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Protesters vow to push through with occupy Mendiola protests despite being violently dispersed

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

 Protesters vow to push through with occupy Mendiola protests despite being violently dispersed

“Mendiola is not only a street. That is why Chino Roces’s monument was built here because it is a symbol of the people’s struggle.” – Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
 
MANILA – Youth, students, government employees and other sectors were violently prevented from setting foot on Chino Roces Bridge (former Mendiola Bridge) in what was planned to be Day One of Occupy Mendiola on Dec. 6, Tuesday. Different groups that support the camp-out condemned the violent dispersal.


(Photo Anne Marxze D. Umil / Bulatlat.com)
After marching from España, the groups were blocked by the Manila Police at Claro M. Recto avenue. When the protesters attempted to go through the police barricade, the police used water cannons and truncheons to push them back.

“Why are you blocking us? We will just have our campout in Mendiola,” Vencer Crisostomo, national chairman of Anakbayan told the police.

The Mendiola campout was supposedly inspired by the Arab Spring upheavals, strikes in Europe and the Occupy Movements in the US. The protesters lead by youth groups were supposed to stay at historic Mendiola Bridge up to International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

“It is time to send a message to those in power: We will no longer put up with lies, corruption, abuse, exploitation and injustice. Something has to be done. Let us stand up and make the statement that we want genuine change.” read the statement posted at the Camp Out website.


(Photo Anne Marxze D. Umil / Bulatlat.com)
Students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), University of the Philippines in Diliman and Manila, Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) and Philippine Normal University (PNU) marched from their respective universities and converged for the campout protest.

“Police should be arresting thieves. And the thief is in St. Lukes Hospital. You should be there arresting Arroyo and put her to jail and not here suppressing us,” Rommel Aguilar, PUP student regent, said.

The groups still held their program at Recto avenue. They were given up to 5:30 p.m. by the police. But the groups did not abide. “They (police) are giving us until 5:30. Do we agree to that?” Crisostomo asked the protesters, who replied with a resounding no. The police tried to intimidate the protesters by preparing the water cannon and firing up the engine of the fire truck but it did not stop the protesters from continuing with their program.

“Mendiola is not only a street. That is why Chino Roces’s monument was built here because it is a symbol of the people’s struggle,” Crisostomo said addressing the police.

He added, “Today we are not only fighting for a higher budget on education, social services, health, for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and housing. We are here today to initiate change! Down with the rotten system!” Crisostomo shouted..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/07/protesters-vow-to-push-through-with-occupy-mendiola-protests-despite-being-violently-dispersed/

3 comments:

Jesusa Bernardo said...

oo nga, ano? magandang punto. kaya kailangang talikuran na nga yang debt servicing na iyan. kaya lang, baka i.masaker tayo ng dmnonyo at walang kaluluwang kalbong agila if we dare that, tulad ng ginawa nila sa libya, ah.

"The groups also lambasted the government’s subservience to United States. Ivy Vanessa Demain, spokeswoman of Kilos na Laban sa Budget Cuts said the global financial crisis that hit US and Europe is passed on the people many times over. “If the US government utilized its resources to bail-out banks with billions of dollars, the Philippine government does the same being the former’s lapdog. The annual foreign debt servicing that eats up to 40 percent of our national budget is the lifejacket being hung on to by the US to save its drowning economy. This is an organized crime legitimized by whoever heads the state. Ever since the Marcos regime we have been bailing-out the US. They can’t survive without us."

Jesusa Bernardo said...

pero kailangan n'yo ring magmuni.muni at intindihin kung bakit hindi kayo ganyan karami. kung mas marami, mas mahirap i.disperse. kasi po, yung nauna sa inyo mga isang dekada na ang nakakaraan ay binaboy ang ispiritu ng protesta noong edsa 2 that was nothing but a seditious power grab against a genuinely elected popular leader AT halos pinatay pa ang ispiritung ito noong edsa 3 when they belittled and expressed approval of the bloody dispersal of the pro.erap protesters.

"He told the police who blocked the protesters that what they (protesters) are fighting for the benefit of the people including the police. “There is what they call duty pay among the police and the military, this is included in their gross salary to augment their low salary of only P14,000 ($325),” said Gaite."

Anonymous said...

Doon na rin magbawas, sa gitna ng kalye.

Siguradong walang lalapit na lespu para i-disperse kapag nag ipon ng maraming .. epot, naka handang ihagis sa mga parak.

Eh malayo banyo eh. Wala namang Robinsons Mall na malapit.

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