Human rights agencies report hundreds of extra-judicial killings and disappearances in the Philippines since 2001. Victims have included community activists, journalists and church leaders. In the southern island of Mindanao, a decades-long armed conflict between indigenous Muslim groups and the Philippine government continues despite peace negotiations. Peace and justice advocates rejoiced in the closure of U.S. military bases in 1991, but a subsequent Visiting Forces Agreement re-opened the door for the ongoing presence of U.S. soldiers in the Philippines. Hazardous waste materials left by the U.S. military at the closed Subic Bay Naval Facility and Clark Air Force Base still seriously endanger the health of impoverished communities nearby.

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Members of the CPT delegation will visit human rights organizations and church leaders in the Manila area to gain awareness of the current situation. They will meet with residents near the former U.S. military bases and learn about the campaign to hold the U.S. accountable for military base cleanups. They may travel to the southern island of Mindanao to meet with those affected by the conflict there. Delegates will listen to the voices of ordinary Filipinos and local groups involved in violence reduction and justice advocacy, and plan a nonviolent public witness in support of local efforts. They will become equipped to raise awareness about initiatives of their own governments, such as U.S. military aid, that can adversely affect citizens of the Philippines.

FUNDRAISING EXPECTATION: $2700 US or $2900 Cdn, includes roundtrip airfare from the U.S. or Canada. (Those planning to join from other than the U.S. or Canada, contact CPT for details.)