Militant citizens groups led by the left-leaning Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the women’s group Gabriela (named after the Filipino revolutionary Gabriela Silang) are intensifying their protests against the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement.
The umbrella group of employees in the public sector, the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) has linked arms with them together with student groups.
This united front of Filipinos has figured in at least two violent encounters with anti riot policemen right in front of the US Embassy in Manila with more than 20 protesters getting hurt.
It’s all part of the lobbying strategy ahead of Supreme Court deliberations on the motions filed by Malacanang and the rape victim of American Lance Corporal Daniel Smith seeking clarification of the February 11 9-4 decision that upheld the VFA’s constitutionality but ordered the renegotiation of the custody of Smith.
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/feb2009/175888.htm
Smith’s rape conviction remains under review by the Court of Appeals and until this judicial phase is completed the entire larger issue does remain in limbo.
The question is how the sustained protests against the VFA will impact on both the Filipino and American publics in terms of galvanizing their sentiments for or against the controversial VFA.
Not since the 1991 when the regime of US military bases in the Philippines ended have RP-US relations framed within their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty come such under close scrutiny.
Verily the two allies are looking for better arrangments in a new era characterized by heightened civic involvement and a geopolitical reality changed by the war on terror.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Seriously now people… try doing a simple benefit-cost analysis of this whole mess and one would simply see that it is just not worth the time and effort.
Frankly, amidst this global economic meltdown, I am surprised why so many are so obsessed with this story which, you have to admit, will not even merit a footnote in the history of the Philippines many years from now.
But that seems to be our problem right? We are easily distracted by small issues and are unable to focus our efforts on long term strategic objectives.
Americans will always meddle in Philippine affairs.
It is because, we were the former U.S. colony. And, there are many Filipino Americans living in
America. They have relatives back home. Their voices are also to reckon with by American politicians.
So, the Philippine American relationship forged
for a century. With sufferings and blood mixed
in World War II battlefield will always be
special.
Rapist Smith, or no Rapist Smith…
Tim,
The dream, the challenge, is for us to chart our own destiny even though history has made our ties with the US virtually insoluble.
The umbilical cord can be cut without Filipinos and Americans losing respect for one another.
This anti American sentiment is a manifestation of pinoy inferiority complex. Siempre, we want to bite the hand that feed us. Uncle Sam’s patience is deep with pinas.
This Gabirela movement is nothing but a handy work of komunistas pretending to be nationalist or patriots(excuse me.)
Student activists? Student demos is nothing new. UP students, specially- dito pa naman ako nag graduate, wala lang magawa – bored out of their wits because of academic curriculums taht has nothing to do with the real world.
Maraming pinoy na anti american, sa Amaerica din ang takbo pakhanap buhay. A guy once said, how a man earns his living to support his family is different from his convictions as a pinoy living in a foriegn land. Talaga ha…
RP-US relations? It means “tuwad!”
And who’s fault is it? (sabi ko na nga ba yun ang sunod na tanong)