Protests demand justice for Filipina raped by U.S. troops

Nov. 25 is the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Actions across the world were taken from Nov. 25-27 to stand in solidarity with Nicole, a Filipina woman raped by four U.S Marines one year ago.

Since the charges were made public, Nicole has been the target of media slanders, court shenanigans and even

Protesters show solidarity with Nicole and denounce U.S. militarism. San Francisco, Nov. 27. Photo: Bernie Fox

attempts by lawyers to bribe her with hush money. Activists demanded that the Philippine and U.S. governments seek justice with a guilty verdict and to demand U.S. troops out of the Philippines.

On Nov. 26, the GABRIELA Network held a “Justice for Nicole Vigil” in San Francisco. In its statement, GABRIELA explains some of political undercurrents in this tragic case.

“The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is an agreement between the U.S. and Philippine governments that went into effect in 1999. The VFA reintroduced the U.S. military into the Philippines after they were democratically kicked out by the Filipino people in the 1980s. The mass movement in the 1980s opposed the U.S. military for numerous reasons, such as the toxic waste that accumulated in and around the military bases, as well as the prostitution and sexual abuses by servicemen promulgated by the bases mere presence. Thus, not only has the VFA reintroduced the U.S. military to Philippine soil, it has reintroduced the same social problems the military bases spread before. The VFA has complicated matters further in the case of Nicole, with the U.S. military citing VFA articles as their reason for not having to turn over the four accused servicemen to Philippine officials. Even in the event of a conviction, the United States will cite other components of the VFA to argue that the servicemen do not need to be handed over and placed in Philippine custody, even though they would be proven rapists who have committed a crime on Philippine soil.” 

On Nov. 27, fifty people gathered in front of San Francisco’s federal building to mark the one year anniversary of the case of Nicole, now referred to as the Subic Bay rape trial. Demonstrators held banners, signs, and delivered speeches over a bullhorn. Activists spoke out against U.S imperialism and U.S. military presence in the Philippines. They made connections between U.S military bases and violence against women. This action was organized by Babae along with many other organizations.