RP-U.S. military exercises begin, Moro rebels targeted
RP-U.S. military exercises begin, Moro rebels targeted
Ruben Alabastro, Reuters, Zamboanga, Philippines
The United States and the Philippines on Thursday launched joint military exercises to stamp out the Moro extremist "scourge" in this country's south, as America's war against terror expanded from Afghanistan.
Armed Filipino soldiers stood beside sandbags at the gates of the southern Philippine military headquarters in Zamboanga city as the exercises got under way in a simple ceremony attended by diplomats and senior military officers from the two allies.
The tight security was apparently prompted by intelligence reports that unidentified groups planned to disrupt the controversial exercises.
"We are here to launch a round of exercises and training designed to enhance the capabilities of both of our armed forces and to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines hone their skills to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf scourge," acting U.S. Ambassador Robert Fitts told soldiers standing side by side at attention on a sun-splashed ceremonial parade ground.
It is "a scourge which has terrorized the population of the Sulu archipelago and has kidnapped and murdered Philippine citizens as well as those of other nations," Fitts added.
The U.S. has linked the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. The exercises, planned to last for at least six months, will involve about 3,800 Filipinos and some 600 Americans.
About 160 U.S. Special Forces soldiers will join Filipinos in training patrols in the jungles of mountainous Basilan island, where the Abu Sayyaf has been holding a U.S. missionary couple and a Filipina nurse hostage for more than eight months.
The group has previously killed hostages and released others in return for ransoms.
Just before the ceremonial opening got under way, about 30 protesters, chanting "Yankees, go home", burned the American flag in a noisy rally at the gates of the military headquarters.
They shouted "Gloria U.S. puppet" -- referring to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo -- and carried signs reading: "We need food, houses, not bombs" and "We need aid -- not AIDS."
Arroyo's critics says the U.S. troop presence violates the constitution which bars foreign combat forces from operating in the Philippines, a divisive issue in the former U.S. colony.
Manila insists the American troops are in the country only for a limited period and that they will not engage in combat.
The U.S. troops will be deployed at the rear of Filipino-led patrols to minimize the risk of them encountering the Abu Sayyaf.
The Americans will be armed, but will fire only in self- defense. The training will also involve night-time fighting.
Philippine Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the exercises would upgrade the skills of local troops in combating terrorism.
He said the U.S. military presence had stirred up bitter debates, "but that is what democracy is all about."
"All sides have been heard... It is now time to act."