A Resounding STOP BALIKATAN! - CONDOR-PISTON Bicol

PAHAYAG SA MIDYA
Enero 20, 2009
Reference: JOEL ASCUTIA, Regional President – PISTON Deputy Secretary General (09153199469 / 4834624)

RP-US BALIKATAN Exercise, Instrumento para sa Higit na Proteksyon sa Industriya ng Langis at sa Interes ng Estados Unidos!

BALIKATAN Exercise TUTULAN AT LABANAN!

Tinututulan ng CONDOR-PISTON-BICOL ang pagsasagawa ng ika 25 RP-US BALIKATAN Exercise sa Bikol. Ito ay tahasang paglabag sa soberanya, integridad at mga probinsyon sa Saligang Batas ng bansa.

Ito ay pagyurak sa kalayaan ng bansa at direktang panghihimasok sa internal na mga usaping dapat ay responsalidad ng ating gubyerno. Ang pagpasok ng mga sundalong Amerikano ay magdudulot ng mas malalalim na suliraning sosyal dahil sa pagdisrespeto sa ating kultura, tradisyon, relihiyon at kababaihan.

Ang RP-US BALIKATAN Exercise ay ang magkasanib na ehersisyo militar ng mga sundalong Amerikano at sundalong Pilipino. Sa bahagi ng mga sundalong Pilipino, layunin nitong mapamilyarisa at matuto sa mga makabagong teknika sa pakikidigma partikular sa paggamit ng mga sopistikadong kagamitan at sandatang pandigma.

Sa kabilang banda, matuto naman ang mga sundalong Amerikano sa mga bagong operasyong pangkombat sa mga kagubatan ng bansa.

Kung kaya’t hindi kami naniniwala sa sinasabi ng mga tagapagsalita ng BALIKATAN na “purong humanitarian mission” ang pakay nito, ito ay isa lamang na panlilinlang at panloloko sa mamamayan para maisagawa ang mas madilim na pakay nitong maglunsad ng mga operasyong militar laban sa mga mamamayang tumututol sa paghahari ng Estados sa buong mundo at sa rehimeng Arroyo bilang pinakamasugid na tagasunod nito sa bansa.

Sa pangunguna ng sektor ng tranportasyon at CONDOR-PISTON sa Bikol, naitambol natin sa bansa at sa buong daigdig ang ating malakas na panawagang buwagin ang pandaigdigang kartel sa industriya ng langis. Isa sa pangunahing pinagkukunan ng limpak limpak na kita ng Estados Unidos ang pagmamay-ari sa mga dambuhalang kumpanya ng langis gaya ng PETRON at CALTEX na siya ring nagdodomina sa bansa.

Sa bisa ng OIL DEREGULATION Law, nais ng US na manatili ang kanyang kontrol sa negosyong ito at tahasan nitong gagamitin ang kanyang pwersang militar para nyutralisahin at supilin ang higit pang lumalakas na paglaban ng sektor kasama ang buong mamamayang Bikolano at Pilipino.

Naninindigan din kami na hindi kailangang magsagawa muna ng BALIKATAN Exercise kung seryoso ang gobyernong Arroyo na tugunan ang problema ng mamamayan Bikolano sa kagutuman, kalusugan, eskwelahan at iba pa.

Hindi rin kailangan ang mga sundalong Amerikano para magpatupad nito dahil mayroon tayong mga ahensya at organisasyong sibiko na may ma kakayahan at karanasan sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong ito.

Huwag tayong pumayag na insultuhin at bastusin ang ating kalayaan at kasarinlan ng NUMERO UNONG TERORISTA sa daigdig na Estados Unidos. Magkaisa tayong tutulan at labanan ang BALIKATAN Exercise sa Bicol at saanmang lugar sa Pilipinas.

Buwagin ang Pandaigdigang Kartel sa Langis!

Wakasan ang Imperyalitang Pandarambong sa Bansa at sa Daigdig!

STOP BALIKATAN!

Gabriela Calls for Cancellation of Balikatan Exercises in Bicol

Kanselasyon ng Balikatan sa Bicol ipinanawagan

IPINANAWAGAN ni Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan ang kanselasyon ng Balikatan Exercises sa Bicol dahil sa maraming kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng mga sundalong Kano sa Mindanao.

