Group seeks probe of US troops ambushed in Sulu

MANILA, Philippines - Militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) sought Monday an investigation into the reported presence of US soldiers in a Philippine military unit that was ambushed in Sulu last weekend. Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr cited reports indicating a Guam National Guard Soldier deployed to Mindanao was reported safe following Saturday's attack. "What were US troops doing in a war zone? They are not supposed to have any combat roles yet their very presence in an area of intense armed conflict seems to confirm that they are engaging in activities that are considered prohibited under the Philippine constitution," Reyes said in a statement on the Bayan website. He said US Special Forces are not just overstaying, they are believed to be engaged in various capacities, in actual combat operations. This highlights the fundamental weaknesses of the Visiting Forces Agreement and its implementation, he added. "The problem with the US troops in Mindanao is that their presence has gone beyond the definition of 'temporary' or 'visiting'. They have also gone beyond so-called 'training and civic operations'. They are now active components in the combat operations vs the MILF and other armed groups," Reyes said. Bayan said the real role of US Special Forces will be among the issues to be raised by petitioners in the Supreme Court oral arguments asking the high court to nullify the Visiting Forces Agreement. It said the oral arguments are set on September 19. Bayan is one of the petitioners in case before the Supreme Court. Also, Bayan cited a report from the United States Institute for Peace, a quasi-governmental organization mobilized by the US government to influence the Mindanao peace process. It claimed the group's February 2008 report said "US policy instruments in Mindanao include diplomacy, conditionality of US economic and military assistance programs, and more punitive measures on the counterterrorism front." The report also said "American targets also included so-called MILF lost commands, who were linked to terrorism. American Special Forces under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) established expanded counterterrorism operations, providing the AFP with intelligence, training, and weaponry. The objective was to assist the AFP in its efforts to reform, modernize, and enhance its ability to fight terrorist groups." Also, it implied that the US embassy in the Philippines knew of the extent of the activities of the US soldiers in Mindanao. "The US embassy was also closely engaged with US PACIFIC COMMAND in counterterrorism training and defense reform with the AFP and was thus linked to a highly visible American military presence in Mindanao," the report said. On the other hand, Bayan said the combat roles of the US forces can be seen in the embedded US Special Forces in Philippine combat units. These include armed convoys such as the one ambushed in Sulu. The US forces also enage in intelligence gathering to support combat operations, Reyes said. "The Philippine government must stop issuing denials on the role of US troops in Mindanao. The Philippine government should investigate why US troops are being placed in known areas of armed conflict where the probability of engaging in armed confrontation is very high. At the very least, the Philippine government must order the pull-out of US troops from Sulu and other areas where there are raging battles," he said. - GMANews.TV