The Philippine government and the US officials claim that the presence of US troops in Mindanao is merely to provide assistance to the Philippine army and for “humanitarian and medical” missions for the people Mindanao. ‘Bbut what kind of support is it? Is there an assurance that these troops will not join the actual combat operations?’ Sittie Rajabia added.

A large crowd gathered in Cagayan de Oro City, North Cotabato, Cotabato City and Davao City and in Pikit North Cotabato, demonstrating against the U.S. marine’s presence and the Balikatan exercises which are becoming more like a formal U.S. occupation of the Moro land. The Philippines government turned a deaf ear while military elements harassed the demonstrators, raising the ire of local NGO’s and the concern of Muslims around the world. In Cotabato City, a U.S. flag is burnt while the demonstrators – composed of NGO members but also of a large number of the local people – shouted U.S. out of Mindanao, respect the sovereign nation and U.S. is number one terrorist nation.

The U.S. is accused of human rights violations in Mindanao. ‘Despite calls from different sectors to stop Balikatan exercises in Mindanao the joint PR-US military training is scheduled to start February 18, 2008 to March 03, 2008 in Sulu, Basilan, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and in North Cotabato,’ said Sittie Rajabia Sundang, Secretary General, Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization. ‘The Arroyo administration disregarded calls from different sectors to stop holding of Balikatan in the country especially in Mindanao and investigate human rights violations committed by US troops.  

‘This only shows how irresponsibility of the Arroyo administration as they ignored calls from ordinary citizens. Instead of listening to the sentiments of the people Pres. Arroyo favoured the Bush government to hold Balikatan in the country to run after the so called “terrorists”, Sittie Rajabia slammed.

The Philippine government and the US officials claim that the presence of US troops in Mindanao is merely to provide assistance to the Philippine army and for “humanitarian and medical” missions for the people Mindanao. ‘Bbut what kind of support is it? Is there an assurance that these troops will not join the actual combat operations?’ Sittie Rajabia added. She said in 2002, Buyung-Buyung Isnijal was shot allegedly by an American soldier identified by witnesses as a certain Sgt. Reggie Lane , who was accused of participating in a military operation on July 27, 2002 in Tuburan, Basilan.   

She added that the shooting and maiming of civilians purportedly by US soldiers who accidentally fired at civilians in the community while on their testing missions remains unaccounted for.  ‘One case was the shooting and wounding of Arsid Baharun in Zamboanga City while soldiers were conducting a marksmanship practice in 2004,’ she wrote in a press release. 

 In 2004, Sardiya Abu Calderon, 54-year old died due to heart attack when a helicopter boarding two US soldiers landed into their farm during the clearing operation conducted by the US troops and Filipino soldiers in August 2004 and in September 2006 where shrapnel of a misfired bomb hit the back of a 50-year old mother Bizma Juhan in Indanan, Sulu.In Zamboanga City , passengers of a tricycle complained in a radio station about US soldiers who accidentally bumped the tricycle they were riding in Calarian village on December 15, 2007. 

Instead of helping the victims to get up, US soldiers got down from their vehicle complete with high-powered guns that according to the complainants looked like they were going to war. On 04 February 2008, one of the survivors of the Maimbung, Sulu massacre Rawina Wahid exposed that when the soldiers brought her and her husband’s  body’s – that of Corporal Ibno Wahid – to a Philippine Navy boat she saw four (4) US soldiers among the Filipino soldiers inside the boat.

‘The presence of US troops does not deter to prevent “terrorist threat” in the country instead, attracts terrorism. US operations in Mindanao can be considered as “clandestine act of terrorism”. Through lies and deception, US maintained a “low profile role” in painting chaos in the island to justify its presence,’ the Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization said. Kawagib fear the vulnerability of the Moro civilians in areas where Balikatans are held.  

Previous statements made by US officials on having the right to carry guns and fire at people whom they think will compromise their security absolves them of these crimes.   Kawagib joined protests against balikatan exercises with Liga ng Kabataang Moro (LKM), Suara Bangsamoro and other progressive organizations calling for immediate pull-out of US troops from the Philippines this morning February 18, 2008 in Cagayan de Oro City, North Cotabato, Cotabato City and Davao City. The Moro groups are calling for an investigation on cases of human rights violations committed by US troops in Mindanao and justice must serve to the victims. 

Various groups in Central Mindanao staged a march-rally on the morning of February 18 to denounce the simultaneous conduct of Balikatan military exercises in the areas of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Cagayan de Oro city. Bro. Rustico Lumbo, FMS, convenor of Out Now! Coalition-Cotabato expresses worry over another round of violations to innocent civilians vis-à-vis unresolved human rights violations of past military exercises. 

"We are so sad that the government is so zealous with Balikatan but forsake the cry of innocent civilians especially the women and children who often the victims," Bro. Lumbo sobs. A convenor from United Methodist Church, Rev. Jeric Cortado exclaims, "These forces are always deceiving us since the days of our ancestors. Unmindful of the harm upshots, they pursue this for their own advantage. 

They keep on going back to Mindanao because of the richness of our land; there are no other reasons at all." Ustadz Ibrahim Sarip, also a convenor, says, "The Moro people have experienced all forms of violations from these foreign contingents. Since 2002, our brothers and sisters especially in Sulu and Basilan still bear the agony from Balikatan military exercises.

And now, they are here again. When will these people spare us?" Suara Bangsamoro in North Cotabato spearheaded a  caravan-rally to register their strong opposition on Balikatan 2008. Some 3000 contingents from 17 municipalities and one city converged in Kidapawan city and culminated in the Municipality of Pikit on Monday. Out Now! Coalition composes of human rights organization, Moro groups, church-based organizations and individuals from academe, government and professionals from the provinces of Shariff Kabunsuan, Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Cotabato City, will forefront the mass action with some 5,000 contingents.