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EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT!<br><br>
U.S. TROOPS GANG RAPE FILIPINA WOMAN IN THE PHILIPPINES<br><br>
DEMONSTRATION TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIM, AND NO IMMUNITY FOR THE
PERPETRATORS<br><br>
Today, Friday, November 4th, 4:30-6pm<br>
San Francisco Federal Building<br>
450 Golden Gate Avenue (Cross Street is Polk)<br>
San Francisco, CA<br><br>
<br><br>
DEMAND JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY US TROOPS!<br><br>
JUNK THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT (VFA)!<br><br>
US TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES, MIDDLE EAST, & EVERYWHERE!<br><br>
<br>
Organized by BAYAN USA, babae, League of Filipino Students, Committee for
Human Rights in the Philippines<br>
For more information contact: info@bayanusa.org or call 415-412-8915 or
510-914-4461<br><br>
<br><br>
----------------------------<br><br>
<br><br>
News Release<br><br>
Nov. 3, 2005<br><br>
<br><br>
For reference:<br><br>
Berna Ellorin<br><br>
Public Information Officer, BAYAN USA,<br><br>
ny@bayanusa.org / phone: 646-479-1605<br><br>
<a href="http://www.bayanusa.org/" eudora="autourl">www.bayanusa.org<br>
<br>
<br><br>
</a>NO IMMUNITY: CASE OF US TROOPS' GANG RAPE OF FILIPINA WOMAN MUST BE
SURRENDERED TO PHILIPPINE JURISDICTION-- BAYAN USA<br><br>
<br><br>
New York/San Francisco? The national alliance of Filipino organizations
in the US known as BAYAN USA and its supporters strongly condemn the
recent and brutal gang rape of a 22 year-old Filipina woman by at least
six US Marines stationed in Subic Bay, Olongapo City two days ago last
Tuesday, November 1.<br><br>
<br><br>
The six suspects are currently being held in the Philippines under the
custody of the US Embassy in Manila.<br><br>
<br><br>
BAYAN USA spokesperson Berna Ellorin asserted, "this heinous crime
against the Filipino people at the hands of the US military troops
commands nothing less than comprehensive justice. This can only mean all
efforts must be exerted by both the US and Philippine authorities for a
full investigation of the alleged perpetrators. Absolutely NO IMMUNITY
must be granted to the six suspects under US jurisdiction. <br>
They must surrender to Philippine jurisdiction be tried and held
accountable to the Filipino people and its legal system. The
Macapagal-Arroyo government, if it is one with its people, must
facilitate such a due process. Anything else is NOT
justice."<br><br>
<br><br>
According to the unidentified female victim, the group of six US marines
invited her to join them in a rented van after a night out in a karaoke
bar. A few hours later, as reported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan
Authority (SBMA), witnesses said they saw the unconscious woman's body
being dumped from the van on a road.<br><br>
<br><br>
SBMA Chair Feliciano Salonga confirmed that the six US servicemen-- Keith
Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Albert Lara, Dominic Duplantis, Corey Barris, and
Chad Capent-- were "identified by the driver of the van."
<br>
Ellorin zoomed in on a vague claim by the US Embassy and US Charges
D'Affairs Paul Jones that the US would "cooperate" with the
Philippine authorities in an investigation of the incident.<br><br>
<br><br>
"There is a century-long history of US military atrocities committed
against Filipinos in the Philippines that were never brought to
justice," Ellorin stated, citing previous examples including the
shooting of unarmed civilian Buyong-Buyong Isnijal by US Soldier Reggie
Lane in Basilan back in July 2002, the shooting of Aetas (an indigenous
people) near Subic back in the eighties by US troops who claimed to have
mistook them as wild boar, and countless human rights violations and
sexual offenses against Filipino women.<br><br>
<br><br>
"In all cases, Philippine government surrendered its criminal
jurisdiction to the US. US soldiers, as protected by provisions under the
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) are seldom surrendered to Philippine
authorities much less tried under Philippine law. They are totally
untouchable under US jurisdiction, despite crimes they can commit against
Filipinos on Philippine soil. This means they can get away with anything
from murder to gang rape, and not have to answer to the Philippine
government," Ellorin explained.<br><br>
<br><br>
Ellorin cited the unconstitutionality of the Visiting Forces Agreement in
the first place, stating it directly violates Philippine national
sovereignty. "The VFA should be repealed at once, for the rights and
welfare of the Filipino people."<br><br>
<br><br>
Jones, on the other hand, refused to disclose the exact whereabouts of
the six US rape suspects, who were among the 4,500 US servicemen in the
Philippines for the Talon joint military exercises since several weeks
ago.<br><br>
<br><br>
BAYAN USA called for increased national action in indignation and
demanding justice for the victim. It reiterated its call for the total
and unconditional withdrawal of US troops and US military aid from the
Philippines. ###<br><br>
<br><br>
For news reports on the gang rape, visit the following links:<br><br>
<br><br>
<a href="http://wcbstv.com/topstories/topstories_story_307073852.html" eudora="autourl">
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/topstories_story_307073852.html<br><br>
<br><br>
</a>
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4403134.stm" eudora="autourl">
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4403134.stm<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
</a>BAYAN USA is an alliance of progressive Filipino groups in the U.S.
representing organizations of students, scholars, women, workers, and
youth. As the only international chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
(BAYAN-Philippines), BAYAN USA serves as an information bureau for the
national democratic movement of the Philippines and as a campaign center
for anti-imperialist Filipinos in the U.S. Members of BAYAN USA include:
ANAKBAYAN (Los Angeles & Seattle), Committee for Human Rights in the
Philippines (Oakland, Bay Area), Habi-Arts (Los Angeles), New York
Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NY), League of Filipino
Students (San Francisco), Pilipinos Organizing Workers for Empowerment
and Respect (Los Angeles), and Critical Filipino and Filipino Studies
Collective.<br><br>
<br><br>
Official BAYAN USA statements and press releases are sent exclusively via
bayanusanews list. To join please send a request to
info@bayanusa.org.<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the BAYAN USA Newslist please send an
email toinfo@bayanusa.org<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
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