(Zamboanga City, Philippines) It appears that U.S. troops have irritated the Filipinos regarding a camp in the southern Philippines.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would relocate a Marine camp put up near a government hospital in the southern province of Sulu after a scandal involving US troops.The U.S. military "camps" are political hot potatoes since the Filipinos don't want any "permanent" foreign military bases in the country. Consequently, the camps are called "temporary" training facilities in support of the global war on terror, however, they have become semi-permanent in nature. The "temporary" designation is justified by having U.S. forces regularly transfer in and then out after a short duration. Needless to say, the last thing desired is publicity.
US troops in Sulu ordered last month a hospital in Panamao town to close every night that prevented medical personnel from treating patients after sundown. American troops who put up their camp at a Marine base near the hospital even told doctors to treat their patients at the municipal hall.
Dr. Silak Lakkian, head of the hospital, has complained about how US troops meddled in their operations. US soldiers also threatened to shoot anybody in the hospital in case there is an attack by terrorists. American soldiers have been in Sulu since 2006 to train local forces to hunt members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
The meddling of US troops in local affairs drew widespread criticism and protests from provincial leaders and triggered calls from political activists in Manila for the House of Representatives and the Senate to hold an investigation into the incident.
US military commanders in Sulu apologized for the incident and the AFP ordered the soldiers away from the hospital. US soldiers insist a threat exist against them in the town from suspected Abu Sayyaf militants.
Responding to the incident, Army Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael said the camp would be moved to another village.
Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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