Philippines: Moro Group Lauds ARMM Assembly’s Strong Defiance Vs. Balikatan

COTABATO CITY – A Moro group here commended the strong objection of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the autonomous region (RLA-ARMM) on the conduct of Balikatan exercises on its provinces.

Bai Ali Indayla, national secretary-general of Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Bangsamoro) lauded the RLA-ARMM for coming up with a resolution that manifests the strong opposition of the people of Lanao del Sur and Islamic city of Marawi on the forthcoming Balikatan exercises.

“We greatly appreciate the effort of the legislative assembly of ARMM to stand in this dubious endeavor of US to Mindanao. The another round of Balikatan exercises is a big insult to the Bangsamoro people who have experienced rights violations committed by the US troops in their past exercises especially in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan,” Indayla stressed.

She pointed out the case of an MNLF integree, Army Sgt. Ibnul Wahid of Maimbung, Sulu who was killed by the military on February 4 in the guise of pursuing the Abu Sayyaf. Ibnul’s wife, Sandrawina Wahid, said that she saw four US soldiers during the incident prior the military blindfolded her.

Indayla also underlined that the US humanitarian mission is a mere façade to pacify the Bangsamoro people’s unrest and preparation for a grander plan in Mindanao.

“US troops are not here just for military deployment and permanent basing, but are preparing for another war – war to amass all resources in our rich land. That is their long-standing hidden agenda,” Indayla revealed.

Moreover, the Suara Bangsamoro suggests to RLA-ARMM to conduct a separate and thorough investigation on human rights violations committed by US troops in the course of their military exercises. The result would be passed to the Congress to further study the ill-effects of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to the Bangsamoro and the Filipino people.

“Our officials in the RLA represent the majority number of Moro people in the autonomous region. By doing so, VFA would be junked and the elusive justice will be savored at last by our Muslim brothers and sisters who became victims of US ruthless intervention in Mindanao,” Indayla concluded.

The Joint RP-US Balikatan Exercises 2008 will be conducted simultaneously in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Cagayan de Oro and North Cotabato on February 18. #

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