ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 18, 2012) – Filipino activists protesting ongoing joint US-Philippine military war exercises in Mindanao have accused local soldiers of attacking two rallyists in front of an army base in Maguindanao province.
The Patriotiko Mindanao, which is the organizer of the protest, said unidentified soldiers approached a woman and another man and without provocation punched them in front of other rallyists and then ran inside the headquarters of the 6th Infantry Division.
“We strongly condemn the punching of two participants of the Lakbayan ng Mindanawon Laban sa Balikatan (People’s Caravan against the US-Philippine Balikatan Exercises) by military elements during a rally of around a thousand participants in front of the camp,” the organizer said.
“We see such act as a clear violation of the democratic right of the people to peaceably assemble and air their grievances. Patriotiko Mindanao has not done anything ill and criminal during the rally,” it added.
The protesters also burned effigies of “Uncle Sam” and President Benigno Aquino III in front of the camp. The accusation against the military could not be immediately confirmed.
A similar protest is also being held in Zamboanga City where rallyists are demanding the pull out of US troops in Mindanao. Some 4,000 protesters from all over Mindanao are expected to assemble in Zamboanga City which is hosting some 600 US troops training Filipino soldiers in fighting terrorism.
Participants to the Lakbayan ng Mindanawon Laban sa Balikatan mostly come from the cities of Davao, Cotabato, General Santos, Koronadal, Butuan, Cagayan, Dipolog and Pagadian.
“As a broad multi-sectoral and interfaith alliance of individuals and groups, Patriotiko Mindanao expresses its strong resistance to such military drills which only seek to protect US hegemonic interests and safeguard its unabated plunder of our natural resources,” the organizer said.
Dozens of mostly young rallyists also held a protest in front of a police station in Zamboanga City on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are here to defend our rights and to express our rights. We don’t want the US troops here,” one protester, Nur, told the Mindanao Examiner.
The military exercises are also being held in Basilan and Sulu in the southern Philippines; and in Tarlac, Palawan, Manila and other parts of Luzon and would run until April 28.
The Sisters’ Association in Mindanao (SAMIN) said it is supporting the caravan and joined calls in demanding the withdrawal of American forces in the country.
“SAMIN calls on our fellow sisters and all Christians, in solidarity with other faiths and movements, to defend our people and our patrimony from continuing plunder. Let us support the call to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement and oust US military troops from our country,” it said in a statement sent by Sr. Normi Degala, it’s Executive Secretary. (Mindanao Examiner)
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