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Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Editorial: Collective rape
THE tension created by the alleged rape of a Filipina by US soldiers is simply one in many cases of reported abuses committed by the American troops in Philippine soil that builds the case for at least a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
While cases of abuse committed by American troops are nothing new--the shooting to death of a Filipino child by US soldiers was portrayed in that timeless classic "Minsan May Isang Gamo-Gamo"--this latest offense comes smack in the face of the US-Philippine commitment in the war against terror.
With the US government hard up in searching for allies in its anti-terrorism campaign, the rape of a Filipina by some US soldiers reflects the kind of discipline its troops have and their respective attitudes towards their host countries.
It had been repeated time and again by militants that this wasn't an isolated case. Sure enough this had happened in Tokyo, though reports of that incident had been muted somewhat for obvious reasons by the American international media.
Then there are the moderates who urge a review of the case first before resorting to something drastic, like the total abolition of the VFA and other agreements with the US.
While nothing less than a thorough investigation into the incident is warranted maybe it's time to bring the Filipina rape case and others before the international community.
That at least will start the ball rolling and pressure the US government into seriously reviewing its security agreements with the other nations.
At the same time the US government should be made to account for a rape of another sorts--namely the ecological rape of the surrounding communities that once hosted the US bases.
Because of the toxic wastes dumped by US supply depots it would take time for a substantial number of families to recover from the poison absorbed by their bodies.
That is if the United Nations does give this and other issues the time of day it deserves.
Then again with the legendary stubbornness of US President George W. Bush taken into consideration maybe nothing would come out of this--maybe that is. One only has to see his determination to wage war on Iraq amid global pressure to do so.
But then every nation does have its weak points and it is thus incumbent upon this administration to bring its case not only to the US government but also to the American people and the international community.
(November 9, 2005 issue)
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