Anti-Imperialist Group Pickets Israeli Embassy


BY EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat
Posted 5:20 p.m. July 20, 2006

The International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS)-Philippines Chapter held a picket protest in front of the Israeli Embassy in Makati City today to condemn the US-backed Israeli offensives against the Lebanese people.

More than 170 civilian Lebanese were killed and thousands injured during the first five days of said bombardment.

Rita Baua, ILPS-Philippines secretary general, ““We view the Israeli relentless attack on the Lebanese and the Palestinian peoples as a retaliation against the Lebanese people’s struggle for peace, without Israeli incursions into their territory and their support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for the attainment of their supreme right to self-determination.“

Baua said that the killing of Lebanese civilians and the armed attacks against the Palestinian peoples are a gross violation of the International Humanitarian Law, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Hague Regulations of 1907, and all other laws that guarantee the protection of civilians who are caught in the crossfire of wars.

“We are calling on all peoples of the world to stand behind the people of Lebanon which is now a shattered country and unable to protect its citizens and cities and to provide aid and comfort for the victims, “ Baua said.

Baua added, “We reserve our strongest condemnation to U.S. imperialism which is abetting the Israeli aggression against peace-loving Lebanese and Palestinian peoples. The declaration of U.S. President George Bush that Israel has the right to defend itself against armed attacks of the Hezbollah guerillas reveals the terroristic policy of the U.S. government.”

Stranded OFWs

Baua also lamented the lack of resources and logistics of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime for the evacuation of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Lebanon. “There is money for the all-out war against the New People’s Army, but the Arroyo regime has no money for the safe exit of Filipinos from Lebanon.” Bulatlat