------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the July 29, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
FILIPINOS FORCE TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ By Lydia Bayoneta [Editor's note: Angelo de la Cruz was released on July 20.] Under enormous pressure from the Filipino people, President Gloria Arroyo has withdrawn the Philippine military contingent from Iraq. She also froze the further deployment of Filipino civilian workers to that country. The decision of the Philippine government to withdraw from the so-called "Coali tion of the Willing" grew out of a crisis sparked by the kidnapping and threatened beheading of Angelo de la Cruz by Iraqi insurgents. De la Cruz is an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), the father of eight, from a desperately poor village in central Luzon. He is one of 3,800 Filipino civilian workers in Iraq. The Iraqi resistance fighters demanded that the Filipino government withdraw its troops by July 31. >From the time the kidnapping became known, a growing wave of resistance swept the Philippines, denouncing Filipino involvement in the U.S. occupation and demanding that the Philippine government act to save de la Cruz's life. Large and militant demonstrations and protests broke out, not only in Manila, but nationwide and even internationally. There were pitched battles with police. The government attempt to crush the resistance went so far as virtually kidnapping de la Cruz's wife and immediate family, hoping to keep them from making statements to the press. But it was unsuccessful on all fronts. Despite her previous assurances to the U.S. that she would "hold firm," Arroyo's government finally announced that the Philippine troops would be coming home. "Keep in mind that prior to this, she was a staunch supporter of the United States. The only logical explanation for this change in her policy and her willingness to risk disappointing the United States, is to tame the protests at home," said Teodoro Casino, a congressperson of the progressive political party Bayan Muna. Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chairperson of the Philippine Senate committee on national defense and security, revealed the dilemma of the Arroyo government: This crisis "is not just about the life of one Filipino," he said. A "competing need" is to maintain political stability. "Main taining stability is more compelling than our need to cooperate [with the U.S.] in this confused war," he added. Sen. Francis Pangilinan responded to U.S. critics of the decision bluntly: "The Philippines cannot hope to keep its commitments to the international efforts in Iraq if it is unable to marshal critical support back home." Although some in the U.S. have tried to downplay the Philippine withdrawal, Filipinos believe the decision has dealt a blow to the U.S.- led international contingent in Iraq, already weakened by Spain's pullout. Thailand has also announced the withdrawal of 451 troops, ignoring an appeal by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. The U.S. government was quite harsh in its criticism. On July 14, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell publicly criticized the Manila government, while a U.S. diplomat stationed in Manila described Arroyo's move as "very serious and damaging" to Manila's relationship with Washington. He said the U.S. did not expect this from Arroyo, who is widely considered the strongest supporter of the U.S. in Southeast Asia, and who has received by far the biggest military aid in the region. THE PLIGHT OF FILIPINO WORKERS Demands for the withdrawal of Philip pine troops from Iraq came not only from their homeland but from the millions of Filipino workers laboring overseas. The Saudi Arabia chapter of Migrante International sent a petition to the Philip pine government calling for the pullout of Filipino troops from Iraq to save the life of Angelo de la Cruz. It stated that OFW "community leaders in Riyadh not only call for the unconditional pullout of Philippine troops from Iraq" but also for the Philippine government "to caution itself against giving out statements that openly support the U.S. occupation in Iraq." Filipino community leaders representing 26 organizations signed the petition. Over 940,000 Filipino workers are working in Saudi Arabia alone. OFWs now number 10 million in many other countries across the globe. These workers account for half the Philippine's annual Gross Domestic Product. The large number of overseas workers is accounted for by the desperate poverty which exists in the Philippine homeland. Battered by neocolonial policies, a staggering debt, restrictions by the IMF and World Bank, and the "most severe unemployment crisis this country has recorded," Filipino workers face a tragic choice: to starve at home or risk abuse, injury and even death overseas. One Baghdad-bound woman angrily told reporters at the Manila airport: "If I die in Iraq at least I'm sure my three children will get something out of my death. If I remained here we will die hungry." According to the Philippine National Wages and Productivity Commission, the family living wage in metro Manila is pegged at $319.41 a month to meet minimum food and non-food requirements. For those who can get a job, the minimum wage is $118.30 a month. Filipino workers in Iraq are paid about $800 per month, although this often means overtime with no pay and no days off. It is worth noting, however, that employers in Iraq, like the notorious Haliburton company, are paying Filipinos less than the U.S. minimum wage. Angelo de la Cruz has been portrayed by the U.S. government and press as a "victim of terrorism." It is clear that, in reality, de la Cruz and millions like him are victims of the U.S. war of conquest in Iraq and of imperialist exploitation in the Philippines and around the world. By forcing the Philippine government to withdraw its contingent, the Filipino people have struck a blow at the real terrorists. [Sources for this article include Bulatlat.com, Philippine Star and People First.] - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. 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