Inanunsiyo kamakailan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines na magsisimula sa Abril ang Balikatan Exercises, ehersisyong militar sa pagitan ng US at Pilipinas, sa mga probinsya ng Albay, Masbate, at Sorsogon sa rehiyon ng Bicol.

Pero ayon kay Ilagan, sa mga lugar sa Mindanao na pinaglulunsaran ng Balikatan Exercises, "naghahasik ng terorismo ang mga sundalong Kano sa mga sibilyang komunidad, at kailanman hindi sila pinapanagot sa ilalim ng batas dahil sa immunity na ibinibigay mismo ni Pangulong Arroyo."

Inihalimbawa ng kongresista ang kaso ni Arsid Baharun of Zamboanga City na nasugatan sa testing missions ng mga sundalong Kano noong 2004. Noong 2006 naman, nasugatan ang 50-anyos na si Bizma Juhan nang sumabog ang isang bomba sa ehersisyong militar ng mga tropang Kano sa Indanan, Sulu.

Nauna nang binatikos ng National Democratic Front- Bicol ang Balikatan Exercises na umano'y layong durugin ang mga komunistang rebeldeng New People's Army.

"Walang bandidong Abu Sayyaf o anumang teroristang grupo sa Bikol, at wala ring malalang kalamidad sa nakaraang dalawang taon upang gawing batayan ng Balikatan. Malinaw na ang tunay na pakay ng tropang US ay makialam sa palpak na counter-insurgency program ng AFP," pahayag ni Greg Banares, tagapagsalita ng NDF-Bicol.

Aniya pa, layon ng mga tropang Kano na isarbey ang mga kalupaan sa rehiyon para tiktikan ang NPA at para mapakinabangan ng mga kompanyang US na interesado sa mga likas-yaman doon.

Labag umano ito sa pambansang soberanya at integridad sa teritoryo ng Pilipinas.- Pinoy Weekly Online

“Gen. Simeon Ola would turn in his grave with Balikatan 09”- BAYAN-Bicol

News Release
January 15, 2009
Reference: Tessa Lopez, public information officer, BAYAN-Bikol

“Gen. Simeon Ola would turn in his grave with Balikatan 09”- BAYAN-Bikol

The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) said that the famous Bicolano revolutionary hero General Simeon Ola would have a fit when he learns that the US troops he had fought against for so long will not only be welcomed in the region but the red carpet would be rolled out for them by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

According to Tessa Lopez, public information officer of BAYAN-Bikol, “Gen. Ola, whose name honors the PNP regional camp in Legazpi City is known to be the last Filipino revolutionary general to surrender to the Americans during the Philippine-American War. The brave general would turn in his grave if he knows that the land he so fervently defended would just be opened up to our foreign oppressors,”

“What the AFP and PNP are doing is treason; these US troops trampled on our sovereignty by being here and meddling in our country’s affairs and second, they do not even have the decency to say the real reason for their operations here” added the militant leader.

“Like Gen. Ola we must continuously oppose the presence of US troops in our country. We must voice out our opposition against the Balikatan exercises and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA),” ended Lopez. # # #

"Balikatan 2009: A Disguised Psy-War Operation Targeting Bicolanos" - KARAPATAN - Bicol

This is a reaction to the PDI article last January 9, titled “RP-US ‘Balikatan’ goes to Bicol; no war games. The US Armed Forces as well as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are blatantly deceiving the public of the real purpose of Balikatan 09 to be held here in Bicol.

The mere fact that they call their intelligence and psychological warfare operations as “humanitarian missions” is unforgivable. They are using these so-called missions to monitor and gather intelligence against farmers and other Bicolanos who voice out their opposition against oppressive government policies. The US troops then pass on the intelligence gathered to the AFP to harass or kill these people. To date since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took power in 2001, at least 71, 850 have been victims of human rights violations in Bicol, included are 166 victims of extra-judicial killings.

This is the height of temerity and is very unbecoming for our so-called visitors. If they are indeed visitors then they should be thrown out. Both the US troops and the AFP do not respect anything or anybody. First, the US soldiers trampled our sovereignty by being here and meddling in our country’s affairs and second, they do not even have the decency to say the real reason for their operations here.

