MEDIA RELEASE 28 January 2000
US troops and war exercises are not welcome in the country. This is the message of cause-oriented groups led by the Junk VFA Movement to US military personnel and servicemen arriving at the country today as they revealed their plan to hold a caravan from Manila to Central Luzon to protest the staging of the Balikatan joint military exercises.
Aside from the caravan and rallies, the group also launched their campaign to declare regions, communities and certain areas around the country as “VFA-free zones.”
According to Junk VFA Movement convenor Danilo Vizmanos, the war games will only work to the advantage of the US.
“The Philippines will be used like pawns in playing out the US geopolitical strategy in the region. Balikatan is going to be a showcase of American military might and is one way of saying that US military presence is getting stronger in the region,” said Vizmanos.
“Every time we engage in these war games, there is always the danger of antagonizing our neighbors. We should note that US war exercises are always timed before any military offensives, such as what happened in Operation Desert Storm and the series of Yugoslavia bombings and other brewing ‘hot spots.’
There is always an implicit message sent to US foes. There is always the danger that we could be dragged into wars not of our own making,” he said.
Vizmanos, a retired Navy Captain also belied claims made by the Dept. of National Defense officials that the war games would serve to upgrade the technical skills of the armed forces.
“My consistent observation when I was still in the active service was that participating units of the AFP in joint military exercises were always treated as ‘kasaling-pusa’ by modernized and highly sophisticated US military forces. This cavalier treatment still applies up to the present,” he said.
The Junk VFA Movement is against the staging of war exercises for a number of reasons ranging from its adverse effects on the environment, the social problems associated with visiting US troops, and the undermining of national sovereignty.
The caravan will be held on February 20-21 and will stop at the military base where war exercises are being held during that period. Among the participating organizations are the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, KMU, Gabriela, League of Filipino Students, Kalikasan, the Church People’s Movement Against the VFA, the Promotion for Churchpeople’s Response, Anakbayan, the Health Alliance for Democracy, Rx Junk VFA, and Kalas-VFA.
Junk VFA Movement Convenor retired Capt. Danilo Vizmanos urged concerned Filipinos to declare their schools, offices, and religious buildings, sitios, barangays, and even towns as “VFA-free zones” and put up anti-war games signposts.
On Jan. 30, the Junk VFA Movement and Bayan will stage a rally in front of the US Embassy and on Feb. 4, the anniversary of the Filipino-American War, the League of Filipino Students will also rally at the embassy. ###