FILIPINO ACTIVISTS CALL ARROYO AN ACCOMPLICE TO ABU GHRAIB TORTURE

Anti-war coalition steps up pressure o­n Philippine government to withdraw support to the war

MANILA (May 21)- Anti-war activists in the Philippines denounced the Arroyo administration for its silence over the atrocities committed by US Soldiers against Iraqi prisoners of war. In a statement issued in a rally in front of the US Embassy in Manila last Friday, activists from the Iraq-Solidarity Campaign (ISC) said “The torture in Abu Ghraib prison should have been met with gravest condemnation by the Philippine government, being a signatory to the Geneva convention and other international conventions and treaties o­n human rights. It instead chose to remain silent and by doing so became a silent accomplice to these atrocities.”

“President Arroyo should be also be charged for being accomplice to Bush in the mass murder of Iraqi civilians and the death of 2 Filipino OCWs,” added DJ Janier of Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD).

Echoing the guilty verdict handed down by the world tribunal o­n Iraq, ISC also implicated President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo along with US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair of war crimes in Iraq and crimes against humanity.

Stepping up the pressure o­n the Philippine government to withdraw its support to the illegal war and occupation, around 200 activists marched to the US Embassy with banners and placards calling ” Bush, Blair and Arroyo, guilty of war crimes,” and “GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) and BUSH Butchers of Baghdad”.

The activists were greeted by a phalanx of anti-riot policemen about two blocks away from the US Embassy. Deciding to hold their ground, the activists conducted a sit-down, street press conference, where the representatives of the Iraq Solidarity Campaign (ISG) delivered their messages.

“The lives of around 4,000 Filipino overseas workers are at serious risk in Iraq. The GMA government should see to it that these workers are brought home without delay” said Edwin Bustillos of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL). Romy Castillo of Partido ng Manggagawa (Workers Party) decried the situation that forces Filipinos to go abroad and face life-threatening conditions to secure their livelihoods. “The government should work to provide opportunities at home so that Filipino’s won’t have to leave their families and risk their lives just to earn a decent income” said Castillo.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier reported that more Filipinos in Iraq are expected to signify their intention to return home despite the Philippine government's stand to delay the forced evacuation of the 4,000 workers and 51 peace-keepers in the war-torn country.

Last week, two batches of Filipino OFWs returned to Manila. The first batch of returning OFWS included the remains of Filipino truck-driver Rodrigo Reyes, the first Filipino casualty in Iraq.

Activist Priest Father Robert Reyes of Peace Camp called Bush and Arroyo “Shameless! in perpetuating this illegal war and the occupation of Iraq”. Fr. Reyes prayed for the souls of the thousands of civilians killed in the war including the 2 Filipino workers and for the safe return of the thousands more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)still in Iraq.

” It is unforgivable that Bush's greed pushes o­n this war of aggression when even the American people have condemned this act. We should respect the Iraqi people's right to self-determination. The US may have helped in overthrowing the Saddam dictatorship, but wants to install itself as Iraq's next ruler or colonizer,” explained Rasti Delizo of Sanlakas.