[asia-apec 1354] Bayan condemns violent dispersal of ASEAN protest

[bayan]

MEDIA RELEASE
24 November 1999

Bayan condemns violent dispersal of ASEAN protest

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today condemned the violent dispersal by the
Philippine National Police (PNP) of a peaceful picket-rally held near the
Philippine International Convention Center this morning. The rally was
meant to oppose the anti-people agenda of the 3rd ASEAN Informal Summit
which opened today.

Water jets from three fire trucks hit protesters who numbered around 300
compared to hundreds of Special Action Forces elements who pushed, shoved,
and hit the picketers with truncheons. Those at the frontlines were women
from Gabriela and Lila Pilipina, the organization of comfort women.

For 30 minutes, high pressure water jets hit the demonstrators who were
chased by the fire trucks and riot police as they retreated. The trucks
stopped only because it could no longer cross the island in the middle of
the street.

At least 50 protesters suffered cuts, bruises and welts.

Teodoro Casiño, Bayan Secretary General, said the violent dispersal was a
betrayal of an agreement made the night before with PNP-NCR Chief Gen.
Aglipay, Gen. Maganto and Gen. Fernandez. At that meeting, the generals
assured the rallyists that their right to peaceful assembly would be
respected and that they would be at the site of the protest to negotiate.

Meanwhile, in nearby Barrio Dabu-Dabu, the urban poor community located near
the Summit venue was completely bulldozed this morning to erase any sign of
poverty around the Summit venue. The 'clean-up' is reminiscent of the
violent  demolition of urban poor communities in 1996 as preparation for
the APEC Leaders Summit hosted by the Philippine goivernment in that year.

Among the other organizations which joined the ant-ASEAN rally were the
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), League of
Filipino Students (LFS), Anakbayan, Karapatan, Kadamay and Pamalakaya.