Do not Use the Filipino Children in 'Humanizing' the War Machinery – Rep. Emmi De Jesus

Ruis, gepost door: Gabriela Women's Party list (GWP) op 16/11/2012 11:08:03

Wanneer: 16/11/2012 - 08:04

Manila, Philippines - “The exposure of children to high-powered American war machines is a subtle way of inculcating into their young minds the culture of war,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus in reaction to the PDI banner photo of a smiling US marine letting a boy peek into his gun scope during the on-going 10-day Philippine-US Amphibious Landing Exercise (Philblex) 2013.




“It is ironic that as we celebrate National Children's Month this October in recognition of the children as the hope of the future, these same children are being utilized as propaganda materials for the idea of ‘humanizing’ wars and to make Balikatan exercises more acceptable to the public,” added De Jesus.

“Children are the collateral damage in all forms of unjustified wars. ‘Humanizing’ war opens the children to further vulnerability as they are being subtly force to accept the culture of violence. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child obliges every State to safeguard the right of every child to a safe home and peaceful community. But how can we be sure now of peaceful communities for them if their communities and playgrounds are turning into war zones?” De Jesus further added.

De Jesus further stressed that US is using the Philippines as a staging ground to achieve its goal to maintain a dominant role in the Asia Pacific region. “The Philippine government has been an all too willing host for the US war machine. It has been hoodwinked by promises of modernization for the Philippine armed forces. The Aquino government is dead wrong if it believes that by hanging on the coat-tails of Uncle Sam, our country would be in a better position to assert our sovereignty.”

“To be a nation that can effectively assert its sovereignty, the government must abandon all vestiges of neo-colonialism. We need an independent foreign policy that is free from US dictates. Only then can we develop our capability to assert our claims,” the Gabriela solon ended.


Global IMC Network www.indymedia.org Afrika Ambazonia Canarias Estrecho / Madiaq Kenya South Africa Canada London, Ontario Maritimes Quebec Oost Azië Japan Manila QC Saint-Petersburg Europa Abruzzo Alacant Antwerpen Athens Austria Barcelona Belarus Belgium Bristol Brussels Bulgaria Calabrië Cyprus Emilia-Romagna Estrecho / Madiaq Euskal Herria Galiza Duitsland grenoble Hungary Ireland Istanbul Italy La Plana Liege liguria Lille Linksunten Lombardia London Madrid Malta Marseille Nantes Napoli Netherlands Northern England Norway Nottingham Oost-Vlaanderen Paris/Île-de-France Piemonte Poland Portugal Roma Roemenië Russia Scotland Sverige Switzerland Torun Toscana Ukraine UK-GB Latijns Amerika Argentina Bolivia Chiapas Chile Sur Braszilië Sucre Colombia Ecuador Mexico Peru Puerto Rico Qollasuyu Rosario santiago Uruguay Valparaiso Venezuela Oceanië Aotearoa Manila Melbourne Perth QC Sydney Zuid-Azië India Verenigde Staten Arizona Atlanta Austin Baltimore Big Muddy Binghamton Buffalo Charlottesville Chicago Cleveland Colorado Columbus DC Hawaii Houston Hudson Mohawk LA Madison Michigan Milwaukee Minneapolis/St. Paul New Mexico New Orleans NYC Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland Richmond Rochester Rogue Valley San Diego San Francisco Bay Area Santa Cruz, CA Sarasota Seattle Urbana-Champaign Worcester West Azië Beirut Israel Palestine Process FBI/Legal Updates Mailing Lists Process & IMC Docs Projecten Print Radio Video Regio's United States Topics Biotech