MANILA – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton highlighted the importance of human rights and democracy, as well as mitigating corruption in a forum at the University of Santo Tomas on Friday.

Online chatters, however, questioned why the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)—the one issue that has been hounding US-RP relations—which is related to human rights, was glossed over.

“The Visiting Forces Agreement is an important expression of our partnership. It is based on mutual respect and mutual interest,” Secretary Clinton diplomatically told her audience, including those who followed the forum through online platforms.

“The US is committed to a strong partnership and alliance with the Phlippines. I’m here today to reaffirm that commitment,” she added during the Manila Forum, which was hosted by ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs chief Maria Ressa and ANC anchors Ricky Carandang and Pinky Webb.

Clinton on VFA

The US Foreign Secretary highlighted the role of the US servicemen in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the typhoons Ondoy and Pepent (internal code names Ketsana and Parma.)

She noted that the servicemen were here as a result of the VFA.

“Our service members, as we have seen, are ready to provide assistance and to work side by side with the military of the Philippines. I’m proud of what our service members have done in helping to respond to the devastating storms and the floods,” she said.

In response to a question on whether the US forces will continue to help Philippine troops in pursuing the militants in the South, she said, "We have provided training and assistance, but not involvement in combat by United States forces. It is a facilitating and supportive role to fight those who would disrupt communities, who would engage in terrorist activities."

When asked further if there are plans to reduce the size of the US Advisory Force in the Southern Philippines and deploy the troops to other conflict areas like Afghanistan, she replied: “I don’t discuss military decisions that is more appropriately worked out between our governments and our military. But I would just reiterate that the US stands ready to assist our friends in the Philippines who are seeking to counter terrorism and threat of extremism."

She added, "We will be willing to support them in anyway that is appropriate as they request.”

VFA issue sidelined

Several online chatters were disappointed that Secretary Clinton mum on the issue of erring US servicemen enjoying protection under VFA, as in the case of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith who was involved in the controversial Subic Rape Case.

Some also noted that she skirted the involvement of US troops in combat operations in Mindanao. These two issues are the main criticisms on the agreement.

“Hillary talked about human rights yet conveniently sidelined human rights abuses indentified with VFA,” tweeted harumscarum. “There’s room for (other) questions but VFA and/or direct involvement of US military personnel in the country are whisked away,” the chatter tweeted later on.

Chatter Mike asked whether the US government is aware of the “bad effects of the VFA.”

“If then, why not change it? Isn’t it that (US President Barack) Obama favors change? Why not change the bad effects of the your (US) so-called ‘help’ to our country,” Mike questioned the real effects of VFA to the Filipino people.

Another chatter said that the VFA has been one-sided. “Just like renting a place, the US has to pay us. We’re being short-changed here,” wrote Facebook user Paul Manlosa.

Manlosa said that America’s payment must not only be military training and giving military artillery but giving something the Philippines could use to develop the country. “We received little,” he said.

Chatter absnhe found no use for the VFA in the Philippines. “This agreement for me is nothing, this will promote more human rights violations,” absnhe said.

Easy on China, hard on RP

The US Secretary of State was criticized earlier this year when she said that the US will not force China hard on human rights issues.

The United States, however, has taken on a more critical stance with respect to the human rights record of the Philippine government.

Back in 2006, the US State Department reported that Philippine security forces have been responsible for human rights violations in the country. Earlier this month, the US Congress withheld military aid to the Philippines due to human rights abuses.

Clinton highlighted the need for civil societies to be more active in pushing for human rights issues.
In order to protect human rights, she said the judiciary should be independent, the police and military should know their limitations, and civil societies must be ready to speak out.

“Civil societies should continue to make human rights an issue,” she said. “People need to say no, there is no justification of human rights violations in all types of faiths."

Burma situation

At the UST forum, which was shown live on the ABS-CBN's cable news channel, ANC, and aired an hour later of ABS-CBN free TV, Clinton added that human rights also include the rights of workers, climate change, women’s rights, and food security.

When one student asked about the free-trade agreements, Clinton said trade agreements should be used to recognize the rights of workers and encourage efforts against climate change.

Similarly, Clinton said the US hopes the Philippines could help influence the leadership in Burma where “leadership is on the wrong side of history.” Clinton stopped over the Philippines for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Singapore tomorrow.

One of the key issues that will be discussed in the summit is the political situation of Myanmar. Clinton said the US has entered the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through a treaty in order to sit down and discuss aid and policies with the Burmese government.

“In my 9 months in office, we are trying to reverse some of the policies that are counterproductive,” she said. Included in the new policies under the Obama administration is opening talks even with “countries we don’t agree with” like North Korea, Russia, China, and Myanmar.

Clinton has visited the Philippines twice, the first was in 1996 as First Lady of then President Bill Clinton, and the recent was as the highest US diplomat under President Barack Obama’s administration.

Resolve Mindanao conflict

Another topic taken up at the forum was the conflict in Southern Philippines. According to Clinton, the time is ripe for a peace negotiation in Mindanao. She said this should be done before Arroyo’s term ends in 2010.

She refused, however, to confirm or disclose alleged talks between US diplomats and heads of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) regarding the peace treaty saying, “We cannot substitute our judgment to those of the government.”

Further, Clinton discussed that people should stand up against terrorism and not let conflict be used to intimidate them. She also noted that they want the countries to tell them, “We want you to help us in resolving our conflicts but once we can do it on our own, we want you to leave.”

There should be both socio-economic and a political approach in resolving the Mindanao conflict, she said. The peace agreement should also be in line with the provisions of the Philippine Constitution. “You cannot agree on something that will give groups of people more rights that the others,” she said.

Clinton also believed President Arroyo is very committed to sealing the peace agreement in Mindanao. “It’s easy to make difficult decisions when you’re way out of office,” she said.

Shared history

The Philippines has historic ties with the United States. The country became America’s first colony after the US purchased it from Spain following the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1898.
Filipino and American soldiers fought side by side against the Japanese during the Second World War. The Philippines also fought alongside US troops in the Korean War in 1950 and the Iraq invasion in 2003. 

The Philippines has also outrightly supported the US on two other issues: the alleged use of nuclear weapons of Communist country North Korea and military rule in Myanmar.

But ties between the two countries have been described from time to time as a "love-hate" relationship. In 1991, the Philippines kicked out American military bases following refusal by the Philippine Senate to ratify a new basing treaty.

Fences were mended when the Philippine Senate ratified the VFA with the United States in 1999. But the relationship became strained once again after a Filipina accused a US serviceman of raping her at the former US military base in Subic due to a provision in the VFA that allowed the US embassy to retain custody over the accused even after he was convicted by a Philippine court.

According to Clinton, the US-Philippines relationship is “highly-valued” and she hoped the “long history of partnership, friendship, and alliance” will be continued. – with a report by Althea Teves, abs-cbnNEWS.com/ Newsbreak