Nov. 21 International Day of Action Against US Intervention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21 November 2006
Contact: pinayinfo@gmail.com
PINAY sa Seattle Demands Justice for Nicole!
Nov. 21 International Day of Action Against US Intervention
Seattle, WA - More than one year ago, a 22 year old Filipina student, "Nicole", was gang raped by 4 US military personnel while on duty at Subic Bay naval base in the Philippines, four of which have been convicted of rape and are on trial. After almost 4 months of deliberation in Philippine Courts, the Filipino people await the court's decision scheduled for November 27 th. This landmark case is the first time in history any US soldier has been taken to trial under the Philippines justice system for committing a sexual crime despite numerous accounts of violence against women and other acts of sexual assault on the women of the Philippines.
The biggest hurdle Nicole has had to face during this horrific ordeal is the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). The VFA is an agreement between the government of the U.S. and the government of the Republic of the Philippines regarding the treatment of United States armed forces visiting the Philippines. Under this agreement, the accused did not have to be detained inside the country's decrepit and overcrowded prison cells. Instead, they had air-conditioned accommodations at the U.S. Embassy. They do not have to be "detained" very long because the VFA has a one-year deadline year deadline for the hearings. After that, the accused U.S. soldiers can be shipped out of the country. The VFA, an agreement complicit with US military interests, protects US servicemen from particular crimes they commit in the Philippines. Because of this 1 year waiting period, Nicole and her family feel very strongly that they have been denied due process to seek justice and convict her perpetrators.
Nicole's case is emblematic of the plight of the Filipino people's demand and long standing fight for sovereignty and self-determination. It is obvious to the Filipino people that the only reason for the presence of US troops is to continue to strike against the rising movement to fight against US imperialism and to protect their own economic interests in the country.
On the anniversary of the rape incident, Nicole issued this statement:
"It wasn't easy for me to file a complaint against my rapists. And neither was the (legal) system kind to me after I decided to pursue the case. Instead of taking my side in my fight, our government took steps to make my situation much harder. I have not received a single message of support from our woman President, while the secretary of justice has even repeatedly defended my rapists.
"During the almost daily trials at the Makati Regional Trial Court, I experienced the reality that the rape victim is raped repeatedly inside and outside the courtroom while the case is being tried. In the face of all the insults and recrimination that I have gone through in the past year, only my belief in truth and justice and the support of my family and of women have been my sole source of strength and resolve not to surrender. My decision to pursue the case should be proof of my conviction that Daniel Smith, Chad Carpentier, Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis deserve to be in prison.
"They should be made to suffer for the indignities they forced me to go through. They should be put behind bars. Their rightful punishment should serve as an example to the whole world and to American military personnel.
"On this day, I am crying out for justice!"
The United States Armed forces maintains more than 700 overseas military bases with more than 250,000 troops in around 130 countries. In the Philippines alone, more than 5,000 troops are deployed in the country under the guise of the war on terror. The VFA authorizes US military troops in training and war exercises along side the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Together with US military aid, and collaboration between the AFP and the Philippine National Police, the current Philippine administration is responsible for more than 790 political killings of activists, church and labor leaders, women and youth.
PINAY sa Seattle stands in solidarity with Nicole and her family to continue to stand up against her perpetrators and to face the injustice imposed upon her by the United States armed forces and the Philipppine governement. PINAY understands the connection between US militarization and the rise in sexual crimes committed against the women of the Philippines. PINAY calls for the Philippine Senate to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement and to remove all US soldiers from the Philippines. PINAY condemns the heartless and brutal rape of Nicole by her perpetrators. PINAY demands that the prosecution convict the 4 US soldiers currently on trial and it is our hope that on November 27th this case will be laid to rest.
Please join PINAY sa Seattle in a Teach-In to learn more about the Justice for Nicole Subic Rape Case and assess the impacts of US militarization on the women of the Philippines.
Justice for Nicole!
Teach-In on Violence Against Women
and US Militarization in the Philippines
Monday Nov. 27 6:00-7:30pm
Ranier Public Library
9125 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118
Free Event
Justice for Nicole!
Junk the Visiting Forces Agreement!
End violence against women!
