Uphold Philippine sovereignty!

Last January 31, the Balikatan 02-01 war exercises
was launched in Zamboanga despite unresolved questions
about its conduct, purpose and legality.

There are those who feel that the exercises are
actually joint combat operations and thus violative of
our Constitution and other laws. Some welcome US help,
but are apprehensive at the secrecy and haste by which
the Balikatan exercises was formulated (to think that
at least four more are coming up). Others are afraid
at the escalation that the entry of US troops may
cause, including the social and environmental costs of
such an eventuality.

The bottomline for most, though, is that the so-called
exercises somehow threaten Philippine sovereignty and
security, and thus should be a concern for all.

In this light, we would like to invite you to the
launching of a broad coalition of various groups and
personalities critical of Balikatan 02-01 and similar
“exercises.” This will be on Wednesday, February 6,
from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Balay Kalinaw, UP
Diliman Campus, Q.C.

Attached is a draft manifesto that will serve as the
coalition’s basis of unity. Signatures will be
solicited at the gathering. If you are unable to come
but agree to sign the manifesto, please inform us
immediately so we can include you in the network.

For details, please call Julie or Jeng at 435-9151 or
922-5211. You may also fax your comments about the
draft manifesto at 922-5211.

Thank you very much and hope to see you on the 6th!




Most. Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. DD
Bishop of Iba, Zambales

Rep. Satur Ocampo
Bayan Muna Party List



Sr. Mary John Mananzan OSB
Chairperson, GABRIELA

Capt. Danilo Vizmanos PN ret.
Junk VFA Movement



DRAFT UNITY STATEMENT #4 (Short version)
Out with US Troops Now (OUT NOW!)
February 2002

Uphold Philippine sovereignty!

Despite various questions about its conduct, purpose
and legality, the Balikatan 02-01 military exercises
goes on in Basilan, Zamboanga and Cebu.

More than 600 US troops and thousands of Filipino
soldiers are taking part in this unprecedented “joint
military exercise” that involves the use of live
ammunition in actual combat zones against live targets
– the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

We raise the following major concerns about the
alleged exercise:

• Activities under Balikatan 02-01 are not military
exercises but are more in the nature of joint combat
operations. American troops will stay for prolonged
periods, will participate in military operations and
may even engage in unilateral actions, including
firing back when provoked.
• Such activities are beyond the scope of either the
1951 Mutual Defense Treaty or the RP-US Visiting
Forces Agreement of 1999. Thus, Balikatan 02-01
violates the Constitutional ban on the entry of
foreign troops and facilities unless under a treaty
duly recognized by both countries.
• Balikatan 02-01 was secretly planned and executed,
with normal procedures and protocols short-circuited
or outrightly ignored. It was launched last Jan. 31
without definite “terms of reference” between the
Philippines and the US.
• The primordial issue of collusion among military
officials, local politicians, self-styled negotiators
and the Abu Sayyaf has yet to be addressed. This is
crucial for any effort against the Abu Sayyaf to
succeed.
• The involvement of US troops threatens to escalate,
complicate and bring to the international arena what
is essentially an internal police problem.

We therefore demand the following:

1. That the Macapagal-Arroyo government release to the
public the Operation Plan and Orders of Balikatan
02-01 including the mission, situation, objectives,
duration, forces, concept of operation and logistics
involved and in particular the role of US forces in
such exercises;

2. That the review or termination of the 1999 RP-US
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the 1951 Mutual
Defense Treaty (MDT) be placed on the agenda to
prevent future attempts to justify US armed
interventions in our internal affairs;

3. That the government take bold steps to defeat the
Abu Sayyaf by first breaking up the group’s collusion
with civilian and military officials,
politician-warlords and self-styled negotiators.

4. That pending satisfactory resolution of the above
issues, the Balikatan 02-01 exercises be suspended and
US troops be immediately pulled out.###