National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC)
Statement

Filipino women in Canada say no to U.S.-Arroyo’s all-out war in Mindanao!

11 August 2007

As overseas Filipino women in Canada, we firmly denounce Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s all-out war in Mindanao, Philippines.

In recent weeks, the people of Mindanao have been again pummeled with all-out war offensives by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). These actions are part of government forces Oplan Katarungan (Operation Justice) to retaliate against those who killed14 Marines in Basilan Island in a July 10 clash and is rooted in the intensive militarization of the region, seen as the “hotbed” of the bandit group the Abu Sayyaf.

The death toll of the recent operations in Sulu has reached 57, including a nine-year-old boy, who was killed in the crossfire. Two more Army battalions will be sent to reinforce the troops in Sulu, bringing to roughly 4,000 the number of forces operating there.

Reports say 23,000 villagers have been forced to flee their homes. We know that women and children pay the heaviest price of state terrorism in the short and long term. Many are forced to abandon ready food harvests of mangosteen and lanzones, and are separated from family members. Many of those living in the area are being tagged as terrorists for simply being poor and Muslim. The trauma they face is the real impact of the U.S.-Arroyo’s all-out “war on terror.”

This is not the first time the people of Mindanao have faced the impacts of the U.S.-Arroyo regime’s all-out war. In 2001 an intensive military crackdown resulted in the deployment of 14 battalions of the AFP to the area. In 2002 a U.S.-RP joint military exercise also took place in Basilan. Numerous human rights violations were reported, including cases of torture, extra-judicial killings and disappearances against what the Arroyo administration believed to be Abu Sayyaf sympathizers and members in Basilan. With the recent implementation of the Human Security Act (HSA) or anti-terrorism law, the people fear the increased militarization will again escalate into an all-out war spilling over to the whole of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

While the government continues to justify the increase in militarization with the excuse of stamping out terrorism, we know that the real objective for the military aggression is for control of the resource-rich region. Instead of the government spending on much-needed social services, it is increasing its military budget for offensives against the people.

Since the Philippines was designated as the second front in the U.S.’ “war on terror,” heightened militarization has become the norm in Mindanao. The U.S. is funneling more military aid into the region in an attempt to showcase it as a successful counter-insurgency campaign to “win the hearts and minds of the people”. Instead, the people of Mindanao are reeling from the brutality of the U.S.-Arroyo regime’s war.

We are also critical of the current wave of Overseas Development Aid from Canada that is targeted to Mindanao in the name of ‘peace’.  We question whether this aid will be effective in addressing the roots of the conflict.

We call on Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as the Commander in Chief, to order the AFP to stop these bloody operations. We join with the people of Mindanao in calling for the pull-out of the military and to address the roots of the conflict through genuine peace negotiations towards a just and lasting peace. We also demand an end to U.S. military presence in the region and in the country as a whole as it is a direct violation of Philippine sovereignty.

No to all-out war in Mindanao!
End U.S.-Arroyo regime’s state terrorism against the Filipino people!
U.S. troops out of the Philippines!
Oust the militarist, repressive and corrupt U.S.-Arroyo regime!