Time Friday, April 8 · 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Location Bantayog ng mga Bayani Ampitheater
EDSA- Quezon Avenue,
Quezon City

The Filipino people’s victory in its struggle to close and dismantle the US bases in 1991 was one shining and glorious moment in our history. It demonstrated how our united will could move the Philippine Senate, which had long been dominated by pro-bases senators, into asserting national sovereignty. Once again, the country needs defenders of sovereignty.

More than ten years of the Visiting Forces Agre…ement (VFA) have proven right its opposers’ stand in 1998. The VFA has been an instrument for the return of US troops and US bases in the Philippines. It violates Philippine sovereignty as Philippine authorities cannot even get the number of troops entering the country, nor check on the kinds and number of weapons being brought into the country. Local authorities cannot inspect US bases or stations, ships and airplanes, nor make its criminal justice system fully operational over erring US soldiers in the Philippines. The VFA has resulted in the US freely conducting an unconventional warfare in Mindanao, and also in an increasing number of Filipino women becoming victims of military sexual abuse and trafficking to cater to military men’s demands.

Different organizations and several prominent personalities have called for the termination of the VFA. But the P-Noy Administration has decided on a review, justifying that termination may be too radical.

To reinvigorate its anti-VFA campaign, the Scrap VFA! Movement, an alliance of more than forty organizations, groups, institutions and peoples organizations, has embarked on a series of activities to mobilize greater public support for terminating the VFA in order that Malacañang and the whole government may take a firmer stand and heed its call.

One important activity will be a gathering of leaders and activists in the anti-bases movement of the past and today’s campaigners against the VFA. The event, which will be called A Gathering of Defenders of Sovereignty, is designed to make the fight and triumph of the anti-bases movement a great inspiration for the anti-VFA struggle.

As one of those who risked life and limb, spent precious time and shared resources in the long and arduous anti-US bases fight, we are inviting you to grace this important affair with your presence. Let us unite once more in upholding the interests of our sovereign nation!

Please join us at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani amphitheater on April 8, 2011 at 5-8pm. Allow us to follow up on our invitation with your office.

On behalf of the SCRAP VFA Movement Secretariat:
(sgd) Bb. Lotlot dela Cruz

For Confirmation and more information:
0917-860-6650 Lotlot
0918-903-8687 Princess
0917-887-1153 Cora

Convenors and Member Organizations:
Philippine Women’s Network for Peace and Security ¤ Task Force Subic Rape ¤ Welga ng Kababaihan ¤ World March of Women-Philippines ¤
Stop the War Coaltion-Philippines ¤

Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT) ¤ Akbayan Peoples Action Party ¤ Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)-Women ¤ Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)-Youth ¤ Bagong Kamalayan Collective Incorporated ¤ Bisig-Akbayan ¤ Buklod ng Kababaihan (Olonggapo) ¤ Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino ¤ Coalition against Trafficking of Women -Asia Pacific ¤ Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)- Women and Gender Commission AMRSP ¤ Freedom from Debt Coalition ¤ Fil-Cuba Solidarity ¤ Kababaihan Pilipinas ¤ KAISA KA ¤ Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) ¤ KPN ¤ KPP-Kalayaan ¤ KSM Pilipinas ¤ KUMPAS ¤ League of Urban Poor for Action (LUPA) ¤ Magnolia ¤ Manggagawa para sa Kalayaan ng Bayan (MAKABAYAN) ¤ MAKALAYA ¤ Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement ¤ NEFFAIA (Nueca Ecija) ¤ NUPCO ¤ Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK) ¤ Partido ng Manggagawa ¤ PEACE ¤ Peace Women Partners ¤ Piglas Kababaihan ¤ Progresibong Alyansa ng mga Mangingisda (PANGISDA) ¤ SARILAYA ¤ SDK-KAISA-UPD ¤ SMUCZ ¤ SMMK ¤ SOS Women ¤ STISC ¤ SRC-NTA-KASAMA Pilpinas ¤ Teatrong Bayan ¤ Ugnayan Makabayan ¤ Women’s Education Development Productivity and Research Organization (WEDPRO) ¤ Woman Health ¤ Women’s Legal Bureau (WLB) ¤ Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND) ¤ others

PLEASE FORWARD THIS INVITATION TO FRIENDS.