To Denounce U.S.
Intervention
Five Fisherfolk Leaders to Swim Mactan
Channel
Five fisherfolk leaders of the Cebu-based activist fisherfolk group
Panaghugpong sa Gagmay ng Mananagat sa Sugbo (Pamana-Sugbo), an affiliate
of the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng
Pilipinas (Pamalakaya or National Federation of Small Fisherfolk
Organizations) will cross the Mactan Channel on Nov. 27, two weeks before
the holding of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Summit in Cebu.
BY GERRY ALBERT CORPUZ
Bulatlat
Five fisherfolk
leaders of the Cebu-based fisherfolk group Panaghugpong sa Gagmay ng
Mananagat sa Sugbo (Pamana-Sugbo), an affiliate of the fisherfolk alliance
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya or
National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations) will cross the
Mactan Channel on Nov. 27, two weeks before the holding of the 12th
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the Visayas’
premiere capital.
Pamalakaya National Chair Fernando Hicap said that their local leaders
tapped to cross Mactan Channel are now undergoing muscle-flexing exercises
in preparation for the Swim Against U.S. War of Terror and Intervention in
the Philippines.
"We are not aiming to set a record in the Guinness Book of Records,” Hicap
said in a statement e-mailed to Bulatlat, referring to the record
recently set by a Cebu grade-schooler who swam across the Mactan Channel.
“What we want is the world stage to highlight U.S. crimes against the
Filipino people and its direct and indirect role in perpetrating the spate
of political killings conducted by its No.1 Girl Friday in Asia, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."
Hicap was optimistic
their fisherfolk leaders could negotiate the three-kilometer Mactan
Channel from Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge
without any hassle notwithstanding the prevailing strong current.
"But our protest-bound fisherfolk leaders in Cebu are confident they could
conquer the strong current in the name of the Filipino people’s defiance
against U.S. imperialism and the puppetry of President Arroyo," the
militant leader said. "Five non-motorized bancas (boats) will
escort the Pamalakaya 5 swimmers who will cross the Mactan Channel," Hicap
added.
Pamalakaya and Pamana-Sugbo in cooperation with the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance), the International League of
Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or
Philippine Peasant Movement) and Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) party-list
will spearhead the People's Fluvial Protest on Dec. 12 from Talisay City
to the Old Mactan Bridge in Lapu-Lapu City.
Pamalakaya and Pamana-Sugbo, the lead organizers of the flotilla protest
during the ASEAN summit said 20 motorized and 30 non-motorized fishing
boats, which would carry more than 100 activists, would highlight the
series of protest action on that day.
Pamana-Sugbo chair Victor Lapaz said 50 fisherfolk leaders and mass
members will jump off their fishing boats once they reach the Old Mactan
Bridge. Lapaz said effigies of U.S. President George W. Bush, Arroyo, and
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia would be burned together with 12 American
flags during the fluvial protest. "We will literally and figuratively
paint the town red during the 12th ASEAN meeting in Cebu.”
Earlier, Lapaz said that local leaders and members of Pamalakaya in
Cordova fishing town in Mactan Island are being harassed by government
troops belonging to 46th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
The government troops said Pamalakaya members and other activists in
Cordova, Minglanilla and Talisay City were out to disrupt the 12th ASEAN
meeting from December 11 to 14 – citing an intelligence report which they
claim to have been provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP)
Regional Command in Central Visayas.
Reports said that 10,000 policemen and 3,000 soldiers will be deployed to
secure the ASEAN meeting. But Bayan, Pamalakaya and other militant groups
said the “overkill” security preparations will not deter activists from
freely expressing their views during street protests. Bulatlat
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