GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Sittie Rajabia Sundang, Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization secretary general, called on the Arroyo government to consider the numerous human rights violations allegedly committed by US soldiers participating in previous Balikatan (shoulder–to–shoulder) or Philippines–United States military exercises in Mindanao.

"Previous Balikatan in Mindanao especially in Sulu and Basilan have left issues of human rights violations that remain unresolved," she said.

In opposing the coming Balikatan, Ms. Sumbang cited a case in Zamboanga City where US troops purportedly bumped a tricycle but did not help the victims, and instead showed off their high–powered firearms.

In 2002, Buyung–Buyung Isnijal was shot allegedly by an American soldier identified by witnesses as a certain Sgt. Reggie Lane, who was accused of participating in a military operation on July 27, 2002 in Tuburan, Basilan, she added.

Ms. Sumbang said they fear the vulnerability of the Moro civilians in areas where Balikatans are held.

Earlier, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan said in a press statement that the regional government is not against the staging of Balikatan military exercises in the autonomous Muslim region.

"But they should first conduct consultations on the stakeholders from the area," he said, adding the bilateral exercise will be staged in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi–Tawi and in the Islamic City of Marawi.

The Balikatan exercises are slated February 18 to March 3 in the autonomous Muslim region.

Reports quoted Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro that there's no stopping for the holding of Balikatan, amid a recent incident in Sulu that left seven civilians dead and a soldier dead.

That military operation had allegedly the participation of American soldiers.

Mr. Ampatuan said the regional government is thankful to the American government for extending humanitarian services to poor areas of the region.

"But we want respect. It is fair and right that we will discuss these things to our constituents before its conduct so that the people will not be blinded [and] aggrieved," Mr. Ampatuan said of the Balikatan exercises.

Early February of this year, the Regional Legislative Assembly of the autonomous Muslim region approved a resolution stating opposition on the holding of Balikatan exercises in Lanao del Sur and the Islamic City of Marawi.

Paislain P. Tago, speaker of the legislative assembly, pointed that "there was no consultation made in the regional, provincial, municipal and city level leaders before the final conduct of Balikatan."

The regional legislature passed Resolution No. 353 last February 05, 2008 stating that "the people of Lanao del Sur and Marawi city strictly adhere to their Islamic faith, culture and tradition thus they defy the conduct of the military exercise."

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