DAVAO CITY – Activists in Manila will meet the US Independence Day with protest actions at the US Embassy.
The local chapter of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS-Philippines) said that “the Fourth of July is bastardized by the continued US domination and military presence in the Philippines”.
Americans are celebrating the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.
But the group said “US imperialism has replaced British colonialism.”
The ILPS announced its protest plan as the USS Lassen (DDG-82), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer of the US Navy, dropped anchor at Subic Bay, Zambales for a routine port visit.
The USS Lassen, one of seven destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, is currently on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The ILPS also cited the 2015 National Military Strategy released Wednesday by General Martin Dempsey, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as proving that there is a “distortion of the concept of independence”.
“Under the 2015 military strategy, US global presence enables Washington to intervene swiftly without any respect whatsoever to the values of independence and people’s sovereignty,” the ILPS-Phils added.
The 2015 US military strategy calls for: strengthening alliances with Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Thailand; deepening alliance with India and build partnerships with New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
ILPS said they are calling on other peoples especially in the region to “protest China’s expansionism, Japanese militarism and US imperialism.” (davaotoday.com)
