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."