PUTTING THE ASIA-PACIFIC PIVOT IN PERSPECTIVE

THE BIG PICTURE: US GLOBAL HEGEMONY

FOCUS ON ASIA-PACIFIC

THE US PIVOT TO ASIA-PACIFIC:

IMPACT OF MILITARIZATION ON THE PHILIPPINES..

THE US NEVER REALLY LEFT THE PHILIPPINES. .

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THOUSANDS OF US TROOPS ARRIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE ANNUAL 2013 MILITARY EXERCISES CALLED “BALIKATAN”, APRIL 5-17, 2013

THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT

A US AIRCRAFT CARRIER ESCORTED BY A DESTROYER AND A FRIGATE FROM PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ENTERING THE PHILIPPINE SEA

A US F-16 FALCON TAKING OFF AT CLARK AIR BASE , PHILIPPINES

Back in business. Although Clark Field is no longer a US Air Base, US warplanes can use it again (at no upkeep and maintenance expenses!)

Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Philippines is a Philippine Air Force Base; now the US Air Force can use it (as well as other airfields in the Philippines.)

US MARINE CHINOOK HELICOPTERS TAKING OFF FROM A BASA AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA BLANCA, PAMPANGA)

THE USS FRANK GABLE (AS 40 SUBMARINE TENDER) ANCHORED AT A PORT IN CEBU CITY, CENTRAL PHILIPPINES (March 22, 2013)

THE US AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS GEORGEWASHINGTON, ANCHORED IN MANILA BAY

Many US warships make frequent visits to Manila where they resupply for provisions and their officers and men take their R&R in the bars and motels.

THE ASIA PIVOT REINFORCES US MILITARY INTERVENTION IN THE PHILIPPINES

o. A US soldier teaching a Filipino soldier how to fight and kill Filipino peasant guerrillas.o. The common excuse/justification of the US military presence in the Philippines (in violation of the Philippine Constitution) is to “train Filipino soldiers and to conduct humanitarian work and engage in disaster relief.”

A MEMBER OF THE US JSOTF-P (JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS TASK FORCE-PHILIPPINES) GIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO A FILIPINO SOLDIER.

THE JSOTF-P IS BASED AND PROTECTED BY THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY IN CAMP NAVARRO, AN AFP CAMP IN ZAMBOANGA CITY.

TO CIRCUMVENT THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION TO MAINTAIN BASES IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE US SPECIAL OPERATIONS TASK FORCE ARE BILLETTED INSIDE AFP MILITARY CAMPS IN MINDANAO—IN JOLO, IN ZAMBOANGA AND OTHER PARTS OF MINDANAO. LIAISON GROUP IS EVEN BILLETTED IN A BUILDING INSIDE THE AFP GHQ IN CAMP AGUINALDO!

PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS ABOARD A US-SUPPLIED ARMORED VEHICLE ENGAGED IN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN A RURAL VILLAGE IN MINDANAO

PROTESTING THE MURDER OF FAMILY OF IP LEADER, DAGION CAPION, BY THE MILITARY PROTECTING XSTRATA, A GIANT MULTI-NATIONAL MINING COMPANY IN MINDANAO

MINDANAO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE PROTESTING IN MANILA OVER THE EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS OF THEIR LEADERS

THE HACIENDA LUISITA MASSACRE

Hacienda Luisita, a sprawling plantation owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III, was acquired through government funding. The land was supposed to be distributed to the peasants after a certain number of years.The peasants never got the land promised to them and they protested. They were met with gunfire by the US-trained military and police guarding the Hacienda.

. ONE OF THE PROTESTING PEASANTS KILLED BY THE

MILITARY IN THE HACIENDA LUISITA MASSACRE

BISHOP ALBERTO B. RAMENTO, D.D.KNOWN AS THE BISHOP OF POOR PEASANTS AND WORKERS ASSASSINATED IN HIS RESIDENCE BY HIRED KILLERS LINKED TO THE SECURITY FORCES

EVEN CHURCH PEOPLE ARE NOT SPARED BY THE SECURITY FORCES

Bishop Alberto B. Ramento, Obispo Maximo of the Philippine Independent Church who was supporting the Hacienda Luisita farmers, was not spared.

POOR PEASANTS AND WORKERS DEMANDING LAND, FOOD AND JUSTICE

TWO WORLDS

INJUSTICE, GROSS INEQUALITY AND POVERTY ARE AMONG THE CAUSES OFTHE REBELLION OF THE POOR

THE WORLD RENOWNED TUBBATAHA REEFS, LOCATED IN PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES, DESIGNATED AS A WORLD HERITAGE PARK BY UNESCO

USS GUARDIAN, A US NAVAL WARSHIP, RAN AGROUND AND DESTROYED PART OF TUBBATAHA C0RAL REEFON JANUARY 17, 2013, THE USS GUARDIAN, DISREGARDING WARNINGS FROM PHILIPPINE

AUTHORITIES MANAGING THE WORLD HERITAGE PARK, RAN AGROUND AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE REEF. THE WARSHIP HAD TO BE DISMANTLED BY SALVAGE VESSELS IN ORDER TO DISLODGE IT FROM THE REEF. THE HI-TECH US NAVY CLAIMED “FAULTY OLD MAPS” AS THE EXCUSE FOR THE GROUNDING!

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GABRIELA WOMEN DEMONSTRATING AGAINST US MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE YEARLY “BALIKATAN US-PHIL. MILITARY EXERCISES AND THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT

PROTEST CARAVAN IN SUBIC AGAINST US-PHIL. MILITARY EXERCISE, BALIKATAN (APR 5 TO APR 17, 2013)

SUMMING UP• The US Pivot in Asia-Pacific has increased and intensified US military presence in the

Philippines which result in:

• 1. Continuing surrender of sovereign rights of the Filipino people; US military personnel are given rights akin to diplomatic immunity. (A US soldier who raped a Fil. woman went unpunished.)

• 2. Violation of Article XVIII, Sec 25 of the Phil. Constitution. (Slide 29)

• 3. The training and weapons which the US provide to Fil. troops and police are used for repression of protesting workers, peasants, students; the killing of IPs protesting their dislocation by giant MNCs mining companies and plantations and the gross violation of human rights of social activists,church people, etc. These MNCs cart away the wealth and resources belonging to the Filipino people.

• 4. The destruction and poisoning of the environment…Clark, Crow Valley, Subic Bay, Tubbataha Reef, etc.

• 5. Finally, in a quid pro quo and for privileges received, the US provides assistance and support to a corrupt ruling system dominated by a few wealthy families who resist substantive democratic change demanded by the people.

ARTICLE XVIII, SEC. 25 OF THE 1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION:

“After the expiration in 1991 of the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning military bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and…….recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.”

The United States Senate did not ratify the VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT, saying it was not a treaty but an Executive Agreement.

CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINE CONTINENTAL SHELF