These US troops should be declared “persona non grata” by all the governors of the region. If they cannot respect the collective intellect of Bicolanos then they would have nothing but contempt for common folk, which will lead to more human rights violations.

This again is another reason for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to be junked and not to let another such travesty to our country happen again.


John Concepcion
Spokesperson
KARAPATAN-Bikol
664 Barangay 17, Legazpi City, Albay

BAYAN-Bicol lambasts Balikatan

News Release

January 9, 2009

Reference: Tessa Lopez, public information officer, BAYAN-Bikol

BAYAN-Bikol: “Balikatan 09 is a disguised intelligence and psywar operation! US troops should be declared “persona non grata”

The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) lambasted the US Armed Forces as well as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for blatantly deceiving the public of the real purpose of Balikatan 09 to be held here in Bicol.

According to Tessa Lopez, public information officer of BAYAN-Bikol, “Both the US troops and the AFP do not respect anything or anybody. First, they trampled on our sovereignty by being here and meddling in our country’s affairs and second, they do not even have the decency to say the real reason for their operations here”

“These US troops should be declared “persona non grata” by all the governors of the region. If they cannot respect the intelligence of Bicolanos then they would have nothing but contempt for common folk, which will lead to more human rights violations” said Lopez.

“The mere fact that they call their intelligence and psychological warfare operations as “humanitarian missions” is unforgivable. They are using these so-called missions to monitor and gather intelligence against farmers and other people who voice out their opposition against oppressive government policies. The US troops then pass on the intelligence gathered to the AFP to harass or kill these people. This is the height of temerity and is very unbecoming for our so-called visitors. If they are indeed visitors then they should be thrown out,” added the militant leader.

“This again is another reason for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to be junked and not to let another such travesty to our country happen again,” ended Lopez.

Balikatan 09 is the 25^th Balikatan exercise since the VFA was signed. # # #

Habo Kami Kan Balikatan sa Bicol!!! (We are Against Balikatan in Bicol!)

Bikolanong Makabayan Ayaw sa Balikatan! (Nationalists Bicolanos Against Balikatan!)

BAN Balikatan agrees...

This is a recent report in the GMA Network's Regional News regarding Balikatan in Bicol.

NDF calls for opposition to ‘Balikatan’ in Bicol

MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels have vowed to resist the upcoming RP-US Balikatan exercises that will be held in the Bicol region this year.

National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Bicol spokesman Gregorio Bañares said residents in the region should not be fooled by US claims of "humanitarian missions."

"Para sa US, magkasinghalaga ang pagpatay ng isang ekstremista at ang mga 'humanitarian missions' sa kontra-insurhensya. Kung kaya't ginagamit nito ang mga pekeng 'humanitarian missions' upang magsarbey ng karagatan at kalupaan ng bansa at maniktik laban sa rebolusyunaryong kilusan (For the United States, the humanitarian missions are just a cover for surveying Philippine terrain and spying on the revolutionary movement)," Bañares said in a statement on the Communist Party of the Philippines website.

Several provinces in Bicol are considered infested by New People's Army (NPA), armed wing of the CPP and NDFP.

On the other hand, Bañares said the exercises are a form of US military intervention.

This is a form of US military intervention that violates our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

Because of these, he urged residents in Bicol to resist the Balikatan exercises, which are reportedly due to start this February.

"Walang bandidong Abu Sayyaf o anumang teroristang grupo sa Bikol, at wala ring malalang kalamidad sa nakaraang dalawang taon upang gawing batayan ng BALIKATAN EXERCISES. Malinaw na ang tunay na pakay ng tropang US ay makialam sa palpak na counter-insurgency program ng AFP laban sa CPP-NPA-NDF (There is no Abu Sayyaf or terrorist group in Bicol. Neither is there any calamity. It is clear that the objective of the Balikatan exercise is to bolster the government's failed counterinsurgency efforts)," he said. - GMANews.TV

More News Reports about the Bicol Balikatan

This appeared in today's edition of The Philippine Star's online site under the National news section:

RP-US Balikatan in Bicol to focus on rehabilitation work
By James Mananghaya Updated January 09, 2009 12:00 AM

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro defended the conduct of this year’s RP-US Balikatan military exercise in the Bicol region, saying it would focus on rehabilitation work in calamity-stricken areas and would not meddle in the anti-insurgency campaign there.

