PHILIPPINES: Philippine government wishes to remain in control of operation against terrorism involving US forces, writes Miriam Donohoe
Major Cynthia Teramae cuts a dash in her green military combats and black soldier boots. Her red bobbed hair is perfectly coiffed, and there is a hint of lipstick on her lightly made up face. The major is the very human front of the US force in the southern Philippines preparing for the next phase in the war against terrorism.
The mother of a six-year-old daughter, Maj Teramae has been given the job of feeding details of the US operations to the information-starved international press corps camped out at the American base in the port city of Zamboanga on the island of Mindanao. She is smooth and efficient, but underneath the friendly smile there is a woman of steel.
At a joint US/Philippine army press briefing this week, a TV cameraman got his marching orders from the vigilant major when he wandered a little too near Col William Ball as he was answering journalists' questions. The major expertly shunted the overzealous media man away.
As the briefing took place last-minute efforts by the Philippine and US governments continued to secure agreement on controversial terms of references for the joint military exercise in the southern Philippines.
The proposed guidelines, details which were revealed yesterday, gives the Philippine government command of the exercise in the island of Basilan, where the Abu Sayyaf group linked to Osama bin Laden is based.
Because of security concerns, the 240 Americans who have arrived in Zamboanga for the operation have been cautious, remaining billeted in the heavily guarded Philippine army Southern Command headquarters with limited local contact.
But three weeks of army food was enough, and yesterday the soldiers broke out of their self-imposed confinement to mingle with the city's residents and sample the local fare.
Small clusters of troops caused a stir when they went shopping in the equivalent of a mall. One senior officer was delighted with his purchase of cotton shirts. "The prices are great," he said. Others wandered into restaurants to try Filipino delicacies. Cans of coke and delicious Lumi soup were the order of the day.
Some soldiers went jogging, and enjoyed being chased by squealing children, delighted to have the Americans in town. Amy Macintosh (22) was exhausted after her two-mile run in the searing 33-degrees heat. One of only four women in the 240- strong group, the senior airwoman was enjoying her tour.
"The local people are very friendly and have been most welcoming. I am proud of my country and am delighted to be here," she told The Irish Times. Ms Macintosh is based in Hawaii and is engaged to another solider. "We plan to marry in the summer, that's if I get out of here," she joked.
She said she had encountered no difficulty being a woman. "The lads have all been great."
Her running companion, navy officer Timothy Pendleton, was finding the heat tough going. And while the food was fresh and well cooked, he said he could not take any more rice.
"We are getting it for breakfast, dinner and lunch," he groaned. "What I wouldn't give for french fries right now!"
Philippine Lieut-Col Danilo Servando beamed with delight at the US break out of quarters.
"This will give our American friends a chance to know what are the sensitivities of our people," he said.
In the next two weeks 660 US troops will have arrived in Zamboanga to prepare for a six-month mission to train Filipino soldiers to rout the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, who have links with al-Qaeda. Some 160 US special forces will join Filipino scout rangers on Abu Sayyaf's base of Basilan Island, where an American missionary couple have been held hostage for more than eight months.
While some Filipinos have protested at the deployment of US troops, considering it an infringement of sovereignty, the vast majority of people in Zamboanga are happy to have them in town.
Philippine ranger scout Romero Jandujan has seen action against the Abu Sayyaf on Basilan. "I fought them in 1995 and in 1997. They are a tough group of men and any help we get we will take." He said the elite rangers are committed but under-equipped.
"We are happy that the US soldiers will be giving us new arms and equipment. That will help us in our task," he added.