Photo courtesy of Obet De Castro
TAGUM CITY, Philippines — More than 500 protesters composed of Moro, Lumad and peasants joined the series of actions against the planned visit of United States President Donald Trump to Manila.
Ryan Lariba, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Mindanao, said they will stage protest actions to call for an end to the intervention of US in Mindanao.
“The imperialis US is the number one terrorist in the world that instigated the wars of aggression against the nations hostile to its economic, military and political interests,” Lariba said in a statement on Thursday.
He said that East Asia Summit in Manila ”promotes and strengthens trade liberalization in the Asia Pacific region”.
“It [EAS] has nothing to offer but suffering, death, destruction and poverty of the Filipino people,” he added.
Aside from US President Trump, Xi Jinping of China and Shinzo Abe of Japan are also expected to be in the Philippines for 12th East Asia Summit on November 12-15.
Patriotiko Mindanao Spokesperson Vennel Chenfoo said that the assembly of ASEAN leaders would mean “a total sell-out of our national patrimony and undermine our sovereignty.”
“Beyond the formal meetings, Duterte will offer Philippine land and resources to be ravaged by these imperialist countries,” said Chenfoo.
“On a national scale, around 1 million hectares are being targeted for the expansion of oil palm plantations of which half a million are in Mindanao. Foreign and local mining companies have expanded their mining operations and applications in the ancestral lands of Moro and Lumad communities,” Chenfoo added.
Meanwhile, activists from various countries also gathered in an international conference at the University of the Philippines-Diliman criticized Trump Friday for “promoting war and militarism.”
They vowed to join protests from November 12 to 14 in Manila in time for Trump’s visit to the Philippines.
In a statement released by the ILPS, Jang Chong Won of South Korean organization Kyonggi Spark said Trump “is promoting war between South Korea and North Korea and division among countries in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.”
“We want one Korea, we want a united Asia. We don’t want war, missiles and US troops. Trump and Yankee, go home!,” Won said. (davaotoday.com)
