On the occasion of Filipino-American Friendship Day, umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) called on the Philippine government to end all unequal relations with the United States. Bayan said that there is really no reason to celebrate Fil-Am Friendship Day given our historical relations with the United States.
"As we extend our friendship and solidarity with the American working people, we continue to oppose the unequal and exploitative relations being imposed on the Filipino people by the US government. The so-called friendship being offered by US imperialism has not benefited us over the past few decades. It's time to 'unfriend' the imperialists," said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
"Whether it's in economic relations or in political and diplomatic relations, the US has historically endeavored to always one-up the Philippines. From the Fil-Am War, the US bases agreement, Mutual Defense Treaty, to the VFA and the current Spratlys dispute, the US has always sought to push its own agenda at the expense of the Filipino people. Neo-colonial relations can never be the basis of true friendship," Reyes said.
Bayan said that it was expecting the Philippine and US governments to sing praises to the allegedly strong and enduring relations between the two countries. "We've been hearing the same song for more than half a century. Truth is, this so-called friendship has caused or country to remain economically backward and militarily dependent on the US. We have been made weak by our reliance on the US," Reyes said.
The group scored the Aquino government for upholding a subservient and dependent foreign policy. It said that there was hardly any difference between Aquino and Arroyo's foreign policy insofar as the US is concerned.
The group also took exception to news reports the US Navy is giving out free condoms to its troops engaged in naval exercises in Palawan are being handed out free condoms if they decide to engage in "adult activities".
"There's you so-called enduring friendship. US troops engage in war games and engage in so-called rest and recreation on our shores. This is exactly the type of activity that violates our national dignity. This is one of the reasons why the US bases were such an abomination. This is why the Subic rape case happened," Reyes said.
"Now it's as if the Subic rape never happened and US troops are at it again," he added. ###
from: www.bayan.ph