“It is a good place where we can work together for the rehabilitation of calamity-prone areas (and) calamity-stricken areas. That goes to show also that there is going to be an emphasis on voluntary assistance and disaster relief operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response under the Philippine Defense Reform, a voluntary demonstration of response which is ASEAN-wide, too,” he said.

Greg Banares, spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Bicol, said there is no terrorist group in the region and that there have been no major calamities there in the last two years to warrant the conduct of Balikatan.

Teodoro said calamity victims in Bicol would benefit from the humanitarian projects and that the Balikatan would have little impact on the military’s internal security operations.

Meanwhile, in a press briefing in Legazpi City yesterday, Maj. Llewellyn Binasoy, chief of the Research and Special Concerns Division of the Armed Forces’ Civil-Military Operations, said Philippine and US forces “are now in the process of detailed planning in consultation with local stakeholders” to ensure the Balikatan’s success.

Capt. Kelly Schmader, commander of the 13th Naval Construction Regiment of the US Pacific Fleet, said some 450 US military personnel would take part in Balikatan. – With Celso Amo
###

TV Patrol Bicol on Balikatan in Bicol

TV Patrol Bicol episode January 8, 2009, reported the recently conducted AFP-Bicol press conference with regards to the 25th Balikatan exercises in Bicol which will commence by April, 2009.

According to declarations of US Military and AFP spokespersons, the provinces chosen as the primary sites of Balikatan are Masbate, Sorsogon and Albay. They will be concentrating in the 3rd district of Albay, Municipalities of Uson and Mobo in Masbate and Municipalities of Juban and Irosin in Sorsogon.

The US Military spokesperson, Captain Kelly Schmader declared that they are committed to conducting Humanitarian Missions and nothing else.

By the 1st week of April, Medical Missions will be commenced and even veterinarians will also be available.

By the 2nd week of April, they will start the Infrastructure project, wherein construction of water facilities will be the priority. The construction materials for these projects will be purchased mainly in Bicol to help the industry.

The US Government/US Military had initially budgeted $450,000 USD for these projects.

Watch the full report about this at TV Patrol Bicol, January 8, 2009 episode by downloading the video.

What the US Military says about this Balikatan exercises in Bicol being purely Humanitarian Missions is all very well, but we must not forget that they have also said the same about the previous Balikatan exercises in Mindanao which culminated to cases of civilian executions, killings, damage of property, and other military atrocities and abuses of power committed shamelessly by no less than US military servicemen and AFP personnel who are part of the Balikatan.

Let us also not forget about the Subic Rape Case wherein several members of US troops from Balikatan were involved - Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith and 3 other US military servicemen were convicted of sexually assaulting and gang raping 22 year-old Nicole, a Filipino.

Bicolanos of Sorsogon Against Balikatan

BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN - SORSOGON

Pahayag Sa Media
Enero 8, 2009

ANG BALIKATAN AY INSTRUMENTO NG
PANDAIGDIGANG TERORISMO NG US SA PILIPINAS

Nandito na sa Lalawigan ng Sorsogon ang BALIKATAN, isang magkasanib na ehersisyong militar ng armadong pwersa ng US at ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), sa ilalim ng Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) at Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA). Layunin diumano ng BALIKATAN na sanayin at paunlarin ang kakayahan ng AFP sa pagsugpo sa terorismo.

Isinagawa na ang BALIKATAN sa iba’t ibang panig ng Pilipinas: sa Gitnang Luzon, Basilan, Sulu, Zamboanga, at iba pang mga probinsya sa Gitna at Kanlurang Mindanao. Nag-iiwan ng malaking pinsala sa kalikasan, kapaligiran, at pamumuhay ng mamamayan ang BALIKATAN, huwag nang banggitin pa ang napakaraming malulubhang paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng mga mamamayang naninirahan sa mga lugar na pinagdausan nito. Taliwas ito sa ipinangakong pag-unlad ng mga komunidad sa sandaling ang BALIKATAN ay idaos sa mga ito..

