Joint Statement
Lakbay Kalinaw
July 27, 2002

AS WE continue our nationwide journey for sovereignty and peace, we the participants to the Lakbay Kalinaw express utmost concern over the following developments that bode ill for the cause of sovereignty and genuine peace in our country.

1. Yesterday’s shooting of a local resident in Basilan by a US soldier taking part in a military raid;
2. The appointment of the pro-American Blas Ople as secretary of foreign affairs;
3. The forthcoming visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the railroading of the Mutual Logistics and Support Agreement (MLSA).

As of yesterday, the military has started covering up the biggest finding to date of the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) now ongoing in Basilan and Gen. Santos City. According to sworn affidavits gathered by the ISM, a US soldier shot an unarmed, civilian resident, Buyongbuyong Isnijal, 31 years old, while he was sleeping with his family in Brgy. Canas, Tuburan, Basilan.

This is the first proof of direct US involvement in combat operations that we believe has been happening since the start of the Balikatan military exercises last January but has been kept secret by the Philippine and US authorities.

This kind of activity cannot and should not be tolerated. It is a direct violation of the Constitution and poses a dangerous precedent, especially with more Balikatan exercises lined up, where US troops will be deployed in many more regions of the country. This opens the way for more US military intervention in our shores.

Such a scenario is most likely to happen, now that the Amboy Sen. Blas Ople has been appointed secretary of foreign affairs. Ople’s role has been cut out for him: expedite the approval of the MLSA and other policies and agreements that will help America regain its forward presence in Southeast Asia.

Ople is a necessary element in the Arroyo-Bush conspiracy. His Amboy mentality is sure to make things easier for US to advance its imperialist agenda via the deceptive anti-terrorist crusade. With a trusted lapdog heading ther DFA, the US embassy expectedly appointed his appointment and looks forward to more favorable political conditions for the MLSA.

Ople, whether he likes it nor not, is a clear and present danger to whatever is left of the national sovereignty and prospects for peace.

With the arrival of US Secretary of State Colin Powell next week, we expect the approval of the MLSA. This treaty of treason will pave the way for the return of permanent and semi-permanent US military facilities in the country, again in direct violation of the Constitutional ban on US troops, bases and facilities.

We are sure that Cebuanos and all Filipinos would raise a howl over the reported arrival in the Philippines of over 8,000 US troops later in the year in what is correctly dubbed as their biggest single visit since the closure of the Subic and Clark bases. We sure have learned the huge and painful costs of having these troops and facilities in our land.

As we prepare to embark on the next leg of the Lakbay Kalinaw, we urge Cebuanos to join us and for Mindanaoans to undertake all legal measures to stop this deluge of attacks on sovereignty and peace as well as plans for the further expansion and extension of the scope, duration and forces involved in the Balikatan.

Lakbay Kalinaw
A Nationwide Journey for Sovereignty and Peace
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Kilusang Mayo Uno
Gabriela
Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace
National Union of Students of the Philippines
League of Filipino Students-National Capital Region
National Coalition for the Protection of Workers Rights II (NWPWR II)

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