The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today marked the 20th anniversary of the Philippine Senate's rejection of a new bases treaty with the United States, with a protest action in front of the US embassy. Twenty-years ago in September 16, amid intense public pressure and protests, 12 Philippine senators voted to reject a new treaty with the US, which ended the nearly four decades of US military basing in the Philippines.
Bayan and its allied organizations mobilized the biggest protest actions during the anti- bases campaign. The militant group however lamented that 20 years after the bases were booted out; US troops are still entrenched in the Philippines.
It said that the United States continues to maintain an extensive global network of more than 700 military bases in more than 60 countries worldwide. US troops are also deployed in around 156 countries engaging in various military operations, overt and covert.
Bayan described the bases treaty rejection as a "historic act of patriotism and a sterling achievement in the assertion of our national sovereignty."
"We should be proud of this accomplishment. Not many countries in the world can say that they successfully booted out foreign military bases. We did it through consistent struggle, through the mass movement that spanned several decades. It was a rare occasion for Philippine lawmakers to stand up for national sovereignty and national interest," said Bayan chair Carol Araullo.
"The younger generation should know of this historic moment when the Filipino people triumphed over decades-long foreign imposition. It was a major victory against US imperialism in Southeast Asia," she added.
Bayan however lamented that the people's victory of the US bases continues to be undermined by what it described as "lopsided agreements" such as the Visiting Forces Agreement.
"While US bases have left, US troops remain in the Philippines through the VFA and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement. Truth is, US troops have been permanently stationed in Mindanao since 2002, when the US initiated Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks," said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
"The Aquino government has uncritically accepted the permanent and continuing presence of US troops in Mindanao. These foreign troops have set up forward bases in Zamboanga and smaller facilities in Jolo and Tawi-Tawi. They are no longer visitors and are engaged in various military operations. They are stationed in the country 365 days a year. This is a reversal of the gains we made in eliminating US bases in the Philippines," Reyes added.
Bayan called on lawmakers and the executive branch to defend the hard-won gains of the rejection of the US bases by terminating the VFA and pushing for the immediate pull-out of US troops in Mindanao.
"The Aquino regime should not undermine the people's gains in removing the US bases. The VFA and the US troops based in Mindanao is a stark reminder that US intervention is alive and well even without the formal bases," Reyes said. ###
from: www.bayan.ph
