AFP. 27 January 2002. Only "communists" oppose US military operations: Philippines leader.
MANILA -- Popular support for US troops joining Filipino soldiers in anti-terrorist military operations is overwhelming, with communists the only dissenters, President Gloria Arroyo said Sunday. "Our people support this wholeheartedly," Arroyo told Bombo Radio here in an interview. "Only a few people object to their presence, particularly the communists." Leftist groups have warned against escalating the US military presence to wage war on a 33-year old communist insurgency. Arroyo insisted Sunday that even the Muslim-populated communities in the south, such as the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan, "welcome" the US presence as "they hope for deliverance from the Abu Sayyaf." Leftist groups have been staging frequent street protests over the US deployments. Some of the protests have been directed at the US embassy here, where attempts to deface the crest outside the mission have led to scuffles with riot police. Earlier Sunday, a senior Arroyo aide challenged the leftists to take their case to the Supreme Court instead of burning American flags. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
