Get Out! Rebels Tell US troops In Philippines

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 03, 2008) – Communist rebels demanded the withdrawal of all US troops in the Philippines as both countries ended a two-week joint military training on Monday.

The rebels also criticized the military's cover-up of soldiers accused of killing 8 innocent villagers during an alleged firefight with Abu Sayyaf militants last month in Sulu's Maimbung town.

"Last week's move by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to absolve its soldiers and US troops in the February 4 massacre of eight civilians in Maimbung town, Sulu only bolster what the ongoing RP-US military exercises in Mindanao is all about: there is nothing humanitarian at all in its much ballyhooed humanitarian missions in the island," Rubi del Mundo, spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

The NDF has previously demanded targeted US troops deployed in the Philippines, a key US ally in the so-called global war on terror. The NDF, the political wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippine and the New People's Army are included in the US list of foreign terrorist organizations.

US Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney said the Balikatan 2008 held in the southern Philippines were purely humanitarian missions. But Philippine and US forces held joint combat maneuvers in Luzon.

Del Mundo also assailed Kenney and branded her as a "US psychological warfare expert." "Humanitarian missions are psychological warfare tactics for US Imperialism to win the hearts and mind of the people as these are but a ploy to divert their aggressive military and economic objectives in the country."

"It is but part of US war of aggression to desperately save its sagging economy and to protect its trade routes, market and influence against impending threats from China. At the same time, it is to protect economic interests and multi-billion dollar prospective investments in southern Mindanao region and in the whole Mindanao Island where large oil, energy, mineral and metal deposits and rich agricultural lands are flourishing," he said.

The rebels abandoned peace talks with Manila in 2004 and said they would only resume negotiations if Washington removes them from the terror tag.

Last week, rebel forces killed three government soldiers and wounded six more in a clash in the outskirts of Davao City, a known NPA stronghold in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)