http://www.focusweb.org/content/view/828/29/
Violent dispersal of Protest in Edsa; Activists arrested
Friday, 24 February 2006 The protest rally of over 5,000
people spearheaded by Laban ng Masa was violently dispersed today along Edsa,
the site of the People Power Revolution that ousted dictator Ferdinand E.
Marcos exactly 20 years today.
The protestors, who assembled earlier in Quezon City were en route to join
others who have assembled at the people power monument in EDSA, when they were
block by around 200 riot policemen armed with truncheons, water cannons and
long firearms.
Laban ng Masa leaders Francisco Nemenzo (former President of the University
of the Philippines), Professor Randy David, and several members of the House of
Representatives including Rep. Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel, Mario Aguja of Akbayan
Citizens Action Party, and Rep. Renato Magtubo of Partido ng Manggagawa were in
front negotiating with the police when the violence erupted. The protestors
were pushed back with the use of truncheons and water cannons. Some protestors
fought back by throwing rocks amidst calls from fellow protestors for
restraint.
In the aftermath of the dispersal several protestors including Professor
Randy David, Ronald Llamas, RG Guevarra were arrested and detained at Camp
Caringal. Accused of throwing rocks, which started the violence, the other
protestors arrested include Noel de Mesa, Christian Ocampo,Ludynela Hamor,
Mishil Turla, Rachel Pineda, Emma Tuyo, Amelia Tayag, Jonnel Fortaleza, Maureen
Alraniel, Cherry Aquino, Roel Arabejo, Eduardo Fernandez, Roel Manhangin, Bayan
Flores, Leodil Ungriano, Edwin Intal, Abel Bagasala, Rowena Manhangin, Lea
Orioke, Analyn Orioke, Lorna Seprioto, Nida Adriano and Herbert Docena. Those
detained are from Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, League of Urban Poor
Associations (LUPA), Makabayan, Sanlakas, and Focus on the Global South. Some
minors and women were also beaten up badly by police. And police roughed up
arrested. After hours of illegal detention, the 24 activists were released but
David, Llamas and Guevarra decided to stay imprisoned as a sign of
indignation and to question state of emergency rule. There is also another
group of protestors (42 in all) who were detained in Camp Caringal since 9 am.
A number of them are children, some below 10 years old.
A state of National Emergency or Proclamation 1017 has been declared by Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo. The emergency rule gives the military and the police the
power to arrest and use force against whosoever they perceive as enemies.
There are now threats of more political repression and curtailment of peoples
rights. And the situation is bound to get worse. Opposition Senator Aquilino
Pimentel has called for an emergency session of the Senate to look into the
latest actions of Malacanang.
Another group of protestors are currently massing up in Ayala, Makati City as
the wave of protests calling for the ouster of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
continues.
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