Police van tramples protesters in US embassy dispersal
by Luisa Morales
Protesters and police clashed after dispersals turned violent in front of the United States of America (US) embassy in Pasay City, leaving at least 50 injured earlier today.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) used tear gas and water cannons to drive away Indigenous peoples, Moros and activists . A police vehicle then rammed the protesters, running over at least three from the ranks of the militants.
National minority groups from all over the country marched to the US embassy earlier to protest the presence of US troops in Mindanao and to fight against militarization.
The national minorities gathered under the banner of SANDUGO, a newly established alliance between the Moros and indigenous people for self-determination.
Jerome Succor from SANDUGO said the minority groups gathered to call for freedom from the
domination of “US imperialists”. This ascendancy caused pillaging of the ancestral lands and territories of the Moros.
The mobilization called for the end of alleged US-sponsored militarization of ancestral lands and human rights violations against the Lumad.
“Pinaparatangan kaming mga terorista to justify their presence [in the region],” Succor said
Dispersal of the minorities turned violent with rocks and water bottles being thrown from both sides.
Around 40 protesters were arrested after the dispersal.
The violence today followed yesterday’s protest at Camp Aguinaldo, where the Armed Forces of the Philippines blasted activists and minority groups with water cannons during their protests.
