Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women expressed its strong opposition on the PH – US Balikatan 2023 military exercises starting from April 11 to 28, 2023 in the country and the addition of more sites across the country based on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agrement (EDCA).
“Historically, US military presence in the country is equivalent to the government’s surrender of sovereignty and security. It has resulted to a long list of atrocities to the Filipino people via violations of human rights, abuses and discrimination of women, destruction of natural resources, and others. Sa Balikatan exercises ngayon, lalala ang sitwasyon dahil sa pagpapakatuta ni Marcos Jr. sa US na dapat tutulan,” cited by Zenaida Soriano, Amihan National Chairperson.
Amihan said that as the county was amid economic crisis, the Balikatan exercises was a waste of public funds and resources.
“Ang Balikatan exercises na ito ay hindi kapaki-pakinabang at agrabyado dito ang ordinaryong Pilipino. Ilang dekada na ang Balikatan pero wala itong silbi at naagaw pa ng China ang teritoryo ng bansa. Ginagamit lang ito ng US, para lumikha ng tensyon sa pagitan sa China para sa kanilang geo-political interest, pambala naman ang bansa. Sa huli, gera ito ng malalaking bansa at sunud-sunuran lamang ang gubyerno ni Marcos Jr. dito,” Soriano added.
The group said that identified military sites in the country will threaten the way of life of the people and their livelihood. Likewise, this will result to numerous cases of rights abuses. The sites were in Northern Luzon, Palawan, and Antique which four sites was added for US in Sta. ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo, Cagayan; Gamu, Isabela, and Palawan.
Soriano said,”Sa karanasan ng Central Luzon, pinalayas ang mga pamilyang Ayta sa kanilang lupang ninuno sa Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac dahil sa military exercises. Nakakabahala na magiging madali para sa land grabber ang pagpapalayas dahil sa mga ganitong pakana ng gobyerno.”
Amihan urged the Filipino people to denounce Marcos Jr. for being a US puppet and oppose the Balikatan exercises and the US military presence in the country.
“Ang EDCA at Balikatan exercises ay paglabag sa soberanya ng mamamayan o kalayaan natin para sa kapayapaan, at patunay na ang gubyerno ay papet ng imperyalismong US. Dapat na manindigan ang mga Pilipino na lumaya sa pagiging mala-kolonya ng US at makamit ang mapayapang resolusyon sa Asia-Pacific,” the group ended. ###
