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SAVING LCPL SMITH: VFA Protects Smith, Hurts Filipino Women and Children
"The Philippines is not a playground for war machines and military antics, there are innocent civilians at risk in all parts of the Philippines, especially women and children. And when U.S. troops decide to break the rules and violate our laws, due judgment under the Philippine constitution must follow," stated Valerie Francisco, chair of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York City
February 25, 2009
Reference: Joanne Alcantara, GABRIELA-USA, National Coordinator email:gabrielawomen [at] gmail.com
SAVING LCPL SMITH: VFA Protects Smith, Hurts Filipino Women and Children
Since the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed under the Estrada administration in 1999, ongoing US-sponsored military training and exercises inaptly named, Balikatan (literally translated in Tagalog as “shoulder to shoulder”) have put Filipino civilians, especially women and children, in grave danger. The VFA's misleading extension of friendship and fraternity between Philippine and US political entities creates more damage by giving priority to American interests interfering with Philippine governance.
In 2000, around 2,500 U.S. troops were deployed to various areas of the Philippines to preapre for the military war games of 2009. An expected 6,000 U.S. soldiers will spend time in Central Luzon from February 25 to April 30 for this military extravaganza. Major Ramon Zagala said the U.S. government in Washington D.C. reserves at least 2 million in American tax dollars toward these exercises. These activities bring in a number of warships and aircrafts, including F-16 fighter planes. Inevitably, U.S. military presence impacts the lives of Filipino women and children in the Philippines by sending these machines of war to defenseless neighborhoods where entire communities exist.
Just days ago on February 19, Rafaela Polborido, a 16-month old girl was killed in a province in Bicol, after government soldiers bombed her home with grenades. The local human rights chapter of KARAPATAN stated that 8 civilians, including 5 children, were wounded in alleged government offensives preparing for U.S. Troops' Balikatan exercises.
Rafaela Polborido's death is not an isolated case as U.S. military presence in the Philippines strikes a very painful chord for the Filipino people. Women and children have especially been victimized as objects of rest and recreation as prostitutes for U.S. military servicemen and soldiers. The most recent assault on Filipino women is the case of Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith who was convicted of the rape of 22-year old Nicole. Smith has since then been sentenced to 40 years in prison for Nicole's 2006 assualt, but has remained in the custody at the U.S. embassy. On February 11, the Philippine Supreme Court prompted the Philippine government to begin negotiations which should transfer Smith to a Philippine detention facility; the case is ongoing.
These stories of civilian casualties, interruptions of daily life and community grievances are hardly exposed to the public, and Nicole and Rafaela are only two of the hundreds of cases which result from the extended US military exercises in the Philippines.
"The Philippines is not a playground for war machines and military antics, there are innocent civilians at risk in all parts of the Philippines, especially women and children. And when U.S. troops decide to break the rules and violate our laws, due judgment under the Philippine constitution must follow," stated Valerie Francisco, chair of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York City.
In the midst of these intense economic predicaments, the U.S. dollars unnecessarily spent on military war games in the Philippines is scrutinized by Filipino American women's organizations. “Instead of spending millions of dollars on military games, that money should be going towards the economic crisis, and budget cuts that have devastated the United States' social welfare programs, from education to healthcare," added Marisa Mariano, a social worker and Chairwoman of Babae in San Francisco.
”As Filipino American women, and members of GABRIELA USA, we strongly denounce these Balikatan excercises and the unfair Visiting Forces Agreements that allows these U.S. troops to come on Philippine soil, hurt women and children, and get away with it,” says Joanne Alcantara, National Coordinator for GABRIELA USA.
GABRIELA-USA, consisting of babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York, were the first groups in the U.S. to demand the prosecution of the Nicole’s rapist in 2006.And continue to demand the removal of all U.S. troops from the Philippines and the abrogation of the VFA!
NO TAX DOLLARS TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY!
PUT DANIEL SMITH IN CUSTODY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE!
U.S. TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!
JUNK THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT!
###
Reference: Joanne Alcantara, GABRIELA-USA, National Coordinator email:gabrielawomen [at] gmail.com
SAVING LCPL SMITH: VFA Protects Smith, Hurts Filipino Women and Children
Since the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed under the Estrada administration in 1999, ongoing US-sponsored military training and exercises inaptly named, Balikatan (literally translated in Tagalog as “shoulder to shoulder”) have put Filipino civilians, especially women and children, in grave danger. The VFA's misleading extension of friendship and fraternity between Philippine and US political entities creates more damage by giving priority to American interests interfering with Philippine governance.
In 2000, around 2,500 U.S. troops were deployed to various areas of the Philippines to preapre for the military war games of 2009. An expected 6,000 U.S. soldiers will spend time in Central Luzon from February 25 to April 30 for this military extravaganza. Major Ramon Zagala said the U.S. government in Washington D.C. reserves at least 2 million in American tax dollars toward these exercises. These activities bring in a number of warships and aircrafts, including F-16 fighter planes. Inevitably, U.S. military presence impacts the lives of Filipino women and children in the Philippines by sending these machines of war to defenseless neighborhoods where entire communities exist.
