Groups forming united front vs RP-US military exercises

A broad coalition of political groups, which banded together last year to seek the resignation of then President Joseph Estrada, are once again setting aside ideological differences to form a united front against the holding of the RP-US war games.

Prominent political personalities, led by former Senate president Jovito Salonga, are meeting today to declare a common stand in denouncing President Arroyo’s decision to use US forces in operations against Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Mindanao.

Cookie Diokno, executive director of the Free Legal Assistance Group and a convenor of the movement, said they want to involve as many individuals and groups possible.

"The public needs to know the grand deception Malacañang has foisted to justify the conduct of the joint war exercises in Mindanao," Diokno said.

Also spearheading the movement are former Quezon Rep. Wigberto Tañada, UP political scientist Rolando Simbulan, activist Cora Fabros of Nuclear Free Philippines and Nini Quezon-Avanceña of the Jose W. Diokno Foundation.

Groups like PEACE-CAMP, an alliance of peace advocates, Sanlakas and Akbayan have already signified their intention to attend the gathering, which will be held at the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement national office in Quezon City.

Militant party-list group Bayan Muna and its allied organizations as well as the political opposition have also been invited.

Akbayan national president Walden Bello described US intervention in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf as "the biggest threat to national security."

"We are positive that our movement will bring a united front in fighting US intervention in our soil," Bello said.

He warned that the entry of the Americans would only worsen the political and social conflicts in Mindanao.

Rizza Hontiveros-Baraquel, a member of the government peace panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the status of the peace negotiations with the secessionist group could be imperiled by escalation of conflict in the region.

"This does not augur well with our efforts to resolve the conflict holistically," she said.

Militant groups hold anti-US rally

Meanwhile, militant groups held a rally in front of the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard yesterday to condemn the RP-US Balikatan military exercises in Basilan, Nueva Ecija and other provinces.

Protesters, led by the women’s group Gabriela and the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy, described as "scandalous" the recent agreement reached at the National Security Council meeting.

"The agreement ensured that all opposition against direct US intervention would be silenced so that the puppet Arroyo government can serve its master unencumbered," said Gabriela deputy secretary general Emmi de Jesus.

She also condemned the Visiting Forces Agreement, which called for annual war exercises between Filipino and US soldiers in the Philippines.

"The presence of the US military and their direct intervention in the country’s internal affairs are vulgar and offensive. So is President Arroyo’s wanton invitation for the US troops to interfere with our concerns," De Jesus said.

During the rally, some protesters tried to paste an anti-VFA placard over the seal of US Embassy but were thwarted by anti-riot policemen. No injuries were reported during the incident.

Gabriela said the another pressing concern would be the number of women and children subjected to violence and abuse due to the presence of US troops.

De Jesus said there are currently some 2,000 registered commercial sex workers in Zamboanga City, with more prostitutes from Manila starting to flock to the city.

"With the entry of more than 600 US soldiers, Zamboanga may be the next Olongapo or Angeles," she said.

When the US still had military bases in the late 1980s, over 55,000 women and children worked the red light districts near Clark and Subic. – With Sandy Araneta, Cecille Suerte Felipe