Don’t let VFA ‘benefits’ blind you
IBON FOUNDATION WARNS ARROYO
By Jun P. Yap, Daily Tribune
Instead of allowing itself to be blinded by so-called “benefits,” the Arroyo administration should seriously weigh the pros and cons of the Republic of the Philippines-United States (RP-US) Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
This was the reminder made yesterday by the independent think-tank Ibon Foundation in the wake of killings of members of militant groups and the rape of a 22-year-old Filipina in Subic, Olongapo City last November.
“Sovereignty has no price. Moreover, this ‘aid’ does not benefit Filipinos but even raises many issues on the humanitarian and development aspects of foreign aid,” Ibon research director Antonio Tujan said.
Besides, Tujan added, the aid provided by the VFA is not being used to uplift people’s conditions but is only a tool for “pacification.”
He said it is useless for Philippine officials like Presidential Commission on the VFA executive director Zosimo Paredes to warn the country could lose some $8 million a year in military aid.
Tujan pointed out the “aid” had become prominent in campaign against rebel groups, involving the systematic killing and repression of unarmed civilians.
Last year alone, he said 74 activists, including human rights lawyers, local government officials, Church workers and community organizers were killed supposedly by the military.
Earlier this week, members of the militant Bayan Muna non-government organization were killed in the provinces. Militants immediately blamed the military for the incident.
“Development programs and projects are being implemented not to truly address the development needs and agenda of poor Filipinos but to address the military and economic agenda of the US,” Tujan said.
He added so-called special relations with a past colonial master have no place in a country that claims to be independent.
“These relations must be established on the basis of mutual benefit and the non-compromise of each country’s sovereignty. The VFA clearly violates this basic principle and thus should be terminated,” he said.
By Jun P. Yap, Daily Tribune
Instead of allowing itself to be blinded by so-called “benefits,” the Arroyo administration should seriously weigh the pros and cons of the Republic of the Philippines-United States (RP-US) Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
This was the reminder made yesterday by the independent think-tank Ibon Foundation in the wake of killings of members of militant groups and the rape of a 22-year-old Filipina in Subic, Olongapo City last November.
“Sovereignty has no price. Moreover, this ‘aid’ does not benefit Filipinos but even raises many issues on the humanitarian and development aspects of foreign aid,” Ibon research director Antonio Tujan said.
Besides, Tujan added, the aid provided by the VFA is not being used to uplift people’s conditions but is only a tool for “pacification.”
He said it is useless for Philippine officials like Presidential Commission on the VFA executive director Zosimo Paredes to warn the country could lose some $8 million a year in military aid.
Tujan pointed out the “aid” had become prominent in campaign against rebel groups, involving the systematic killing and repression of unarmed civilians.
Last year alone, he said 74 activists, including human rights lawyers, local government officials, Church workers and community organizers were killed supposedly by the military.
Earlier this week, members of the militant Bayan Muna non-government organization were killed in the provinces. Militants immediately blamed the military for the incident.
“Development programs and projects are being implemented not to truly address the development needs and agenda of poor Filipinos but to address the military and economic agenda of the US,” Tujan said.
He added so-called special relations with a past colonial master have no place in a country that claims to be independent.
“These relations must be established on the basis of mutual benefit and the non-compromise of each country’s sovereignty. The VFA clearly violates this basic principle and thus should be terminated,” he said.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
12:42 PM
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