Indigenous groups plan big anti-Apec protest Wednesday

MILITANT groups and indigenous peoples from different areas will hold a series of demonstrations today (Wednesday) to denounce the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting.

The protesters are later expected to gather after their respective demonstrations at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila which they earlier vacated due to the lack of a permit to hold a rally.

“We intend to fully exercise our constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms as we march against the Apec meeting,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bayan Muna.

The Manila Police District (MPD), meanwhile, said it would allow them to air their grievances as long as they stay away from the hotels and venues where the heads of state and business leaders were staying.

Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, MPD director, said the police would implement the policy of maximum tolerance toward protesters.

“That’s their right…. But we will not allow them to go near the critical areas,” he said, adding that the Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) was far away from the venues for Apec-related activities.

The series of protests will start at 5 a.m. with indigenous people from Luzon and Mindanao walking from either Mendiola or the Morayta area for the “Pambansang Salubungan ng Katutubo.”

The rally aims to make a unified call for an end to the militarization of ancestral lands and to stop foreign firms from mining the country’s natural resources.

Meanwhile, about 200 militants from southern Luzon marched from T.M. Kalaw Avenue in Manila Tuesday toward the US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard but were blocked by policemen. The protesters later dispersed peacefully after burning an American flag.

Nana said that while maximum tolerance would be practiced, he hoped that the rallies would not push through to prevent embarrassing the country before foreign guests.

“We are for peace. And of course it’s really our country’s image that is at stake whenever there is chaos,” he added.