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FILIPINO VETS ANGERED BY "LUMP SUM"
PAYMENT IN
STIMULUS PACKAGE -- "Lifetime pension benefit
now.
Bail out the veterans not the banks and
corporations."
Filipino veterans protest "lump sum"
payment.
For background on Filipino vets and their fight
for "equity," use the VA Watchdog search engine... click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/s
essearch.php?q=filipino&op=and
The following is a statement from Justice for
Filipino-American Veterans (JFAV).
Statement here...
http://www.indybay.org
/newsitems/2009/02/15/18570963.php
Statement below:
Your comments accepted at bottom of
page.
Share story/email link.
-------------------------
Justice for Filipino-American Veterans (JFAV)
Contact: Arturo P. Garcia
Phone/Text: 213-241-0906
Statement on the 63rd Anniversary of the Rescission Act of 1946 and the
Lump Sum of 2009
LUMP SUM IS NOT EQUITY, FIGHT FOR TOTAL RECOGNITION AND JUSTICE!
The approved lump sum included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009-- $15,000 for the US citizens and $9,000 for non-US citizens
may provide temporary monetary relief for many. However, this is not a
cause for celebration let alone thanksgiving.
This is yet another piecemeal legislation that fails to address the grave
injustices committed against the Filipinos when on February 18, 1946, the
US Congress enacted the Rescission Act that deemed the US military
services of the Filipinos inactive, thereby, denying them of their rights
and privileges as American veterans. Of the at least 60 nationalities that
served the US during World War 2, the Filipinos were singled out to
receive unequal treatment as their American counterparts who fought side
by side with them during the war.
The questions that beg for answers are: How has the lump sum addressed the
historical and ongoing humiliation and injustices that are inflicted on
the Filipino veterans for the last 63 years? How should the Filipino
community and progressive communities move forward with the fight for
genuine equity?
The Philippine government and some Filipino organizations in the US hail
the lump sum as a victory for the veterans. They are rapidly throwing
congratulatory remarks one after the other, with the "champions in
Congress" at the top of the list, and providing the impression that the
lump sum is the fulfillment of the long fought struggle for equity.
While JFAV waits to see the final language of the lump sum provision, it
appears that the "quit claim"—a provision that indicates that upon
acceptance of the lump sum, the veterans SHALL RELEASE future claims
including lifetime pension, was kept intact. Average white American
veterans have been receiving a monthly pension since 1946
So why would the US government deny the brown Filipinos the same benefit
and recognition? During the war, the Filipinos and their American
counterparts endured the same bombings, starvation, disease, isolation and
torture. Why would the Filipinos get anything less? The veterans in the
Philippines got an even smaller benefit by virtue of their nationality and
not of US military service. Is this equity?
The Rescission Act of 1946 took away the full recognition of the
Filipinos' military services during the war. Where in the text of the lump
sum can one find any attempt to amend or rescind this racist act? If not,
then why would one equate lump sum with veterans' equity? Congressman Bob
Filner attempted for the first time to introduce the lump sum in Congress
in 2008. This was heavily opposed by veterans with whom Filner was forced
to apologize later on, on the ground that a lump sum does not provide the
dignity for veterans and actually in effect treats them as mercenaries.
Why would a second attempt for a lump sum be treated otherwise?
In reality, the veterans never demanded for a lump sum. They have always
demanded for full recognition, equity and lifetime pension benefit as
embodied in S1314 approved 96-1 by the Senate in 2007 and later approved
by Congress in 2008 but WITHOUT the Filipino provision.
The Filipino community in the US, through the ABS-CBN Balitang America
Town Hall community meeting held in San Francisco, wrote a letter to
President Barak Obama asking among other things, that Filipino veterans be
granted full recognition and lifetime pension benefit. THE LUMP SUM IS
CLEARLY NEITHER OF THEM.
We recognize the relief, albeit temporary, that the lump sum can provide
especially to the impoverished veterans in the Philippines, who do not
avail of the benefits like medical and SSI that Filipino veterans in the
US enjoy. But a historical wrong cannot be rectified by another wrong that
attempts to put closure on an unfinished fight.
We believe that at the root cause of the injustice and the unequal
treatment of the Filipinos is racism. Until the Filipinos are treated
equally and fully recognized as American veterans and as people worthy of
respect and recognition, gross injustice will continually prevail. There
will never be a closure of this dark chapter in the history of the world
until Filipinos are treated as equals.
The fight for genuine equity encompasses not only the desire of the
surviving 18,000 veterans but also the widows before the enactment of the
law—who get nothing from the lump sum—and the collective memory of the
250, 000 Filipinos who fought a war not of their own and the 1,000,000
people who suffered and died because of a US war in a US territory.
In 1942, the Filipino soldiers and their American counterparts chose to
follow US President Roosevelt's command to defend the Philippines with the
complete understanding that the US territory was indefensible and that
continued fighting would lead to many casualties. It was not pragmatic but
the Filipino soldiers did what they thought was the right thing to do
Today, the lump sum appears to be popular among Filipino and US
politicians. But for the sake of truth, it must be clearly stated that the
lump sum is neither equity nor a tactical victory towards genuine equity
and justice. We choose to be on the side of truth.
Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Outside of the lump sum, the
Filipino veterans, the surviving widows, the sons, daughters and legal
heirs, the political activists, the Filipino and American communities and
the people at large who believe in racial equality and veterans' equity,
shall continue to carry on an arduous struggle until justice is completely
delivered.
Full and unconditional recognition for the Filipino veterans now!
Lifetime pension benefit now!
Bail out the veterans not the banks and corporations!
-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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