prairie fire organizing committee

Solidarity Message for Demonstration against Visiting Forces Agreement

by Jennifer Cohen

Prairie Fire stands here in solidarity with you, GABRIELA, LFS, and CPI as you fight for your rights in the Philippines and here in the U.S. I represent all the members of Prairie Fire Organizing Committee, which has been part of the fight against U.S. imperialism since the 1970s. Today we work in solidarity to build a movement against imperialism, racism, and sexism. That's why we support you in your efforts to KEEP THE US AND THE US MILITARY OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY AND OUT OF YOUR LIVES!! These days, we see evidence of the imperialist mindset in the U.S. We see the destruction caused by U.S. military and economic domination of countries around the world. And in rejecting the VFA, we see an opportunity for the Philippine people to continue to say no to exploitation by the US military.

Some people would deny that the US ever colonized the Philippines. Others would say that that time is over. But we know that the US is looking for a way to get back into the Philippines to further its own interests. The US's support of the Marcos regime in the past gives us all the proof we need that it is US, and not shared, interests that will matter. So did the failure of the US to offer adequate aid after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo when so many people were devastated. And so has the systematic exploitation of Filipina women and children in particular through prostitution. Maybe the US military is hoping that the Philippine people and government have already forgotten the 100 years of US colonialism. Or the abuses to the environment, economy, and the prostitution of women and children that went hand in hand with bases such as Subic Bay. BUT YOU HAVEN'T and neither have those working in solidarity with you and THAT'S WHY I MADE SURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. As an activist, a feminist, it's particularly important to stand here as part of this demonstration and say no to the VFA because we know that the US military has literally made a business out of abusing and exploiting Filipina women through prostitution and rape. And in case anyone thought this agreement would mean anything different, the US has already been careful to include a clause that exempts military personnel from prosecution under Filipino law. Why else would it be so important to make sure that military people don't have to answer to anyone but other military people?

The US has worked for 100 years to try to make the Filipino people economically dependent. It has used how vulnerable people are when they live in poverty to abuse and exploit women and children through prostitution and rape. To let the US military back into the Philippines will only increase this kind of exploitation. Without the US military there, the Filipino people can continue with the work of making it possible for everyone to live a life free of exploitation and poverty.

We in Prairie Fire support you in your call to the Filipino government to listen to the Filipino people. The Filipino people successfully threw out the US military in 1992. This was a great victory. Don't allow the Visiting Forces Agreement to go forward!!!