CPP slams plan of deploying US volunteers in Sulu Sea

From the Philippine Star (Feb 8): CPP slams plan of deploying US volunteers in Sulu Sea

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounced today the plan of the Aquino administration to allow the US Navy to deploy "peace corps-like volunteers" around the Tubbataha Reef in Sulu Sea to "guard" the area and ensure no sea vessel will run aground again in the corals.

In a statement, the leftist group said the US Navy should be held accountable and be punished for its complete disregard for Philippine sovereignty when the USS Guardian entered the protected area despite warnings given by the patrolmen manning the Tubbataha Reef.

"After the USS Guardian intruded into the Tubbataha wildlife protected area, caused substantial damage to the corals and exhibited bellicosity against Philippine park rangers, it would constitute extreme stupidity and servility for the Aquino regime to allow the US military to deploy its so-called volunteers in the park area and entrust them with the task of protecting the reefs," said the CPP.

The group also said that the US offer of compensation should be rejected if this will serve only to justify the deployment of more US naval forces, whether they be volunteers or not, in the Tubbataha area or elsewhere.

US Embassy in Manila earlier said that America, through the US Agency for International Development's Coral Triangle Support Partnership, will provide $100,000 to a Philippine university to support coral restoration research at the Tubbataha Reef.

The United States has also offered to deploy a US Navy-led, peace corps-type volunteer to help guard the world heritage site, which the Philippine government welcomed.

USS Guardian has been stuck in the reef since Jan. 17 after it ran aground. Efforts are being made by both governments to remove the ship from the area.

http://www.philstar.com/breaking-news/2013/02/08/906600/cpp-slams-plan-deploying-us-volunteers-sulu-sea