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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippine Rebels Slam RP-Australia Defense Pact |
| 2007-06-04 |
| ZAMBOANGA CITY, 4 June 2007 — Communist rebels yesterday criticized President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for agreeing to a security pact that would allow Australian troops to operate in Philippine territory. Arroyo had earlier hailed the defense deal, signed by the Philippine and Australian defense ministers last Thursday during her visit to Canberra, saying it would make not just the Philippines but the Southeast Asian region safer and more secure from militants. The Status of Forces Agreement or SOFA is aimed at enhancing military capabilities of both countries in fighting terrorism and transnational crimes, officials said. Arroyo said the defense arrangement, in particular, would allow elite Australian commandos to train local troops to “help us fight terrorists lurking in swamps and shadows of remote southern islands.” Philippine security officials said militants from neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia had been seeking refuge on Mindanao, protected by rebels fighting to set up a separate Islamic state. Gregorio Rosal, spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines and head of the party’s military wing New People’s Army (NPA), said the agreement furthers foreign military intervention in the Philippines. “With the Philippine-Australia SOFA, we can expect closer and more sinister coordination between US and Australian troops in the Philippines in carrying out combat, reconnaissance, espionage and other military activities in violation of Philippine sovereignty,” Rosal said. He said the SOFA is similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement between the United States and the Philippine governments. “Through the VFA, the American military has been able to permanently deploy a significant number of combat troops, reconnaissance forces, intelligence operatives and other open and covert interventionist forces in Philippine territory.” “US forces in the Philippines have also maintained a practically permanent base of operations in Zamboanga City,” Rosal said, referring to the key southern port city that is home to the largest military establishment in Mindanao. Zamboanga City is also host to a huge number of American soldiers and communications bases. Rosal also cited Australia’s all-out support for the so-called US interventionist wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. Communist rebels have previously threatened to attack US targets in the Philippines. With the signing of the SOFA, Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said the Philippines is to receive 28 patrol craft worth some four million dollars from Australia. The boats would be used to patrol Mindanao’s huge marshlands, used by rebels and terrorists as a springboard to launch terror attacks. Aside from the patrol boats, Australia would also spend A$4 million dollars each year to train Filipino troops in anti-terrorism warfare. Arroyo said the SOFA would help to professionalize the Philippine military through training and advanced education along with the vital contribution of special sea craft to help fight terrorism. “Like the Philippines, Australia has felt the lash of terrorism on its citizens. By working together on a regional basis, we hope to make our country and the entire region safer and more secure for our God-fearing people,” she said. The Philippines is also working for a similar military cooperation with Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia. Manila is currently holding joint anti-terrorism training with the United States off the Sulu Archipelago. |
| Posted by:Classer |
| #3 Anyone who actually expected them to be happy about it, raise your hand. |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-06-04 15:23 |
| #2 SAS has been getting plenty of desert and mountain experience lately. Now to brush up on the jungle skills! Gotta keep up the all-court game. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2007-06-04 12:08 |
| #1 Gregorio Rosal, spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines and head of the partyÂ’s military wing New PeopleÂ’s Army (NPA), said the agreement furthers foreign military intervention in the Philippines. Sorry, Greg-baby - The Philippines discovered capitalism. Besides sovereignty isn't worth much if citizens gotta worry about Indo-Malaysian supported terrs in the south and their Chinese-supported communist allies in the north. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-06-04 10:21 |