Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's resignation after his failure to move the US Marine Corps Air Station in Futenma off the southern island of Okinawa demonstrates the strengthening opposition against US military presence and intervention worldwide, and further underscores the need for the Philippine government to immediately address the issue of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), according to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).

“The past decade bore witness to how the VFA was utilized to further the military, political and economic interests of the United States at the expense of the Filipino people. The Japanese people's increasing demand to remove the US bases from their shores only adds strength to the calls for the twelve-year-old agreement's termination,” Bayan said in a statement.

Eighty-five people from across Canada representing 20 organizations from Victoria to Montreal came together in Toronto on September 21 to witness the successful launch of BAYAN Canada.  Present during the event was keynote speaker, Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, chairperson of BAYAN Philippines, the multisectoral alliance of anti-imperialist and democratic organizations of the Filipino people.

 Dr. Araullo delivered a presentation on the intensifying crisis of Philippine economic, social, political and cultural life. She also pointed out that through its mining companies, terrorist listing, and intent for the Visiting Forces Agreement negotiations with the Philippines, Canada is experiencing an "erosion of its image of benevolence".

By Prof. Jose Maria Sison

Chairperson, International Coordinating Committee

International League of Peoples' Struggle

On behalf of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), I
wish to convey warmest greetings of solidarity to the overseas
Filipinos in Canada, their various organizations and their delegations
on the occasion of launching BAYAN-Canada.  We congratulate you for the
successful preparations and wish you further success today and
thereafter.

Isang mainit na pagbati at pangangamusta sa inyong lahat na bumubuo ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Canada!



Kaming mga migranteng Pilipino sa Hong Kong ay nagpupugay sa inyong
pagdaraos ng Pangkalahatang Asembliya para sa pagtatatag ng BAYAN
Canada. Ang pagkakatatag ng BAYAN Canada ay isang malinaw na hakbang
para pukawin, organisahin at pakilusin ang mga Pilipino sa labas ng
bansa sa isinusulong nating pakikibaka para sa pambansang paglaya at
pagbabago.

Statement of Solidarity from BAYAN USA on the Occasion of the Founding of BAYAN Canada



The US Chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, or BAYAN USA, wishes to
convey its most heartfelt and militant solidarity and congratulations
to our compatriots up north on the historic founding of BAYAN Canada.
BAYAN USA has been anxiously anticipating the formation of BAYAN Canada
because it is a significant show of force from all Filipinos in North
America united in cause of genuine nationalism and democracy in our
beloved Philippines. We are also pleased that our compatriots up north
have chosen September 21st, the anniversary of the declaration of
Marcosian Martial Law, to launch BAYAN Canada.