LFS calls for Smith’s detention under Philippine custody; says there is no justice when convicted rapist remains out scot-free
December 2, 2007
Watch photo slideshow of event here. More photos here.
Members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) held a protest action in front of the US embassy in Manila today, a few days before the first year anniversary of the promulgation of the verdict on the Subic Rape Case.
The students demanded that the US government respect the Philippine court’s verdict and surrender convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith to Philippine custody.
“It has been a year already and the convicted is still being protected from punishment and is out scot-free. This shows how arrogant and disrespectful the US government is of our sovereignty and our laws. This must not be allowed any further,” said Vencer Crisostomo, LFS national chairperson.
The verdict on the Subic Rape Case was given by the Philippine court last December 4, 2007, with Smith, a US marine, being found guilty of raping “Nicole,” a 22-year old Filipina, inside a van in a former US base in Olongapo. The three other accused marines in the controversial gang rape case were not found guilty.
News of the gang-rape incident last November 2005 sparked street protests led by militant students and women rights advocates calling for justice for the victim and a halt to US military operations in the country. The protesters accused the Philippine government of coddling the accused marines and setting-up the case to fail.
“The LFS led student and youth participation in the protests then. Now, we are instensifying our call for justice amidst news of other gang-rape incidents involving US soldiers in Japan and other parts of the world. Until we punish the perpetrators and end US military intervention and occupation, the gang-rape of women, our sovereignty and national dignity will continue in our country and the rest of the world,” said Crisostomo.
Recently, several US military soldiers have been involved in another gang-rape incident in Iwakuni base Japan.
The LFS, together with Gabriela, will hold protest activities on Tuesday, December 4, to call for Philippine custody of Smith and for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which allows the presence of US military forces in the country. ###
1st December 2007 | Filed under: Top Post | Click here to follow any responses to this entry: RSS 2.0 feed
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ang galing! sana maexperience ko us emba mob pagbalik ko. ;p
lolz
I know what are the rights of every filipino so this kind of group the lfs and others. They are only doing of what is right and what is good in our country. I wish that someday or some other time i will join the rally to fight for my right and to help my self and to help our country.