Activists decry dispersal of ‘Occupy Mendiola’ protest; will try again Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines — Activist groups on Wednesday decried police attempts to disperse them and prevent them from camping out at Mendiola, near Malacañang Palace, as they tried to hold a local “Occupy” protest on Tuesday.

The activists, mostly student groups, clashed with the police late Tuesday afternoon as the authorities blocked a march to Mendiola from CM Recto Avenue, and prevented them from  putting up of tents for a camp-out in the area. They were dispersed with water cannons.

The activists ended up camping for the night at Plaza Miranda.

“The citizens want a peaceful campout; not being hit by the police; not water cannons; not being hurt by those in power; not timed convictions,” the College Editors Guild of the Philippines said in Filipino, in a text message to media, expressing their intent to occupy Mendiola later Wednesday.

Kilusang Mayo Uno, in a press statement, condemned Tuesday’s “violent” dispersal of the youthful demonstrators with water cannons and batons.

Labor groups will be joining the Mendiola protests on Wednesday.

The international “Occupy” protest movement, which began with a camp-out  near Wall Street in  New York City, largely decries social inequality and the power of big business.

Various activist groups have banded together to hold a similar camp-out on Mendiola from December 6 to International Human Rights Day on December 10, to protest the perceived failure by the Aquino administration to deliver and prioritize basic social services such as education, health, energy, employment.