Press Statement
30 January 2008

Suara Bangsamoro to join march protest vs. balikatan this february!

The Moro people in areas targeted as the site of the Balikatan Exercises vow to protest the holding of the US-RP joint military exercises.

Suara Bangsamoro will join fellow Moro activists from different Moro organizations in Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan and Sulu in march protest against the holding of the joint military combat operations disguised as “humanitarian missions” such as medical missions and building of infastructures.

Suara Bangsamoro believes that although the Moro people are thankful for the “services” given by the American troops, they cannot help but suspect that there are strings attached behind those “humanitarian actions” such as making the defiant Moro people accept their permanent basing here in Mindanao.

Several Moro people have complained about incidents of human rights violations perpetrated by US troops such as shooting and woounding residents in areas nearby their makeshift camps in Zamboanga City and Sulu.  US soldiers have also been accused of violating the terms of reference in the Visiting Forces Agreement such as their direct involvement in combat operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Clad in military uniforms and in full-battle gear, the US troops has earned the ire of some local government leaders for violating constitutional laws.

Even civilians in non-combat areas have complained on how soldiers were not apologetic for car incidents that they have committed, such as when their vehicles ran into vehicles owned by residents in Zamboanga City who passed by the gates of their headquarters in Camp Navarro.

Suara Bangsamoro calls on President Macapagal-Arroyo to heed the call of the Moro people and the people of Mindanao and put a stop to the Balikatan Exercises.  We also hope that our peace-loving legislators in the senate and congress will look into the complaints of the victims.

In the month of February, the Moro people in different parts of Mindanao will march in protest against the Balikatan and will gather in the areas were the exercises will take place.

For Reference:  
Amirah Ali Lidasan
National President, Suara Bangsamoro