Rebels Condemn Philippines-Australia Defense Pact

Gregorio Rosal, Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman. Rosal has condemned the signing of a new defense pact between Manila nd Canberra that will allow Australian troops to train Filipino forces in Philippine soil.

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Jun) – Filipino communist rebels have criticized President Gloria Arroyo for signing a security pact with Australia that would allow troops from both countries to hold joint anti-terrorism warfare training in the Philippines.

The defense cooperation accord called the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) is aimed at enhancing military capabilities of both countries in fighting terrorism and transnational crimes.

The agreement contains key elements such as the basis of visits, entry and departure conditions, how training and exercises are to be conducted, carriage of arms, security and criminal jurisdiction, provisions, importation and exportation regulations and environmental protection.

Rebel leader Gregorio Rosal said the agreement only furthers foreign military intervention in the Philippines, which is a violation of the national sovereignty of the Filipino people.

"With the Philippine-Australia SOFA, we can expect closer and more sinister coordination between U.S. and Australian military 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.”

“U.S. forces in the Philippines have also maintained a practically permanent base of operations in Zamboanga City,” Rosal said.

He also cited Australia's all-out support for the so-called U.S. interventionist wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.

With the signing of the SOFA, Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said the Philippines is to receive 28 patrol crafts 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 patrol crafts, Australia would also spend four million dollars annually to train Filipino troops in anti-terrorism warfare.

Arroyo the SOFA will help to professionalize the Philippine military through training and advanced education along with the vital contribution of special sea crafts to help us fight terrorists lurking in the swamps and shadows of remote southern islands.

“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.

Communist rebels have previously threatened to attack U.S. targets in the Philippines.
Zamboanga City is host to a huge number of American soldiers and communications bases, but the local mayor Rodrigo Duterte has flatly rejected a government proposal to hold a joint RP-US anti-terror training in Davao City.

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. (Mindanao Examiner)