Trump warned on Duterte fist salute in Manila
MANILA: When US President Donald Trump and other world leaders meet in the Philippines from yesterday, copying their controversial host’s signature fist salute could land them in hot water.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has adopted a clenched fist, often stuck out in front of his chest or sometimes at eye level, as his trademark gesture.
Duterte often seeks to have visitors pose for photos with him doing the salute, with Chinese internet tycoon Jack Ma and Hollywood actor Steven Seagal among those pictured doing so.
But critics warn the gesture has come to represent the brutalities of Duterte’s drug war, which has claimed thousands of lives.
They also say it has uncomfortable similarities with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s salute.
“Foreign leaders should recognise that the fist... symbolises a purposeful attack by Duterte on rule of law that has inflicted a human rights calamity on thousands of Filipinos,” Phelim Kine, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director, told AFP.
“(They) should deny the architect of this human rights calamity the international recognition he undeservedly craves.”
Australia’s spy chief, Nick Warner, was criticised when he returned home from Manila in August to find the Philippine government had released photos of him clenching his fist with Duterte.
“Completely inappropriate photo for the head of one our most important intelligent ( sic) services to be in,” federal opposition member of parliament Anthony Byrne said in a Twitter post.
With the photos becoming a major news item in Australia, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was forced to publicly defend Warner. Bishop had previously criticised the drug war.