By BAYAN International (Europe)/MIGRANTE Europe
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
TODAY, OCTOBER 18, Saturday, US President George Bush Jr. is visiting
the Philippines for 8 hours. His visit has cost the Philippine treasury
millions of euros; strict security measures are imposed with the deployment
of thousands of police and Armed Forces personnel in Manila making
the capital city a virtual military garrisson; thousands of houses
of the urban poor have been demolished because they are eyesores for
Bush; all legitimate and peaceful protest actions against the visit
are banned and met with violent dispersals.
We are protesting the visit of US President Bush to the Philippines,
because of the following:
1. We want genuine and lasting peace in the Philippines. Bush has
promised more US military aid to Philippine President Arroyo. This
will not resolve the reasons for the social unrest, civil war and
armed conflicts happening in the country. The inclusion of the Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA) and
Filipino political refugee in the Netherlands Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
in the US and European Union list of so-called terrorists is a big
stumbling block to the resumption of peace talks between the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Manila government.
The Bush administration wants war in the Philippines.
2. We want genuine freedom and democracy in the Philippines. Bush’
visit to the Philippines will only reinforce the colonial and unequal
relations between the US and the Philippines. Bush would most likely
push for the operationalization of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement
(MLSA) wherein the US armed forces could use any facility or area
in the country for its needs, making the whole Philippines a virtual
US military base. Bush would also most likely pressure President Arroyo
to approve a bilateral free trade agreement between the US and the
Philippines, furthering opening up the Philippine economy and resources
to foreign imperialist plunder.
3. We want US troops out of the Philippines. We don’t want US
armed intervention in the Philippines. An undetermined number of US
troops are in southern Philippines supposedly to conduct joint military
exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). However,
those American troops are preparing to engage in direct armed confrontation
with the guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and
the revolutionary guerrillas of the New People’s Army (NPA),
thus intensifying the armed conflict and deepening US armed intervention
in the Philippines.
4. We want a government truly independent, democratic, pro-people,
transparent and corruption-free. George Bush is expected to extend
political and financial support to the rotten administration of President
Arroyo and to Arroyo’s candidacy in the national elections in
2004. President Arroyo has lied to the people regarding her presidential
ambition. She is accused of corruption by laundering public money
into her private bank account. She is the first Asian US puppet to
support Bush’ war against the Iraqi people. She is a worse violator
of human rights and a coddler of worst human rights violators. She
should answer accusations that her administration masterminded the
terrorist bombings in Mindanao island recently that killed dozens
of innocent civilians, in exchange for US military assistance.
No to US intervention in the Philippines! US troops out now!
No to the US’ wars of aggression! No to imperialist globalization!
No to corruption, poverty and state terrorism – No to Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo!
