Korean activists support Nicole

Militant Korean women yesterday expressed full support to the 23-year-old Filipina complainant in the Subic rape case, citing "similarly painful experiences" back in their country.

Sim Tong, spokesperson for the Korean women who are here to undergo training at the Asian NGO Center, said they accidentally came to know about Nicole’s plight during the training’s opening rites.

"We have just started the training program and there are still many things we do not know about Nicole and the incident. However, there are similar painful experiences in Korea because we also have US military bases there," Tong said during a news briefing.

She noted that yearly, about 600 to 700 crimes are taking place in that area in Korea, and attributed it to the presence of the US military bases.

However, only five to seven percent of these incidents have reportedly been brought to court.

Tong also said that from the year 1994 to 2003, there were about 17 incidents of rape cases in their country with US military personnel being pointed to as the accused.

"We are supporting Nicole in her fight. If one woman is not safe, every woman can never be safe," she stressed.

At least six Korean activists are now here in the Philippines undergoing training for NGO work.

Meanwhile, the Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya blamed the government’s ties with the US for the alleged rape in Subic.

"Whatever grief and vilification that has surrounded the Subic rape victim known as Nicole, the blame rests squarely on the government and its continued belief in the ‘special relationship’ existing between the Philippines and the United States which is a euphemism for mendicancy and subservience," said the group’s secretary-general Millet Morante.

For her part, Atty. Virgie Suarez-Pinlac, spokesperson for another militant women’s group called Kaisa Ka said, "women should know no territorial boundaries when it comes to fighting or opposing wars of aggression waged by global powers."

"Indeed, women from different countries or different races must come together to support all victims of US military sexual violence," she said.

Judge Benjamin Pozon of the Makati regional trial court presides over the Subic Rape case trial. He has set Nov. 27, 2006 as tentative date to hand down his decision on the controversial case. — Rhodina Villanueva