From the Mindanao Examiner (Nov 11): Protests continue over dumping of US Navy toxic waste in the
Philippines
Protests are continuing in the Philippines over the dumping of toxic waste by a
tanker contracted by the US Navy in Subic Bay. The ship, owned by the
Malaysian firm Glenn Defense Marine Asia, dumped drums and drums of chemicals
and other waste into the sea, and insisted it was covered by the Visiting Forces
Agreement. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said it is investigating
the dumping of hazardous waste from US navy ships by MT Glenn Guardian which
occurred last month. The dumping of toxic waste of US contractors in
Subic shows that the Visiting Forces Agreement is toxic for our nation's
sovereignty and should be junked immediately. The VFA allows US troops to get
away with destruction of our natural resources, and dumping of American junk in
our shores,” Anakbayan, a political group in the Philippines, said in a
statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. It said US
government must be held liable for the dumping of toxic waste in Subic and urged
Manila not to allow any US ships and its contractors in the country. “We
urge the government to stop further US military deployment in our country, stop
US-RP exercises and investigate the abuses being done by US personnel and
contractors. Congress and Senate must move fast to junk the toxic VFA, the
treaty detrimental to national interest. We must not wait until further damage
is done,” it said. The US and Philippines regularly hold joint combat
exercises in the country.
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20121111082409
Anakbayan is a CPP sectoral/political youth front. According to the group's Website: "Anakbayan is the comprehensive, national democratic mass organization of the Filipino youth. Established on the 30th of November 1998–the anniversary of Andres’ Bonifacio and pre-Martial Law organization, Kabataang Makabayan–it seeks to unite the youths from different sectors of society to advance the cause of national democracy: workers, peasants, fisherfolk, urban poor, students, out-of-school youth, women, professionals, migrants, Moros, Christians, etc.
ReplyDeleteIt is open to all Filipino youths (ages 13-35 yrs. old) as long as they are willing to actively uphold the Program of the Organization.
Anakbayan holds the belief that Philippine society today is not truly free nor democratic. It is under the control of U.S imperialism, along with local landlords, big capitalists, and corrupt gov’t officials. The National Democratic Struggle seeks to realize true national liberation for the country and the realization of the democratic rights of the people." Kabataan Makabayan (Nationalist Youth), is now associated with the undergroud political wing of the CPP, the National Democratic Front. The group's adherence to the"National Democratic Struggle" is a catch phrase for adherence to pro-CPP ideological world view.