US troops here to stay. Important provision deleted in final Terms of Reference (TOR)

Press Statement-BAYAN
Wednesday, 20 February 2002

US troops here to stay. Important provision deleted in final Terms of Reference (TOR)

US troops are here to stay even after the Balikatan has been completed.
This was revealed today by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) as it
presented to media its study of the new Balikatan Terms of Reference
(TOR) that shows, among others, the deletion from the original draft of
an important provision mandating the swift withdrawal of forces when
the
war exercise winds up.
It also warned against an "escalation of conflict, with an expanded war
against other ‘enemies’ of the US and Philippine governments possibly
swallowing the whole of Mindanao and the entire country."
According to BAYAN, the original draft of the TOR released by Vice
President Teofisto Guingona had a provision stating:

"The Exercise shall be conducted and completed within a period of not
more than six months, with the projected participation of 660 US
personnel and 3,800 Philippine forces. The Chief of Staff, AFP, shall
direct the Exercise Co-Directors to wind up the Exercise and other
activities and the withdrawal of US forces within the six months
Exercise
period."
In the final draft, the entire phrase regarding the withdrawal of US
troops was deleted.
It now reads: "The Chief of Staff, AFP, shall direct the Exercise
Co-Directors to wind up and terminate the Exercise and other activities
within the six months Exercise period."
"Why was this important section deleted in the final TOR? Does this
mean
that the US troops can stay in the country even after the Balikatan’s
completion? If so, then the Arroyo administration has been lying when
it
said that US troops will be here for only 6 months," remarked BAYAN
spokesperson Renato. M. Reyes, Jr.
BAYAN assailed the new provision of the TOR saying it gives the US
"practically unlimited stay in the country."
According to BAYAN, this is no longer covered even by the Visiting
Forces
Agreement (VFA) which only contemplates the temporary stay of US troops
in the country for the sole reason of joint military exercises.
"Not specifying the withdrawal of US troops means there is a chance for
the US to prolong their stay in the country. Allowing foreign troops to
stay in the country for reasons other than joint military exercises is
a
clear violation of the constitution and even the VFA. This only fuels
our
long suspicion that there is more to this Balikatan than just the Abu
Sayyaf. We have just opened the floodgates for the return of the US
bases
and US military intervention in our internal affairs," Reyes said.
According to BAYAN, President Arroyo is currently contemplating the use
of US troops for other combat operations beyond the Abu Sayyaf. In a
dialogue with Protestant church leaders last week, Arroyo was said to
be
considering the future deployment of US troops in other areas of
conflict.
"It now appears that Arroyo is preparing to escalate the armed conflict
in the country by deploying US troops in other regions where the enemy
is
no longer the Abu Sayyaf. She’s setting the stage for another Vietnam,"
Reyes warned.
The New People’s Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF)
maintain mass bases in Mindanao, with the latter having an active
presence in Basilan and Western Mindanao where US troops are now
present.
The NPA, meanwhile, has been tagged recently by the US State Department
in its "Terrorist Exclusion List."
"An escalation of conflict is highly probable given the deceptive
statements, contrary actions and the US government’s independent
reading
of the Philippine situation."
BAYAN continued its scathing criticism of President Arroyo’s plans of
allowing permanent US military presence in the country through such
schemes as the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) and joint
military exercises.
Reyes pointed out that, "Only Arroyo and her sidekick ‘denial king’
Rigoberto Tiglao are denying the existence of an MLSA that is already
confirmed by the US State Department, the US Pacific Command, the AFP
Chief of Staff and the Philippine Secretary of National Defense."
"Arroyo is out to circumvent and violate every law prohibiting the
return
of US bases. Touted as chief architect of the country’s foreign policy,
she has been riding roughshod over the Senate by allowing the prolonged
stay of foreign troops in our country. She should be held fully
accountable for such a treasonous acts," Reyes said.
BAYAN is all set to mount bigger protest actions in the coming days. A
big rally will be held on February 25, the 16th anniversary of EDSA 1
which toppled the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
"There will be no let up in the protest actions, not when the present
administration has proven to be an inveterate liar and puppet of US
interests," said Reyes. #