Protests against Trump’s visit begin
Hundreds of militants staged a rally along United Nations Avenue in Manila yesterday, denouncing the upcoming state visit of US President Donald Trump to the country for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related meetings.
The various militant groups — Karapatan, Bayan Muna, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang-Mayo Uno, and Sinag – marched along UN Avenue causing momentary tension when their paths crossed with members of the Manila Police District (MPD) who prevented them from reaching the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.
According to the MPD, at least 350 individuals partipated in the protest action that started around 10 a.m. The militants held the placards with the messages, “Ban Trump;” “US out of Philippines now!;” and “Stop US War Machine.”
“Once again, the world is set to witness an illusion of luxury and affluence, where Heads of States dine and talk about plundering more resources from poor countries, pressing down all-ready low wages, promoting globalization, and economic integration at the expense of local economies, and bombing countries for the ushering of “democracy” — all while Filipinos continue to be mired with poverty as a direct result of US neoliberal policies,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.
Meanwhile, activist lawmakers vowed to join the series of protest actions against Trump when he sets foot in Manila on Sunday.
ACT Teachers Partylist Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro also called on Filipinos to join the demonstrations against Trump and President Rodrigo Duterte “to strengthen our fight against the unequal and anti-people relations of the US and the Philippines.”
Trump will be among the seven world leaders who will attend the ASEAN and EAST Asia Summit to be held November 12-14 in the country.
While Trump will be greeted with protest actions to be staged by Left-leaning groups, there is none expected for Chinese Premier LI Keqiang despite resentment of many Filipino leaders towards China’s “bullying tactics” in the dispute over the West Philippine seas.