18 April 2014
Brussels
Lawyers from various countries such as the United States, South Korea, Japan, Greece and Spain, condemned today attempts by the US to formally establish military bases in the Philippines and supported the call of Filipino lawyers from the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) for actions against the Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation [AEDC] between the US and the Philippines. These expressions of support were given during the 18th Assembly of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) in Brussels, Belgium.
“Many delegates believe that this new basing agreement and the US pivot in Asia will threaten the peace and stability of the region” said Atty. Edre U. Olalia, Secretary General of the NUPL. “The expanded US military presence in the country is also a threat to the peace process in the Philippines considering the antagonism of the US to any form of peace process between the government and the National Democratic Front.”
"Support from many lawyers groups worldwide is important in the battle against this attempt by the US for economic and political hegemony in Asia. We will continue to gather as many support from peace advocates and lawyers groups against the latest US initiative to escalate its presence in the Philippines. It is the US that provides material and moral support for the militarist approach to the conflict, making the calvary of the Filipino people even more tormenting," Olalia added.
NUPL president Neri Colmenares, also Bayan Muna representative, warned the Philippine government that it could be held accountable under international law should the US use its military facilities in the Philippines to commit aggression in other countries. “We learned during the Congress that the US is also expanding its bases in Japan. During the IADL discussions, it was made clear by many legal luminaries attending the Congress that the crime of aggression does not only attach to the US but also the country that allows the use of its territory to attack other countries. While we condemn China’s aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea, we will not tolerate aggressive acts of the US which will subject the Filipino people to retaliatory attacks by the many enemies of the US,” said Rep. Colmenares. “We will get the support of international lawyers to file a case against the US and Pres. Aquino for crimes against humanity committed as a result of this new basing agreement.”
The NUPL delegation is also asking representatives from various countries to sign a petition calling for the release of political prisoners and for respect of human rights in the Philippines. # (nc)
REFERENCES:
Neri Javier Colmenares
NUPL President
+639178350459
Edre U. Olalia
NUPL Secretary General
+639175113373
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