Just days ago on February 19, Rafaela Polborido, a 16-month old girl was killed in a province in Bicol, after government soldiers bombed her home with grenades. The local human rights chapter of KARAPATAN stated that 8 civilians, including 5 children, were wounded in alleged government offensives preparing for U.S. Troops' Balikatan exercises.
Rafaela Polborido's death is not an isolated case as U.S. military presence in the Philippines strikes a very painful chord for the Filipino people. Women and children have especially been victimized as objects of rest and recreation as prostitutes for U.S. military servicemen and soldiers. The most recent assault on Filipino women is the case of Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith who was convicted of the rape of 22-year old Nicole. Smith has since then been sentenced to 40 years in prison for Nicole's 2006 assualt, but has remained in the custody at the U.S. embassy. On February 11, the Philippine Supreme Court prompted the Philippine government to begin negotiations which should transfer Smith to a Philippine detention facility; the case is ongoing.
These stories of civilian casualties, interruptions of daily life and community grievances are hardly exposed to the public, and Nicole and Rafaela are only two of the hundreds of cases which result from the extended US military exercises in the Philippines.
"The Philippines is not a playground for war machines and military antics, there are innocent civilians at risk in all parts of the Philippines, especially women and children. And when U.S. troops decide to break the rules and violate our laws, due judgment under the Philippine constitution must follow," stated Valerie Francisco, chair of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York City.
In the midst of these intense economic predicaments, the U.S. dollars unnecessarily spent on military war games in the Philippines is scrutinized by Filipino American women's organizations. “Instead of spending millions of dollars on military games, that money should be going towards the economic crisis, and budget cuts that have devastated the United States' social welfare programs, from education to healthcare," added Marisa Mariano, a social worker and Chairwoman of Babae in San Francisco.
”As Filipino American women, and members of GABRIELA USA, we strongly denounce these Balikatan excercises and the unfair Visiting Forces Agreements that allows these U.S. troops to come on Philippine soil, hurt women and children, and get away with it,” says Joanne Alcantara, National Coordinator for GABRIELA USA.
GABRIELA-USA, consisting of babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York, were the first groups in the U.S. to demand the prosecution of the Nicole’s rapist in 2006.And continue to demand the removal of all U.S. troops from the Philippines and the abrogation of the VFA!
NO TAX DOLLARS TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY!
PUT DANIEL SMITH IN CUSTODY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE!
U.S. TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!
JUNK THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT!
###
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The Visiting Forces Agreement was entered into for the benefit of the public. We all know that our very own military needs more training. Combat operations may be the forte of our soldiers but we lack training in terms of new technology. Our soldiers should also know first hand how to use these equipments. Otherwise, if the need arises, our military will not be enough. More so, the Balikatan Exercises provide better bilateral relations of involved countries. Surely, if the need arises, U.S. will not have a hard time deciding to help us. The alleged killings due to VFA exercises were never proven to be the fault of the VFA exercises. Allegations will not be enough evidence. If they have something to prove, they should have done so.
As to the case of Nicole Smith, it only shows that the Philippine government will not tolerate any offense to our women and children. The conviction of the U.S. soldier on itself suffices to state that even if VFA is existing, the women and children will not be compromised.
As to the case of Nicole Smith, it only shows that the Philippine government will not tolerate any offense to our women and children. The conviction of the U.S. soldier on itself suffices to state that even if VFA is existing, the women and children will not be compromised.
Of course these leftist groups would oppose the VFA because they are in league with communist insurgents who stand to lose from the improved capacity of the military to fight insurgency. They will spread all sorts of propaganda to fuel negative perceptions of the VFA.
Provisions of the VFA that are prejudicial to the Philippines can still be amended to be more consistent with our sovereignty and national interest, but there is absolutely no sense in having it abrogated except to serve the purpose of those with known political agenda against the government.
Provisions of the VFA that are prejudicial to the Philippines can still be amended to be more consistent with our sovereignty and national interest, but there is absolutely no sense in having it abrogated except to serve the purpose of those with known political agenda against the government.
The Visiting Forces Agreement is not equal to the Smith case or the issue of Nicole allegedly getting raped. The Smith case is also still on appeal. There's more to the VFA and RP-US bilateral relations than those issues. The Philippines is indeed not a playground for war machines as our soldiers and the US soldiers are not playing recklessly for nothing. Through the VFA, Filipino soldiers obtained enhanced training, assistance and support on defense techniques and capabilities.
Not only that, there were medical and dental assistance programs implemented to poor areas especially in Southern Philippines. These things do not support the cry that the VFA hurts the Philippines.
Not only that, there were medical and dental assistance programs implemented to poor areas especially in Southern Philippines. These things do not support the cry that the VFA hurts the Philippines.
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