National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada
Statement

Arroyo’s surrendering convicted US marine rapist to US custody is an insult to women!

January 8, 2007

With utter disgust and outrage, Filipino women in Canada condemn in the strongest possible terms the surrender of US. Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, convicted of rape by the Philippine judiciary system, from Makati City Jail to the US Embassy in Manila on December 29, 2006.  Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s illegal and immoral actions expose her complete servitude to the interests of the US and her unwillingness to protect and uphold the safety, sovereignty and dignity of the rape victim ‘Nicole’, Filipino women and children and the Filipino nation against US. aggression and intervention.

Arroyo as a defender of rapists has made a mockery of the Philippine judiciary system. Contrary to the decision made by Judge Benjamin Pozon who convicted Smith of the unbailable offense of rape and sentenced him to 40 years in jail, Arroyo and her lackeys in the Department of Interior Government and the Department of Justice are citing the unequal Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) as the basis for transferring Smith’s custody over to the US. They arrogantly ignore the clarifications of Judge Pozon that the US right of custody over Smith “was terminated after the completion of the trial and the rendition of judgment of conviction.” Arroyo and her lackeys also refuse to await the decision of the Court of Appeals on Smith’s petition to be returned to US custody and instead have taken the law into their own hands by whisking away Smith from jail late at night. It would not be a surprise if Smith suddenly ‘disappears’ from Philippine soil altogether.

Smith’s release exposes the impact of the VFA on the Filipino people. It exposes the true subservient nature of the Arroyo government to the wishes of the US who has been pushing for his custody. The VFA (like other so-called agreements between the Philippine and US governments), has and always will be a one-sided agreement since it effectively gives the US government the right to trample on our soil through so-called joint military exercises while raping our women without any fear of prosecution and/or detainment in the Philippines.

It is very clear that justice for ‘Nicole’ and protection of all Filipino women and children is not within Arroyo’s frame of mind. This anti-woman and anti-people puppet President would rather meet the wishes of her master US President George Bush than uphold the rights and dignity of a fellow Filipina.

Nicole’s rape case is not an “isolated” incident of violence against women by U.S. troops in the Philippines as the Arroyo administration states. The rape of Filipino women and children by U.S. soldiers is nothing new. The U.S. and its military forces have exploited, looted, and enslaved the Philippines for over a hundred years. Despite the Filipino people’s victories in ousting the US military bases in 1991 and Nicole’s victory in the conviction of Smith, Arroyo’s actions betrays the historic struggle and interests of the Filipino people for national sovereignty against foreign aggression.

Besides the Philippines, US imperialism has launched military intervention and wars of aggression all over the world. Aside from economic devastation and plunder of resources, women in these countries are often the victims of violence, rape, prostitution, sexually transmitted disease and sex trafficking to serve the interests of US military soldiers.

As the political and economic crises in the Philippines continue to worsen under the Arroyo regime, Filipino women will continue to be forced to migrate abroad, facing many forms of violence working in the most dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs. One of their destinations is Canada where since the 1980s nearly 100,000 Filipino women have come to work as live-in caregivers under the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) and its predecessor the Foreign Domestic Movement. Filipino live-in caregivers face economic, physical, emotional and sexual abuse and violence with little to no protection from the Philippine government. Many Filipino women also face violence from their spouses or partners once they are brought to Canada. We encourage our women to break the silence around all forms of violence against women.

As Filipino women in Canada we also demand that the Canadian government condemn violence and injustice committed against our women in the Philippines as well as in Canada. Community grassroots organizations need more support to deal with issues of violence against women as well as the multitude of other barriers they face integrating into Canadian society.

As part of over six million Filipino women living and working outside the country propping up the ailing Philippine economy with our dollar remittances, we are outraged over Arroyo’s refusal to protect and uphold the sovereignty and dignity of the Filipino nation. We call on all Filipino women and all women in Canada to unite against rape and all forms of violence against women. We also call for the immediate ouster of the fake, fascist and puppet US-Arroyo regime. At the same time we continue to draw inspiration from Nicole and the Filipino nation’s struggle for justice and national sovereignty.

Stop the Rape of Filipino Women and Children and of the Filipino Nation!
Break the Silence! Stop Violence Against Women!
Junk the Visiting Forces Agreement!
U.S. Troops Out of the Philippines!
Oust the US-Arroyo regime!
Down with US imperialism!

January 8, 2007

Statement issued by: National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada

Philippine Women Centre of BC
Philippine Women Centre of Manitoba
Philippine Women Centre of Quebec
Philippine Women Centre of Ontario
PINAY sa Montreal