From the Business Mirror (Mar 13): Activists gear up for huge protest
SEVERAL groups are gearing up for a nationwide protest action on March 20 to condemn the government’s alleged anti-poor policies, such as privatization, and failure to prevent prices from going up.
In a news conference in Quezon City on Wednesday, Elmer Labog of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Steve Ranjo of the Pagkakaisa ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), Bea Arellano of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, Vencer Crisostomo of Anakbayan and Joms Salvador of Gabriela vowed to mobilize their members to express their disgust over the planned privatization of 26 public hospitals and mass-transport systems in Metro Manila.
The groups called on the public to join the protest, dubbed Protestang Bayan vs Nagtataasang Presyo at Pribatisasyon, during the news conference, wherein they tagged President Aquino as “traitor to the people” for allegedly serving big capitalists to the detriment of Filipinos.
Labog, KMU chairman, said the failure of the Aquino administration to stop fuel, electricity and water increases is proof that Mr. Aquino is pro-capitalist and anti-poor.
“[President] Aquino is clearly a bentador ng bayan. He is serving big capitalists to the detriment of Filipinos,” Labog said.
The groups said the increases in the prices of petroleum products and the increasing rates of public utilities are untenable in the face of stunted wages and incomes.
“The overpricing being undertaken by the oil cartel is obvious. It should be implementing a big-time rollback amid the weakening of the dollar but has hiked prices since the start of the year,” Ranjo, Piston secretary-general, said.
For his part, Arellano said: “Where will the poor go the moment public hospitals are privatized? President Aquino should watch out as we vow to hold militant protests on March 20.”
The groups were referring to the planned privatization of 26 public hospitals, mostly in Metro Manila, which is being stiffly opposed by various groups.
“The big capitalists in the power and water sectors are having a grand time while Filipinos suffer from increasing rates. The government should junk the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and revoke its contracts with the independent power producers,” Salvador, Gabriela secretary-general, said for her part.
The groups said buildup protest actions will be held starting on Thursday, leading up to the March 20 “people’s protest.”
This will include pickets at Manila Electric Co.’s head office, MRT and LRT.
In addition, a Metro Manila-wide noise barrage and a rally at the historic Mendiola Bridge will be held on March 15.
On March 18 the groups will picket the oil depot and as well as the Department of Health office in Manila.
On March 19 there will be a picket in front of the Department of the Interior and Local Government office in Quezon City to protest the demolition of squatter colonies in Metro Manila.
More CPP mass-based legal struggle. All of the groups mentioned in the second paragraph are CPP sectoral front organizations. Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May One Movement)is a labor front, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston-United Association of Drivers and Operators Nationwide) is a front active in the transportation sector, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay-National Alliance of Urban Poor Associations) is a sectoral group focused on the urban poor, Anakbayan (Youth of the Nation)is a front active in the youth sector, and Gabriela (General Assembly Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action) is a sectoral front for women.
ReplyDeleteLike all CPP fronts these groups live to protest. Anti-government demonstrations are at the core of what they are all about. It will be interesting to see what kind of turnout they are able to achieve.