To protest ASEAN Summit in Cebu in December
Progressive Groups Mount Archipelago-wide Caravan

Anti-imperialist groups in the Philippines will mount an archipelago-wide caravan dubbed “Voyagers for Peace” in time for the 12^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December.

BY EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat

Anti-imperialist groups in the Philippines will mount an archipelago-wide caravan dubbed “Voyagers for Peace” in time for the 12^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December.

 “Hundreds of ‘Voyagers for Peace’ will travel from different parts of the country to Cebu,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance), in a Nov. 17 press conference. “We will bring one message: ‘Resist U.S. war of terror and imperialist plunder! Fight for peace, justice and sovereignty!’”

Reyes said more than 300 members of various people's organizations in Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and the National Capital Region (NCR) will participate and form the national contingent for the overnight voyage from Manila Pier to Cebu City on Dec. 9

He said that they are primed for daily protests in Cebu for the entire duration of the ASEAN Summit. In between, major conferences to be launched by the International League of
Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May First Movement), protest actions to be led by GABRIELA, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine Movement of the Philippines), Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) and party-list groups like Bayan Muna (People First) and Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) will be conducted to dramatize different issues plaguing the Filipino people and their Southeast Asian counterparts.

Bayan stated that more than 50 foreign delegates from the United States, European Union, Japan and neighboring ASEAN countries are expected to join scheduled protests and conferences beginning Dec.9

 “The ASEAN Summit is likely to focus on regional security and economy,” said Bayan Chair Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo. “For the Filipino people and the peoples of other Southeast Asian nations, these could only mean the intensification of the US ‘war of terror’ and imperialist plunder. The U.S. is the dominant force in the region in terms of military, politics and economy.”

US “war of terror”

Araullo said that the so-called U.S. “global war on terror” in itself constitutes terrorism. “This war of terror is characterized by military intervention, repressive legislations, sponsorship of tyrannical regimes and propaganda offensives against anti-imperialist groups and personalities, among others.”

The U.S. Pacific Command has declared Southeast Asia as its “second front” in the war on terrorism.  At least 70,000 U.S. troops are deployed to different countries in East Asia alone. There are 386,000 American soldiers in 150 countries and 850 U.S. military bases in 138 countries.

The U.S. has bilateral and multilateral military exercises with the Philippines (Balikatan), Thailand (Cobra Gold), Japan (Keen Sword), South Korea (Ulchi Focus Lens) and Australia (Talisman Saber).

Araullo said, “The Arroyo regime’s all-out war policy is supported and financed by the U.S. government.”

She said that counterpoint international conferences will also be held in Cebu to tackle US militarism in East Asia.

Imperialist plunder

Araullo also underscored the economic interests of the U.S., Japan and the European Union (EU) in Southeast Asia. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already announced that the stalled talks on the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be included in the agenda of the ASEAN meeting.

Araullo said that the U.S. and other imperialist countries will use the ASEAN as a venue to clinch bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs). These FTAs, according to Araullo, will further liberalize the economies of Southeast Asian countries and will pave the way for unhampered plunder of natural and human resources.

Araullo cited the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) as an example. “The JPEPA will benefit the Japanese corporations and entities at the expense of the Filipinos,” she said. “The U.S.-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership could be as bad, even worse than JPEPA.”

Araullo said that Arroyo will prove to be the most reliable U.S. ally in the ASEAN. “She only articulates the desires of her imperialist master.”

“Undemocratic” leader

Amid heavy deployment of Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) elements, Reyes said that nothing could stop them.  “Our actions will be peaceful and organized. We warn the PNP and AFP to respect our right to free expression and assembly.”

At least 10,000 policemen and 3,000 soldiers will be mobilized to secure the ASEAN meeting.

“Should anything violent happen, Arroyo will only affirm her reputation as an undemocratic leader,” Reyes said. “The series of political killings in the country should have shamed her enough.” With a report by Gerry Albert Corpuz / Bulatlat

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