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.com)
