News release from the pro-CPP Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance) Website (Nov 12): Aquino can terminate VFA immediately
In light of the toxic wastes incident involving the US Navy and its private military contractor, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan is calling on the President of the Philippines to immediately terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. “All it takes is a written notice from one party to the other, then after 180 days, the agreement is considered terminated (Article 9, RP-US VFA)) . The termination has now become more urgent and necessary because of the toxic waste phenomenon in Subic. This is a throwback to the time when US bases operated in Subic and toxic wastes were routinely being dumped in our territory. Even without formal US bases, such criminal destruction of the environment continues under the VFA,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. “There is already enough evidence to prove the dumping of toxic wastes. There is no doubt these wastes were produced or generated by US ships and exercises. Will our government allow more of the same to continue?” Reyes asked.... Bayan said that the Philippine government must immediately suspend all scheduled port calls by US warships to the country.... The PH and US governments keep telling us that these are goodwill visits and routine port calls under the VFA. For all we know, these port calls are timed for waste collection and disposal. Aquino is allowing the US to turn our country into one huge toxic dumpsite for US warships,” Reyes said....
http://www.bayan.ph/site/2012/11/aquino-can-terminate-vfa-immediately/
BAYAN is the main CPP umbrella front organization. Member groups include the following: Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May One Movement), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-Peasant Movement of the Philippines),Anakbayan (All-youth National Democratic mass organization),League of Filipino Students (LFS),
ReplyDeleteStudent Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), General Assembly Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action (GABRIELA-National Alliance of Women’s Organizations), Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK-Women Workers’ Movement), Amihan (peasant women’s association), Samahan ng Malayang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (Samakana, urban poor women association), Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP), Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya, fisherfolk association), Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Govt. Employees (Courage), Promotion for Church People’s Response (PCPR), Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas (Kamp, National Minorities’ Association), Migrante International, First Quarter Storm Movement (organization of veterans of the FQS of 1970), Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay, organization of urban poor and unemployed)