|
By Al Jacinto, Correspondent
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Communist rebels
demanded the withdrawal of all US troops in the Philippines as both
countries ended a two-week joint military training on Monday.
The rebels also criticized the
military’s cover-up of soldiers who are accused of killing eight
innocent villagers during an alleged firefight with Abu Sayyaf
militants last month in Maimbung, Sulu.
“Last week’s move by the
Armed Forces of the Philippines to absolve its soldiers and US
troops in the February 4 massacre of eight civilians in Maimbung,
Sulu, only bolster what the ongoing RP-US military exercises in
Mindanao is all about: there is nothing humanitarian at all in its
much-ballyhooed humanitarian missions in the island,” Rubi del
Mundo, spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao,
said in a statement.
US Ambassador to Manila Kristie
Kenney said the Balikatan 2008 held in Mindanao were purely humanitarian
missions. But Philippine and US forces held joint combat maneuvers
in Luzon.
Del Mundo also assailed Kenney
and branded her a “US psychological warfare expert.”
“Humanitarian missions are
psychological warfare tactics for US Imperialism to win the hearts
and minds of the people as these are but a ploy to divert their
aggressive military and economic objectives in the country,” said
del Mundo.
“It is but part of US war of
aggression to desperately save its sagging economy and to protect
its trade routes, market and influence against impending threats
from China. At the same time, it is to protect economic interests
and multi-billion-dollar prospective investments in southern
Mindanao region and in the whole Mindanao Island where large oil,
energy, mineral and metal deposits and rich agricultural lands are
flourishing,” he said.
The rebels abandoned peace talks
with Manila in 2004 and said they would only resume negotiations if
Washington removes them from the terror tag.
Last week, rebel forces killed
three government soldiers and wounded six more in a clash in the
outskirts of Davao City, a known NPA stronghold in Mindanao.
|
