BAN Balikatan Unity Statement

We, the Bikolano Alliance for Nationalism against Balikatan (BAN BALIKATAN) composed of Sorsogon United Movement Against Balikatan (SUMABA KA), Alyansa ng Mamamayang Albayano Laban sa Balikatan (ALMAALAB), Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Balikatan - Camarines Sur Alliance, Youth Stop Balikatan, together with various people’s organization raise ourselves as one voice in strongly opposing the RP-US Balikatan in Bikol.

We believe that our right to self-determination and national sovereignty charts the course of our destiny as a people, a region and a country. We cannot allow this right to be trampled upon by continuous US intervention through the Balikatan Exercises in the region under the guise of “humanitarian missions.”

We believe that the long history of American intervention and control in our country and in the region brought about our backward economy and dependence. This dependence and control was put into various unilateral treaties signed between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States granting parity rights, economic and political rights favorable to American interests. They are the same interests that prompt the conduct of of the 25th Balikatan exercises in Bikol.

We believe that the constitutional mandate of the termination of the RP-US Military Bases in 1991 has not been fully respected. The safeguard of American interests in the South East Asia and Pacific rim was ensured through the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Balikatan Exercises that was based on the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA).

We vehemently abhor the disrespect for the constitutional provisions barring nuclear weapons in our country, and we demand for the accountability of damages caused by the toxic wastes brought by the Americans to our country.

We likewise put in question the provisions in the VFA, exempting American soldiers from criminal jurisdiction in the Philippine courts. We believe that such provisions are anti-people and disregard our dignity as a people.

We likewise believe that the Mutual Defense Treaty all the more put our country under threat of being a battleground of war between the US and its rival powers as proven during the second world war.

We expose the true character of the Arroyo government as a great protector of American interests and violator of human rights. The government’s war on terrorism justified under Oplan Bantay Laya I and II is supportive of the US global war against terrorism which have cause enormous violations of human rights ranging from threat, displacement of communities, abuse of women and children and extrajudicial killings which remain unresolved until today. The Bikol region has not been spared from the crimes and violations. While the Arroyo government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines prides itself as the protector of the people it, at the same time prides itself as a virtual partner of US in the war on terror.The accountability of the Arroyo government remains bleak and as elusive as its promise of economic development amidst the global crisis.

We doubt the sincerity and true intent of the “humanitarian missions” under Balikatan 2009 which will involve around 6,000 US troops and 2,500 Filipino soldiers. We see this as a front to their war exercises and intent to spy on the vast expanse of Bikol’s resources.

We therefore enjoin all patriotic Bikolanos and Filipinos to heed the call of exposing and opposing the Balikatan in Bikol. Let us join ranks in protecting our fellow Bikolanos, and our land Bikol.

We likewise call on individuals and organizations to support and participate in the multi-sectoral and multi-cultural campaigns and activities of the Bikolano Alliance for Nationalism against Balikatan.

Let us collectively work for true peace and justice taking the prime interests of the majority of our people who are poor and exploited!

Let us strongly uphold our dignity as a people, and as a country!

Let us strongly uphold our right to self-determination and national sovereignty!

STOP BALIKATAN in Bikol!
PULL OUT all US troops in the Philippines. NOW!
SCRAP the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement!