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May 14, 2009
www.bayanusa.org
The Only “Change” We See Is the Change Being Pocketed by the Philippine
Government to Rape and Terrorize the Filipino People—BAYAN-USA
Appalled by the double-news of the rape of another Filipina woman by a
U.S. Marine and the increase in U.S. financial aid to the corrupt
Philippine government, BAYAN-USA reiterated its call to terminate the
U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (“VFA”), which the alliance of
14 Filipino American organizations in the U.S. sees as the red carpet used
to usher in U.S. troops, supplies, and military training linked to
thousands of human rights violations.
Under the auspices of the VFA, over 6,000 US troops were deployed to the
Philippines this past April, to engage in so-called Balikatan
(“shoulder-to-shoulder”) military exercises. In a press conference today,
the 22-year-old Filipina “Vanessa” (not her real name) told the story of
how she was raped in a hotel room on April 19 by a U.S. Marine, registered
in hotel records as “from Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group/Balikatan.”
According to the women’s group GABRIELA, Vanessa has decided not to file a
case against her alleged rapist though there is evidence to support her
claim.
“We are outraged that another Filipina has become the victim of U.S.
troops, and that the VFA is blocking her from obtaining justice,” said
BAYAN-USA Secretary General Rhonda Ramiro. “Last month’s acquittal of
convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith signals that U.S. military
personnel can get away with the most heinous crimes on Philippine soil
because they will be protected by the VFA.”
BAYAN-USA claims that despite its rhetoric of “change,” the administration
of President Barack Obama has clung to Bush’s foreign policy when it comes
to war and military deployment overseas. Earlier this year, President
Obama phoned Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to express
support for the VFA and continuing the Balikatan joint military exercises.
The estimated total expense borne by U.S. taxpayers for U.S.
militarization in the Philippines since the VFA was enacted nearly 10
years ago is a lofty $1 billion. An additional $660 million—up from a
reported $400 million just one month ago—is reportedly set to be spent
over the next few years.
“The only ‘change’ we see is the change being pocketed by the Arroyo
government to rape and terrorize the Filipino people,” declared Ramiro.
“Arroyo, her military, and multinational corporations are getting rich off
the millions of dollars being paid by the U.S. government to commit
torture, abductions, false imprisonment, and ultimately extrajudicial
killings to silence critics of Arroyo and her neoliberal economic
policies.”
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This
latest rape case and report of increased aid to the Philippines comes on
the heels of an April 29, 2009 report by Philip Alston, U.N. Special
Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions, which states that the Philippine
government has failed to institute the substantive reforms Alston
recommended to address extrajudicial killings and other human rights
abuses in the country.
“The fact that hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are being
used to commit rape and other human rights atrocities is unconscionable,
especially now that we are in the midst of a depression,” stated Ramiro.
“The fact that the VFA is being funded and enforced by the Obama
administration is hypocrisy, especially after President Obama promised
hope and change.”
In response, BAYAN-USA has announced it will conduct a “Day of Action
against the VFA” on May 27, 2009 which marks the 10th anniversary of the
military agreement. In synch with mobilizations in the Philippines calling
for the termination of the VFA, the Day of Action will take place from
coast-to-coast across the U.S. in what will be the latest expression of
the indignation felt by Filipino Americans over the trampling of
Philippine sovereignty by U.S. imperial interests. In March, BAYAN-USA and
GABRIELA USA launched an online “Junk VFA” petition, which garnered over
1,000 signatures in two weeks and has reached nearly 2,000 signatures to
date. At the beginning of May, BAYAN-USA also met with the office of
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, to urge the representative—who is a member of
the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations—to support the call for the termination of all military aid to
the Philippines pending the Philippine government’s compliance with
recommendations in the Alston report to stop human rights violations and
prosecute the perpetrators. The BAYAN-USA delegation also asked
Representative Lee to introduce new legislation to stop the deployment of
U.S. troops to the Philippines unless the said recommendations are
implemented and to terminate the VFA.
“BAYAN-USA’s Day of Action against the VFA will send Congress the message
that nobody wins and everybody loses with the VFA,” said Ramiro. “In the
face of a budget deficit in the trillions and over 11 million people
unemployed in the U.S., it simply makes no sense to continue providing aid
to the Arroyo government and to perpetuate the costly VFA. Congress should
cut both during the budget appropriations process this spring and summer.”
BAYAN-USA is an alliance of progressive Filipino groups in the U.S.
representing organizations of students, scholars, women, workers, and
youth. As an international chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
(BAYAN-Philippines), BAYAN-USA serves as an information bureau for the
national democratic movement of the Philippines and as a campaign center
for anti-imperialist Filipinos in the U.S. The online petition against the
VFA can be found at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/JunkVFAnow/
# # #
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Isa na namang Pilipina ang
ginahasa diumano ng sundalong Kano sa Pilipinas.
By Kenneth Roland A. Guda · May 13, 2009
Isa na namang Pinay nagreklamong ginahasa ng US Marine
Ayon sa Gabriela, militanteng alyansang pangkababaihan na dinulugan ng
biktima, ginahasa ng isa umanong sundalong Kano si Vanessa (di tunay na
pangalan) sa isang hotel sa Makati, noong Abril 19.
Sinabi umano ni Vanessa na nagpakilala sa kanya ang Kano bilang “miyembro
ng US Marines.”
Tumanggi ang Gabriela na pangalanan ang sundalo. Hiniling din ni Vanessa
na huwag ilabas ang pangalan at imahen niya sa midya.
Nakipagkaibigan
Ayon sa Gabriela, nakipagkaibigan ang Kano kay Vanessa noong Abril 10 nang
lumapit ito sa kanya sa isang club sa The Fort, Taguig.
Abril 18 nang muling magkita si Vanessa at ang Kano sa hotel na
tinutuluyan ng huli. Ayon kay Vanessa, doon umano siya ginahasa ng
sundalong Kano.
Nakalista umano ang Kano sa rekord ng hotel na mula sa “Joint United
States Military Assistance Group (Jusmag)/ Balikatan.”
Insidente ng panggagahasa
Ito ang paglalahad ng Gabriela sa naganap kay Vanessa:
* Pagpasok ni Vanessa sa kuwarto ni Smith, napansin umano niya na may mga
gamit na pangbabae rito. Nagpaalam siya sa lalaking Kano na aalis na siya
dahil “ayaw niyang mapaaway.”
* Bigla umanong tumayo si Smith, sinampal si Vanessa at sinabing “Why you
do that?” (sic) Pagkatapos, binuhat daw ni Smith si Vanessa at inihagis sa
kama. “Makailang beses siyang (Vanessa) sinampal gamit ang kaliwang kamay
samantalang sinasakal (siya) ng kanang kamay,” ayon sa Gabriela.
* Nanlaban si Vanessa, pero nahawakan umano ni Smith ang babae sa dalawang
kamay habang nasa kama. Hindi na umano natatandaan ng babae ang sumunod na
nangyari, pero nagawa ng Kano na hubaran siya at ipasok ang ari sa babae.
* Maya-maya, napagod na umano ang lalaki, tumayo at kinuha ang cellphone.
“Dali-daling tumayo si Vanessa, kinuha ang kanyang mga damit at gamit, at
saka nagkulong sa loob ng banyo,” ayon sa Gabriela. Lumabas umano si
Vanessa pagkabihis at nagpumilit kay Smith na aalis na siya.
* Tumawag umano si Smith sa front desk ng hotel para sabihin sa security
na may nagwawalang babae sa kanyang kuwarto. Sinamahan ng Kano si Vanessa
sa elevator. Sa lobby umano ng hotel, tinagpo siya ng babaing pinuno ng
security ng hotel. Sa kanya nagsumbong si Vanessa tungkol sa nangyari sa
kanya. Tinawagan ni Vanessa ang kapatid at nagsumbong. Di nagtagal,
sinundo umano si Vanessa ng mga kaanak niya.
* Alas-10 ng umaga nang pumunta umano si Vanessa sa isang ospital sa
Makati para magpa-eksameng mediko-legal.
* Kinabukasan, Abril 20, dumulog si Vanessa sa Gabriela para huminigi ng
tulong.
Nawalan ng pag-asa
Hindi pa tiyak kung magsasampa ng reklamo ang biktima dahil sa personal na
mga kadahilanan.
Gayunman, pumayag si Vanessa na humarap sa midya para isalaysay ang
kanyang kuwento sa isang press conference kasama ang Gabriela noong Mayo
14.
Matatandaang binaliktad ng Court of Appeals ang hatol na guilty kay Lance
Corporal Daniel
Smith, inakusahang nanggahasa sa isa pang Pilipina, noong nakaraang buwan.
Kabilang ang Gabriela sa mga grupong pangkababaihan na ipinoprotesta ang
naturang desisyon dahil sa maaaring epekto nito sa iba pang kaso ng
panggagahasa laluna sa mga nabibiktima diumano ng mga sundalong Kano.
Alam
ng umano’y biktima ng panggagahasa ng sundalong Kano na si Vanessa na may
dinadala siyang “responsabilidad” para singilin ang gobyerno sa naganap sa
kanya. Alam din niyang dapat ibasura ang VFA.
Related posts:
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News Release
13 May 2009
Reference: Joms Salvador, Gabriela Spokesperson, 371-2302 / 0918-9182150
Retchilda Extremadura, Lila Pilipina Executive Director, 0915-5379579
Militant Women Denounce Malacañang Condonation of Smith,
Decry Injustice to Victims of Foreign Military Rape
From World War 2 to the Visiting Forces Agreement, from former comfort
women of the Japanese imperial army to Nicole of the Subic rape, the
Philippine government continues to deny justice to women victims of
foreign military sexual abuse. This was according to the militant women's
group Gabriela and Lila Pilipina who staged a protest rally in Mendiola
this morning.
The protest was spurred by the recent move of the Solicitor General asking
the Supreme Court to dismiss all cases pertaining to Lance Corporal Daniel
Smith including the petition questioning the constitutionality of the
Visiting Forces Agreement.
“We deplore the Arroyo government's shameless haste in exonerating the
rapist soldier Smith in its bid to further indulge their US master. It is
simply revolting,” said Gabriela spokesperson Joms Salvador.
According to Salvador, it is the responsibility of the Arroyo government
ask for a review of the Appellate Court's acquittal of Smith. “Instead,
Malacañang was quick to pronounce the Subic rape case closed. Justice
Secretary Raul Gonzales even made a presumptive statement that there was
no 'grave abuse of discretion' on the part of the Court of Appeals. And
now Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera wasted no time in seeking to clear
Smith.”
Lila Pilipina, an organization of survivors of wartime military sex
slavery during the Japanese occupation, said the government continues to
sell-out justice for Filipina victims of foreign military rape.
“Bago siya naging pangulo, nangako si Presidente Arroyo na tutulungan niya
kaming makahanap ng katarungan pero walong taon na ang nakalilipas, wala
pa ring nangyayari. Walang katarungan sa panahon ni Arroyo para sa mga
babaeng biktima ng karahasan,” said Lola Narcisa Claveria of Lila
Pilipina.
“The interest of powerful nations such as the US and Japan is of foremost
importance to the Arroyo government,” said Retchilda Extremadura,
executive director of Lila Pilipina. Extremadura said that the
13thCongress recalled House Resolution 124 urging the Philippine
government to ask Japan to formally acknowledge its responsibility over
the sexual slavery of young women during World War II.
Said resolution, filed by Gabriela Women's Party Representative Liza Maza,
was initially approved by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs but was
recalled when a Japanese diplomatic corps questioned the quorum.
“The Arroyo government's condonation of Smith and the continued presence
of US soldiers in the Philippines can only create another generation of
Filipino comfort women,” added Extremadura.
Gabriela said that they are seriously considering filing a case before the
United Nations for the government's violation of the Convention for the
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) with regard to the
government's actions and pronouncements on the Subic rape case. ###
------------------------------
Public Information Department
GABRIELA National Office
(+632) 3712302News Release
23 April 2009
Reference: Emmi de Jesus, Secreteray General, 3712302 / 09173221203
GABRIELA OUTRAGED OVER
SMITH'S ACQUITTAL
The militant women's group GABRIELA were outraged at the Court Of Appeals
decision acquitting Lance Corporal Daniel Smith who was convicted in 2006
by the lower court for raping 21-year old Nicole.
"The acquittal of Smith is an assault to all Filipinos who fought for
justice on the Subic rape case and the attack on Philippines sovereignty,"
said Emmi de Jesus, Gabriela secretary general.
"We are appalled that the Higher Court ignored the just decision of
Justice Pozon and allowed itself to be manipulated. All recent
developments on the Subic rape case, including the termination of Nicole's
legal counsel and the recent affidavit of Nicole, all points to political
maneuvering being orchestrated no less than the US and the Philippine
government," said de Jesus.
The women's group said that Smith's acquittal is part of the grand scheme
to save the Visiting Forces Agreement that is set to be reviewed by the
Philippine senate regarding its constitutionality. There had been a
growing public demand for the abrogation of the VFA.
"The acquittal decision is an attempt to end all contentions on the
custody of the rapist Smith that has exposed the grossly unequal relations
of US and the Philippines under the VFA. The United States government
cannot and will not allow the collective will of the Filipino people to
triumph."
The women's group said, however, that the fight is not yet over and they
will pursue all other means to achieve justice on the Subic rape case and
the abrogation of the VFA.### |
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Liza Largoza - Maza
Partylist Representative
NEWS RELEASE
13 May 2009
For Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540
Francis Uyanguren (Public Information Officer) 0929-4511305
MAZA SEEKS PROBE ON US-RP BALIKATAN FUND SCAM
“The allegations of corruption and kickbacks involving high-ranking
military officers merit no less than a serious and immediate
investigation. Instead of adversely criticizing Navy Lieutenant Senior
Grade Nancy Gadian’s character, the proper authorities should act on the
whistleblower’ s exposé and all other officials involved in this case
should be held accountable.”
This is the statement of Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s
Party Rep. Liza Maza today over Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Nancy
Gadian's expose on the alleged P46-million US-RP Balikatan fund scam in
2007.
The
Gabriela solon also scored the Armed Forces of the Philppines for
resorting to draconian measures by placing Gadian’s 13-year-old son and
11-year-old daughter under military surveillance.
“These alleged harassment and evil tactics employed by the AFP apparently
shows that they are threatened over Gadian’s exposé,” Maza stressed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS
RELEASE
14 May 2009
For Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540
Francis Uyanguren (Public Information Officer) 0929-4511305
US-RP VFA PREYS UPON ANOTHER FILIPINO WOMAN- MAZA
Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza today urged “Vanessa,” the recently
reported rape victim of another US soldier, to file a case and offered her
support.
“I urge the victim to file a case, but I would understand her
apprehensions given the recent outcome and ill-treatment of the Philippine
government towards the case of Nicole,” Maza said.
“Our women will face more abuses as long as the US-RP VFA is in place. It
is very clear that this lopsided agreement has apparently been utilized as
a tool for subservience and dehumanizing crimes such as rape.
In the light of these cases of Vanessa and Nicole, the Gabriela solon also
called on the Legislative Oversight on the Visiting Forces Agreement
(LOVFA) to immediately conduct a hearing to pursue justice for the victims
and investigate the consequences and infringement of the agreement on
Philippine laws and sovereignty.
---------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
May 3, 2009 by
kapirasongkritika
Sa harap ng masamang balita,
nakakatuwa na rin kahit paano: na nagkaisa ang maraming komentarista (Angela
Stuart-Santiago,
Manuel Buencamino,
Patricia Evangelista,
Ricky Carandang,
Rina Jimenez-David)
sa mariing pagkondena sa pagpapawalang-sala at pagpapalaya ng Court of
Appeals kay Lance Corporal Daniel Smith sa kaso ng
paggahasa kay “Nicole.” Gaya ng alam ng marami, nangyari ito matapos
mahatulang maysala si Smith ng mas mababang korte.
Mula sa:
www.kapirasongkritika.wordpress.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
May
20, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person:
Clara Rita “Claire” A. Padilla, JD
Executive Director
EnGendeRights, Inc.
