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Thursday, October 06, 2005
Militants, police engage again in clash
MANILA -- Policemen and members of various militant groups calling on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down clashed anew at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila Wednesday morning.
A still undetermined number of militants were injured in the clash and were brought to the Ospital ng Maynila. Ten policemen were also wounded in the incident.
Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said they arrested 10 protestors who will be charged with illegal assembly for "staging a protest in the area without a permit."
The protestors said policemen, armed with nightsticks and truncheons, clubbed and shoved them even if they were protesting peacefully.
The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) condemned the violent dispersal of the "peaceful" rally at the Mendiola Bridge.
"We succeeded in showing Malacañang that the people's protests and collective actions will fail Arroyo's Martial Law," said KMU secretary general Joel Maglunsod.
Maglunsod said the message of the rally to the Arroyo government is that no amount of repressive policies and abusive actions from authorities can stop the people from exercising their inherent right to freedom of assembly and of speech.
He said the people will defy the calibrated pre-emptive response and no permit, no rally policy being imposed by the police during rallies.
Last Tuesday, civil libertarians and human rights advocates led by Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo gathered at the Mendiola Bridge but were dispersed by the policemen. Eight rallyists were arrested during the dispersal.
Ocampo denounced the incident even as he said "the people will not be cowed, more protests are forthcoming" despite the pre-emptive response policy. He said those arrested were punched by policemen while inside a police mobile vehicle.
He said the people will continue to take to the streets and "we will never allow the curtailment of our rights and freedom." (JFF/Sunnex)
(October 6, 2005 issue)
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