Transport strike gathers support from different sectors

KMU said the strong Sept 19 protests combined with transport strike in some areas succeeded in explaining the just bases of the protest to the public, effectively garnering their sympathy and support.

By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
Sidebar: Threat of eviction during transport strike forced urban poor protesters out of support rallies
 
MANILA – Public transport was limited or halted at the height of the Sept 19 transport strike called by PISTON (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide) and other allied nationwide transport organizations. The strike was most severely felt in Mindanao and a significant part of Southern Tagalog and Metro Manila, said the Kilusang Mayo Uno in a statement.

But the Aquino government belittled the strike, saying it was barely felt because there were no stranded passengers and there was still heavy traffic in Metro Manila. The government did not connect the apparent lack of stranded commuters to the fact that its local government units fielded buses for free ferrying of stranded commuters, on top of the 200 military trucks dispatched for free rides.

It also did not make the connection as aired in mainstream TV reports that there were more private cars on the road that day, because the government, led by Metro Manila Development Authority Francis Tolentino, cancelled the number coding scheme for the day.

Along with 200 military trucks, the Aquino government fielded 17,000 fully armed soldiers and police to prevent the protesters from urging their fellow drivers to support the strike.

Protests vs oil deregulation in Cotabato City (Photo by Kawagib Human Rights / bulatlat.com)

According to the KMU, the strong Sept 19 protests combined with transport strike in some areas succeeded in explaining to the public the just bases of the protest, effectively garnering their sympathy and support. They added that they mobilized as much as 5,000 people, excluding the drivers, in Metro Manila, and tens of thousands more in protest centers and strikes in other parts of the Philippines.

Protests and sympathy for protesters in many places

“Today, it is high time that we act, support and raise the people’s capacity to resist and counter-act by an ever widening mass protest the inutility and neglect of the Aquino regime in solving the Philippine crisis,” Flor Acbo, chairperson of BAYAN in Eastern Visayas said.

He viewed the mass actions held in Eastern Visayas as “indication of the peoples’ spontaneous reaction to fight back, which still needs to be raised into organized action.”.... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110922com3.html