No Bases Network born in the Middle of the World QUITO & MANTA, ECUADOR MARCH 5 - 9, 2007 by Helga Serrano Narváez

No Bases Network born in the Middle of the World
QUITO & MANTA, ECUADOR
MARCH 5 - 9, 2007

Helga Serrano Narváez

The consolidation of the International Network for the Abolition of
Foreign Military Bases is one of the main achievements of the
International Conference for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases
held in Ecuador on 5-9 March, 2007. The 400 delegates from 40
countries celebrated with applauses the formal funding of the
Network, as well as the agreements reached to establish coordination
mechanisms and more articulated global actions.

The ideological and political basis of the Network, confirmed in the
Final Declaration, is a central unifying factor which will allow the
Network to move firmly forward in its construction. The Declaration
places the No Bases Network in the framework of the movements that
struggle for peace, justice, self-determination of peoples and
ecological sustainability. It also recognizes that foreign military
bases are instruments of war that entrench militarization,
colonialism, imperial policy, patriarchy, and racism.

It affirms that foreign military bases and all other infrastructure
used for wars of aggression, violate human rights; oppress all
people, particularly indigenous peoples, African descendants, women
and children; and destroy communities and the environment. Therefore,
the Network demands the abolition of all foreign military bases. It
was stated that if the empire is global, resistance should be global
as well. And this implies challenging militarism and imperialism,
and its bases structure, which is the U.S. empire. The Declaration
denounces the primary responsibility of the U.S. in the proliferation
of foreign military bases, as well as the role of NATO and other
countries that have or host foreign military bases.

The Conference also approved resolutions that stand in support and in
solidarity with those who struggle for the abolition of all foreign
military bases, while also calling for the immediate withdrawal of
all foreign troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and reject any planned
attacks against Iran.

Skeleton of the empire

During the Conference, participants acknowledged the negative effects
caused by the installation of more than 737 US bases in 130 countries
around the World. These have affected the lives of women and
children, as a result of rapes and sexual aggressions, frequently
left unpunished. Only in Philippines, it is calculated that since
1945, there have been 50.000 unacknowledged children of US soldiers.
In Okinawa, where 75% of the US bases in Japan are located, there was
an increase in sexual violence and rapes.

The United States-led illegal invasions and ongoing occupations of
Iraq and Afghanistan were launched from and enabled by bases in
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Diego Garcia. To open way for the US base in
Diego Garcia island, which forms part of the Chagos Archipielago in
Mauritius, 2000 people were displaced and are forbidden to return.
The use of the Guantanamo base for torture of prisoners by US troops
and as a concentration camp, caused indignation and concern.

Participants also were informed of the contamination caused by the US
military presence, such as the situation of Vieques in Puerto Rico,
which was used as a training camp for many years. Only when the US
troops left could people see the magnitude of the environmental
damage and the urgent integral restauration and full and just
compensation that should be demanded to the US.

People frequently mentioned how foreign military bases affect
peoples’ sovereignty, such as the Manta Base in Ecuador which is used
by U.S. soldiers after the signing of an unconstitutional
“Cooperation Agreement”. As occurs in Manta, and in all cases
presented, U.S. soldiers have immunity so they can move around freely
without any fear due to the privileges contemplated in such
Agreements.

But we also saw that where there is a base, there is a resistance
movement. Experiences were shared from Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico,
Mauritius, Guam and Manta, among others, as well as the recent
demonstrations in Vicenza, Italy. These experiences provided
inspiration for consolidating the Global No Bases Network.

The Conference fulfilled its objective not only to analyze the impact
of foreign military bases on the population and the environment –also
presented in publications prepared by the different organizations-
but also to reach consensus on global objectives, strategies and
coordination mechanisms to strengthen local struggles and global
actions. There was a commitment to develop strategic alliances with
global movements that struggle for global peace and justice; expand
the No Bases Network; generate global actions; and influence global
public opinion. The International Coordinating Committee, established
in the Conference, will develop communication and information,
lobbying, research, support local struggles and promote global
campaigns.

Military bases in the public agenda

It is also important to highlight the impact of the Conference
through its dissemination in mass media, electronic lists, Websites
and news agencies. The foreign military bases agenda was on the media
before and during the Conference. The constant interviews to
international scholars and activists forced the U.S. Embassy in Quito
to develop a strategy to try to minimize the role of its bases,
especially of the Manta Base. It organized visits for foreign and
domestic press, trying to challenge the comments made by researchers,
who even based some of the data on figures provided by the Pentagon
itself.

The Conference also came to the attention of the President of
Ecuador, Mr. Rafael Correa, who met with a delegation from the
Conference, along with Lorena Escudero, Minister of Defense. For the
first time since the President took office on January 15, 2007, he
ratified his pledge that the government will not renew the Agreement
with the U.S. for the use of the Manta Base, due in 2009. This firm
position was widely disseminated in domestic and foreign media. The
participation of local and national government authorities in the
Conference was also highlighted by the international delegates.

The leadership and participation of women was recognized as a key
element for the success of the Conference. This was clear not only
in the organization of the Conference itself, but also in the “Women
for Peace” Caravan carried out on March 8, International Women’s Day,
when 8 buses full of delegates traveled from Quito to Manta for the
activities in the port where the U.S. personnel is stationed. Another
important aspect, which made this Conference different than other
events, was the massive participation of youth, both in the
self-organized events in Quito, as well as in the Forum and
demonstration in Manta.

The spirit of the encounter and the recognition of similar struggles
around the world, mobilized immediate solidarity and commitments.
However, more is needed for the Network to develop, grow and have a
global impact. This implies the construction of common agendas, so
that this issue may be faced both in the majority world and the
developed world. If there are no structural changes in the North, it
will be difficult to reach our objectives.

The building of the Network also requires a horizontal and open
dialogue that recognizes the rich contributions and experiences of
all movements, both in the South and in the North. It implies
creating new forms of relation, cooperation, equity and solidarity.
The richness of our diversity, of all our countries and regions, and
the respect to the diverse processes is a must. A Global Network
cannot work without a balanced participation of all regions, and this
implies additional efforts to assure the participation of compañeros
and compañeras from Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the
Caribbean, in the networks’ and movements’ meetings. For the
International No Bases Network it is essential to maintain a strong
relation with the anti-war movements that struggle for peace and
global justice.

- Helga Serrano Narváez, journalist, is member of the Asociación
Cristiana de Jóvenes (ACJ/YMCA) de Ecuador and of the Interim
International Coordinating Committee of the Global No Bases Network.