Stop U.S. military aid to the Philippines!
###
21 November 2006
Contact: pinayinfo@gmail.com
PINAY sa Seattle Demands Justice for Nicole!
Nov. 21 International Day of Action Against US Intervention
Seattle, WA - More than one year ago, a 22 year old Filipina student, "Nicole", was gang raped by 4 US military personnel while on duty at Subic Bay naval base in the Philippines, four of which have been convicted of rape and are on trial. After almost 4 months of deliberation in Philippine Courts, the Filipino people await the court's decision scheduled for November 27 th. This landmark case is the first time in history any US soldier has been taken to trial under the Philippines justice system for committing a sexual crime despite numerous accounts of violence against women and other acts of sexual assault on the women of the Philippines.
The biggest hurdle Nicole has had to face during this horrific ordeal is the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). The VFA is an agreement between the government of the U.S. and the government of the Republic of the Philippines regarding the treatment of United States armed forces visiting the Philippines. Under this agreement, the accused did not have to be detained inside the country's decrepit and overcrowded prison cells. Instead, they had air-conditioned accommodations at the U.S. Embassy. They do not have to be "detained" very long because the VFA has a one-year deadline year deadline for the hearings. After that, the accused U.S. soldiers can be shipped out of the country. The VFA, an agreement complicit with US military interests, protects US servicemen from particular crimes they commit in the Philippines. Because of this 1 year waiting period, Nicole and her family feel very strongly that they have been denied due process to seek justice and convict her perpetrators.
Nicole's case is emblematic of the plight of the Filipino people's demand and long standing fight for sovereignty and self-determination. It is obvious to the Filipino people that the only reason for the presence of US troops is to continue to strike against the rising movement to fight against US imperialism and to protect their own economic interests in the country.
On the anniversary of the rape incident, Nicole issued this statement:
"It wasn't easy for me to file a complaint against my rapists. And neither was the (legal) system kind to me after I decided to pursue the case. Instead of taking my side in my fight, our government took steps to make my situation much harder. I have not received a single message of support from our woman President, while the secretary of justice has even repeatedly defended my rapists.
"During the almost daily trials at the Makati Regional Trial Court, I experienced the reality that the rape victim is raped repeatedly inside and outside the courtroom while the case is being tried. In the face of all the insults and recrimination that I have gone through in the past year, only my belief in truth and justice and the support of my family and of women have been my sole source of strength and resolve not to surrender. My decision to pursue the case should be proof of my conviction that Daniel Smith, Chad Carpentier, Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis deserve to be in prison.
"They should be made to suffer for the indignities they forced me to go through. They should be put behind bars. Their rightful punishment should serve as an example to the whole world and to American military personnel.
"On this day, I am crying out for justice!"
The United States Armed forces maintains more than 700 overseas military bases with more than 250,000 troops in around 130 countries. In the Philippines alone, more than 5,000 troops are deployed in the country under the guise of the war on terror. The VFA authorizes US military troops in training and war exercises along side the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Together with US military aid, and collaboration between the AFP and the Philippine National Police, the current Philippine administration is responsible for more than 790 political killings of activists, church and labor leaders, women and youth.
PINAY sa Seattle stands in solidarity with Nicole and her family to continue to stand up against her perpetrators and to face the injustice imposed upon her by the United States armed forces and the Philipppine governement. PINAY understands the connection between US militarization and the rise in sexual crimes committed against the women of the Philippines. PINAY calls for the Philippine Senate to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement and to remove all US soldiers from the Philippines. PINAY condemns the heartless and brutal rape of Nicole by her perpetrators. PINAY demands that the prosecution convict the 4 US soldiers currently on trial and it is our hope that on November 27th this case will be laid to rest.
Please join PINAY sa Seattle in a Teach-In to learn more about the Justice for Nicole Subic Rape Case and assess the impacts of US militarization on the women of the Philippines.
Justice for Nicole!
Teach-In on Violence Against Women
and US Militarization in the Philippines
Monday Nov. 27 6:00-7:30pm
Ranier Public Library
9125 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118
Free Event
Justice for Nicole!
Junk the Visiting Forces Agreement!
End violence against women!
Stop U.S. military aid to the Philippines!
###