 PREVIOUS |
GABRIELA SAYS
NO TO VFA
PRESS RELEASE
February 13, 1998
Militant women from the group GABRIELA staged a protest picket against the newly-forged Visiting Forces Agreement this morning in front of the US Embassy along Roxas Blvd. The Visiting of Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed by Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon last Monday as endorsed by President Fidel V. Ramos.
"We are outraged by the Ramos government's move of selling off our people's sovereignty by signing the Status of Forces Agreement and consequently making our women and children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation" said Liza Maza, secretary general of GABRIELA.
"There is no denying that the presence of foreign military intervention almost always result to grave abuse and exploitation of women and children as showcased by Angeles and Olongapo" said Maza. "With 22 more ports being opened for US military access and in the face of grave economic crisis, the number of prostituted women may very well reach a million before the next millenium" Maza added.
The women's group cited the massive growth of sex industry in areas where two of the largest US military bases were located. During the presence of US military bases, there were 330 bars, clubs, massage parlors and entertainment joints in Magsaysay Ave. alone in Olongapo. And the number of "entertainers" in Olongapo reached 32,000.
The group also stressed that the Immunity Clause on the VFA virtually gives
US military personnels "diplomatic license to violate our women and children".
"Whether the US or the Philippines will prosecute the offending US personnel
is no longer an issue. The fact is, our women and children will be prostituted
and abused" they added.
From 1981 to 1988, fifteen cases of sexual abuse of children between ages 11
to 16 were filed. All these were against US servicemen and all were dismissed.
" This so called "new phase" of Philippine-US relations only promotes safeguard to continued US imperialist interests in the country. VFA is a crucial issue but we have yet to hear from any presidentiable or senatorial-aspirant to take a firm stand against it" Maza also added.
The group said that they will continue efforts to struggle against "this invigorated foreign intervention just like we did in 1991".
