BAYAN: Bayan wants probe of US private contractors, a stop to port calls and exercises

Press Release posted to the pro-CPP Bagong Alyansang Makabayan  (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance) Website (Nov 10): Bayan wants probe of US private contractors, a stop to port calls and exercises

Amid revelations that a US Navy military contractor dumped toxic wastes in Subic, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called for a speedy probe into the operations of military contractors in the former American base. The group also urged a stop to frequent port calls by US warships, as well US military exercises.

“The US government is using private contractors so that it will not have any direct liability should there be problems with host countries. However, these private contractors arrogantly think that they are also insulated from any liability because they believe they are covered by the Visiting Forces Agreement. In the Subic waste dumping incident, we believe both the US government and its private contractor are liable,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr......

“There are other private military contractors operating in Subic doing the work of the US military. Are they all operating under the same assumption as Glenn Marine? The PH government must take a firm stand that these private contractors are not covered by the VFA. Also, the US government, being the one directly hiring the private contractors, should always be ultimately liable for any violations of PH laws. To say otherwise shows the patent lopsidedness of the VFA in favor of the US,” Reyes said.

“This latest incident will again test the VFA. We firmly believe that the Philippines would be better off without this VFA and without the constant US military visits, exercises and virtual basing. The US government and its proxies will always find ways to exploit the unequal provisions of the VFA so that they could escape accountability,” he added.....

Bayan also reiterated its call for a stop to US war games and port calls by US warships. The group said that under the VFA, the PH government has no way of determining if these ships carry with them toxic wastes. Under the US rebalancing towards Asia, more and more US warships have been docking in PH ports. The US plans to reposition 60% of its warships towards Asia.....

http://www.bayan.ph/site/2012/11/bayan-wants-probe-of-us-private-contractors-a-stop-to-port-calls-and-exercises/