Anti-US protestors scuffle with Philippine police, several hurt

Feb 25, 2009, 7:36 GMT

   Manila - Anti-US protestors in the Philippines scuffled with police officers on Wednesday in a rally demanding the abrogation of a treaty that gives special status to US military personnel in the country.

   Several demonstrators were hurt in the scuffle near the US embassy in Manila as police officers hit them with truncheons and batons.

   The confrontation occurred when about 300 demonstrators attempted to break through a police barricade to march towards the main gate of the embassy compound.

   Police officials stressed the group did not have a permit to hold a demonstration in front of the embassy.

   The protest, led by the left-wing group Bayan, called on the Philippine government to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.

   It also called for the cancellation of joint military exercises between Philippine and US forces in the eastern region of Bicol, scheduled to start at the end of February.

   'Junk VFA now' and 'End US military invasion,' read placards carried by the demonstrators.

   The treaty details the rules on treatment of US forces visiting the Philippines for training and joint military exercises with Filipino troops.

   It has been under fire since Philippine officials turned over a US Marine convicted of rape to the US embassy in 2006.

   Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, 23, was convicted on December 4, 2006, of raping a Filipino woman in the northern city of Olongapo the previous year. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

   Smith appealed the conviction, and the US embassy insisted that the VFA allowed Smith to remain in US custody until the conviction becomes final.

   Opposition to the treaty was refuelled by a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on February 11 that Smith should be detained under Philippine custody.

   The court ordered government officials to re-negotiate a new detention arrangement for Smith.

   Preliminary talks have been held between US embassy officials and the Philippine government on the Supreme Court ruling, but no new arrangement has been finalized.