Filipino activists protest US involvement in Korea, Los Angeles

South Korean anti-war protesters shout slogans during a rally against the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010. As U.S.-South Korean war games continued Tuesday, the United States and two crucial Asian allies agreed to meet in Washington for talks about North Korea's attack on a South Korean island and the North's nuclear weapons programs.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

LOS ANGELES – Filipino activists joined the Korean community and anti-war demonstrators in a protest in the Koreatown district of Los Angeles Monday night.

They blame the presence of the US military forces in Korea for North Korea’s attack last week that left 4 dead and another 18 wounded. They fear that as the US continues to train with South Korean military, this may escalate into a war between the north and south.

“The problem is the United States has 150 bases all over the world, so the US is becoming a threat towards peace. Instead of fostering peace, it becomes a policeman towards its political and economic interests,” said People’s Core activist Art Garcia.

Filipino activists claim tensions between North and South Korea is an issue of US occupation in Asia. The say the incident is related to the Visiting Forces Agreement between the US and Philippines. Activists have blamed the presence of US forces in the Philippines for political killings and human rights violations.

Kuusela Hilo from the Los Angeles branch of Bayan said, “We’ve actually seen more than 50,000 US troops go in and out of the Philippines in the last 10 years under President Arroyo’s deal with George Bush to continue the VFA, and we also demand that President Aquino can seriously consider ending the Visiting Forces Agreement. If this can happen to Korea, it can happen to the Philippines.”

During the protest, Hilo brought up the fact that President Obama proposed a salary freeze for federal employees, except for the military, earlier in the day. She told the crowd of some 50 protesters that the freeze is proof that the US government intends on continuing to engage in war.

“With cuts and the priorities, we see where the money is going, it’s going to war. It’s not going to help the working families here,” explained Hilo.

Activists add they are worried for some 50,000 overseas Filipino workers in Korea. Balitang America