NDF- SOUTHERN MINDANAO SLAMS BALIKATAN ANEW

The National Democratic Front - Southern Mindanao has reiterated its call for the complete withdrawal of US troops in the ountry following the purported closing of the Balikatan exercises on Monday.

Coming in the heels of the broadest movement seeking to oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, it is high time to assert once again our national sovereignty and genuine independence, said NDF spokesman Rubi del Mundo in a statement furnished to Davao City media. 

Last week’s move by the AFP 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, said del Mundo.

Further, the spokesman said: “US psychological warfare expert envoy Christine Kenney is lying to the teeth in saying that Balikatan 2008 is purely composed of “humanitarian missions.” 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 “

“Together with their AFP local counterparts, US troops are hell-bent in crushing revolutionary groups such as the MILF, the NPA and the progressive groups and civil libertarians who pose the most consistent resistance to US imperialism.

The subservience of the Arroyo regime to US Imperialism has allowed the latter to enjoy the benefit of using our territory and taking advantage of our rich- resources while the Filipino suffer from wanton violations of human rights by American soldiers, unprotected against nuclear weapons, war games, unsafe against test fire missions and marksmanship trainings, criminal culpabilities and rude attitudes of American soldiers and environmental hazards caused by toxic wastes.

As Balikatan exercises end today, March 3, the NDF-Southern Mindanao calls on all freedom-loving people to persist in fighting for our country’s independence, resist US intervention and work for the ouster of the depraved puppet Arroyo regime.”