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Monday, February 18, 2008
Guv laments lack of consultation in conduct of military exercise
GENERAL SANTOS -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) welcomed the holding of joint RP-US military exercises here, but lamented the apparent lack of consultation with stakeholders, a government official said.
At least 8,000 soldiers from the US and Philippines military will commence on Monday the huge-scale Balikatan training, a series of exercises sanctioned by the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement.
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Armm Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan said in a press statement that the Regional Government is not against the staging of Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises in the autonomous region.
"But they should first conduct consultations on the stakeholders from the area," he said, adding the bilateral exercise will be staged in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi and in the Islamic City of Marawi starting Monday.
At least 6,000 US troops and 2,000 Filipino soldiers will take part in the training, which will last until March 3. The training will be composed of field training exercises, staff or classroom-like exercises, and conduct of humanitarian activities.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and US Ambassador Kristie Kenny would be leading the opening ceremonies for the exercises, which would last until March 3, according to Major Ramon Zagala, the training's spokesman.
Ampatuan expressed hopes that the National Government would review the protocols before the conduct of the Balikatan exercises, which will end on March 3, for the welfare of the Bangsamoro people in the autonomous region.
Reports, however, quoted Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro that there's no stopping for the holding of Balikatan, amid a recent incident in Sulu that left seven civilians and a soldier dead.
That military operation allegedly had the participation of American soldiers.
Ampatuan said the Regional Government is thankful to the American Government for extending humanitarian services to poor areas of the region.
"But we want respect. It is fair and right that we will discuss these things to our constituents before its conduct so that the people will not be blinded [and] aggrieved," Ampatuan said of the Balikatan exercises.
The Regional Legislative Assembly of Armm has passed a resolution stating opposition on the holding of Balikatan exercises in Lanao del Sur and the Islamic City of Marawi.
Paislain P. Tago, speaker of the legislative assembly, pointed "there was no consultation made in the regional, provincial, municipal, and city level leaders before the final conduct of Balikatan."
According to Zagala no training activities would be conducted in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Palawan but only humanitarian activities.
The training activities would be held in Fort Magsaysay, home of the Special Operations Command in Nueva Ecija; Marine Base Ternate and Sangley Point, both in Cavite; Crow Valley in Tarlac; and Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
Last week, tens of thousands of people reportedly gathered in the Islamic City of Marawi to oppose the holding of the Balikatan exercises starting next week.
Earlier, Sittie Rajabia Sundang, Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization secretary general, said the Arroyo government must consider the numerous human rights violations allegedly committed by US soldiers in Mindanao.
"Previous Balikatan in Mindanao especially in Sulu and Basilan have left issues of human rights violations that remain unresolved," she said.
In opposing the coming Balikatan, Sumbang cited a case in Zamboanga City where US troops purportedly bumped a tricycle, but did not help the victims, and instead showed off their high-powered firearms.
In 2002, Buyung-Buyung Isnijal was shot allegedly by an American soldier identified by witnesses as a certain Sergeant Reggie Lane, who was accused of participating in a military operation on July 27, 2002 in Tuburan, Basilan, she added.
Sumbang said they fear the vulnerability of the Moro civilians in areas where Balikatans are held. (BSS/VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (February 18, 2008 issue)
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