Arroyo-Bush Summit Slammed, US Protests Readied

MANILA, Philippines — It will be a meeting of two of the most unpopular presidents in their respective countries, a summit between a colonial master and a puppet.

These were the words used by the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan to describe the reported meeting between United States George W. Bush and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 23-29. Protests actions are already being readied by BAYAN-USA and its affiliate organizations in time for Arroyo’s arrival in the US.

“It would be a meeting of the ‘Unpopulars’. Both presidents have plummeting approval ratings in their own countries. Both presidents have dismal human rights records. Both presidents support unconditionally the so-called global war on terror. The only difference is that one cracks the whip while the other follows without question,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“There is nothing to be especially proud of US-RP bilateral ties. These are colonial relations, pure and simple. The Filipino people stand nothing to gain from such a meeting of two of the most criticized leaders in the world,” Reyes added.

Bayan blamed the US government’s borderless war on terror and continued US military assistance to the Arroyo government for the spate of human rights abuses in the Philippines. “The counter-insurgency campaign in the Philippines is inspired by the US war on terror. American troops come to the Philippines to train Filipino soldiers. American tax-payer’s money is used to arm Filipino soldiers, the same ones who commit widespread human rights atrocities,” Reyes said.

The militant group seriously doubted that the Bush-Arroyo summit will do anything to improve the human rights condition in the Philippines.

“Among others, Arroyo will probably thank Bush for the $30 million Foreign Military Financing that the Philippines received this year, while still hoping to get the additional $2 million which is contingent on the Philippine’s human rights record,” Reyes said. .

“So long as the US government’s aids the abusive Arroyo regime, then human rights in the Philippines will continue to be imperiled,” he added.

Bayan is also concerned that the meeting aims to strengthen US military presence in the Philippines even in the absence of any basing agreement.

“The RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, despite many violations by the US, is still in full force. The RP-US Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, despite legal questions, has been renewed for another 5 years. These agreements have converted the entire archipelago into one big US military playground and outpost,” Reyes said.

“Our sovereignty is constantly being violated. There have been documented violations of rape, damage to property, injuries to Filipinos and direct combat participation by US troops,” he added.

Reyes also called attention to existing economic relations between the Philippines and the US, claiming that these remained one-sided in favor of the Americans.

“Just look at the American owned Independent Power Producers. They continue to enjoy perks such as take-or-pay provisions which pass on unconscionable costs to consumers. Just look at the American-owned oil companies and how they continue to reap super-profits from the misery of consumers. Just look at our dependence on American imports, inputs and foreign debt and our dependence on exports to the US. This economic pattern has not helped the Philippines develop into a self-reliant nation,” Reyes said. (pinoypress.net)