Telefax: (+632) 3762578
Mobile: 0918-2182682
Email: engenderights@pldtdsl.net;
padillaclara@yahoo.com
Website: www.engenderights.org
Blog: http://clararitapadilla.blogspot.com
It is the Country that Owes Vanessa
Quezon City , May 20, 2009 – “Instead of hounding Vanessa that she owes
the country it is the country that owes Vanessa. The country owes rape
victims the proper judgments where they are believed for their rape
complaints. A rape victim should be given credence when she says, ‘No, I
did not consent to the sexual act,’” said Atty. Clara Rita A. Padilla,
Executive Director of EnGendeRights.
“The actors in our judicial system are the ones who owe rape victims the
justice they seek. If there is proper prosecution, investigation, and the
perpetrators are convicted and punished, then that is justice,” added
Atty. Padilla.
Atty. Padilla continued, “The rape acquittals constitute a failure of the
Philippine government to comply with its obligation of due diligence in
addressing violence against women (VAW). The Philippines is mandated to
‘refrain from engaging in VAW, to exercise due diligence to prevent,
investigate and, punish acts of VAW and to provide access to just and
effective remedies including medical assistance to victims; to take
appropriate and effective action whether those acts are perpetrated by the
State, by private persons or by armed groups or warring factions.”[1]
Atty. Padilla continued, “Convictions of rapists prevent other rapes from
happening. These convictions will send a strong message that rape cannot
happen with impunity. This is what the country owes rape victims. No
less.”
“It is also through effective prosecution and proper punishment of rapists
that we can encourage rape victims to come out, file their cases, and get
vindication of their rights,” added Atty. Padilla.
“Our justice system must put a stop to impunity of rapists. Our media and
the common tao must simply stop blaming victims of rape. The perpetrators
of rape are the ones at fault, no one else,” Atty. Padilla stressed.
“Let us also be mindful that there would not have been a Vanessa and
Nicole if there was no Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). The VFA should
never have been ratified not only for being lopsided and defying our
sovereignty but for bringing militarism which, we are all aware, brings
human rights abuses including rape into our country. There mustn’t be any
more Nicole and Vanessa. The time to abrogate VFA is now,” Atty. Padilla
concluded.
[1]. Extension of mandate of U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against
Women (UNSRVAW) by the Commission on Human Rights in 2003, 59th sess.,
Res. 2003/45.
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Press
Statement
May 16, 2009
NY FilAm Women Support Vanessa, Point to Jones and the VFA as National
Security Threats
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, Filipinas for Rights and
Empowerment (FiRE), fire.nyc@gmail.com, 925-726-5768
New York, NY- Filipino American Women in Filipinas for Rights and
Empowerment (FiRE) express their disgust with the continuing rapes and
crimes US marines perpetrate on women in the Philippines. As Filipinas in
New York City, we denounce the rape of "Vanessa," another 22-year old
woman vcitimized by a U.S. Marine, "John Jones".
Jones, a member of the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG),
created under the Balikatan (litearlly translated as "shoulder to
shoulder" exercises in the Philippines, must be held accountable for this
despicable crime.
The exercises counts up to 6,000 US troops deployed to a Philippine
province, Bicol, among others, has and continues to pose a threat to the
welfare of Filipino women, as exemplified with this past rape case. News
of Vanessa's rape comes just weeks after the Subic Bay Rape Case of
"Nicole" was overturned in April 2009 and LCPL Daniel Smith, her convicted
rapist, was let free. Smith's release and the manipulated case of Nicole
gives US military servicemen in the Philippines free reign to do whatever
they want without any consequence.
The Philippine government surrendered sovereignty and justice to appease
US-RP relations and unwittingly set a precedent for US military troops in
the Philippines. Gloria Arroyo, along with the Court of Appeals, has
sanctioned the abuse and violation of Filipino women by setting Daniel
Smith free. And now, the people are feeling the repercussions.
Unlike Nicole, Vanessa has not decided to wage a legal battle because she
is afraid that the government, especially the Philippine judicial system
will only rule in favor of "Jones" and, indirectly, an untarnished US
image in the Philippines. The protection of assailants like Smith, and now
Jones, under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) proves that the
Philippines' priority is their political relationship with the US instead
of their human relationship with its citizens. The VFA has kept military
personnel under US jurisdiction allowing them to commit and ultimately get
away with offenses towards Filipinos, a complete insult to Philippine
sovereignty.
