This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com).
Vol. VI, No. 23, July 20, 2006
Anti-Imperialist Group Pickets Israeli Embassy 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 © 2006 Bulatlat
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Bulatlat
Posted 5:20 p.m. July 20, 2006