US military intervention
| U S | | MILITARY |  | | INTERVENTION |
People's protests against Balikatan continue
The people have been tirelessly conducting protest actions against Balikatan. In various parts of the country, mass actions, both big and small, continue in opposition to the presence of US troops in the Philippines. Among the most significant are the following:
Protest caravan in Central Luzon. The opening of Balikatan 02-2 on April 22 was met with people's protests. Hundreds launched a protest caravan from Quezon City. Some 2,000 residents of Cabanatuan City joined the caravan that proceeded to Laur, Nueva Ecija where a program was held. It was led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Bayan Muna, Kilusang Mayo Uno and GABRIELA. The protesters rallied right in front of Fort Magsaysay despite efforts by Recom 3 to stop the mass action.
Another protest action also led by BAYAN rocked the closing of Balikatan 02-2 in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on May 6. About 1,000 demonstrators formed a human chain around the entrance to Clark. They demanded the immediate departure of American soldiers who had participated in the exercise.
Protest caravan in Southern Tagalog. Some 400 people from Calamba, Laguna launched a caravan on May 5 against the Joint RP-US Military Exercise in Ternate, Cavite. The caravan included 14 vehicles and passed through Trece Martires City, Naic, Maragondon, Tanza, Ternate and Noveleta, all in Cavite. It was led by BAYAN-Southern Tagalog and the Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism. The protesters also assailed the continuing militarization of Southern Tagalog.
Policemen tried to stop the protesters from holding their program when they reached the center of Cavite. Failing at this, the policemen made a ruckus on their own sound system to drown out the rallyists' cries.
Mass action by Aetas. Aetas from Central Luzon launched a protest action against Balikatan 02-2 in front of the US Embassy on April 30. They held a war dance to oppose their eviction from the Crow Valley Gunnery Range in Capas, Tarlac. Crow Valley, which forms part of the Aetas' ancestral lands, is used with every Balikatan exercise. Aside from the 40 Aeta families evicted from Sitio Tarukan due to Balikatan 02-2, another 20 families had earlier been evicted from Durungawan, a hill found within the gunnery range. US soldiers had set up a squadron building atop the hill.
High-ranking US military officials visit Basilan
The successive visits to Basilan of high-ranking US defense and military officials show that the significance of US military presence goes beyond the pursuit of a handful of Abu Sayyaf bandits.
On April 28, Gen. Richard Myers, the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and the highest-ranking US military official, visited troops "in training" in Zamboanga City and Basilan -- the first such visit since the Balikatan exercises were held in 1981.
On May 7, US Army Department Undersecretary Les Brownlee arrived to inspect US soldiers deployed in Zamboanga and Basilan.
On May 5, Lt. Gen. Wallace Gregson, commander of the US Marines 3rd Expeditionary Force arrived along with 160 more US Special Forces troops.
Jetfighter crashes on school, houses in Mabalacat
An Air Force F-5 Freedom Fighter jet exploded in midair and crashed on the Mabalacat Elementary school in Pampanga on May 2.
Jesus Rivera, a teacher, sustained burns in his entire body and died in hospital, while 10 other civilians were wounded. Four buildings within the school premises were destroyed with the jetifighter's crash.
Victims have expressed concern over a possible repeat of the incident during subsequent military exercises. They were also concerned about suffering the same fate as previous victims of similar accidents who were not paid damages. Prior to this, residents of Mabalacat had expressed misgivings that their town, which is packed with residential areas, was within flying range of the warplanes.
The jetfighter was on its way back to Clark air Base from landing practice in Ternate, Cavite when it exploded.
Balikatan aircrafts worry Zambales residents
Residents of Barangay Palanginan, Iba, Zambales complained in the last week of April about the noise coming from aircraft used in Balikatan 02-2. They said that low-flying Cobras, Black Hawks and F-18 Hornets have been causing anxiety among their children and upsetting their farm animals.
Meanwhile, fishermen from San Antonio, Zambales expressed concern about their safety because of the mock bombing exercises conducted by these fighter planes. They said that San Antonio lies very near Capones Island, which used to be a favorite target range of American troops.
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