The VFA has historically compromised safety, justice and security of the
Filipino people, and has wreaked havoc on the lives of Filipino women and
children. On February 19, Rafaela Polborido, a 16-month old girl was
killed in a province in Bicol, after government soldiers bombed her home
with grenades in preparation for the Balikatan exercises. The local human
rights chapter of KARAPATAN stated that 8 civilians, including 5 children,
were wounded in alleged government offensives preparing for BALIKATAN.
From 1981 to 1988, there have been 3,272 cases of abuse against women and
children against U.S. servicemen in Subic Bay and Clark Airforce bases, of
which no convictions have been made. Since the adoption of the VFA in
1999, cases by US military against Filipinos have been absorbed in the
protective measures of the policy. The VFA can count Nicole and Vanessa on
its list of victims and, the count is growing. The VFA is an overbearing
agreement that has favors US military to the welfare of Filipino women.
This upcoming May 27 marks 10 years of the VFA in the Philippines and GMA
has yet to cease singing its praises. She has allowed the VFA to shrink
Philippine independence, sovereignty, and autonomy at the cost Filipino
women's bodies, respect and dignity. The Philippine Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) released a fact sheet about the VFA that claims it is the
“backbone of the soft approach to combating terrorism” and that promises
the agreement will “directly benefit the Filipino people through its
civil-military and humanitarian component.” But the absolute opposite is
happening. In reality, the VFA and Jones are the real threats to national
security.
Along with the VFA anniversary coming up, in the 2010 budget proposed by
President Obama mentions that there will be an increase of $24.1 million
to the Philippines development aid, which is a total of $118.7 million for
2010 compared to $94.6 million of 2009. The Philippines receives the
highest level of International Military Education and Training (IMET)
funds in East Asia and the Pacific and the 12th biggest share of U.S.
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) in the world. As aid and military
exercises continue in the Philippines, it is undeniable that crimes
against women and children will increase.
As Filipino Americans in the US, we are furious at the increase of
budgetary allowances for military aid in the Philippines considering the
amounts of abuses that continue to surface as a result of militarization.
We, FilAm women in New York City, witness the increasing foreclosures in
our community, the decreasing services for our community and others and
the increasingly difficult times in employment and survival here. We
wonder why those millions of dollars are going to another country
endangering a whole population of women and children at the same time as,
women and children here are suffering. We cannot ignore the fact that
maddening logic that only endangers the Filipino people through
militarization also endangers communities here in New York.
Sisters of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in NYC denounces the VFA
that allows US military servicemen to run amok with sex crimes and rapes.
We condemn Gloria Arroyo for supporting such an imbalanced policy that has
blatantly threatened the security and safety of Filipino women and
children. We call for the Obama administration to precisely examine the
conditions under which US military aid is going and the consequences of
this aid on the Filipino people.
We extend our deepest in solidarity with Vanessa and her family at this
hard time. We stand with GABRIELA Philippines in their call to repeal the
VFA and restore sovereignty to the Philippines through genuine democracy.
On May 27, FiRE NYC and other members of Gabriela USA in the United
States, in concert wtih members of Gabriela Philippines together will be
holding actions against the VFA internationally.
Junk VFA!
No to Another Generation of Comfort Women!
US Troops Out of the Philippines!
###
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Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) is a mass-based women's
organization serving New York City and its surrounding areas. We connect
the Filipino diaspora to the women's struggle in the Philippines. We are
women of Philippine descent, including those who are migrants, immigrants
and US-born. We recognize Filipino women of mixed heritage and adoptees.
FiRE is a LGBTIQ-(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and
Queer/Questioning) friendly organization that is inclusive of transgender
people of Philippine descent. For more information, please visit
http://www.firenyc.org.
We are a proud member organization of GABRIELA-USA, the first overseas
chapter of GABRIELA Philippines, with babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa
Seattle in Seattle, WA, and SiGAw in Los Angeles, CA.
FiRE is a member of BAYAN-USA, an alliance of progressive Filipino groups
in the U.S. representing organizations of students, scholars, women,
workers, and youth. To learn more about BAYAN, please visit
http://bayanusa.org/
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Watch the video 