Leftists protest RP-US war games

Leftists protest RP-US war games

MANILA (AFP): A small group of leftwing activists on Sunday
held a rally in front of the U.S. embassy in the Philippine
capital Manila to protest the resumption of war games between the
allies.

Less than 50 activists, belonging to the New Nationalist
Alliance, carried placards which read "Yankees, go home" and "No
to war exercises" but later left quietly.

Four weeks of joint military exercises involving some 5,000
Filipino and American troops are to begin on Monday. Maneuvers
will be held at several sites, including the two former American
military bases of Clark and Subic north of Manila.

The Philippine senate last year ratified a visiting forces
agreement with Washington that spelled out the legal framework
for visiting American troops, paying the way for resumption of
large scale joint exercises.