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Tuesday, October 18, 2005
US welcomes Australia's proposed troop deployment in RP (11:20 a.m.)
MANILA -- The United States on Tuesday welcomed a proposed accord that would allow Australian troops to train Philippine soldiers in counter terrorism, but a left-wing opposition lawmaker feared it could lead to foreign intervention.
Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill, who is on a four-day visit for counter terrorism talks, said Monday his government was negotiating a status-of-forces agreement with the Philippines to expand its training of local troops battling al-Qaida-linked militants.
The accord, which Manila proposed last year, would make Australia the second country after the US to be given permission to train troops in the country, which has been criticized as the weakest link in the war on terror in Southeast Asia because of the presence of terror training camps.
"More cooperation among partners in fighting terrorism is a good thing," US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said.
He said it was up to Australia and the Philippines to determine what kind of training the Australians could provide.
A left-wing lawmaker, Teodoro Casino, expressed concern the accord would "open doors for direct military intervention."
He said he would file a resolution calling for a House of Representatives inquiry into the proposed agreement.
The Philippine Constitution prohibits foreign troops in the country unless their presence is covered by a treaty, and bars them from combat. Washington, which deploys hundreds of troops for joint training in the country each year, has a defense treaty with Manila, but Australia doesn't.
Casino said his concern was set off partly by earlier statements by Australian officials advocating pre-emptive military strikes against terrorists in other countries.
"They look at the Philippines as a base of terrorists and they would likely intervene here in the guise of preventing terrorism from reaching Australia," he said.
Defense Undersecretary Antonio Santos said the proposed accord would not allow Australian troops to engage in combat operations.
The Philippines proposed the accord last year to allow Australian troops to conduct field training and enhance the skills of local troops in areas such as maritime security and army Special Forces operations, he said.
Australia has provided limited counter terrorism training to Philippine security forces, but Hill said his government wanted to play a greater role, stressing that reducing threats here would benefit Australia and the whole region.(AP)
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