Mariing tinututulan ng BAYAN-Sorsogon ang paglulunsad ng BALIKATAN dito sa ating lalawigan:

Una, ito ay labag sa soberanya at panteritoryong integridad ng Pilipinas. Ito ay labag din sa ating Saligang Batas na nagbabawal ng pagkakaroon ng dayuhang base militar at dayuhang tropang militar sa ating bayan;

Pangalawa, ito ay hindi para sa interes ng sambayanang Pilipino, kundi para sa mapandambong na pang-ekonomiyang interes at disenyo ng imperyalistang US sa Pilipinas;

Pangatlo, ito ay mas lalong magpapalubha sa sitwasyon ng insurhensya sa ating lalawigan. Napakalaking banta sa kapayapaan ng lalawigan ang presensya ng mga tropang Amerikano dito;

Pang-apat, katulad ng nangyari sa Basilan at Sulu, ang BALIKATAN dito sa atin ay maaaring humantong sa pagkalulubhang paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng mga sibilyan tulad ng walang pakundangang pamamaril, panununog ng bahay, sapilitang pagpapalikas, paninira ng mga ari-arian at komunidad, pamamaslang, pananakit at marami pang iba;

Panglima, ito ay magiging dahilan ng paglaganap ng prostitusyon at pagkalat ng mga nakahahawang sakit na tulad ng AIDS, herpes, syphilis at gonorrhea, at paglaganap din ng mga droga at kriminalidad at iba pang gawaing anti-sosyal sa lalawigan; at,

Panghuli, ipinaiilalim nito ang mga lokal na pamahalaan sa sarili nitong programa sa mga lugar na pinaglulunsaran nito. Halimbawa ay ang naganap na insidente sa pagdating ng mga sundalo na magkokondukta ng inspeksyon sa Juban at Irosin na siyang site ng BALIKATAN nitong Enero 7. Isang malaking breach of protocol na ang mga tropang Amerikano ang puntahan ni Gob. Sally A. Lee sa Juban sa halip na ang mga ito ang magpunta sa luklukan ng pamahalaang panlalawigan sa Kabisera ng Sorsogon upang magbigay galang sa pinuno ng lalawigan.

Walang ganansya ang mamamayan ng Sorsogon sa BALIKATAN. Ito ay nakadisenyo sa gera at panghihimasok na hindi maaaring pagtakpan ng mga humanitarian, medical at dental missions at mga construction at infrastructure projects. Nagmamaskara lamang ang imperyalismong US sa likod ng mga proyektong ito. Ang tunay na mukha at intensyon ng US ay makikita sa gerang agresyon nito sa Iraq at Afghanistan at panghihimasok sa mga bayang lumalaban sa imperyalistang pandarambong.

Huwag tayong magpapalinlang. Hindi ang mga kilusan sa pambansang pagpapalaya, mga pambansang demokratikong organisasyon, at mga mamamayang lumalaban sa US ang mga terorista. Ang US ang NUMERO UNONG TERORISTA sa buong daigdig.

Latest about Balikatan in Bicol

RP, US announce April Balikatan Exercises 2009 in Bicol
By Celso Amo Updated January 08, 2009 03:30 PM

LEGAZPI CITY—Representatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States have announced that the Balikatan Exercise this year will be conducted this coming April in the Bicol region.

Major Llewellyn Binasoy, chief of the Research and Special Concerns Division of the Civil Military Operations of the AFP, said the Balikatan Exercise, which is an annual bilateral military exercise between the Philippines and the United States for the past 15 years will be held in April.

“At present, both forces are now in the process of detailed planning in consultation with local stakeholders to ensure the success of the scheduled Balikatan Exercise 2009,” said Binasoy during a press briefing at the conference room of the Venezia Hotel here this morning.

Binasoy said the primary objective of the exercise is to improve the inter-operability of both forces for mutual defense in accordance with the Mutual Defense Treaty.

“While the primary function remains to make both forces ready to aid each other, the conduct of the exercise has evolved and is continuously evolving,” Binasoy said, adding that for this year, the Balikatan Exercise will help communities in the Bicol Region by conducting medical, dental, veterinary and other humanitarian assistance like repair of school buildings, put up water systems and construct farm to market roads.

Capt. Kelly Schmader, commander of the 13th Naval Construction Regiment of the United States Pacific Fleet, said that some 450 US personnel will be joining the military exercises.

Thee cost of the project is shouldered jointly by both parties with the US allotting some $450,000.