Youth group leads Clinton-visit protests, call for MDT-VFA junking

Nationally coordinated US flag burning set tomorrow

PRESS RELEASE

NOVEMBER 16, 2011

 References:

Aki Merced, 09322537600

Aries Gupit, 09157938089

“Junk the Mutual Defense Treaty! Junk the Visiting Forces Agreement!”

This was the call of youth and student groups led by the League of Filipino Students as they today in front of the National Museum where US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a forum. The groups say that as part of the continued protests for Clinton’s stay, patriotic youth and students will be holding a nationally coordinated US flag burning tomorrow. The center of protest will be at UP Diliman at exactly 12 noon.

At around 2:30 pm, the protesters were already assembling in front of the National Museum where they threw paint balls at Clinton’s convoy.

“This is to send out the message that the Filipino youth are enraged and cannot bear the unequal relations between the Philippines and the United States anymore, as concretely seen in the 60^th anniversary of the onerous Mutual Defense Treaty. Hillary Clinton is here to further solidify the US’ hold and control of our land, through its obedient puppet, Noynoy Aquino.”, said Aki Merced, spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students.

The protesters were harshly dispersed and as a result, some student leaders were seriously hurt. Moreover, LFS commended Philippine Collegian Editor-in-Chief Marjohara Tucay for bravely standing up and making the Filipino youth’s call heard inside the said Clinton forum. They condemn the police for harshly reacting to the legitimate calls of the protests.

“Is this what we get for asserting our nation’s sovereignty? It is too obvious how the present regime is again engaged in hardcore US puppetry, with the 2^nd most powerful US government official paying our country a “special” visit.”, continued Merced.

“Rest assured, the youth will continue to fight for the junking of unequal treaties that continue to cause peril to our people and our sovereignty.”###