WE STUDENTS, FACULTY, REPS, EMPLOYEES and ALUMNI of the University of the Philippines (UP) have been true to the role of the University as a social critic. We have consistently denounced and opposed government actions that compromise Philippine sovereignty. We have helped mold public opinion by actively participating in various forms of education campaigns and mass actions.

In the issue of United States aggression, we were part of the movement against the stay of the US military bases in the country that resulted in the historic Senate rejection of the proposed Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Security on September 16, 1991. We also campaigned against the ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement which the Senate unfortunately ratified on May 27, 1999. Our collective rage echoed not only within the UP campus but also in the streets leading to the Philippine Senate.

Now is the time to strengthen our commitment to uphold national sovereignty and oppose US aggression. We students, faculty, REPS, employees and alumni of the University of the Philippines hereby declare our commitment to continue the fight against US aggression in the country.

We oppose Balikatan 02-1, this “joint military exercise” which will involve more than 600 American troops and thousands of Filipino soldiers who will use live ammunition in Mindanao, an actual combat zone. Balikatan 02-1 has real targets: the Abu Sayyaf and other groups labeled as “terrorists” by the United States. Clearly, it is not a military exercise. It is an external military aggression and a violation of Philippine sovereignty. It is an intervention into the internal affairs of the country.

Balikatan 02-1 violates the Philippine Constitution, which bans the entry of foreign military troops and facilities in the absence of a treaty recognized by the Senate of both the US and the Philippines. The Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 allows the entry of US troops only in times of external aggression. The Visiting Forces Agreement on the other hand, is not a treaty, but a mere executive agreement. No treaty between the United States and the Philippines can therefore uphold Balikatan 02-1.

In this vein, we demand the following:

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

2. That the 1999 RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement and the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty be immediately reviewed;

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, politicians-warlords and self-styled negotiators; and

4. That, pending satisfactory and sufficient resolution of the above issues, the Balikatan 02-1 exercises be suspended and all US troops in the Philippines be immediately pulled out.

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The UP Rage Against US Aggression (UP RAGE) is a broad alliance of UP students, faculty, REPS and employees against US military aggression.

It was launched last February 5 at the CMC Auditorium. Its convenors are Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera (Filipino), Dr. Mel Luna (CSWCD), Dr. Rolando Tolentino (Film), Rommel Romato (USC Councilor), JPaul Manzanilla (Student Regent), and Clodualdo Cabrera (All-UP Workers Union).