Muslim groups oppose joint
RP-US Balikatan in Sulu
text & photo HADER GLANG
Bangsamoro clinch fist.
The Suara Bangsamoro Partylist and the Union of Muslims for Morality & Truth (UMMAT) have expressed opposition to the upcoming joint RP-US military exercises in Sulu despite claims that it will be heavier on humanitarian missions and civic assistance.
In a press statement, Jolo town councilor Cocoy Tulawie, vice president of the group Suara Bangsamoro, said the people of Sulu would stand united against the US military intervention in the province because it will worsen the critical situation it is in.
“Last year, US forces used humanitarian missions as an alibi to rationalize their presence in the province,” Tulawie said. “Their mere presence might provoke war and permeate a sense of fear and insecurity on the majority of the people who have a clear mistrust against the US government.”
He said the US forces will never win the hearts of the people by doing infrastructure and other civic activities because they know about their vested economic and political interests in Sulu and Mindanao.
He also noted that Sulu has been the stage of two war offensives by the AFP, in February and November last year, which have displaced thousands of civilians and brought “grave casualties.
Lawyer Nasser Marohomsalic, the head convener of the group UMMAT, which is composed of prominent Muslim professionals in Metro Manila and Mindanao calling for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s removal, affirmed Tulawi’s claims.
Marohomsalic said that various cases have been brought before the Commission on Human Rights, independent human rights groups, the congress, and the senate implicating some US personnel in crimes against Filipino civilians.
He said that in the balikatan held in Basilan last January 2002, US soldier Reggie Lane was implicated in the shooting of Buyong-buyong Isnijal, a resident and farmer in Basilan whose house was raided by some US and RP troops during an actual pursuit operation against the Abu Sayyaf group.
The lawyer alleged that the Isnijal versus Lane case never progressed for this US soldier was immediately spirited out of the country. “Hence, the US presence in any part of the country is tantamount to atrocities that will rarely or never at all be mete out with justice.”
US officials explained that the Exercise Balikatan 2006, is an annual Republic of the Philippines-U.S. bilateral combined exercise, which will be held in the Philippines 20 February-5 March 2006 simultaneously on the islands of Cebu, Luzon, and Sulu.
“This exercise will be structured to further develop the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in crisis action planning, enhancing its ability to effectively conduct counter terrorism operations, and promote interoperability between participating countries,” said Ltc Mark Zimmer, US public affairs officer and Joint Special Task Force – Philippines.
Zimmer said the exercise demonstrates U.S. resolve, consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement, to train, advise and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
The joint exercise will be conducted in three simultaneous events. Event one will be a combined task force (CTF) staff exercise. Event two will be cross-training and field training exercises, which will improve interoperability of U.S.
military and the AFP.
Event three will be humanitarian and civic assistance, which will improve RP-US military civic action cooperation, and train civil-military personnel to work together with a focus on civic assistance. Approximately 250 U.S. personnel will conduct with AFP counterparts multiple medical, dental, veterinary and engineering civic action projects during this event in Sulu as part of Project Bayanihan.
Approximately 5,500 U.S. personnel and approximately 2,800 Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel will participate in the exercise. Balikatan 2006 is the 22nd in the series of these exercises. (ZS)
RP-US Balikatan in Sulu
text & photo HADER GLANG
Bangsamoro clinch fist.
The Suara Bangsamoro Partylist and the Union of Muslims for Morality & Truth (UMMAT) have expressed opposition to the upcoming joint RP-US military exercises in Sulu despite claims that it will be heavier on humanitarian missions and civic assistance.
In a press statement, Jolo town councilor Cocoy Tulawie, vice president of the group Suara Bangsamoro, said the people of Sulu would stand united against the US military intervention in the province because it will worsen the critical situation it is in.
“Last year, US forces used humanitarian missions as an alibi to rationalize their presence in the province,” Tulawie said. “Their mere presence might provoke war and permeate a sense of fear and insecurity on the majority of the people who have a clear mistrust against the US government.”
He said the US forces will never win the hearts of the people by doing infrastructure and other civic activities because they know about their vested economic and political interests in Sulu and Mindanao.
He also noted that Sulu has been the stage of two war offensives by the AFP, in February and November last year, which have displaced thousands of civilians and brought “grave casualties.
Lawyer Nasser Marohomsalic, the head convener of the group UMMAT, which is composed of prominent Muslim professionals in Metro Manila and Mindanao calling for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s removal, affirmed Tulawi’s claims.
Marohomsalic said that various cases have been brought before the Commission on Human Rights, independent human rights groups, the congress, and the senate implicating some US personnel in crimes against Filipino civilians.
He said that in the balikatan held in Basilan last January 2002, US soldier Reggie Lane was implicated in the shooting of Buyong-buyong Isnijal, a resident and farmer in Basilan whose house was raided by some US and RP troops during an actual pursuit operation against the Abu Sayyaf group.
The lawyer alleged that the Isnijal versus Lane case never progressed for this US soldier was immediately spirited out of the country. “Hence, the US presence in any part of the country is tantamount to atrocities that will rarely or never at all be mete out with justice.”
US officials explained that the Exercise Balikatan 2006, is an annual Republic of the Philippines-U.S. bilateral combined exercise, which will be held in the Philippines 20 February-5 March 2006 simultaneously on the islands of Cebu, Luzon, and Sulu.
“This exercise will be structured to further develop the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in crisis action planning, enhancing its ability to effectively conduct counter terrorism operations, and promote interoperability between participating countries,” said Ltc Mark Zimmer, US public affairs officer and Joint Special Task Force – Philippines.
Zimmer said the exercise demonstrates U.S. resolve, consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement, to train, advise and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
The joint exercise will be conducted in three simultaneous events. Event one will be a combined task force (CTF) staff exercise. Event two will be cross-training and field training exercises, which will improve interoperability of U.S.
military and the AFP.
Event three will be humanitarian and civic assistance, which will improve RP-US military civic action cooperation, and train civil-military personnel to work together with a focus on civic assistance. Approximately 250 U.S. personnel will conduct with AFP counterparts multiple medical, dental, veterinary and engineering civic action projects during this event in Sulu as part of Project Bayanihan.
Approximately 5,500 U.S. personnel and approximately 2,800 Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel will participate in the exercise. Balikatan 2006 is the 22nd in the series of these exercises. (ZS)
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