Ethnic group protests against U.S. troop deployment

About 300 indigenous people in Central Luzon held an indefinite camp-out in front of the regional office of the Commission on Human Rights in San Fernando, Pampanga, central Luzon, to demand the immediate dismantling of the U.S.-Philippine military detachments in their tribal towns.

"Our lands have virtually border-less military camps for the U.S. troops," said Sonny Serrano, chairman of the Central Luzon Aeta Association (CLAA).

He complained that the Philippine military is already clearing the ground for the U.S.-Philippine military operations in the region.

"The re-entry of U.S. troops would definitely alter our food production and social organisation," Serrano pointed out.

Also included in the camp-out protest are about 70 individuals from the Ilongot tribes of Aurora province. They expressed concern over the intensifying militarisation in their communities.

The Ilongot tribesmen are worried that the military operations will extend to Fort Magsaysay and Dinggalan Bay, at the foot of the Aurora province in south-eastern Luzon.

Military troops have taken over towns identified for the joint wargames such as Target, Crown Valley, San Martin, Aduan, Sapang Uwak, Nabuklod, Kamias, and Villa Maria in Pampanga.

All of these towns are within the perimeter of the former U.S. Clark Air base in Angeles, Pampanga. About 1,700 American troops are expected to pour into the region for the start of war exercises on April 22.

"President Gloria Arroyo is using the "war against terrorism" as a means to pacify Filipinos who are sowing growing opposition to military operations in Philippine soil," Serrano alleged.

The U.S. government abandoned the former Clark Air Base after it was destroyed by the Piantubo eruption in 1991. The areas surrounding the base were cultivated into fertile agricultural lands by the Aeta indigenous groups.

The government transformed the former war facility into commercial use when the Philippine senate rejected in 1991, the U.S.-proposed 10-year extension of the defunct Military Bases Agreement.

"There are strong indications that the Arroyo administration is paving the way for extended war operations in central Luzon," said Serrano.

He added that they are meant to target the communist New People's Army, the longest running leftist armed group in south-east Asia.

He claimed that the Philippine army's 24th Infantry Battalion led an indiscriminate firing on several Aeta tribesmen.

"Four Aeta leaders have been placed under the order-of-battle of the military after being accused of instigating the shooting," said Serrano. He added that the military has imposed a 9pm curfew.

"This has prevented us from fishing and working on our lots. We normally do it from late evening until early mornings. We are not allowed to use flash lights. We can no longer hunt and gather in the hinterlands for fear that we might be suspected as NPA members or supporters," Serrano noted.

Arroyo has not prevented the U.S. from including the NPA in its terror list.

The American troops have begun arriving in the region since Thursday. The first arrival comprised support elements, which will prepare logistics and technical requirements of the second phase of the war exercise, which starts on April 22.

The 1,700-strong troop contingent is the largest, compared with the 1,500 contingent that joined previous military exercises in the region.

Sources said this will pave the way for multilateral war games with participation by troops from other countries such as South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia.

A contingent of 660 U.S. Special Forces is in central and southern Philippines, and 160 of these were deployed to help Filipino soldiers run after the Abu Sayyaf Group which is holding three hostages in the hinterlands of Basilan.