
Anakbayan (an all-youth association)
Pamalakaya (alliance of fisherfolk organizations)
Head (Health Alliance for Democracy)
ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers)
Courage (a national federation of government employees´ associations)
Kalikasan (Peoples´ Network for the Environment)
KAMP or Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayang Pilipino (a national council
of indigenous peoples´ leaders)
EMJP (Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace)
