“It’s the GMA regime and not the Filipino people who welcome US troop presence in the country,” said KPD Secretary-General Chester Amparo adding that ‘US military presence is a detriment rather than an asset to national security’.
Eighty-five percent of US military assistance goes to South East Asia. From 2002 to 2005, the Philippines received USD $54 million annually. The country is the biggest recipient of US military assistance. Eight percent of Philippine military expenditure comes from US aid compared to Thailand’s 0.4 percent.
The group explained the US ‘multi-pronged’ tactic for Mindanao, proven true by recent developments: influx of so-called development projects facilitated by USAID, military presence employing ‘unconventional warfare’ and intervention in the peace negotiations between the GRP and MILF resulting in the controversial Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) through the United States Institute for Peace-Philippine Facilitation Project (USIP-PFP).
“US talons are embedded deep in Mindanao. Their presence can no longer be justified by Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the US-RP Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) or by the so-called war against terror, “pointed out Amparo.
For KPD, the US-led ‘war on terror’ should be assessed as it has been used as a pretext for repression and countless rights violations as well as sowing terror and in-security to the people’s of the world.
Amparo added that US troops presence in Mindanao is along the US objective of maintaining hegemony in South East Asia, serving as a deterrent to China, which it considers as a threat.
“These US troops have become virtual residents in Mindanao, staying for long periods of time, which is ‘basing’, a violation of the Constitution rather than ‘visiting’,” quipped Amparo, ‘an eventuality we raised during the deliberation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)’.
“They are mapping out our territory, meddling in our internal affairs, gathering intelligence and eyeing our resources. Clearly, they are out for what they can get from us, what is good for Uncle Sam is not necessarily good for Juan, “lamented Amparo.
“We gain nothing with their presence, and lose more in the process. No doubt, these troops need to be pulled out,” ended Amparo.
September 11, 2008
Reference: Chester Amparo, Sec-Gen, KPD (0917) 921 3144
Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokasya
(Movement for Nationalism and Democracy)
22-A Libertad Street, Brgy Highway Hills
Mabdaluyong City, Philippines
TelFax: (632) 7173262, email: kpd globelines.com.ph