The return: US armed intervention in the Philippines
US Special Operations Forces land in Basilan. Alighting from MH-47 Chinook helicopters, different batches of the 160 Green Beret commandos with a mission to go into Basilan and pursue the Abu Sayyaf started arriving at the 103rd Infantry Brigade headquarters from February 17 onwards. Meanwhile, 10 soldiers of the US Green Berets died when their Chinook helicopter crashed last February 22. As in the case of the army helicopter that was allegedly fired upon somewhere in Northern Luzon last February 10, in violation of the specific terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement, no Filipino soldier was on board to accompany the Green Berets.
Terms of Reference, signed. Last February 13, thirteen days after US troops arrived in the country, the US and Philippine government signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) in order to start Balikatan 02-1. The ToR contains the rules concerning the conduct of Balikatan 02-1.
Robert Fitts, charge d�affaires of the US embassy in the Philippines, signed for the US government. Assistant Foreign Secretary for American Affairs Minerva Falcon signed for the Macapagal-Arroyo government. The Philippines had wanted Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona to sign the document but the US belittled the ToR and Guingona�s counterpart in rank, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, refused to sign it.
Macapagal-Arroyo had boasted that the ToR is the result of her insistence that the rules of Balikatan 02-1 be written in order to "allay the fears that the war games are not mere exercises and that it will weaken our sovereignty". This was nevertheless spurned by patriotic organizations and many among the people, as the ToR cannot at all conceal the operations aspect of Balikatan 02-1 and only proves that the mission of the American troops in Mindanao is armed intervention in internal matters.
Among the provisions of the ToR that prove these are:
1) the "training" is divided into three phases: deployment of 160 Green Berets in tandem with AFP field commanders in Basilan to pursue the Abu Sayyaf; "exercises to further advise, assist and train in Malagutay and Zamboanga" and "support activities in Cebu";
2) "The unit commands will be enforced by the respective commanders of the AFP and USAF" with an additional trimming "under the over-all authority of the Filipino and American co-director of the exercise";
3) The US forces will have the "right to self-defense" (without clarifying the entire meaning of the phrase).
US and World Bank to invest in Mindanao. The US plans to pour $20.2 million into Mindanao this year for so-called "development". The WB will also pour in $35 million the next five years for "development assistance". According to the WB, the fund will be increased "as soon as law and order returns", a not-so-direct way of endorsing Balikatan 02-1, and actually as gratuity for the regime�s surrender of national sovereignty and concession of complete freedom for the US to intervene as much as it wants to in the country.
Macapagal-Arroyo, the toughie. Like her bully of a master in George W. Bush, last February 8 Macapagal-Arroyo brusquesly derided the opposition to Balikatan 02-1. She branded them as "defenders of terrorists, partners in the business of murderers, and lovers of the Abu Sayyaf".
Macapagal-Arroyo�s statement reaped criticisms left and right. This was condemned by patriotic and militant forces and many among the people. It was also criticized by a number of her party mates, including Sen. Manuel Villar and Sen. Joker Arroyo.
Daily protests. Protest actions against Balikatan 02-1 take place in various parts of the country practically every day.
In Metro Manila, students and other groups stage successive protest actions in front of the US embassy. Their pickets and rallies against Balikatan 02-1 and US armed intervention in the country are forcibly dispersed.
Coinciding with the commemoration of the 103rd anniversary of the Filipino-American war last February 4, thousands of militants launched a "national day of protest against US intervention". In Butuan City, residents marched and chanted anti-US imperialist slogans. In Baguio City, national minorities beat gongs and performed indigenous dances
in the streets while burning the US flag. There were also protest actions in front of the US embassy in Manila, Clark Field in Angeles, Pampanga; Cebu; Davao; Naga and other cities of the Philippines.
Last February 6, some 54 people�s organizations, three regional coalitions, three sectoral alliances and 75 prominent personalities formed Out with US Troops Now! or OUT NOW!, a national coalition against US intervention. The coalition plans to collect one million signatures against Balikatan.
In Davao, about 7,000 protesters held a rally and signed a manifesto against Balikatan.
Last February 15, a caravan against Balikatan was staged by BAYAN in Cebu City. The caravan proceeded to Benito Ebuen Airbase in Mactan, Lapu-lapu City.
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