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Monday, October 27, 2003
Australian protest v. Bush a 'vindication': Beltran
By Stephen Capillas
BAYAN Muna partylist Rep. Crispin Beltran said they felt vindicated by the protests staged by Australians against visiting US President George W. Bush last Friday.
During a press conference held at the Cagayan de Oro Press Club's "Media Konek" program last Friday the party list lawmaker said despite the sanctions set by the Australian government against the protestors it only showed that not everyone agreed with the US leader's campaign against terror.
"We felt happy about that because it showed that Australians and even some in their parliament were against the war-mongering ways of the Bush administration," he told local media.
Last Thursday, around 5,000 protestors thronged outside the Australian parliament, some clutching placards declaring the US leader "an evil guy" and others chanting "Go home Bush", as the American leader defended his wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
At least three people were later arrested after violent clashes outside the US embassy, while inside parliament two senators were ordered out of the chamber after they heckled Bush during his speech.
Sen. Kerry Nettle was escorted out of the chamber along with Sen. Bob Brown, who shouted "we are not a 'sheriff!" in reference to Bush's assertion that Australian is the US's sheriff in the Asia-Pacific region.
Nettle, like Brown before her, refused to leave. Brown's Green Party has been fiercely critical of the US-led war to topple Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein and Australian Prime Minister John Howard's decision to contribute troops to that campaign.
"I love free speech," Bush quipped to laughter and applause after the speaker ordered the two lawmakers out.
Bush then defended the invasion of Iraq and hailed Australia's "special" regional security role as he was heckled inside parliament and barraged by protestors outside.
"Security in the Asia-Pacific region will always depend on the willingness of nations to take responsibility for their neighborhood, as Australia is doing," Bush said in a speech to lawmakers in the capital Canberra.
Beltran said the Australian protest is significant for the country which had lately been designated as a major non-Nato ally.
The partylist lawmaker, who along with other House representatives like Bayan's Satur Ocampo walked out of Congress during Bush's address, said the aid extended to the country is all part of the US "hegemonic campaign" to annex the Asia-Pacific region. With AFP
(October 27, 2003 issue)
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