Cops block anti-US activists

MANILA, Philippines - Policemen fired water cannons to repel more than 700 anti-US activists that tried to get near the American embassy in Manila as President Barack Obama left the Philippines yesterday after a two-day state visit.

 The activists belonging to the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), party-list groups Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Kabataan, Pamalakaya, Agham, Selda and Piston had earlier assembled at the Liwasang Bonifacio and marched toward T.M. Kalaw street on the way to the US embassy along Roxas Blvd.

The demonstrators shouted slogans accusing President Aquino of being a US puppet.

“US imperialism ibagsak, Obama not welcome. No to US occupation,” they said.

They denounced the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the US.

 Anti-riot policemen backed by two fire trucks with water cannons blocked the rallyists that were protesting the signing last Monday of the EDCA.

A scuffle broke out in front of the National Library on Kalaw street as the protesters attempted to break through the phalanx of policemen that prevented the militants from proceeding to the embassy at around 1 p.m.

Police officers fired water cannons at the unruly rallyists to contain them.

“They were provoking the cops because they already knew they were not allowed to get near the embassy,” said Chief Inspector Lucille Faycho of the Manila Police District.

The protesters later agreed not to go to the embassy and just held a short program along Kalaw Street. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Michael Punongbayan

Various speakers lambasted the EDCA and the militants burned a US flag to protest the agreement that they said would only benefit the American military and not Filipinos.

Meanwhile, workers are gearing up for a massive protest action on Labor Day tomorrow to demand the junking of the EDCA.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chair Elmer Labog said the abolition of EDCA is on top of the workers’ list of demands during the May 1 protest.

Labog said the Filipino people should show their stand against the EDCA even after President Obama left the country.

He said Obama’s lack of commitment to help in the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China runs counter to President Aquino’s propaganda for the EDCA.

“Aquino has tried to make it appear that the US is bringing back its military bases into the Philippines in order to help the country defend our territory from China’s incursions, but Obama did not make any statement to that effect,” he pointed out.

Environmental activists belonging to the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) condemned the lack of assurance from both Aquino and Obama that no nuclear weapons would be brought to the country under the EDCA.

Despite repeated statements that no nuclear weapons would be brought into the country, Kalikasan PNE said there was no transparency on visiting forces for the inspection of nuclear weapons and materials.

Kalikasan-PNE added that neither Obama nor Aquino presented any provisions on environmental regulations within the EDCA, or any plans to actually address outstanding environmental crimes involving US military personnel, such as the grounding last year of the USS Guardian in Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, an important marine ecosystem and one of the country’s world heritage sites. With Mayen Jaymalin, Michael Punongbayan